Grocery Store Features Local Latino Artists on “Tiny Desk Concert”-Inspired Stage
NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts have showcased skilled musicians from across the globe to fresh audiences. Its charm lies not just in the stripped-down performances artists deliver, but also in the seemingly mundane backdrop of a small office space. Inspired by this concept, Fiesta Fresh Market, a grocery store in Delaware, aimed to provide local artists with a similarly unremarkable stage—right next to the produce section. Thus, the Mercadito Sessions came to life.
Fiesta Fresh Market, which offers a range of Mexican groceries from piñatas to tostadas and pan dulce, is operated by the Aguilar-Garcia family, who hail from Mexico. With a deep-rooted passion for music, they passed this love onto their children, including Jose Luis Aguilar-Garcia, who aids Mexican-American bands in realizing their full potential in the music industry.
“For a long time, it was difficult to find a place that felt like home,” Aguilar-Garcia shared with CBS Philadelphia. “Our goal is to spotlight independent artists and singer-songwriters. The first time we hosted it, it was quite amusing because the customers were initially very hesitant to step in; they seemed almost bothered by our event in the store. However, now that it’s gaining traction online, people are thrilled. They inquire about when we’ll host the next one.”
Most of the bands featured in the Mercadito Sessions perform Mexican Regional music, each adding their own flair to the genre. “We have a little bit of everything. Whatever your taste, you’ll appreciate us,” states the lead singer of Ilusión, one of the performing bands. For him, these mini concerts offer a thrilling chance that goes beyond music. “It provides us with a platform to showcase our true selves. I believe there’s a lot of misunderstanding about who we are. We are simply human beings.”
With the rising popularity of the Mercadito Sessions, the Aguilar-Garcias are enhancing them. On March 20, they’ll be hosting four bands as part of a small festival called The Meltdown. This will also welcome English-language bands playing various other genres, like indie rock and surf punk.
To keep informed about the Mercadito Sessions, follow Fiesta Fresh Market on Instagram.
Fiesta Fresh Market, a grocery store in Delaware, offers local artists a distinctive yet completely ordinary stage to perform in their Mercadito Sessions.
Drawing inspiration from NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, they invite local Mexican-American bands to play in the produce aisle.
“It provides us with a platform to showcase our true selves. I believe there’s a lot of misunderstanding about who we are. We are simply human beings.”
Fiesta Fresh Market: [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/fiestafreshmarket)
Sources: [Mercadito Sessions: Delaware supermarket doubles as concert venue](https://6abc.com/post/fiesta-fresh-farmers-market-delaware-doubles-concert-venue/18685668/)
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