It’s not that often that we get a chance to hear traditional Mexican music in our little rural Ontario town, but after an incredible week spent in Mexico I’m inspired! The music, the food, the people, the land, the culture, it’s also vibrant and colourful! And the vibe… it’s all about the vibe.

Los Paisanos Mariachi Band members have been based in Ottawa for 30 years now. They have become essential part of a few venues they play and are incredibly busy playing the music that is most true to them. We are so excited to be hosting them on the patio to cruise through the tables and dancers for a wild party on Tuesday, July 15 from 6 to 9 pm. Enjoy Mexican food and drink specials and more. Olé! Details and reservations here: web link

Seamus Cowan: Playing the original music of your country can feel very patriotic and connected to your country. What is your favourite thing about playing this music for the people?

Miguel Moreno: Seeing people having a good time, being happy and forgetting their problems for a while is our greatest enjoyment when performing. We are very interactive with the public and always strive to leave a good impression.

Q: You have all contributed to the band in different ways and come from different backgrounds. What brought you all together as a band?

Miguel: Our mutual enjoyment of the genre, the desire to expose people to Latin American culture through music plus seeing a vacancy for our music in Ottawa were definitely some factors that formed Los Paisanos. We actually started life as a trio. The trio evolved over time as we later began to incorporate more traditional Mariachi and Ranchero themed songs owing to demand. We also added brass instruments to enrich the sound and become a truer Mariachi band.

Q: I must confess, my knowledge of Mexican music and mariachi is quite limited. I want to learn and I’m excited about hearing your group play this music live. I’m sure you have many influences but who are some of your favourites?

Miguel: Like most traditional Mariachi bands, we are heavily influenced by such great singers as Vicente Fernandez and the Mariachi Vargas who kept traditional music alive even during times when younger generations had turned to rock and roll or other music fads. The music that Los Paisanos plays is very diverse and incorporates several Latin genres from all over Latin America, like salsa, merengue, cumbia and such owing to the rich multicultural nature of our region and in order to fulfill special requests from our clients.

Q: Clearly there is a Mexican music scene in Ottawa. What is the general Latin community like? Is it quite musical as it would traditionally be in Mexico? You are definitely well known as you have played some very impressive shows for government, exhibition, and fundraising events.

Miguel: As mentioned, the Latino community in the Ottawa-Gatineau region is a wonderful and extremely mixed melting pot of many Latino cultures all coming together. It’s probable that over time and over generations, a different blend of music and culture will emerge from this melting pot. Mexico still adheres to its traditions and roots, however, the internet and the exposure to other influences will inevitably cause change over time.

Q: I expect your music to be very traditional, but do you embrace some new sounds and influences? Do you feel like there is a strong future for the next generation playing this traditional music?

Miguel: There doesn’t seem to be a current trend in this region for new bands with younger musicians playing traditional music. Perhaps musicians arriving in Canada from other origins will form new traditional bands, be they Mariachi bands or not, but the tendency doesn’t seem to be there at the moment. It will probably depend on the demand and sustainability in the future. Posted: Jul 4, 2025 Originally Published: Jul 3, 2025