Banda MS and Gabito Ballesteros close the first day of Festival Arre

Gabito Ballesteros and Banda MS brought the first day of Festival Arre to a close, offering a showcase of two recent generations of regional Mexican music to a crowd of 41,512 at the Hermanos Rodríguez Autodrome.

Ballesteros took the Tecate stage first. A video traced his journey from ranch work to stardom, followed by a rock-style introduction performed with regional music brass instruments. He sang some of his best-known tracks, including “Perlas Negras” and “AMG,” with fireworks and confetti filling the show.

He was joined by Víctor Mendivil, who offered a preview of his own performance scheduled for the following day. Calle 24 also appeared for “Cuerno Azulado,” one of the most popular and controversial corridos in the scene. Ballesteros repeatedly defended the tumbado style, shouting, “Long live corridos tumbados, damn it.”

At midnight, the Hacienda doors opened for Banda MS, which celebrated more than 23 years of performing. The group began with “El amor de tu vida,” “Háblame de ti” and “No me pidas perdón,” then moved through romantic favorites such as “Mi mayor anhelo,” “El color de tus ojos” and “Hermosa experiencia.”

A Snoop Dogg mascot drew laughs from the audience, while Banda MS, led by Walo, also performed “Mi buen amor,” a song by Mon Laferte. The mood shifted back to dancing as trumpets filled the venue and light rain moved away. Shortly after 1 a.m., the musicians from Mazatlán, Sinaloa left the stage, closing the Hacienda until the festival resumed the next day.

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Long live corridos tumbados, damn it.