The second annual Festival La Onda by BottleRock is in the books, drawing tens of thousands of fans to the Napa Valley Expo in downtown Napa to witness dozens of cool Latin music acts perform on Saturday and Sunday.
Organizers triumphed over adversity — including the last-minute cancellation of one of the headlining acts, the fan favorite Grupo Firme, due to visa issues — and solidified La Onda’s place as the Latin music party to beat in Northern California.
Fans were in great spirits all weekend long as they danced and grooved to music from Marco Antonio Solis, Carín León, Banda MS, Tito Double P, People Aguilar and other well-known Latin music acts.
“We’re super happy with how much our fans are enjoying La Onda. From the music, weather, the food and drink — it’s such an amazing atmosphere,” Dave Graham, one of the Festival La Onda partners, said on Sunday. “We’re proud of the supportive environment we’ve created and grateful our Latin community is feeling the vibe. It’s infectious and wonderful to see in these challenging times.”
Fans display a Mexican flag as they wait for Mexican singer Pepe Aguilar to perform during day one of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
The festival — which is organized by the same people behind the popular BottleRock Napa Valley (held one weekend prior at the same site) — got off to a strong start on Saturday afternoon thanks, in part, to the hot Columbia-style cumbia coming from Sonora Tropicana.
“Arriba Los Latinos!” (Up with the Latinos)” lead vocalist Martha Rodriguez shouted to the audience’s cheers of approval.
During a press conference later in the day, Rodriguez would touch on the current political climate under the Trump administration as she recalled leaving Guadalajara and crossing illegally into this country through a large river, carrying her brother, when she was just 12 years old.
“It’s very hard to come to this country to follow a dream that we have,” said the singer of “Que Bella” and “El Gran Varon.” “Don’t give up. That’s the worst thing we could do as Mexicans, as Latinos — as every ethnicity in this country.
“Please don’t be afraid because we have laws to protect us. No matter what, we come to work. We come to make dreams happen. We don’t come here to steal nobody, nothing.”
Luchadores or Mexican wrestlers Viento, left, and Juventud Area, take part in a lucha libre match during day one of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Still, some attendees speculated that the fear of an ICE raid — which has been happening with increasing regularity at Latino gatherings — may have kept some people away from the festival. However, Imer Benavides wasn’t going to let those types of fears stop her from showing up to enjoy the music.
“We are not afraid,” said the 34-year-old Santa Rosa resident who left Tijuana five years ago and is currently living here on a VISA. “We’re here simply to enjoy the music. If they get us, they get us.”
In the midst of the turbulent political and social events going on in the U.S., La Onda felt like a kind of an oasis — a safe and joyous place for Latinos and their allies to come together and celebrate this vibrant music, food and culture. That feeling, more so than any one particular act who performed over the two days, is what made this year’s La Onda such a success.
“We like this vibe,” said 21-year-old Karla Urzua of Calistoga as she grooved to the music of Xavi with her boyfriend on Saturday. “They just had Bottlerock. So I am glad they are having more of these events with Latino, Mexican music. I feel more connected with my people here.”
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Camila Fernandez, representing a beloved Mexican singing dynasty, was one of the musical highlights on Saturday. The singer, who is the daughter of Mexican superstar Alejandro Fernandez and granddaughter of the late Mexican icon Vicente Fernandez, lustily belted out traditional Mexican tunes dressed in a full mariachi outfit to an appreciative audience well familiar with the songs.
Mexican star Pepe Aguilar — also part of a dynasty as his parents were the renowned Mexican singers Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre — also did a great job on Saturday, taking the stage to croon the many Spanish ranchera songs he made famous over the years.
Yet, Saturday’s main highlight was headliner Marco Antonio Solis — aka, “The Buki,” so named after “Los Bukis” the hugely popular and longest running Mexican group that he formed decades ago before going solo. During his nearly two hour set, he never missed a step — dancing, playing guitar guitar and timbales, and singing his heart out on such classic tunes as “Tu Carcel” and “Y Que Viva El Amor.”
Mexican singer star Marco Antonio Solis performs during day one of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
One of Sunday’s distinct highlights came early in the day with Adriana Rios, a singer-songwriter with overwhelming vocal talent and stage presence. It’s no wonder why this Tijuana talent, who has reportedly shared the stage with the likes of Los Angeles Azules, Julio Preciado and Maria Jose, is considered a true rising star in regional Mexican music. (Listen to “La Catedral,” “Ya No Me Importa” and “La Que Sigue De Mi” to get a good sense of her vocal work.)
Sunday attendees were certainly disappointed about missing Grupo Firme, the Tijuana-based is a regional Mexican band — specializing in Sinaloan music — which had its visas revoked by the State Department, reportedly over concerns about how its songs glorify cartel violence. (Fellow Mexican band La Receta, originally scheduled to play La Onda on Saturday, also had to cancel due to similar visa issues.)
Yet, there were still more than enough talented acts on Sunday’s bill to keep everyone happy. Notably, the day hit its climax with a highly anticipated headlining set from Carín León, who also performed at BottleRock Napa Valley festival one weekend prior.
The regional Mexican music superstar closed the 2025 La Onda down in fun fashion with a nearly two-hour set that sent the crowd home happy and looking forward to next year’s La Onda.
And, yes, we do happen to have dates for that:
The 2026 Festival La Onda by BottleRock takes place May 30-31, 2026.
Mexican singer Carin León performs at the La Onda stage during day two of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Mexican singer Ángela Aguilar performs during day two of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Mexican singer Codiciado performs during day two of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Banda MS performs during day one of the second Festival La Onda in Napa, Calif., on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)