(Photo credit: Baja Beach Fest / @el_matzu)
Dedicated to spreading positive vibras and showcasing spectacular music, Baja Beach Fest often saves the best for last. The final day of Baja Beach Fest’s Fifth Anniversary celebration paid tribute to Latin music from all regions and eras, with performances from genre pioneers, modern superstars, and everything in between. Veteran reggaetonero Don Omar headlined, performing a decades-spanning set, and bringing out fellow legends Tego Calderon and Arcángel–each of whom delivered stellar sets earlier in the day–as special guests. Don Omar and Tego Calderon’s performance of the reggaeton classic “Bandoleros“ was their first live performance of the song in nearly five years, and it was the first time Arcángel joined Don and Tego onstage in over a decade.
In a Baja Beach Fest first, the festival closed with a “special Sunday set,” this time delivered by Grupo Firme, the superstar banda & norteño outfit from Tijuana, just minutes up the road from Rosarito Beach. Undaunted by the post-midnight start time, Grupo Firme played a three-hour set (!!) for the adoring crowd, packing in hit anthems like “Ya Superame” and “Yo Ya No Vuelvo Contigo” and turning the festival into a Baja fiesta.
Earlier in the day, Baja Beach Fest showcased some of the most exciting names from Latin Music’s past and present. Arcángel and Tego brought unbeatable anthems during their respective sets. Veteran Reggaeton duo Zion & Lennox brought the buenas vibras from Carolina, Puerto Rico to the Baja Stage with an exuberant performance of “SUBEME LA RADIO.” Dominican dembow sensation Tokischa was a crowd favorite, bringing su actitud sin disculpas y estilo único to the forefront of an awe-inspiring set. Nio Garcia, Blessd, Mariah and Carmen Del Leon provided energy in the afternoon, while heavy-hitting producer DJ Luian set the mood for the evening shows with a speaker-knocking DJ set.
Packing in three days filled with exhilarating sets from some of the biggest names from all eras of reggaeton and Latin Music, Baja Beach Fest 2023 demonstrated once again why this once-humble oceanside festival transformed into the West Coast’s premier showcase for Latin Music and Reggaeton. Over the past five years, fans and artists alike have gravitated to Rosarito to revel in the company of their fellow fans, united by their love of the music and the beach town’s irrepressible vibes. Baja Beach Fest’s Fifth Anniversary was a moment to look backward and forward–a chance to marvel at Latin music’s global takeover and to ponder at what the future holds. One thing is for sure, as Latin Music, and Regional Mexican music, continue to grow, Baja Beach Fest will continue to provide the world-conquering music the showcase it deserves.
Photo credit: @instillvisuals
© 2023, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
