ResacaFest highlights holiday weekend

NEWS Staff Report

ResacaFest 2024 will highlight the Independence Day weekend in the San Benito area.
The holiday weekend staple, slated this year on Saturday, July 6, 2024, returns to San Benito’s storied Heavin Memorial Park off of Business 77, in the heart of the Resaca City.

The annual community event once again this year features food vendors, arts & crafts, children’s activities, cold beverages, live music, and a fireworks show to end the evening.

According to the City of San Benito, live music begins at 5 p.m. and the fireworks show starts around 9:15 p.m. More live music will immediately follow the fireworks show and will continue until the event ends at 11 p.m.

This year’s live performances include: Jamming Joe, Frutty Villarreal y Los Mavericks, La Calma, and Stefani Montiel.

Entrance to ResacaFest and the live entertainment are free of charge but vendors will be charging for food, beverages and other vendor goods.

Stefani Barela Sullivan, better known as Stefani Montiel, has a musical repertoire that includes everything from ballads, rancheras, salsas, cumbias and her signature mix of Latin and R&B.

According to her official biography, at the age of five, Montiel released her first single to a warm industry welcome. At the age of nine, her first full length LP racked up three hits, and by 15, yet another record was released making her a veteran in the industry.

Montiel soon signed with Capital EMI, and had her sights set on making her mark and a new star was ready to shine on San Antonio, the Capital of Tejano Music. Immediately, the Tejano industry and fans were captivated by her music, and with two major hits, she then signed a lucrative long-term record deal with Sony Discos.

Montiel soon set her sights on conquering Mexico, which welcomed her with open arms, and in front of more than 100,000 fans, she was named the Queen of the Monterrey Fair.
Her anticipated second album proved that she was not a “one-hit wonder” and proved to the industry that she was a major star. By the release of her third and fourth albums, Montiel had not only established loyal fans but a deep catalog of album releases and numerous awards and nominations.

The release of her fifth album contained a strongly rooted Tejano sound fused with regional Mexican, pop and tropical hints that has become Montiel’s signature style.

The first single, “Ay Papi” drew instantaneous success throughout the country, catapulting her to an international market. In Puerto Rico, the song debuted at number four between Metallica and Celine Dion. At the rising success of the album, VH1 aired the “Ay Papi” video, solidifying her as a bonafide star and songwriter, earning her first Grammy nomination for, “Best Tejano Performance” at the first Latin Grammys.

With all her success and second Latin Grammys nomination for, “Best Tejano Album,” it was time that the American Grammy’s took notice for her sixth album, nominating her for, “Best Tejano Album”.

In the summer of 2005, Montiel collaborated with two of Tejano music’s iconic artists, creating the group, Las 3 Divas. Again, the American and Latin Grammys took notice, nominating the group for, “Best Tejano Album” and “Best Mexican/American album,” making this Montiel’s third and fourth Grammy nod. The demand for the group was so great, it sparked a tour throughout the United States, Alaska, Japan and Korea.

As Las 3 Divas tour came to an end, Montiel’s star shined so brightly, she was asked to return to Alaska, Korea and Japan, later adding Spain and Hawaii to her world tour.

For her seventh album, Montiel paid tribute to her uncle Joe Barela, recording songs he had written. In 2009, her eighth album, “Divina” reminded the industry why she was so successful, earning her sixth Grammy nomination for “Best Tejano Album.”

Critics note that Montiel not only stands out for her incredible vocals, she is a tremendous performer, drawing crowds with her energetic shows entertaining her faithful fans and opening the eyes and ears to new ones.