Exploring the sounds, sights, and flavors of Northern Mexico, musical bliss, and high-energy performances kick off P’al Norte Festival on Day one.
The first day of the P’al Norte Festival in Monterrey, Mexico was a roaring success with Billie Eilish headlining the event. The festival was held in Parque Fundidora, which provided a perfect venue for the event. The park was transformed into a (without exaggeration) massive music festival ground, with multiple stages and areas for food, drinks, and merchandise. The event and venue are so large, “getting lost in the park” could be a fitting subtitle for the event.
The festival afternoon and evening got underway with an energetic set by DJ and producer, Steve Aoki. The cake-tossing DJ and producer had the crowd bouncing to his high-energy beats. Aoki played a mix of his own hits, as well as some popular tracks from other artists, and the crowd loved every minute of it.
Friday evening also included the sounds of Wisin & Yandel, a popular Puerto Rican reggaeton duo. The duo had the crowd dancing and singing along to their hits such as “Rakata” and “Pam Pam.” Their performance set the tone for the rest of the evening with high-energy performances from all the artists that were to perform that evening. The duo performed a mix of old and new material and the audience was completely enthralled.
Australian pop-punk band 5 Seconds of Summer brought their unique sound and energetic performance to the festival. The band’s performance included fan favorites like “Youngblood” and “She Looks So Perfect,” which had the crowd singing along at the top of their lungs. Latin American fans know all the words to their favorite songs from almost every group performing. If a band comes out late, the audiences break into songs of their own. Who needs to wait for the band to have fun?
As the night wore on, the crowd was treated to the appearance of Scottish indie rockers Franz Ferdinand. The band’s infectious energy and catchy guitar riffs were definitely a highlight of the night. Franz Ferdinand brought their signature indie rock sound, playing a mix of old favorites and newer material and the crowd sang along literally to every word. The energy in the air was palpable as the band played hit after hit, including “Take Me Out” and “No You Girls.”Fred Again, the British producer and DJ, took to the EDM stage at about 10.30 PM, bringing a unique sound that combined techno, house, and pop music. His set was one of the highlights of the day at the electronic music stage, which burned bright all day and night with little or no break between artists, keeping the crowd lost in the beats and dancing non-stop. The popular DJ/Producer who has worked with the likes of Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous,” and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.” The set by Fred Again was well-attended and had his crowd dancing and begging for more after it was done.
Finally, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for. It was straight up midnight (more on that later) and time for Billie Eilish’s headline performance. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter took to the stage in a Chicago Bulls jersey and launched into a high-energy set that showcased her unique blend of pop, indie, and electronic music. Midway through, she broke the set up by taking a two-song acoustic interlude, singing and playing acoustic guitar with her brother Finneas.
Eilish’s set included hits like “Bad Guy” and “Ocean Eyes,” as well as newer material from her 2021 album, Happier Than Ever. Throughout the performance, the singer interacted with the crowd, engaging in playful banter and encouraging everyone to dance and sing along, although it went without asking as the crowd sang along to every song.
The night was not over. Festivals in Mexico tend to run very late or early depending on your point of your view, with the final sets STARTING around 1.30 or 2.00 AM. Overall, the first day of the Tecate P’al Norte Festival was a huge success with attendance estimates at over 130,000 attendees each day. The diverse lineup kept the audience engaged and entertained, and the energy of the crowd was contagious. With two more days of music, food, and fun still to come, it’s clear that this festival is going to be one for the books.
