SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1 & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2025

MEXICO CITY

Mexican Day of the Dead with a Tiki Twist!

Live bands and vinyl DJs playing exotica, surf, rock'n'roll, rhythm & blues, mambo, garage and more!

Polynesian dance! Tropical cocktails!

Boat trip and secret party on the canals of Xochimilco!

...and more...

CONTACT: mexotika.info@gmail.com

DAY 1: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1

COSTUME PARTY · 8PM-2AM

PATA NEGRA (5 de mayo #49, Centro Histórico, Mexico City)

LIVE: Los Apaches, The Centellas, Los Chanekes

ON THE DECKS: Tropicana Joe, Anacleto Stellar, Denepa Panky, Matt Watson

POLYNESIAN DANCE SHOW: Te Fare Ori No Otahi (company led by Ma. Elena Otahi, ex dancer and choreographer of Mexico's most legendary tiki restaurant, the Mauna Loa)

GO-GO DANCERS: Las Flamingo Sisters

COSTUME CONTEST

MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Fayuka Records

DAY 2: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2

EXPEDITION TO XOCHIMILCO · 12PM-6PM

Boat trip in traditional "trajinera" on the Aztec-era canals in the south of the city

Horror legends and tropical cocktails with top bartenders, including:

IZZY ORTEGA (winner best bartender in Mexico, Shaker Awards 2024)

ISAAC AMEZCUA (co-founder, Alofah Tiki Bar)

Secret party with vinyl DJs on one of Xochimilco's creepiest islands

Includes 4 cocktails!

(Transport info coming soon)

AFTERPARTY · 7PM-??

ALOFAH TIKI BAR (Coahuila #49, Roma Norte, Mexico City)

To end the weekend with a bang, a totally tiki party with some very special guests behind the bar and on the decks... and more surprises!

LIVE:

LOS APACHES

(Los Angeles, California)

Established in 2012 in Los Angeles, California, Los Apaches are a savage instrumental rock 'n' roll force. Their sound is a gritty, untamed beast, paying homage to pioneers like Link Wray, The Sonics, and Dick Dale. They’ve already blown the roof off at events like Viva Las Vegas and the Rockin’ Race (Spain), and now they’re coming to Mexico for the first time. Prepare for raw energy and a lead guitar assault of heavy, overdriven licks that define the Los Apaches experience!

THE CENTELLAS

(Mexico City)

Formed in Mexico City in 2018, this all-girl trio have made a name for themselves as one of the best groups in the current Mexican surf music scene with a style and attitude that injects new life into the genre while paying tribute to its 1960s roots. They’ve taken their electrifying sound to events like the Mosquito Records Festival (Peru), Baja Surf Stomp and Grasa y Gasolina, and they’ve just come back from a successful tour of the Mexican Caribbean.

Get ready for a tidal wave of reverb and adrenaline that will engulf the whole island!

LOS CHANEKES

(La Isla de los Muertos)

Representing the “local talent” of the island, Los Chanekes have inhabited its mysterious jungles since prehistoric times. Legend says that the few expeditions who have dared to explore the darkest depths of the island have ended up frightened to death by these mischievous spirits. Elsewhere, some people claim to have seen them possess members of various groups such as The Cavernarios, Telekrimen and Petate del Muerto.

Now, in their first presentation in their creepy natural habitat, they will hypnotize us with their tribal percussion, wild garage guitars and otherworldly melodies! An eerie exotic experience – only for the brave!

DJS:

TROPICANA JOE

(Austin, Texas)

Tropicana Joe was born in Italy but has spent the past 16 years living in Austin, Texas, where he was crowned Best DJ in the City at last year’s Austin Music Awards. Known as “The International Ambassador of the Exotica Sound,” he’s taken his incredible record collection around the globe — including appearances at Tiki Oasis, Rockin’ Race, and of course, the first Mexotika Weekend in La Paz last year.

His warm personality, impeccable taste, and inimitable sense of style have made him a true underground icon; The Carnivals even wrote a song about him, and the Japanese aloha shirt brand Sun Surf recently released a special edition in his honor.

Get ready for a set full of jungle rhythms, voodoo drums, and more forbidden sounds from around the world! And remember… don’t stop the conga line!

ANACLETO STELLAR

(Planet Vulcan)

Originally from the planet Vulcan, Stellar first descended to Earth in the city of Oaxaca with the mission to infect human ears with the wild sounds of surf, garage a-go-go and intergalactic rock'n'roll.

His determination to accomplish this objective has taken him all over Mexico, from the scorching deserts of the north to the tropical beaches of the Caribbean, hypnotizing unsuspecting earthlings with his unhinged records and captivating stage show wherever he goes.

Now it seems he will use his cosmic powers on the turntables to force anyone brave enough to step foot on la Isla de los Muertos to dance like they were possessed. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!

