And the beat goes on: South Padre International Music Festival continues

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND — The second day of the South Padre International Music Festival started at noon on a sunny day and with many of the bands performing right along the beach and the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

“This is probably one of the nicest setups I’ve ever played in,” said Nakia of the Austin band Nakia and His Southern Cousins. “I probably could have played in shorts today.”

The group performed Saturday at Wanna Wanna, a beach bar and grill on the Island.

“I think the festival is a great idea,” Nakia said. “Why not have a big music festival on the beach — and it’s literally right on the beach.”

Bands from across Texas and around the world gathered on the Island for the three-day festival with more than 50 bands performing at 13 venues over the first two days.

Island resident Lynne Tate said she heard songs performed by Nakia and His Southern Cousins on the music festival’s Web site.

“I couldn’t stop dancing,” Tate said.

Tate and her friend Connie Pearcy, a Dallas resident, were at Wanna Wanna Saturday to hear the band perform live and bought CDs.

Pearcy traveled to the Island to attend the music festival, she said.

”That song ought to be the number one hit in the country,” Tate said. “That’s how I feel about it.”

Nakia said he and his fellow band members were excited about performing their music, which he described as “southern rock fused with Appalachian soul,” at such a large festival.

Eidman Hall, a band from Brownsville, was set up Saturday under a gazebo near the pool behind La Quinta.

Dallas residents Mike and Debbie Loinette sat near the band and listened while they enjoyed the day.

“They’re good,” Mike Loinette said. “We kind of just chanced upon them. We just came out to have a beer.”

The night before, the couple ate dinner at Amberjack’s, a bayside restaurant, and could hear music coming from nearby venues.

“So we had good food and listened to good music,” Mike Loinette said.

The lead singer from Eidman Hall talked to the crowd between songs and asked if anyone had requests.

People lounged by the pool near the band and others danced in their seats as they listened to the music.

“I think the idea of the festival is good for the Rio Grande Valley and for our area because it brings music that wouldn’t have made it over here otherwise,” said Xavier Gonzalez, who plays keyboards and the saxophone for Eidman Hall. “It brings something a little bit different — a variety of music that may not normally be heard here in the Valley.”

Cristina Esparza and Freddy Gonzalez decided to attend the festival because Esparza is a fan of the Mexican band Jaguares.

“It’s also a little vacation,” Gonzalez said. “We’re both teachers.”

Esparza said Gonzalez enjoyed music at Schlitterbahn Beach Waterpark early in the day as they waited for Jaguares to take the stage.

“We’ll probably go around and hear different bands and then go to the beach and then come back,” Gonzalez said.

Esparza said the festival brought a good mixture of music to the Island.