Join the El Tecolote newsroom for a night of music, culture, and community at the 43rd annual Encuentro del Canto Popular. Hosted by Acción Latina, this year’s festival will be a vibrant celebration of Latinx heritage and talent at San Francisco’s The Chapel (777 Valencia Street) on December 8, 2024.


Headliner: La Doña

Headlining the festival is San Francisco’s own musical powerhouse, La Doña. A multi-instrumentalist, activist, and educator, La Doña (Cecilia Cassandra Peña-Govea) blends the traditional sounds of Latinx music—like corrido, cumbia, and mariachi—with modern styles, creating powerful performances that bring people together for healing, dancing, and collective action.


Featured Latinx artists

The night also features Inti Mystica, a group that mixes traditional Latin rhythms with hip-hop, rock, and electronic beats, offering a one-of-a-kind musical experience. Bululú, a high-energy band rooted in the music of Venezuela and the Caribbean, will deliver a dynamic show with styles ranging from calypso to salsa. Their LGBTQ+ inclusive, majority-female lineup is a celebration of diversity and Latinx pride.

María José Montijo will captivate audiences with her debut album Esotérica Tropical, a heartfelt tribute to Puerto Rico, filled with songs of resilience and healing. Rounding out the lineup is AGANA, a muralist and visual artist whose live performance art highlights themes of racial justice, women’s empowerment, and liberation.

Read more about the musicians:


Founded in 1982 by volunteers from El Tecolote, Encuentro del Canto Popular was born out of solidarity with the “Nuevo Cancion” movement, inspired by Chilean poet Víctor Jara, which used music as a tool to fight political oppression in Central and South America. Over the years, the festival has grown and evolved, embracing new sounds while staying true to its original message of unity and resistance.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this long-standing tradition—get your tickets today!

This program is curated by Fátima Ramirez, Rebeca Abidaíl Flores, and Bill Martinez.