PACHUCO PINOL

(Monterrey, Nuevo León)

Pachuco Pinol is a renowned dancer and DJ based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, with a career spanning over 25 years. His deep-rooted passion for the energetic rhythms and unique sense of style of the elegant Pachuco culture of the 1930s, 40s and 50s, has turned him into a recognized cultural icon in the city’s creative scene.

For La Isla de los Muertos, he’s packing a set full of jump blues, mambo, cha-cha-cha, ska and more swingin’ sounds bound to have us shaking our bones til the bitter end!

THE GREAT GALLASPY

(San Diego, California)

Born in Southern Louisiana during Mardi Gras, Will Gallaspy AKA “The Great Gallaspy” has bacchanal in his bones. After spending years jet-setting from jump-up to jump-up to join various incarnations of carnival, and collecting records, tapes, and surreptitious field recordings along the way, he began releasing bootleg compilations under the name “Jerkstore Soundsystem” roughly ten years ago. After a brief fling with college radio in San Diego he went underground, popping up at backyard bashments and swanky hi-fi lounges alike. He has recently been sighted at Tiki Oasis, The Ohana Reunion, Sound by the Sea, and Jaguar’s Paw in Southern California. Do not expect to see this famously elusive sound smuggler on social media anytime soon, but if you say his name three times, flicker the lights, and pour a little rum on the ground he just might appear to unleash his mix of mid-century necromancy.

DENEPA PANKY

(Mexico City/La Paz)

One of the organizers of Mexotika Weekend, Denepa is the co-founder of “Born to be Cheap” the trash rock’n’roll parties that have been electrifying the dancefloors of Mexico and beyond for more than 9 years. For La Isla de los Muertos, she promises a set full of infectious and spinetingling 1950s and 60s rhythms: exotic shakers, reverb-laden surf, and of course, plenty of Mexican go-go sounds. Always with heaps of energy behind the turntables, when Denepa is spinning, one thing is for sure: we won’t be able to stop moving our feet!

MATT WATSON

(UK/Mexico City/La Paz)

Co-organizer of Mexotika Weekend and the other half of Born to be Cheap (with Denepa Panky), Matt started spinning records 15 years ago in his native England. In 2014, he moved to Mexico and quickly immersed himself in the local music scene and Mexican culture. For La Isla de los Muertos, he'll be taking a set of tiki noir rhythms, full of mysterious melodies, jungle sounds, beatnik bongos and sleazy sax...

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:

FAYUKA RECORDS

(Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua)

The raspy voice of Mexotika, the terrifying town crier of La Isla de los Muertos, our master of ceremonies… ¡FAYUKA RECORDS!

From the secret tunnels beneath the Mexico-US border comes our favorite rock’n’roll caveman to direct the diabolic Saturday night revelry. And if that wasn’t enough, on Sunday he’ll make us dance the spooky watusi with his selection of ultra garaaaaaaaage 45rpm vinyl, a lightning bolt of fuzz and screams guaranteed to wake the dead!

DANCE SHOW:

TE FARE ORI NO OTAHI

(Mexico City)

From 1991 to 2002, María Elena Otahi was one of the dancers at the tiki restaurant Mauna Loa, the largest and most iconic Polynesian palace in Mexico City, famous for its stunning decor, exotic dishes and cocktails, and its legendary Polynesian dance shows.

Although the Mauna Loa permanently closed its doors in 2003, MaElena has since delved even deeper into the study and teaching of Polynesian dance and culture. She has traveled several times to Hawai‘i and Tahiti to learn from master instructors and participate in top-level events alongside some of the world’s leading performers. Now, with her group Te Fare Ori No Otahi, she continues to share her vast knowledge and passion with new generations of dancers.

Don’t miss their spectacular show at La Isla de los Muertos!

BARTENDERS (SUNDAY):

Navajas and Cara a Cara present:

IZZY ORTEGA

(Mexico City)

Presented by the proudly Mexican rum Navajas, Izzy is a consultant and curator of experiences for agencies and spirit brands with many years of experience, always preaching the art of fine drinking and female empowerment. As well as being the organizer of the women’s bartending competition “Speed Rack Mexico”, Izzy was recently named the best bartender in Mexico at the 2024 Shaker Awards.

A true lover of tiki culture and tropical cocktails, for La Isla de los Muertos, she surely has a recipe prepared that will be out of this world!

Reàl and Finest Call present:

ISAAC AMEZCUA

(Mexico City)

Co-founder of Alofah Tiki Bar (ranked among the top 10 new cocktail bars in all of Latin America and the Caribbean at the 2024 Spirited Awards – and venue of the Isla de los Muertos afterparty!), Isaac has been working his magic behind the bar for over 20 years. In that time he’s traveled to over 20 countries, collaborating with many world-renowned bartenders, and has been part of the panel of judges in various international competitions including the WEA Grand Slam. As well as being the embassador for ABM Mexico, he’s become a true reference in tiki mixology on both a national and international level, delighting palates around the world with his creative yet perfectly balanced drinks.

We’re excited to taste what he has prepared for La Isla de los Muertos!