Events
First Light Federal Credit Union Presents Alfresco! Fridays: Sangre Gitana
June 10, 2016
6:00 PM
El Paso
- Venue:
- Convention Center Plaza
- Admission:
- Free
- Contact Name:
- El Paso Live
- Contact Phone Number:
- 915-534-0600
El Paso Live is pleased to announce FirstLight Federal Credit Union as the title sponsor, for the fourth year in a row, of the 14th season of Alfresco! Fridays. The celebrated concert series produced by El Paso Live, is due to kick off on May 6. The FREE concerts will take place every Friday evening at the Convention Center Plaza in Downtown El Paso, starting at 6PM. Concerts will not take place on June 17 or September 2.
Patrons have an informal opportunity to enjoy a diverse mix of the best regional talent. Alfresco! Fridays features Salsa, Jazz, Cumbia, Country, Reggae, Classic Rock, Blues and other popular music genres. Attendees are reminded that no outside food, beverages or pets are allowed.
About Sangre Gitana Sangre Gitana was formed in 1997 by a duo of brothers, Francisco and Ricardo Hernandez, along with their lifelong friend, Angel Sermeno. These talented young musicians were plucked fresh out of high school to lead a summer program in the “Segundo Barrio” of El Paso, teaching young students the basics of guitar. This trio of friends, which were enamored with the passion of rhumba and flamenco music, were inspired by the rhythmic tirades of the Gypsy Kings. With the knowledge they had gained as music students with the help and direction of Stephan Schyuga, a guitar instructor at the University of Texas at El Paso, these friends set out to create their own group based on their devotion of rhumba-flamenco music.
Nicolas Reyes, lead singer of the world-renowned group, Gypsy Kings, met the group at the Camino Real Hotel. He joined the group in singing a couple of sings and taught lead guitarist Francisco Hernandez some new guitar leads. At the end of the day, Nicolas Reyes told the group that they had a lot of “sangre gitana” running through their veins. The group who had been known as Rosa Blanca until then, decided to rename itself to Sangre Gitana in honor of the fateful meeting. Their journey has led them to open for top talent such as the Kumbia Kings, Little Joe, Vicky Carr, and the late Celia Cruz.