Julieta Venegas returned to Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional on Wednesday (June 18) after nearly a decade to pay tribute to her borderland roots with the tour named after her new album, Norteña. She did so accompanied by guest musicians and a performance focused on her new songs played to the rhythm of the accordion, along with some classics and even a small homage to the iconic Juan Gabriel.
Dressed in a pink attire, cowboy hat and boots, Venegas presented a conceptual show to the 10,000 attendees (according to figures from Ocesa) who packed the venue. The show combined elements of northern Mexican culture inspired by her hometown of Tijuana, photos of Baja California’s desert taken by her twin sister Yvonne Venegas, and a band featuring wind instruments.
“Oh, how exciting! Mexico City, how wonderful to be here, what a wonderful night!” the artist exclaimed at the start of the show. “You don’t know how happy we are to reunite with you, to return to the Auditorio. It’s been so long since we’ve been here, and for you to fill it up tonight means so much.”
Among the night’s special guests were rising regional Mexican star Majo Aguilar, singer-songwriter Girl Ultra, singer-songwriter El David Aguilar (who also co-produced Norteña), Santiago Casillas, lead singer of Little Jesus, and Israel Ramírez of Belafonte Sensacional. One of the most special moments of the night came when Venegas paid tribute to the iconic Juan Gabriel, an undisputed legend of Mexican culture and one of her greatest inspirations, as she has stated on several occasions.
The show opened with “Tiempos Dorados,” the first single from Norteña, which also inspired her first book, Norteña: Memorias del Comienzo (published by Editorial Almadía). In the book, the singer-songwriter narrates her life on the U.S.-Mexico border and how it influenced her musical project, as well as her early days in music before the release of her debut album Aquí (1997).
The setlist included songs like “La Línea,” “Ese Camino,” “Caprichos del Azar” (performed alongside El David Aguilar), “Oleada,” “Algo Está Cambiando,” “Amigas” (featuring Girl Ultra) and “Leyendas de Tijuana,” the latter dedicated to her hometown. Later in the show, a keyboard-driven version of “Lento” delighted the audience, who also cheered for her hits “Eres Para Mí,” “Me Voy” and “Limón y Sal.”
Here are the five most unforgettable moments from Julieta Venegas’ return to the Auditorio Nacional, one of the most iconic venues in Latin America.
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Musical Sisterhood
Venegas brought to the stage one of her guests, the Mexican R&B singer-songwriter Girl Ultra, to perform “Amigas,” one of the new tracks included in Norteña. The Tijuana native played the accordion while Mariana de Miguel (her guest’s real name) moved across the stage showcasing a powerful voice that gave the song an R&B feeling.
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Multigenerational Talent
Throughout her career, Venegas has demonstrated her support for younger generations of musicians by incorporating them into her projects or iconic concerts. On this occasion, the Tijuana-born artist invited the singers of Belafonte Sensacional and Little Jesus — Israel Ramírez and Santiago Casillas, respectively — to perform with her “Volver a Ti” and “Lo Que Va a Pasar” on the show. The mix added a more contemporary touch, resulting from the fusion of rock with traditional Mexican music.
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A Meaningful Tribute to Juanga
There was also a moment to remember the great “Divo de Juárez” — one of the figures who has most influenced the singer-songwriter’s style, as she herself has revealed in various interviews — with a rendition of his classic “No Me Vuelvo a Enamorar.” Staying true to the norteño style of her show and latest album, featuring requinto and wind instruments, this new version of Juan Gabriel’s classic took on a fresh life, celebrated and sung along to by the audience.
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A Birthday Song
Among the anecdotes Julieta Venegas shared with the audience during the show, she highlighted the story behind the song “Te Celebramos,” written for her father, veteran photographer José Luis Venegas. “Daughter, I never ask you for anything, but I’m going to turn 80 years old, and I would like you to write me a song,” the singer recalled her father saying to her. On this occasion, however, she dedicated this fusion of norteño and country music to Flor, a member of her band, and to all the other birthday celebrants present.