Guillermo Velázquez y Los Leones de la Sierra - Serrano de Corazón

The Guardian 60

(Smithsonian Folkways/Discovery)

Xichú is a little town in the mountains of Guanajuato state, Mexico, and the location for the extraordinary all-night New Year topada, in which rival teams of poets and their musicians battle for hours, cheered on by thousands of spectators before a winner is declared. The style is known as huapango arribeño and the folk poet and singer Guillermo Velázquez is a specialist. He describes the event in The Poets’ Topada, a remarkable 20-minute piece in which he recites and sings, backed by his own huapanguera large-bodied guitar, the small jarana guitar and violins – and with two other poet/singers acting out the role of contestants. Elsewhere, he uses spoken word and song to discuss highland life or migration to the United States, and provides backing for Chabe Flores with her gutsy songs about women’s empowerment. An intriguing, energetic set – though more detailed translations would have been useful.