By Ashley Troutman

Radio Jarocho will play at the Fandango. ~Photo by Sergio Reyes

Celebrate Mexican son jarocho music, learn to dance, and participate in arts and crafts activities at the Fandango in Union Square on August 28. The festival will feature live performances by local band, La Tuza, and Radio Jarocho.

La Tuza, an acoustic trio, plays a lively blend of son jarocho, son huasteco, and son calentano. While strumming, plucking, and rattling to the beat, they put on an exciting performance and always engage the crowd. La Tuza has the reputation of being the best Mexican grassroots band in the greater Boston area.

Radio Jarocho’s sound is known as the most authentic son jarocho on the East Coast. They’ve played prestigious venues such as the Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Festival, and American Folk Art Museum. They’ll bring dance instructors to the Fandango to get the audience moving to their music.

La Tuza performing. ~Photo by Kelly Creedon

After La Tuza and Radio Jarocho perform individually, they will come together on the stage to play, and invite other musicians in the crowd to join them. Rachel Strutt, from the Somerville Arts Council (SAC), witnessed an authentic Fandango. “As the night goes on, more and more musicians show up. We decided that Somerville needed a Fandango.”

Children can have their faces painted like Mexican Wrestlers, and participate in traditional Mexican arts and crafts, sugar skull and Mexican flag making. The event will conclude with a party at Cantina la Mexicana, and Radio Jarocho will show a film about the history of Fandangos and son jarocho music.

Don’t miss Somerville’s own Fandango: Celebrating Mexican Son Jarocho Music presented by SAC from 5 to 8 p.m.