Fuego-Fest brings Latinx youth together through music at the Echo

By: Wendy Cubillo and Robert Bowes (Multimedia Reporters)

The Echo and Echoplex, a venue within the middle of Echo Park, was buzzing on Saturday, Sept. 20, as crowds gathered for Fuego Fest, an all-ages Latinx youth music festival celebrating creativity, identity, and collaboration in LA. Tickets ranged from $30 to $38, and the all-ages policy made it possible for families, teens, and young adults to enjoy the event together.​​ That inclusivity gave the festival a sense of openness that larger, more expensive festivals might lack.

The festival featured more than 50 artists from Los Angeles, Mexico, and other parts of Latin America, who performed  genres like punk, alternative rock, and indie. The event’s location in Echo Park, an area with historic ties to having a vast number of creative spaces, made the festival even more meaningful since it gave a platform to local artists instead of solely focusing on big acts. Organized as a space for Latinx youth to express themselves, Fuego Fest focused on bringing together artists who represent the next generation of creative voices in the city.

Photo by Ace Oshon

The venue mirrored that mission, with colorful lights, vendor booths, and people wearing jackets with patches referencing their favorite local bands. One of the attendees stated that this concept could not be more important in the current landscape of the country where so many marginalized communities are being met with resistance.

During times like these, Angelenos have responded with a call to action towards the ongoing ICE raids, targeting and prejudice against Latin communities. 

Photo by Wendy Cubillo

Among the performers was Johnny Cisneros, an artist and founding member of Fuego-Fest, who blends Latin roots with post-punk and indie sounds. His set drew a strong reaction from the crowd. Their loud cheers and shared chats of his lyrics showed how powerful representation can be in spaces like this. 

“I hope that the crowd feels connected to me through my Spanish and English lyrics. I come from a multicultural background, and representing different cultures has always been important to me. I hope that la raza feels connected to me through my music,” Cisneros said. “Performing at Fuego Fest, especially at the Echoplex, is a dream come true. I had been wanting to play the venue for over a year, and now it finally happened. I got to not only share that moment with friends and family, but with over 700 people that attended the fest.”

Also performing that day was Anthony Sanchez, guitarist for the band Clarion. 

Photo by Ace Oshon

“You hardly see Spanish rock, Spanish artists, and Latin music intertwine with the local Los Angeles rock scene without going out of your way to find a gig. It felt amazing being able to experience so many wonderful acts that came from outside of California to play this festival,” Sanchez said. “The crowd was amazing and showed us nothing but love this night. I think my favorite moments were seeing my friends stage dive and having a good time while we played. Making someone feel something with the music you make is really what it is all about.”

As the night went on, The Echo stayed packed with people dancing, singing, and filming performances on their phones. It was clear that the event was more than a concert: it sparked conversations about the future of Latinx representation in the arts. Some people shared that seeing the artists onstage made them feel inspired to pursue their own creative paths.

There was a sense of community prevalent within The Echo, a whimsical feeling of collective peace where people felt seen instead of ostracized. People were able to see themselves within the performers on stage, and overall, the event was a reminder of how important it is to have spaces built by and for young artists, and how much power there is in youth creativity and collaboration.