We are currently updating this post, originally published on March 31, 2020. (And then Covid changed everything…as we all know) It will reflect how we have greatly expanded our events and locations so we can do more and have a greater impact. It will reflect fundraising since that time and Causes and individuals we have since supported as well. To date since we began on January 8, 2018, we, with the support of our great fans have been able to raise close to 200,000 pesos and put that back into the community towards worthy causes in Mexico.
But we felt that’s just not enough so we expanded greatly our locations within Mexico for the 2021-2022 Winter Season. Our cause for 2021 & the 2022 Winter Season is Street Animal Rescue Mexico. Supporting Neutering, Medical Treatment, and Special Feeding and Housing Programs by Existing Groups and Organizations through grants from our Animal Angels Fund. We’ve just finished our first Fest, The Spirit of Christmas Rock ‘n Blues Explosions Mexico City on December 11, 2021. Many great performers came out to support our Cause and helped us get the Winter Season off to a-rockin’ start. You can check out many of their performance videos on our site. Click to Videos here.
Great media support here. And our original news release issued to the media is here.
Watch For A Finalized Updated Post By Early January 2022. First Published March 31, 2020.
Highlights:
Events & Activities Since January 2020:
-2 Live Weekend Rock ‘n Blues Events In Ixtapa, Mexico March 2020 (Just prior to Mexico entering Covid lockdowns for live events)
-3 Online Big Hearts-Big Stars Video Shows April, May, June 2021 with excellent support from big-hearted International Performers. All shows are still available for viewing on our Site here and at our Vimeo Site here.
-Created A Winter Season 2021-2022 Event Lineup For Mexico That Will Greatly Expand Our Ability To Raise More Funds And Impact The Work Of Local Organizations And Veterinarians In More Places In Mexico.
-One Event Has Already Been Held. The Spirit Of Christmas Rock ‘n Blues Explosion Fest In Mexico City On December 11, 2021. We Received Great Support From Many Big Hearted Talent Mexican Performers including Isidoro Negrete Reynoso whose lifetime of blues and rock musical contributions we paid tribute to at the event, Evelyn Rubio (Mexican born based in Houston, Texas), Steffie Beltt, Viri Roots, New Raices del Blues Group, Stick Fingers Group, Torke Ross (lead guitarist and vocals 3 Souls in Mind), Adrian Macotela (lead vocalist and drummer of Desfasados) and many others in support of these performers. All from the Mexico City region. See Performance Videos from the Event Here On Our Site and at our Youtube channel (link on the performance videos page)
-Created two Online Donation Sites At Donorbox.org For Fans To Offer Direct Support To Our Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosion Events Angeles de Animales Fund. The Site Links Are Street Animal Rescue Mexico our general donation site, and 4 Legs For Blackie, a special site to fund major veterinary care for approximately 3-year-old Blackie who shattered his rear right leg. For your information, the leg was surgically repaired by operation with a pin inserted in his leg by a team of veterinarians in the Toluca area where we first found Blackie. Now approximately a year later, we are thrilled to tell you he is running and jumping full of life like he normally would have been.
Donations Received By Our Donorbox Sites: 8 Donations Received To Date For A Total Of $1,250 USD
Grants & Donations Made by Tequila Rock ‘n Blues Explosions Events & Fests: (Further Updates Coming Soon)
Childrens’ Orphanage Zihuatanejo 2018 & 2019
Street Animal Rescue Mexico: 2020+
-Amigos de Animales Shelter & Rescue Barra Potosi (Stasya Briggs)-Zihuatanejo region-1 Donation
-Claudio Bigotes Memorial Shelter-Toluca-Mexico City region (Natalia Ruiz Gomez)-2 Donations: For Neutering Campaign, For Shelter Expansion
-Susanna Hernandez y Isidoro Negrete Street Rescue Shelter: Mexico City-4 Donations: Medical Treatments & Feeding
-4 Legs For Blackie: Veterinarians Otzlotopec For Operation, Medication and After Surgery Care (https://www.facebook.com/veterinariaotzolotepec)
-Angeles de Animales Fund: For Miscellaneous Feeding & Shelter Costs 2020 & 2021
Education and Awareness(Street Animal Rescue Mexico)
Also Support For:
Youth Development Support/Realizing Potentials
Musician “Tip Me/Us” Support (Covid Live Music Cancellations)
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Tequila Blues & Rock Explosion Events & Fests & The Ixtapa-Zihua Community 2020.
The 2020 Tequila Blues & Rock Events for 2020 from January to March are now concluded. Our best ever Festival, the 3rd one, with Canadian, American, and Mexican performers, and then three amazing Weekend Concert Style Shows with more visiting performers. Don’t Just Take Our Word For It. View the Music Of 2020 In Video Here. Nearly 30 Performances And Growing.
We are pleased to report, that with the support of our music and fun-loving fans, we were able to donate to two animal rescue organizations, Amigos de Animales of Barra Potosi, MX and Animales Angeles MX of Mexico City/Toluca, our 2020 Causes, and create two funds, the Realizing Potentials Fund for young people, typically early to mid-teens, and the Birthday/Navidad Smiles Fund for younger children.
A total of $40,300 pesos was raised at the January Tequila Blues & Rock Explosion Festival III and the February and March Blues & Rock Weekend Shows for the community.
Fans directly donated $9,500 pesos at the events, with the remainder coming from the Events & Organizers.
This brings the total donated to the Ixtapa-Zihua community to $165,390 pesos since January 2018, when Tequila Blues & Rock Explosion Events & Fests held its first event in Ixtapa-Zihua.
