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The Official Countdown To Kickoff To Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Rocks Week January 20-29, 2023 Has Begun…It’s The Big Reboot Of Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosion Events & Fests

November 15, 2022, Our Contact Info (Social Media At End)

Contact: Bob Rempel, Managing Chairperson. Residence & Office Address: Ixtapa-Zihua, Mexico. 

Phone/W.A:+52 755 101 5989  Emails: tequilabluesfest@gmail.com & bobrempel@gmail.com  

Website: https://tequilabluesrock.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/tequilabluesfests/ 

The Washington Post recently called Ixtapa “The City of Music” and we’ll make that even more truthful. We’re bringing back an event that started in 2018, that Covid derailed just as it was gaining good momentum.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2022/03/17/mexico-acapulco-zihuatanejo/

Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosion Fest & Shows is back on the tracks for 2023 in Mexico, in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, where it was first held.. Organizers are calling it The Big Reboot 2023 and bringing back fan favorites from previous years and some great new performers.  Seventeen performers from other parts of Mexico and another 5 from Canada and the USA.

It’s part of the rebranded Go Mexico Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosion Fests.  And part of their designated Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Rocks Week January 20-29, 2023.  Part of the City of fMusic so aptly dubbed by the Washington Post Travel Columnist. Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo: “Winter Rock and Blues Paradise!”  is their theme for 2023.

Event organizers are encouraging all Bars Restaurants and other Businesses to get in the promotion to make this one great Live Music and Fest Food extended week, in addition to all the shows and events they themselves will be presenting. 

Volunteer organizer Bob Rempel said “the purpose when our little take action group of folks from Canada, Mexico, and the USA first began, we call ourselves The Paradise Club,  was to create another fun music event for local residents and a destination event for new visitors.  There was a hole in the winter Calendar to fill and we saw a need for an event that featured classic and contemporary rock and blues and jazz.”

Organizers openly admit Covid hit them hard just like it did most Mexican businesses and events.  “We have to learn to walk again, said Rempel with a smile,  “rebuild our customer base, and attract new visitors here at the same time.  Then the dancing and rocking can return”

“Who is it for,” we asked Rempel who leads the all-volunteer group of folks from Canada, the USA and Mexico.  “It’s for those who love uptempo rock ‘n blues ‘n even jazz rock…love to dance, if you love jams and collaborations…songs you know and love in English and Spanish.  An international lineup of performers will be here for the event he said.

 “It’s a project of partners, including performers, taking action, without any public sector support or involvement”, he is quoted as saying on their website:  Tequilabluesrock.com  All Big Hearts, he said.  

The events direct all profits, after the successful staging of the Event, and donations from fundraising activities like 60-40 draws at the events, to local and national causes. They continue to actively support local “Street Animal Rescue with an emphasis on neutering and medical treatment, which began in 2020. and will also direct some funds to Children, and local Hunger and Education Projects for Youth and Music Education

Some key highlights of the 2023 And Future Events:

-Events will be held at Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa bar and restaurant partner venues.  In Zihuatanejo at Madana Cocina International in Zihua Centro, and in Ixtapa at Ricardo’s Restaurante and Bar at the Villas Paraiso Hotel.  Madana is new for 2023. There will also be smaller fundraising House and Pool Concerts during the week.

-Seventeen performers from other parts of Mexico will be at the Events, plus 5 from Canada and the United States.  Vegas Style Shows on the first weekend with live rock and blues as well, and the Blues and Rock Festival on the following weekend. 

-Headliners include internationally known blues-rocker David Gogo with 17 albums to his credit and recent 2022 appearances at the Calgary Bluesfest and the Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas and The Blues Brothers/Soul Brothers Vegas Style Show by Geoff and Chris Dahl who perform it almost year-round in Germany.

-A special For All Ages Kiss in full Tribute concert and party Saturday night at 10:30 pm after a full night of rock and blues Festing. With Mexico City’s The Rockets.

-One local or regional performer or group will be given a chance to appear with the visiting international performers.  Mexico’s Got Talent Showcases which will be held between January 20 & 26, prior to the main Festival, have been a part of our events since we started said Rempel.  

-Local artists and crafts people will be given opportunities to display and sell their artwork and crafts at the Festival.

-The shirt and merchandise theme for 2023 is “Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo Winter Rock and Blues Paradise”  Something we know that everyone who comes to visit Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo describes it as:  “Paraiso!”  ‘We live it, we believe in it, we’re pleased to introduce it for 2023 and we’re sticking with it for future events as well”, said Rempel.   (Image below)  

-A free admission event for all will be held on Thursday, January 26 to select the local band or performer for the Festival as part of Mexico’s Got Talent Showcase, an event the Fest initiated in 2018 as well,  and to introduce some of the weekend’s Fest Performers.

