Conjunto (KOHN-hoon-toe) is an accordion-driven Texas roots music genre born in south Texas at the end of the 19th century and is a fusion of German rhythms like polkas, waltzes, and shottices with Mexican folk songs sung in Spanish. Conjunto, the traditional root of modern Tejano music, has been the soundtrack of the lives of Mexican-Americans for generations and could be heard all over Austin's east side for decades. The RACMF is one of Austin’s largest Latine music events.

HEADLINER: LOS ENMASCARADOS

4.25 8:30

Los Enmascarados are based out of Kingsville, Texas. Bandleader, JD, started pursuing music at a young age and it has always been part of his life.

His father was a musician and his brother was the drummer for Showband USA. JD first began learning how to play the drums at 12 years old and pursued singing at 15.

At 19, JD became interested in learning the accordion. Determined to become proficient on the instrument, JD learned to play one finger at a time, literally. In 1986, he played his first dance in Rivera, Texas with what he knew on two fingers. At that time, JD was a novice player. He has come a long way since then.

Overall, JD has over 40 years of experience under his belt and started Los Enmascarados in 1998. For a time, the group was having difficulty getting gigs outside of a 35-mile radius around their hometown. JD hatched a plan to set the group apart and Los Enmascarados was born.

Today, Los Enmascarados are well known for wearing customized luchador masks at live performances. Initially, there were benefits and drawbacks to such a strategy. Very much like in the luchador tradition, the mask gives Los Enmascarados a certain mystique about them. Members wear their mask with a sense of pride and enjoy the added benefit of anonymity. Of course, Los Enmascarados have had to fight off critiques pegging them as a gimmick band.

Once you see Los Enmascarados perform though, you know they’re legit!