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Ellas returns to the Space to perform for Cinco de Mayo.
Monday, May 2, 2022 | 2 a.m.
Cinco de Mayo, commemorating Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla in 1862, may be celebrated most prominently in the United States with some sort of margarita-fueled party, but there’s plenty of other ways to mark the holiday — especially in Las Vegas, where there’s never any shortage of live entertainment in many musical genres.
Ellas, a Los Angeles group known for blending modern pop sounds with traditional mariachi, is just one of the acts performing this week, taking the stage at the Space along with local favorite Mariachi Joya at 7 p.m. on May 5. Tickets are available at thespacelv.com.
“It’s really a melting pot of Los Angeles sounds, and that’s what you’ll hear in our show,” says singer and violinist Suemy Gonzalez, who’s been nominated for a Latin Grammy and has performed with Lady Gaga. “We’ll take people to Cuba, we’ll take them to the world of country music, we’ll get into some traditional Mexican music and then will do things like Beatles covers. And we take time to get the crowd moving, get them up and dancing, and top it all off with some smooth, three-part harmonies and our own unique arrangements.”
Gonzales joined forces with singers and guitarists Melinda Salcido and Nelly Cortez about two years ago to form Ellas, after the trio had been friends and performed together for years before that. They played the Space for Cinco de Mayo last year as well, and are hoping to find more opportunities to perform in Las Vegas this year to mix into an already busy touring schedule.
“What we do is kind of an outlet for the younger crowd to see and hear these old traditional songs these girls are playing, but with a new modern twist,” she says. “We grew up learning from our parents. My parents came here from Mexico, and I grew up listening to Linda Ronstadt’s ‘Canciones de Mi Padre’ crossover Spanish album, then going to school and hearing American music. It’s really a combination of both worlds you’ll hear with our music.”
Ellas will be spending a few extra days in Las Vegas to do some workshops with Mariachi Joya, the acclaimed Las Vegas High School musical group that performed virtually for President Joe Biden’s inauguration parade and is considered one of the country’s best mariachi ensembles.
Other standout Cinco de Mayo performances in Las Vegas include: Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán with Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán and Mariachi Divas at the Theater at Virgin; La Campesina’s festival featuring El Dasa, Javier Rosas, Tercer Elemento, Banda Los Metichones, Los Lizarraga and DJ Lobo at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center; and the legendary Latin rock of Los Lobos at the Railhead at Boulder Station on May 6.
