Grupo Fantasma brings latin groove back to SPI!

Grupo Fantasma has a resume that most musical artists would kill for...

• An 11-piece latin funk orchestra from Austin, Texas that has been together since 2000
• Achieved renown with their exuberant live shows, danceable tunes, and tasty rhythms
  
• Sold more than 20,000 albums independently
• "the grassroots success of Grupo Fantasma marks them as one of the decade's most important independent artists in the latin genre." - allmusicguide.com
• Hand picked by Prince as the "Latin Night" house band at his 3121 Club in Las Vegas
• They have backed him on numerous occasions (including his legendary performance at the 2007 ALMA Awards)
• Played some of the biggest stages in the world of music
  
• Austin City Limits Festival
• Bonnaroo Music Festival
  
• Montreal Jazz Festival
• Calgary Folk Festival
• South Padre International Music Festival
• Austin City Limits TV Show
  

While some may brand their music "cumbia funk" or "latin dancehall orchestra" one thing is for certain: the band continually obliterates the clichés that often plague the current Latin music market, all the while keeping their feet firmly planted in the traditions that they love and deeply respect.

SPI Music Fest is proud to have had these guys play our inaugural festival in 2007 and is thrilled to have them back this year.


Grupo Fantasma - "Mentiras"


Grupo Fantasma Interview at 2007 SPI Music Fest

Alejandro Escovedo is a "real animal"

Alejandro Escovedo is the genuine article...hands down.

Born into one hell of a prolific musical family (I wonder what family reunions are like when legendary Jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo is your brother and drum queen/Prince protégé Sheila E is your neice), Alejandro Escovedo has forged his own legendary 30+ year career as a roots rockin' Everyman that has seen and done it all.

From his first-wave punk days hanging at the Chelsea Hotel in NYC with the Nuns, to his move to Austin and subsequent successes with 80's roots rock/alt. country acts The True Believers and Rank and File, Alejandro has had a major influence on the development and eventual success of both genres.

As a result Ryan Adams, Steve Earle, Lucinda Williams, the Jayhawks, and yes even the boss, Bruce Springsteen, are among the many legendary artists who consider Escovedo a musical influence on their work.

After the jump is a bit of background about Alejandro and his latest effort, the beautifully rocking Real Animal. An additional clip shows Al and the Boss (with the always amazing E Street Band) laying it down on stage with "Always a Friend" this past April.

alejandro escovedo - real animal promo clip

alejandro escovedo & bruce springsteen - "always a friend" - houston,tx 4/14/2008

Just who is this Ghostland Observatory...?

Willie may well be a living legend, and Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat may be among the cream of the 70's rock radio staple crop...

But just who is this Ghostland Observatory, and why are people that always seem to be "in the know", so excited that they're coming to South Padre Island for the 2008 SPI Music Fest?

For starters, they're one of the coolest musical projects around, traditional music industry model breakers, and Austin American Statesman's Band of the Year. Their live shows are always electrifying and wherever they are playing always seems to be the most hip place in the world to be at that very moment.

But for the uninitiated, here is Ghostland Observatory playing "Sad, Sad City" during their Austin City Limits taping last year.

Zee Lineup! Zee Lineup!

if you haven't seen the lineup for the 2008 SPI Music Fest yet,

here it is...

...and here's a quick poll to get you thinking about which artist really gets you yearning for those three gorgeous days on the beach during Halloween Weekend...

SPI Music Fest Announces Early-Bird Discount Rate & Hurricane Relief Benefit Efforts!

This just in from SPI Music Fest Headquarters...

3-day weekend passes to the SPI Music Fest are available at an early-bird discount rate of $70, plus tax and service fees until August 24th.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to help benefit Hurricane Dolly relief efforts in the Rio Grande Valley.

Click this link to visit the SPI Music Fest Ticketmaster page and buy your tickets now!

Or visit any Ticketmaster outlet including Macy's and select HEB stores.

To charge tickets by phone:
(956) 668-7740

Ticketmaster Express Line (outside South Texas):
(866) 448-7849

SPI Music Fest Lineup Announced!

The South Padre International Music Festival is thrilled to announce the initial lineup for its 2008 festival taking place Halloween Weekend (October 31st - November 2nd) on the beautiful beaches of South Padre Island, TX.

Appearing this year at the South Padre International Music Festival:

Willie Nelson

Foghat

Los Lonely Boys

Blue Oyster Cult

Ghostland Observatory

Alejandro Escovedo

Del Castillo

Grupo Fantasma

Fastball

Sara Hickman

Vallejo

Airline

meridianwest

Nakia & His Southern Cousins

Pelican West

The Last Vegas

Ginger Leigh

Twanguero

Bongodogs

Stewart Mann & the Statesboro Review

James Speer

Big Burn

Brownout

Phillip Thomas Kellogg

Suzanna Choffel

Eric Hanke

Bree Stevens

More to come...

The SPI Music Fest will be spread out over more than 10 venues across the island, giving music fans a chance to spend their Halloween weekend on warm, white sand beaches surrounded by turquoise water.

Attendees can look forward to a wide array of stunning musicians, and take advantage of windsurfing, kiteboarding, scuba diving, sea kayaking, deep-sea fishing and vibrant nightlife in the 70-degree breeze.

“If you are looking for a tropical fall getaway, then SPI Music Fest is it,” says SPI Music Fest founder Tim Hayden. “We have artists coming from around the world who represent many genres, and a variation of music and culture that makes the SPI Music Fest an incredibly unique festival experience."

Welcome to the SPI Music Fest Blog!

The sun, the surf, 3 days of great music, and 20,000 of your closest friends together at one of the most beautiful beaches in the country...who could ask for more?

Here at the South Padre International Music Festival, we wanted to create an outlet for the public to be able to go a bit more in depth in learning what the SPI Music Fest is all about. To do that, we decided to create this blog as an online window into all things SPI Music Fest.

From artist interviews and videos, to the latest announcements, to features on the coolest places to grab a bite, a drink, or to simply hang on South Padre, and much much more...the SPI Music Fest Blog's got you covered.

The timing on all of this is pure providence as the Festival is gearing up to make some pretty huge announcements in the coming days. Be sure to subscribe to our feed to get the latest news as it is delivered!

Here is a clip of SPI Music Festival hitting the beaches and venues hard this summer, letting thousands of excited people know about the huge happening going down Halloween Weekend.

3 Days of Music in Paradise. It doesn't get any better.