We are also pleased to report that a donation of $12,200 pesos in total will be made to Amigos de Animales and Stasya Briggs, the founder and project operator, with the first portion of that donation made on March 26. The remainder to be made in late April. The Animales Angels Project, founded by Natalia Ruiz Gomez, has received $10,730 pesos to date, to help with their ongoing shelter and rescue expenses in the Toluca/Mexico City region.
Additionally, the allocation of $6,000 pesos, with possible additional funding, has been made from the Realizing Potentials Fund to 14-year-old local guitar prodigy, Vicente Contreras for specific approved guitar instruction and equipment that can help take his talent to the next level of accomplishment. The funds will be paid out to cover approved training expenses, once the training and development plan details are in place.
The remaining funds, approximately 10,750 pesos, will be available in reserve in the event that our 2020 Causes require additional support or additional needs and requests from the Realizing Potentials project or Birthday/Navidad Smiles are received. Funds may also be allocated to our Mexico’s Got Talent Showcase project for the showcase and development of youth amateur talent from this part of Mexico, currently planned for late 2020 in Ixtapa.
If you wish more background on Tequila Blues and Rock Explosion Events and our Community Involvement please review our January 23, 2020 News Release as a starting point, or contact Bob Rempel, the Events Chairperson, through this Site or our Facebook Tequila Blues & Rock page.
We sincerely thank all our Fans, Performers, Volunteers and Supporters. Without them, this is not possible.
First and foremost we are about working with high-quality performers with big hearts presenting great Live Music and Entertainment events for everyone’s enjoyment. However, our Community involvement and support for worthy Causes is a very important part of the purpose of all the events we present.
More details on the future 2020 and 2021 Events will be announced as soon as possible.
Our Mission and Purpose can be simply stated: “Great people with big hearts, having fun, enjoying the music of our lives, and doing good things together”.
Vicente Contreras, 14 years old, Ixtapa-Zihua guitar prodigy 
A training and development grant has been allocated to assist Vicente’s special talent in music and to help him realize his full potential
Stasya Briggs, founder of Amigos de Animales at her shelter near Barra Potosi 
2020 Performer Melodi Ryan at Amigos de Animales Shelter near Barra Potosi 
Adopt A Dog Today. Both Amigos de Animales & Animales Angeles Mx have great healthy vet certified animals available for adoption
Choco needs costly chemotherapy medication 
Geoff Dahl Canada and Tuck Foster USA (rear) at Sunday Jams & Collaboration January 12, 2020 
Amigos de Animales Donation Part 1 
Sunday Jams & Collaborations January 12 at the Fest: Our Trademark
Thinking Ahead With Fingers Crossed 
The James Band with Angel Marquez present Queen & Bon Jovi 
RoadHouse Blues Song Always Got Our Fans Up Dancing 
Natalia Ruiz Gomez, with Bob Rempel, receiving the Animales Angeles MX donation from Tequila Blues & Rock Explosion Fests & Events at the February 29th Experience The Doors In Concert Show in Ixtapa 
Natalia Ruiz Gomez & 2 Year Old Choco Who Needs Chemotherapy Medication 
Evelyn Rubio, who totally impressed everyone with her music, and is a big supporter of animal rescue causes. We’ve asked her to return if possible. 
Roberto Eslava & The Crystal Ship Band gave us two nights of their A+ performance game presenting The Doors Concert Experience. 
Gil Gaidola of Hamilton, Ontario gave us one of the best CCR Shows we could have asked for. 
A little reflection after the 2020 Fest. Performers, Volunteers, Organizers 
January 18, Closing Night Of The Fest. Our All Stars Band Was A Great Addition for 2020 
Our Fans Have Love In Their Big Hearts And A Love For The Music Of Their Lives 
Birthday/Navidad Smiles 
Fonzeca CPP Project from Monterrey, Mexico. Came To Support The 2020 Fest & Causes And Left With Many New Fans And An Open Invitation To Return Anytime. 
Muscarya from Morelia with Chris Sanchez, Charly Blues and Victoria Ruiz brought us great classic rock, blues and soul on March 6 & 7. 
The whole gang of The Crystal Ship Band, Ricardo from Villas Paraiso, Ken Ristau, Kevin Lafond, Natalia Ruiz Gomez after their great February 28 & 29 Doors Concert Experience Shows 
March 14, 2020: The James Band from Mexico City with volunteers Audy Paladi from Ixtapa-Zihua, Kevin LaFond from Ixtapa/Edmonton in the middle, and Bob Rempel, far right
A thank you from Stasysa Briggs of Amigos de Animales March 28, 2020
Dear Bob, and Friends at Tequila Blues & Rock Festival !
You made our day !
Thank you for supporting us in this fight against abuse and cruelty and ignorance !
Thank you for standing right by us protecting those who are voiceless and helpless!
Thank you for having our back when we rescue the abused, heal the hurt and feed the hungry!
We are in this fight together and thanks to you, we are step by step changing the future for animals and people all together in rural Mexico …
As you know, Amigos de Animales is the only Charitable Foundation in Guerrero includes all 3 core programs : Education, Mass Spay and Neuter , Rescue .
Our Animal Welfare education program, covering 15 local school districts, regular Mass Spay and Neuter clinics, resulting in thousands of animals spayed and neutered, and our shelter, the largest in this area, all require enormous effort, sweat, blood and money ! Lots of money!
And YOU help us keep going !
You motivate, encourage and support !
Thank you! From all of us , volunteers and rescues , from the bottom of our hearts – Thank you !
Stasya Briggs
Amigos de Animales Society is a no-kill volunteer-run Animal Welfare Charity.
Charitable Registration Number (BN): 779789510RR0001Amigos de AnimalesRescue. Spay&Neuter. Educate.amigosdeanimales.org