AUSTIN, Texas — As part of KVUE's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we visited the Moody Amphitheater while Bidi Bidi Banda was setting up for another electric performance!
As a native Texan, Bidi Bidi Banda lead singer Stephanie Bergara always felt a closeness with the iconic Queen of Tejano, Selena.
“She’s always been so special to me,” Bergara said.
But when Bergara started Bidi Bidi Banda, she had no idea her idea would quickly turn into a profession.
“I thought it was just going to be something that flew under the radar – it’s just like a cool Selena thing. We sold the show out,” Bergara said. “Seeing the excitement on people’s faces, hearing Selena’s song live for the first time, I was like ‘Oh, we’re on to something big. This is going to change my life.’ And it did.”
But like Selena herself, Bidi Bidi Banda faced the obstacle of being overlooked because of their skin color.
“When you don’t see people who look like you, doing the things you want to do, it almost seems like it’s not possible,” Bergara said.
The adversity didn’t stop the band. In fact, it became their driving force to change the music industry. Now they only play venues that prioritize diversity.
“In 2020, we incorporated an inclusion rider, which says that we will only play shows that support other women of color, the LGBTQ community and Black Lives Matter,” Bergara said.
Bidi Bidi Banda is beloved not only by Austin but by Selena fans everywhere. They honor her legacy while setting the stage for the next wave of artists.
“When the door’s cracked open, we really want to kick it down to make sure that people who look like us also have those opportunities,” Bergara said.
To learn more about Bidi Bidi Banda’s story and to see where they’re playing next, check out the band's Instagram.
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