South Bay’s first Latin house music festival lights up downtown park

Some 5,000 people flocked to Discovery Meadow in downtown San Jose to listen to Latin house music and support local artists and businesses.

What was described as the first music festival of its kind in the South Bay had thousands of people jumping and swaying to Latin-infused house beats Saturday in San Jose’s Discovery Meadow park.

The 7-hour Latin house music festival was put on by social media influencers San Jose Foos, along with event organizers 15Utah and artist DJ Dials. Foos representative Chris Villa said the group had long wanted to do an event like this to uplift and showcase the San Jose community.

“We want to show the world that all the Bay Area is doing something big, especially here in San Jose, San Francisco and Oakland,” said Villa. In fact, the Instagram influencers received a commendation from Mayor Matt Mahan and and council members Peter Ortiz and Omar Torres during the event soundcheck.

“San Jose Foos have played a major role in promoting culture and activation of all sides of San Jose, but most importantly downtown San Jose,” Ortiz said. “Their events really breathe life into the city’s open spaces, so we want to make sure that we’re here to support them and their ongoing support of our city.”

Starting off the rave-like day’s setlist was Bad Apple Records, a group of DJs that got their start at San Jose State University. The group of five passed the headphones between each other as they mixed the beats and crossfaded samples of a variety of trendy Latin songs, like “Kulikitaka Ti,” for an initially small crowd of family and friends. By 3 p.m., however, the crowd ballooned to include dozens of people rhythmically bouncing at the wave of their hands.

Victor Lopez, the chief operating officer and vice president of Bad Apple Records, said that the group was the only local act on the setlist, and many of their friends and family were coming out to watch their performance.

One of the first people to show up to Bad Apple Records’ performance was Melissa Yap, 33, of Stockton, aunt of Rylan Ladion, a DJ and CEO of Bad Apple Records.

Melissa said after dancing to a set with the rest of Ladion’s family,” It’s nice to see him because I’ve known him obviously since he was a baby growing up, so I’m just super proud of him.”

The day before their performance, the group emphasized the importance of the community they’ve built.

Ethan Sandoval, who mostly helps with the group’s creative direction, said this performance was “like a full-circle moment,” harkening back to their days playing at San Jose State.

Lopez said, “Community is such a big thing to us. Without it, we’re honestly just nothing. We’re just a couple of guys playing music.”

The field was also filled with booths selling merchandise and local businesses showing off arrays of vintage clothes, sunglasses and other products.

One of the businesses was Sammie Sereno-Bangoy’s vintage and consignment store Raising Nine, which sells vintage and upcycled clothing, bath and body products and candles, among other things. At this event, she had a display of sunglasses and several boxes of ube crinkle cookies, too.

The theme of community was also a huge focal point with her, as she explained she was influenced to open a storefront in Los Gatos after having a good experience meeting customers face-to-face at a similar outdoor pop-up market. After selling on products eBay and Poshmark for 12 years, she said she liked connecting with people over items she curated and that being at events like Saturday’s Latin music fest connected her with new and existing customers.

Other performers of the day were Lee Foss, Malone, and Noya. Gordo, a DJ nationally known for his house music and, headlined the event, and even played a new, unreleased song for the crowd.

Many of the estimated 5,000 people in attendance Saturday enjoyed the new sound that the experience brought to San Jose.

San Jose resident Rodrigo Franco, 27,said that he came out to the event because many of his friends were also coming. He said that he liked that the event brought out a lot of younger people to the downtown area to come out and have fun.

“A lot of the events that are held in San Jose are currently indoors, so this is a game changer,” Franco said. “It’s outside, it’s a nice sunny day, so people are willing to come out and have fun and spend money, which also helps the community.”

Gaby Arreola, 31, of Santa Clara, described herself as an avid raver who likes to go all out. She was wearing a sheer white skirt, a sparkly white bustier top, and an iridescent blue crown that glowed in the dark.

As she waited for her food to come out from a taco truck, Arreola noted that it was “really cool that they’re bringing the local businesses in,” referring to the array of food trucks at the event, including Shrimp’n Ain’t Eazy and Tacos Los Tres Reyes.

Arreola said she liked the event was close to her city of residence and she didn’t have to go all the way to San Francisco to have a good time and dance.

“I’m glad that we’re putting the spotlight on San Jose,” she added. “I’ve grown up here, I’ve gone out here at nights and it’s been dead at the clubs, like I hate it,” Arreola said. “I’m glad that we’re able to do something that’s outdoors that’s not like San Jose Wine Festival or something like that. People want to get out, hear music, dance!”