Accolades abound Friday night at the H&H Ballroom, the premiere Latin music dancehall of Austin, when Sonidos del Barrio honors local Tejano musicians. With support from the City of Austin’s Cultural Arts Division, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Austin Latino Music Association’s (ALMA) annual event focuses on Austin musicians with distinguished careers.

Up for awards this year are singer Joe Bravo and seven of the Capitol City’s horn players, including saxophonists Dave Gutierrez, Abel Gutierrez, Joe Salas, Tim Torres, and Jesse Botello plus trumpeters Jesse Hernandez and Lawrence Ramirez. Bravo performs along with A.J. Castillo and a rare appearance by the legendary Tortilla Factory, the seminal Chicano rock-and-soul band. Tortilla Factory’s All That Jazz was nominated at last year’s Grammys.

Sonidos del Barrios is only one of ALMA’s numerous events throughout the year. March saw the Trail of Tejano Legends honoring traditional performers, including Manuel “Cowboy” Donley, Roy Montelongo, and the Perez and Ramos families. In May, ALMA’s Latin Music Month program will highlight more Tejano and Latino musicians with events showcasing the wide variety of Latino musical styles.

Tickets for Friday, April 3 are $8 before 8pm; $10 afterward. Doors open at 7pm. Call 512-563-3697 for more information.

This article appears in March 27 • 2009.

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