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US Visa Suspensions Force Grupo Firme Off La Onda Festival Lineup

The State Department’s move extends Trump-era restrictions on musicians whose lyrics are deemed to celebrate cartel violence.

FILE - Members of the Mexican regional band "Grupo Firme" perform during a free concert in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Sept. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)
The La Onda festivval in Napa on June 2, 2024. Grupo Firme, the chart-topping regional Mexican band based in Tijuana, has canceled its scheduled performance at this weekend’s La Onda festival in Napa, after being denied entry into the United States.
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Overview

  • Grupo Firme announced its visas are under administrative review at the U.S. Embassy, making it impossible for the band to headline La Onda Fest in Napa on June 1.
  • Festival organizers confirmed rising corrido star Tito Double P will replace Grupo Firme on the Verizon Stage this Sunday.
  • The State Department has revoked or suspended visas of multiple narco-corrido artists, including Los Alegres del Barranco and Julión Álvarez, over concerns their music glorifies cartel figures.
  • La Onda’s terms and conditions bar refunds for lineup changes, prompting frustration among some ticket holders.
  • Artists and fans have criticized the visa policies as politicizing cultural performances and undermining Latin music’s presence in the U.S.