A personalized story through introspective lyrics will be brought to Bellingham by Y La Bamba’s genre-fusing harmonies on Feb. 18.
Y La Bamba will perform their mix of indie, folk and pop music in the Viking Union’s multi-purpose room, said Ava Gedicks, the concert coordinator for Western’s Arts and Music Productions.
Scholarship tickets are available to 10% of prospective Y La Bamba concert-goers.
“I wanted to make sure that our events are inclusive to anyone who wants to attend,” Gedicks said.
Events produced by the Arts and Music Productions are usually free. Since this concert is bigger and ticketed, scholarship tickets can provide a way for fans to attend who otherwise would not be able to, Gedicks said.
To gain scholarship tickets, send an email to Gedicks with an explanation of why they are interested in attending, Gedicks said.
Luz Elena Mendoza Ramos writes and sings Y La Bamba’s songs in both Spanish and English with accompaniment from their band. This tour will showcase their newest album, “Lucha.”
“Luz, the singer’s voice is sweet and floral like honey,” said Julian Weisman, a bassist and fan of the group.
Weisman saw Y La Bamba perform at Neumos, a concert venue in Seattle, on Jan. 18, 2024.
Since Seattle was the first stop on their previous tour, they were still workshopping harmonies. They made the energy casual and fun, yet still professional, Weisman said.
Y La Bamba explores concepts of identity through an expression of a melodic blend.
A cover of “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” by Hank Williams is featured on their album “Lucha.” They put a personalized indie twist on the 1952 country song by incorporating calming nature sounds. Their voice and acoustic guitar brings a gentle lull to the tune.
Y La Bamba’s website explains the connection between “Lucha” and the isolation born from COVID-19. Their soul-searching lines explore the unexplainable feeling of loneliness that the pandemic brought.
Sharing experiences through song lyrics dives into Mendoza Ramos’ personal narrative. Their song style infuses the experience of being a first-generation American into their storytelling, according to Y La Bamba’s website.
Mendoza Ramos brings their compelling harmonies to each city and venue they play at. Their sound is refreshing and honest, Gedicks said.
Gedicks predicts that the group will bring a mixed audience of younger, college-age people and older members of the Bellingham community.
“The show is totally open to the public,” Gedicks said.
Music productions at Western rely on different skills members of the Arts and Music Productions bring, said Sophia Kennedy, a marketing coordinator at Arts and Music Productions.
Prospective performers on campus are discussed by members of the team. Gedicks will usually find artists, and they will be looked over as a group, Kennedy said.
Smaller bands will typically be scouted out by Gedicks. Additionally, a suggestion box is available for people to input bands they want to perform at Western, Kennedy said.
“We put a lot of thought into diversity and accessibility in our office,” Kennedy said. “We try to not only think about what students want to see but also what different experiences we can highlight.”
A collaboration of artistic visions between the team creates the Arts and Music Productions’ intuitive musical decisions, said Kennedy.
Arts and Music Productions released a campus-wide survey that also helped decide what artists to book, said Sylvia London, a production assistant at Arts and Music Productions.
“We hope there is a concert for everyone on campus,” said London.
Allie Van Parys is a campus life reporter for The Front. They are in their second year at Western, majoring in communication studies and minoring in public relations. In their free time, you can find them playing the drums, making collages, and hanging out at the beach. You can contact them at allievanparys.thefront@gmail.com.
