By Patty G.

The first Sol Summit Music & Cultura Festival took over San Jacinto Plaza in Downtown El Paso on May 2 and May 3, and it was an absolute blast.

Now, because I don’t do reviews, you’ll have to settle for the slideshow for the details. (Also note that the slideshow only features local groups because my goal with Dirt City EP is to give the locals more exposure.) This is just me rambling about festivals in general. But if this were a review, I’d say it was lovely and a strong, heartfelt debut for a much‑needed local indie- and Latin-music festival.

If this were a review, I’d tell you how the crowd and the bands radiated love and joy. Watching people move, dance and genuinely have fun was pure magic. There’s something special about seeing a crowd lose itself in the moment and  show love to each other and to the artists. Big kudos to the local acts who kicked off the days. Being the first or second set of the day is no easy feat, but those who did brought the energy early and set the tone beautifully.

My love for music festivals runs deep. I was 8 years old when I went to my first concert: the KLAQ Balloon Festival at Mountain Shadow Lakes. I’m pretty sure Stevie Ray Vaughan played that year. As the youngest of seven kids, I had the advantage of older siblings with great taste. When my oldest brother took the family van to concerts, guess who got to tag along? Lucky me.

Back then, I wasn’t there for the music — I just wanted to swim and hang out. But when my brother lifted me onto his shoulders so I could see the stage, I was hooked. It blew my little mind. We went to the Balloon Festival many times after that and I loved every minute: the vibe, the people, the music. It was all electric.

When my oldest sister moved to California, she helped me keep the tradition alive. As a teen, she got me and another sister tickets to festivals out there — KROQ Weenie Roast and Lollapalooza when it toured the country. Later I got to attend the R.O.A.R. Tour (Sponge, Bloodhound Gang, Sevendust!); HORDE Tour (Blues Traveler, Lenny Kravitz, Dave Matthews!); and Warped Tour (Rancid, The Suicide Machines, BMXer Rick Thorne! – the first year it came to the area was at the El Paso County Coliseum and let’s just say, they were never asked back, lolz), all traveling festivals that came through the Borderland. Curiosa Festival with my sisters in Phoenix in 2004. Coachella with some dear friends and my sister in 2004 and 2005. Each one added another layer to my love for live music and the community that forms around it.

Those early festival experiences shaped how I see music today; not just as performance, but as connection. Every show since has carried that same spark I felt as a kid on my brother’s shoulders. It’s the shared pulse between artist and audience, the way a crowd becomes one living, breathing rhythm.

And while I don’t do many festivals these days, I made my way to Sol Summit. Sol Summit felt so special. It wasn’t just a lineup, it was a reunion of El Paso’s creative spirit. The plaza buzzed with the same energy I remember from those early days: families, friends, strangers all moving together under the desert sun. It reminded me that festivals aren’t just about music; they’re about belonging. And El Paso, with its mix of cultures and sounds, deserves a festival that feels this alive.

Looking back, those early festivals taught me what community feels like when music is the heartbeat. That same feeling was alive at Sol Summit. The sense that El Paso’s creative pulse is stronger than ever. You could see it in the faces of the crowd, hear it in every chord and feel it in the desert air.

This city has always had the talent, the passion and the stories. What Sol Summit did was give them a stage, right in the heart of downtown, where everyone could gather and celebrate what makes El Paso shine. And that was the best part for me: getting to see local bands get a little time with the national and international acts.

If this is just the beginning, then the future of Sol Summit Music & Cultura Festival looks bright. And if you were there, you already know: it wasn’t just a festival. It was a reminder that El Paso’s music scene is vibrant and talented and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for our musicians.