Banda El Recodo Kicks Off Its 10th European Tour to ‘Celebrate the Legacy’ of Its Founder

There’s still a little more than a year until its 90th anniversary, but Banda El Recodo de Cruz Lizárraga has already started celebrating. The greatest exponent of Sinaloan banda is kicking off its 10th European tour on Friday (Sept. 18), while its exhibition at the Grammy Museum runs concurrently.

The nine-date trek begins in Rome and includes stops in Dublin, London, Madrid and Amsterdam before wrapping up in Zurich on Oct. 1.

“My father, Don Cruz Lizárraga, promised that banda music would reach all continents, and that has been the case since the first time Banda El Recodo crossed the Atlantic in 1995,” Alfonso “Poncho” Lizárraga, leader of the group, tells Billboard Español. “Last year we were also in Amsterdam, but many people were left outside, so we wanted to return. We always go to Madrid because it’s a city that always shows us so much love. We will never forget when the Plaza Mayor was completely filled in 2024.”

Lizárraga has carried on the legacy of his father, who passed away just as the band was arriving in Europe for the first time three decades ago.

“We’ve always liked to celebrate my father’s legacy in a big way. That’s why we wanted to start in Europe, bringing Mexican music that we are very proud of and committed to continuing to share with the world.”

The group’s history began in the Mexican town of El Recodo, Sinaloa, as an instrumental wind band, playing only traditional melodies from the region. Over the years, it became the favorite accompaniment for major stars of Mexican cinema and music, including Lola Beltrán and Juan Gabriel. Later, with the addition of vocals in the early ’90s, a new era began for the genre, paving the way for a successful movement that today is a fundamental part of traditional regional Mexican music.

On the Billboard charts, Banda El Recodo has achieved 21 No. 1s on Regional Mexican Airplay — the most recent being “La Cama de Piedra” in August — 56 entries on Hot Latin Songs and two on the Billboard 200, among others.

On Aug. 5, the Grammy Museum joined the kickoff of the band’s 90th anniversary celebrations with an exhibition showcasing items from the nine-time Latin Grammy-winning group, including album covers, uniforms and instruments used throughout their career. The show will remain open to the public until Dec. 31.

“For us, it is a great honor that the history of Banda El Recodo is present in such an important place for music, alongside great international stars,” Lizárraga says. “Sinaloan banda music represents an entire country. That’s a great source of pride and at the same time a great responsibility.”