By Corey Crable, Kansas City Hispanic News

The summer season has arrived, and with more people getting vaccinated from COVID-19, three local organizations are throwing a free party in the spirit of community. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, the Mattie Rhodes Center, and KC Hispanic News will jointly present a free concert on July 17 as local governments lifted or loosen COVID restrictions and community members long to get out and see one another in person once again.

Headliner Gary Hobbs, a popular Texas-based Tejano artist, will sing his famous songs to his fan base; Las Estrellas, whose members originally hail from the Westside neighborhood, will open for Hobbs. DJ Munch and DJ Astro will be on-site to keep the crowd energized as well. The concert will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at the corner of 17th Street and Jarboe in Kansas City, Mo.

Hobbs – and so many vaccinated residents agree – it’s about darn time. In a phone interview with Hispanic News, Hobbs said, “During the pandemic, there was a period where we didn’t work at all, I had been doing 110 days a year for years now until recently. (Over the last year), I’ve been doing some performances here and there — I (played) several birthday parties, a wedding in the countryside. But I’ve never taken the big audience venues for granted. You’re only as good as your last gig.”

Hobbs, who says he’s back to getting booked every weekend now, added, “We’re getting back into a groove, a grind. We thrive in that life. It’s been great, getting out there with people.”

Las Estrellas band leader Dave Tinoco and his members are looking forward to playing in their old neighborhood.

“We’re excited to be able to open up finally. We love keeping it here at home,” Tinoco said. “We need it and we owe it to ourselves. It gives us a chance to release a bit. It just feels right; this is the perfect timing.”

The timing of the concert is no coincidence, according to John Fierro, CEO of the Mattie Rhodes Center.

“Once I knew from a statistical standpoint that the city was doing better in positive COVID cases and more people getting vaccinated, I knew we had to get with our friends and sponsor this event,” Fiero said. “It’s been a tough 14, 16 months. I was giving up hope of when we’d be able to have large-scale events. Now we can bring people together in music and fellowship. It’s been a long time coming.”

Hobbs says he agrees that the time to get together is right. “We’re looking forward to being in Kansas City. We haven’t been here in a few years,” Hobbs said. “I think it has a lot more to do with people getting vaccinated. People are feeling safer. It’s great to see people, saying hello, getting a hug. We’re trying to feel normal again.”

Still, despite a feeling of returning to normalcy, there is a feeling of loss – the loss of those loved ones taken from their family too soon from the ravages of COVID. Those who have lost their lives will be honored at the concert, too, says Joe Arce, publisher of KC Hispanic News and one of the concert’s organizers.

“There have been a lot of tears shed. This will be a celebration of life for those who didn’t make it,” Arce said. “We want to acknowledge that (by having) a moment of silence.”

Carlos Gomez, president and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber, said the old adage that “music soothes the soul” is certainly true, and that the concert will be a fiesta while still honoring the lives the community has lost over the past year.

“What will relieve pain is community support. We’ve had many people on the Westside lose family member or friend,” Gomez said, adding that musicians and entertainers are also mourning a loss as well. “We need to help them celebrate their life… Many people in the Tejano industry lost loved ones during COVID, so this will be a celebration of life.”

Hobbs says he is touched to be able to help others heal with the power of music and simply getting out of your seat and dancing.

“I think for our mental health, it’s a good thing,” Hobbs said.

The organizers, too, are excited to be able to partner and offer a free concert for a community in need of normalcy and some fun.

“We’re trying to give back to the community… This is a chance for people to get together and celebrate again,” Gomez explains. “We missed all of our fiestas.”

Arce observes that the concert will allow attendees the opportunity to reunite with loved ones both near and far.

“I think this is going have a large impact greater than Kansas City,” Arce predicts. “We will have people from the suburbs, from other states. It’s going to give them an opportunity to see friends and family members. People from the community will come back to see loved ones and reminisce about the good old days.”

The concert will be the perfect chance to showcase togetherness – not just of those people from the Westside, but the organizations who serve it, too.

“How much have all those entities been part of this community? This sends a good message – that together, we’re better,” Gomez said.

Fierro agrees.

“It speaks to the relationship we have with the chamber and Kansas City Hispanic News,” he said. “They’re genuine friendships, so any opportunity we have to work with them, it’s something I’m looking for.”

Arce says though the concert did cost money to organize, he’s happy the organizations didn’t pass that cost on to the public and allowing this outdoor concert to free to those who want to come out to dance and to visit with their family and friends and enjoy the Tejano sounds and great weather.

“I enjoy projects like this, working with other entities. That’s what Kansas City Hispanic News is known for,” Arce said. “It’s not always about money. Yes, it’s costing a few dollars, but this is a win for our community. We want everyone to come and enjoy themselves.”

There will be Latino food trucks on-site; organizers ask everyone to bring their own lawn chairs and beverages.

This article was originally published in Kansas City Hispanic News. For the Spanish translation, click here.