Vive Latino 2025: Caifanes, Los Ángeles Azules & Molotov Among the Best of Day 1

The iconic Mexican rock band Caifanes appeared for the third time in their career at the music festival, in one of the most celebrated and notable performances of Saturday. Led by vocalist-songwriter Saúl Hernández, the band performed their new single “Y Caíste” live for the first time.

They also took the opportunity to speak out against the femicide crisis plaguing Mexico, taking a few minutes to screen the video for “Canción Sin Miedo” by singer-songwriter Vivir Quintana, dedicated to the feminist struggle against gender-based violence, which leaves 10 women murdered every day, according to UN Women figures. “A round of applause for the women who have made history in this country. Femicides have not stopped, and we demand that they stop. We will continue to speak out against it,” Hernández said during International Women’s Month.

Classics from the band such as “No Dejes Que,” ​​“Afuera” and “Nubes” were part of Caifanes’ setlist. The closing cover of Manu Chao’s popular song “Clandestino” was dedicated to immigrants after the band proclaimed that “no human being is illegal.”

Los Ángeles Azules returned to Vive Latino almost 13 years after their memorable debut at the rock festival. The group dedicated their show to the memory of Porfirio Mejía García, father of the founding members of this legendary band that has had all of Latin America and beyond dancing.

On their return to the festival, the group was joined by singers Natalia Lafourcade, Belinda, Ximena Sariñana and Denise Gutiérrez (Hello Seahorse!) to perform some of their classics, such as “El Listón de Tu Pelo” and “Entrega de Amor.” With Lafourcade, they performed a new version of their song “Nunca es Bastante.”

“Welcome. This is cumbia!” it was heard from the stage, unleashing euphoria among fans in the audience who showed off their best dance moves.

Following the announcement of the temporary retirement of Molotov’s vocalist and guitarist, Tito Fuentes, due to health reasons, the musician made a surprise appearance on Saturday during the rock group’s performance at Vive Latino to celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary with his bandmates.

“He did come. This was the surprise,” Paco Ayala told the thousands of people attending the show. Fuentes joined his bandmates, also including Micky Huidobro, Randy Ebright and Jay de la Cueva. The latter, a former founding member of the quartet, is replacing Fuentes during his “physical and mental” rehabilitation.

Molotov also dedicated a song to immigrants seeking to move to the U.S. to fulfill the so-called “American dream.” “A song for immigrants,” Huidobro said before performing “Frijolero.”

Emerging musician Macario Martínez, who recently gained popularity after going from street sweeper to TikTok sensation, was also one of the stars of day one at the rock festival. The Mexico City-born songwriter packed the Intolerant Tent, where thousands of people gathered to witness his debut at the chilango festival.

There, the folk musician not only sang the ballad that made him famous on digital platforms, “Sueña Bonito, Corazón,” in a regional Mexican version, but also other songs with which he is starting to make his mark on the music scene.

Martínez, who recently recorded the collab “Esa Noche” with Eslabón Armado for the group’s album Vibras de Noche II, also appeared as a special guest during Mexican rock band Little Jesus’ set.

Meme del Real made his solo debut on the stage of a major festival, after 35 years of history with Café Tacvba. The keyboardist of the renowned rock quartet performed some of the songs that will make up his first solo album, still untitled, as well as Tacvba hits of his own making, such as “Aviéntame,” which was featured on the soundtrack of Amores Perros, the Oscar-nominated film by Alejandro González Iñárritu.

The setlist also included “Princesa,” his new solo single, as well as Cafe Tacvba’s “Eres” and “Quiero Ver.”