SAN BENITO — Grammy nominated and award-winning artist Epi Martinez and his band, Epi & Friends, will perform this week at the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Center’s Third Thursday Conjunto Nights in historic La Villita Dance Hall.
Epi & Friends will perform selections from their new CD release, “Mi Cultura y Tradicion,” as well as their traditional repertoire.
Epi, a 1991 graduate of Edcouch-Elsa High School, plays 16 instruments, including bajo sexto, congas and timbales and mandolin. His musical foundation began at an early age playing drums with the popular duet Epifanio and Cruz, who were his parents.
Influenced by the legendary bajo sexto players Eloy Bernal and Oscar Telles, Epi owns a 1948 signature Macias bajo sexto.
If You Go
WHAT: Third Thursday Conjunto Nights
WHEN: Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: La Villita Dance Hall, 261 West Robertson St. in San Benito
COST: $5 admission
INFO: Rogelio T. Nuñez, (956) 367-0335