Culture: In Chicago, Norteño’s roots meet a new generation
Four bandas, two regions and one champion took over Plaza Garibaldi as Red Bull Banda Choque returned to Chicago for a second year.
I have lived in Chicago my whole life, and I had never been to Plaza Garibaldi, but I had always wanted to go. The plaza has a long history of hosting musical events, and standing in it, I could feel why.
The music on stage has deep roots.
Norteño and Texas-Mexican conjunto developed through the cultural exchange of northeastern Mexico and South Texas, where Mexican and Mexican American musicians adopted and reshaped European-derived instruments and dance forms.
From there, the sound traveled. In cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, it found a voice of its own.
The crowd decided who advanced. Everyone was handed red and blue bandanas and voted with them, in the end Neto Becerra from Los Angeles, , won earning the 2026 title and West Coast bragging rights. Chicago and Echale Ganas’ own Luis Sanchez returned as host.
The competition pitted Midwest bands against West Coast bands in a multi-round live showdown. Chicago’s Los de la Homan and Los K-Bros faced California’s Neto Becerra and Dueto Consentido.
Check out the gallery below, next year, Los Angeles will have a title to defend and Chicago will have something to prove.
