Not even a mini heatwave could deter thousands of Inland Empire residents from showing up to a local música Mexicana festival.
On a Saturday afternoon in May, when the temperature peaked at 100 degrees, dozens of banda fans filed into an ever-growing line outside downtown Riverside’s John W. North Park as they waited to enter La Tardeada. It’s a banda festival going on its second year and organized by Division 9 Gallery — a community arts space that hosts citywide Latino-focused cultural events.
Many of the attendees opted out of wearing comfortable summer attire, despite the intense heat, and instead put on their best vaquero outfits: a mix of leather botas, cowboy jeans held by intricately designed belts, embroidered blusas, plaid button-down shirts and classic tejanas…