Jaime H Mejia Jr., owner and songwriter of Volcán, has provided an article about Cumbia music and Latin Big Bands. The information below was provided as part of their outreach when they came to Austin for the SXSW Music Festival.
Volcán, an 11-member ensemble hailing from San Antonio, Tejas, embodies Latinx unity through their joyful, shapeshifting sound, blending psych-rock-infused cumbia, salsa, calypso, and more into a funky, catchy, and danceable mezcla that rises like a sonic dynamo from la selva, inviting listeners to transcendence with its mystical atomic heat. [SXSW]
Their performances this year are as follows:
March 12 at 2:00 pm, Radio Day Stage at Rivian Park
March 14 at 1:00 am, Lamberts
March 14 at 11:00 pm, Flamingo Cantina
For more information: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/artists/2203465
Are Large Latin Ensembles Back?
The Resurgence of Latin Big Bands: Cumbia’s Global Renaissance
Cumbia, a vibrant and deeply rooted Latin dance genre, has recently experienced a remarkable resurgence. With indigenous origins dating back to the early 1800s, its expansion into global markets has been fueled by legendary big bands such as Sonora Dinamita and Lucho Bermúdez. Today, the genre continues to evolve, captivating new audiences worldwide.
A testament to this revival is Bad Bunny’s latest album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, which embraces folkloric sounds and features a full salsa ensemble in his live performances. Meanwhile, SXSW 2025 has embraced the trend, inviting at least eight Latin groups with seven or more members, some boasting up to 12 musicians on stage. For fans of cumbia and Latin music, this marks an exhilarating moment as a new wave of Latin big bands emerges in the mainstream, potentially ushering in another global explosion of orchestral Latin music.
Over the past decade, Volcán has offered audiences a modern, all-original exploration of vintage Latin big-band sounds. Featuring 12 dynamic performers—including accordion, an entire horn section, indigenous Colombian hand drums, and a contemporary rhythm section—Volcán brings the energy of traditional Latin orchestras to a new generation. With an all-original repertoire, the band continues to push the boundaries of Latin music while preserving its rich legacy.
This resurgence of larger ensembles raises the question: Are audiences craving a more analog sound? The growing presence of Latin big bands at SXSW suggests a shift in listener preferences, with audiences gravitating toward these groups’ rich, full-bodied energy. Official SXSW performers such as Volcán, Sonido Gallo Negro, and Los Gran Reyes are at the forefront of this movement, proving that the demand for robust, orchestral Latin music is stronger than ever.
Source: SXSW, Lambert’s, Volcan