2023-05-28 04:00:00
Sunshine and smiles in sight, a judicious mix of local and international artists, human warmth from Latin America… the second edition of the Fuego Fuego festival, whose program this year extends over two days, is already a sure success.
The Olympic Park, on this superb weekend in May, has become a veritable bubble where Spanish temporarily replaces the French-English bilingualism of the metropolis. A summer bubble, enthusiastic, and which gave an entire community the opportunity to celebrate (in a big way) its culture.
In front of 23,000 people and a sold-out site, Jhayco ended the evening in style. The Puerto Rican rapper opened the final act of the ball with his hit Tarotthen chained with many of his songs popular with Latin music lovers.
Flipped cap, leather pants and big long-sleeved sweater, the one we also know as Jhay Cortez was having fun. He invited his audience to raise their arms in the air on many occasions, which was always respected. It was a beloved, acclaimed, fitting finale.
Penultimate to step on the boards, Becky G appeared before thousands of pairs of eyes like a pink and white star in the falling night. “Spanish or English, Montreal? exclaimed the Californian singer of Mexican origin, in both languages. “I am very happy to be here, thank you for welcoming me! “, she continued.
Visibly accustomed to the stage and filled with confidence, the one who is also a dancer hit hard from the first shot with Greater. She only continued on this pretty momentum with no pajamas or Mamiiiamong others.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE
The crowd was large under the sun on Saturday.
Manuel Turizo, barely 23 years old, knew how to thrill the crowd as soon as he arrived on stage. Each of his interventions was followed by loud applause, which was also observed from the first notes of each of his songs.
Dressed in a simple white tank top and loose pink pants, the reggaeton singer also performed the greatest hits from his catalog, in addition to listing Latin American countries for his respective representatives to be heard. It was his own, Colombia, that got the biggest reaction.
Festivals are not lacking during the summer in Montreal, and yet this one has something unique. There reigns a kind of implied solidarity, solidarity which is undoubtedly fueled by the common roots shared by its audience.
It’s as if the entire Latin American community of the metropolis had met in the same place, at the same time, to share a moment around a common love: that of Latin music. And that, by the way, she had taken the opportunity to invite the curious from here who wanted to live an immersive experience.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, LA PRESSE
Flags of many Latin American countries were visible among the crowd.
It didn’t take long before visitors were hooked and invested. In the middle of the followingnoon, shortly following the doors opened, there were already several thousand of them singing along to the lyrics of the songs they know well. DJ ND, DJ EP and DJ Luian skillfully took care of feeding their ears.
If they were obviously not on site, it’s as if Bad Bunny, J Balvin, Daddy Yankee or Farruko were part of the lineup, as we might hear them.
And the more the day progressed, the more the site seemed crowded. When we stood a little higher, we saw a sea of people.
Festival-goers notably had the opportunity to see Quebec rapper of Mexican origin Chika, Montrealers Ed Winter and Cruzito, as well as Canadian-Venezuelan singer Aiona Santana. There was a concern to include local talent in the programming.
The only notable glitch: the singer Sech, originally from Panama, was unable to show up for his performance scheduled for Saturday evening. He failed to obtain his visa to enter Canada. The crowd and its sustained vigor, however, more than made up for it throughout the day.
Great opportunity
Mariana Gueza, a native of Veracruz, Mexico, was the first to perform on stage all weekend. She has been living in Montreal for a year.
After getting into music in the spring of 2020, the 28-year-old artist presented her repertoire in front of such a large crowd for the first time in her career.
“It was like an epiphany,” she told The Press following his show. It’s the manifestation of everything I’ve worked for since 2020.” Endearing and visibly gripped by emotions, she had nothing but gratitude to express for the energy of the crowd.
Music, for Mariana, is a safe place. Her only, in fact, since it’s only there that she can decide and control everything that happens. And she believes she has chosen a good place to develop her career on the Latin scene. “I love the people here. I don’t speak their language, but I speak their language,” she said, her hand close to her heart.
His dream ? Mariana promised her mother when she dropped out of college that she would one day win a Grammy “as compensation, instead of a degree.” Her career mightn’t be complete without it, she believes, knowing she’s aiming high.
Does she want to come back and play Fuego Fuego? “Yes, absolutely,” she replies in Spanish. I invite them to invite me later, and that my name is bigger on the poster, ”she says with a laughing air and a crooked smile.
The Latin music festival will end this Sunday. Puerto Rican duo Wisin y Yandel will headline it, followed by Colombian singer Feid and Dominican rapper El Alfa. Arcangel, Tokischa, Landy Garcia, La Materialista, Demasiado Eleg, DJ Danny Castro, El Melodiko, Tr3ppy and DJ Peruluno complete the lineup.
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