Echale! Latino Music Estyles at Pearl

This is a great event. Great music, great drinks and great food.
The local female mariachi troupe Las Altenas rocked the house. One of their singers just brought the house down with ‘At Last’.
I tried the Texas Honey cider from Austin. Just a tad sweet, but delicious. Really good if you’re looking for a break from beer. Refreshing.
Snake Hawk Press had a booth. Got a koozie for me and a t-​shirt for the husband. The t-​shirt says ‘El Jefe’. He’ll like that. The koozie is an ad, but also says ‘puro party time’. Yes, it is.

Not much latino music here. Great venue though! Need more lighting to walkthru seating area.

This is a series of concerts that they have in the summer and fall at the Pearl amphitheater along the Riverwalk. The river flows in between the crowd and the band, and serves as a wonderful backdrop to the concert!
All of the bands I’ve seen here have been incredible! They all center around the Latin American beat, and have all rocked the house. Piñata Protest?! Si!!! That was beyond awesome. I’ve been to several of their shows, and they get some seriously good acts. Even if you’ve never heard of the band or the opening act, get down there and check it out.
All of the concerts are FREE! They don’t ask for donations or anything. They just ask that you don’t bring in your own booze. They sell it on the spot.
The recent ones have been sponsored by Cadillac, and they’re giving away some great swag– blankets and headphones! Woot! Free too!
They’re always giving away the concert’s posters for free if you show up early.
I love these shows! You’ll see me at nearly all of ‘em!

Piñata Protest was AWESOME!

San Antonio has so many untapped resources to put on musical events, it would behoove promoters and bands alike, looking to expand their audiences to think outside the box. Enter the Pearl Brewery Amphitheater. It is nestled in an area already booming and is already influencing the city, in terms of renovating older domains for occupancy. It is spacious, yet intimate. It is an outdoor venue, but the beautiful Pearl skyline makes you feel like your in some theater beneath the stars. Similarly Echale at Pearl showcases national as well as local Latino artists in the hopes of appealing to a wider audience while bringing new patrons to its area.
I have been to a few shows here before and it does draw quite a crowd. On this night there was a torrential downpour and I was sure it would keep potential concertgoers away from the event. But not on this night. The city’s faithful made the trek to see a Smiths and Beatles tribute bands perform. When you get there there is some concrete seating around the amphitheater, however I think it is best to bring your own lawn chairs. They sell beer and wine here but it is a bit pricey, but I guess what do you expect for an event that is already free! In addition they do not sell any type of food at this event and all outside items are forbidden, although I did see a couple rocking Icees. However, they will let you purchase food at any areas within The Pearl complex. For example my friends and I bought things from the Green Vegetarian Cuisine Restaurant, and we were allowed to bring them in for the show.
Be prepared, as this venue gets crazy packed! Your best bet is to grab a space at least 30 minutes before the show actually starts or you will be stuck with the last minute stragglers clamoring for space. Typically this music festival takes place in late spring or early fall so bring a little sweater with you, as it can get a bit chilly. If you decide to watch the show from the top of the amphitheater be mindful that as the night draws in, the crowd will obstruct your view! Even though it gets crowded down below by the stage choose a spot, as such, to optimize your viewing pleasure as well as experience there.
I also feel remissed if I did not inform you of the parking situation there. By the time you reach here most of the potential parking will already have been taken up by the occupants that live there. It’s much safer to park beneath the highway closer to the middle. If you park closer to Sam’s Burger Joint or any restaurants they will tow your car away. I say this not to dissuade you from going but for you to be mindful within this domain.
The Echale Festival, combining forces with the Pearl Brewery is such an ingenious idea! It is successful in maximizing people’s enjoyment, while bringing attention to its complex. And what other event can you go to where you will hear a mariachi version of the Beatles” Something” while humming «Girlfriend in a coma» by The Smiths, while the local band, «Girl in a coma» is there watching also. Not many.