-Organizers have implemented some great Festival Pass all-inclusive purchase incentives for 2023.  They have packaged a 2024 Festival Pass with all Festival Passes purchased for 2023.  The perfect 2 for 1 or BOGO they call it. Two Fests in One Purchase.  Organizers have already booked several great performers for their 2024 Event and this is one way to keep the momentum going and build larger and larger audiences. Plans for 2024 are to add a Film Festival as well.

Social

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@tequilabluesrock (Many Performance and Promotional Videos From Past Events)

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/besties_formexico/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mxbluesrockfest

Spotify:  2023 Performers Playlist:  https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3w9leEsw3dxFbqAfAnip3T?si=5cf28adafa2644cb

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user131153940  (More Performance and Promotional Videos)

More Information: (From The Cutting Room Floor)

-Earlier we told you we have added Charlie Jacobson (click link for article) to an excellent lineup of International and Mexican performers. Plus a new in homage Show, The Chuck Berry Tribute. We’ve told you earlier about our Beatles vs The Rolling Stones Challenge…Beatles and Rolling Stones music and other memorable classic rock songs from the Music of our Lives, every day of the Fest. And we are very proud to say we will feature a special 3 Kings Tribute (B.B., Albert, Freddie) that is can’t miss for a blues and blues-rock lover. Unique with us. All of our Concept Tribute Shows in fact.

-In 2023 we will partner with the good folks at Madana Cocina International, a great restaurant and bar, halfway between the basketball court and the Pier, to hold two paid admission events in Zihuatanejo. One with The Blues Brothers Tribute and Marc Lopez on January 21 and one with the Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Festival on January 27. The Ixtapa Venue will be Ricardo’s Restaurante and Bar at the Villas Paraiso Hotel where we have had successful events in the past,

-All Events will be with dinner included and an optional drinks package. Buy one ticket…in advance only, and leave your wallet in your pocket is the plan. We’ll try to make it work well. Fest Tickets with Dinner and Drinks pricing and availability will be posted on our Website in a few days. Click Here

-The Zihuatanejo Venue holds only 50 jam-packed, and the Ixtapa venue is 100. All packages must be purchased in advance if you want a table and seating. Small Rooms for 2023…Less Is More…everybody smiling, feeling the vibe, and getting to know each other. Our approach for 2023. We cannot guarantee that there will be any last-minute tickets available at the door. Regulations may prevent any more folks from being squeezed in. Or we’re just sold out.

-We are working on plans to hold 3 Up Close and Personal Fundraising House Concerts. All will be in Ixtapa at a Private Residence near the Golf Course. They will be on January 23, 24, 25. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. A maximum of 40 people all have fun and come together. All-inclusive events or BYOB and Food (corkage and ice fee charged). We’re delaying a final decision on that for a couple more weeks but you’ll know more soon, we promise. About the House Concert Performers and the Food And Drink Options.

-The Kiss Army is alive and well everywhere in Mexico and internationally. Very pleased to tell you that The Rockets, a Kiss Tribute band from Mexico City, will join us on Saturday, January 28, in Ixtapa, at about 10:00 pm for a special party-like concert. Cubetazos (beer buckets) at Beer Fest prices of course, Their show begins only after a full evening of Rock ‘n Blues. Starting time on Saturday will be 6:00 pm. Normal start time for all events is 7:00 pm. Coming To Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo. Saturday night just got a whole lot better for anyone who loves to Rock.

-Saturday, January 28, is also the date when we plan to have the David Gogo Concert. Within a Fest. Our main headliner. He deserves a longer set and of course, he may invite many other of our Fest performers to join him on stage. You’ll see David at other times of course, but not in a longer concert format on Saturday night.

-All that, and an Arts and Crafts Show and Sale as well.

-Lot more to tell you about as we now move forward after our official launch today. The new Dinner, Drinks, and Festival Ticket Pricing is Coming In A Few Days. (Up Now: At https://tequilabluesrock.com/festivaltickets ) Want to be first in line for the Small Rooms Shows in Zihua particularly? Send us a message with your email from the chat app on this site or send an email to “tequilabluesfest@gmail.com” All our contact info is at the top of the Home page here on this site. We’d be very glad to answer all your questions and hear your comments

-We remain a small group of dedicated volunteers, ready to take action, bringing the music we love to Mexico, and creating great destination events for all. We use a social enterprise business model in which any profits after the staging of the events are donated to specific local causes. Our track record since 2018 in donations and community impact is outlined in more detail here on this site. Search “community or “cause”. There are no public funds or support of any kind from governments or the public sector involved in the project. Just want to make that clear. A project of partnerships.

Organizers donate the profits of the event after the costs of staging it.  Fundraising in various ways will continue throughout the events, however, fans will have no obligation or pressure.  The main one, which we first started supporting in 2020, is Street Animal Rescue. Support for Medical Treatment.   In addition, fans will be given an opportunity to vote on additional causes and organizations that they wish us to support