Review: Baja Beach Fest Celebrates Its Fifth Anniversary, Taking Over Rosarito Beach
ALONG THE COAST OF ROSARITO BEACH, MEXICO — the fifth annual Baja Beach Fest hosted a vibrant and prideful three-day celebration of Latin music and culture with some of today’s most exciting artists taking the big stage.
With a promising lineup and a notorious reputation for knowing how to throw a party, the festival brought in over 30,000 Latin music fans from all over. The widely-celebrated headliners included reggaeton legends Wisin & Yandel and Don Omar, as well as more modern stars such as Ozuna. In addition to household names, performances from rising artists such as Cuban/Puerto Rican American singer Mariah Angeliq and songwriter/DJ Sky Rompiendo stirred up the day-time energy on the beach.
Unlike most festivals we’ve seen this summer, from 88 Rising’s Head in The Clouds to San Francisco’s Outside Lands, Baja Beach Fest hosted all its talent on a single stage. Some attendees preferred this layout, saying that it gave them a chance to get the most of the music experience without having to bounce around between stages or make the ever-so-pressing decision of choosing between two artists you love.
Other festival-goers we spoke with had a different opinion. A single stage can promote overcrowding, pushing real fans to the back and allowing others to wait around for their preferred artists without giving music crowd energy to the current performer on stage. With the VIP section already overtaking a significant stretch in the front of the stage, the concerns are understandable.
Fortunately, upbeat Latin music is a genre easily enjoyed by everyone, whether you know every lyric or don’t understand Spanish at all.
With a ferris wheel, plenty of Instagrammable photo opportunities, and multiple participating bars, including the infamous Papas & Beer, the festival provided a variety of entertainment options when not standing in the crowd. While Baja Beach Fest brought in a variety of vendors with Mexican cuisine options ranging from ceviche to classic street tacos, reentry was also permitted up to three times during the day, which gave the option to take off in between sets to enjoy local restaurants and the rest of what Rosarito Beach had to offer.
The weekend started off strong on Friday, with sounds from Chicago-based DJ Miriam as music lovers made their way through the sandy venue. As the sun set, the beach party transformed into a nightclub setting, vibrant lights on stage and fireworks at nearly every set. After new wave producer Tainy’s DJ set from a raised stage in the middle of the crowd, the globally celebrated singer Nicky Jam livened the crowd even more before headliner duo Wisin & Yandel took the stage.
Photo by @okaynicolita; courtesy of Baja Beach Fest
After hitting Rosario’s main street for breakfast and Bloody Marys to cure the potential hangover, festival-–goers made their way back to the beach for day two. Following the notable performance from Ivy Queen, widely referred to as “Queen of Reggaeton,” Mexican –American pop star Becky G electrified the stage while celebrating her bi-culturaism. She shared how, throughout her entire life, she was made to feel like she was not from the US or from Mexico. But now, she has finally reclaimed her identity, saying, “No, I am from here and there,” in the Spanish language.
Puerto Rican star Ozuna ended the night on a high note with his rhythmic Afro-Latin pop tracks such as fan-favorites “Diles” and “Hey Mor,” both of which are approaching a billion streams on Spotify alone.
Like most live music events, Baja Beach Fest saved the best for last, welcoming Tijuana’s very own supergroup Grupo Firme following Don Omar’s headlining set to conclude the weekend. The special performance lasted until nearly four in the morning.
With three back-to-back days of celebrating good music (and taking tequila shots, if you chose to indulge), Baja Beach Fest is not a place for those who tire easily. But based on the vibrance brought into all three days by crowds and performers alike, it appeared that most had committed to give the weekend their all, letting go of everything else going on in their lives to be present with the music and prideful community to make unforgettable memories.
Photo by @el_matzu; courtesy of Baja Beach Fest
