When Gustavo Alcoser Jr. joined Jarabe Mexicano, he didn’t expect the journey to take him from the border near San Diego to classrooms, concert halls and cultural centers across the United States.

But nearly a decade later, the band’s mission, which is to connect people through music that transcends borders and generations, remains more relevant than ever.

Jarabe Mexicano brings that mission and an energetic blend of Mexican folk, rock, Tex-Mex and pop — all rooted in both tradition and modern relevance — to Steamboat Springs on Friday for a 7 p.m. performance at the Strings Music Festival.

Alcoser, the group’s lead vocalist and sole remaining founding member, described Jarabe Mexicano as a border band rooted in both California and Arizona. He said the group’s mission is to connect people through music that reflects both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border in both English and Spanish.

The five-member ensemble performs on traditional instruments like the guitarrón and vihuela, as well as modern staples like guitar, drums and bass. Their name “jarabe” refers to a traditional Mexican folk dance, but the word can also be defined as a mixture or blend, which reflects the band’s style of combining genres and cultures.

The current lineup includes Eduardo Valencia on vihuela and vocals, Esteban Smith on lead guitar, Daniel Brito on percussion, Antonio Pro on guitarrón and vocals, and Gustavo Alcoser Jr. on lead vocals. Together, they blend their individual strengths to create a rich, collaborative sound rooted in tradition and innovation.

Educational outreach to youth has been central to the band’s work since the beginning. Alcoser said they often spend weeks in schools teaching students through music. Those classroom-based experiences often conclude with a public performance. No matter the location, they use every opportunity to explain the history and meaning behind the songs and instruments they play, as well as the cultures that created them.

Alcoser noted that their shows are cultural dialogues as much as they are performances. Often audiences come expecting to hear mariachi music but leave with something much broader, deeper and more impactful.

“We’ll play a Selena song, then switch into Ritchie Valens or traditional son jarocho, then maybe even cover something by the Beatles,” he said. “It keeps people on their toes.”

And that variety is highly intentional.

Jarabe Mexicano aims to reflect the diverse realities of the ever-evolving Latino identity in the U.S., especially in a time when conversations about immigration, heritage and belonging are politically charged.

While the band avoids specific political commentary onstage, Alcoser explained that many people outside border communities hold inaccurate assumptions or are unaware of the realities of border life, like the triple-layered border wall near San Diego.

That’s one reason the group feels their music matters more now than ever.

“In times like these, music helps us build bridges,” he said. “It reminds us of our shared humanity, our stories, our resilience. That’s what makes it so powerful.”

For Alcoser, those bridges began years ago when a friend invited him to join a newly formed band. He jumped at the opportunity and soon found himself at the heart of something much larger than he ever expected. When a friend offered him the chance to sing in the band, Alcoser approached the opportunity with gratitude, knowing how rare and meaningful it was to him then and for his future.

Since then, Jarabe Mexicano has performed in cities across the U.S. and Mexico, sharing stages with icons from many cultures while reaching thousands of listeners. But for Alcoser, it’s the small moments — a student saying the music made them proud to be bilingual, or an older audience member crying during a traditional ballad — that keep the group grounded in their mission.

“It’s bigger than us,” he said. “We’re just the messengers. We bring the music and the audience brings their own meaning to it.”

Jarabe Mexicano’s performance at Strings Music Festival will highlight many traditional favorites.

Alcoser said that’s part of the magic.

“We don’t want to just entertain,” he said. “We want people to feel something, to learn something and to walk away with a deeper sense of who they are or who their neighbors are.”

Whether on a festival stage or in a school auditorium, Jarabe Mexicano’s message — to create unity through music, celebrate diversity and heal through cultural pride — remains a constant reminder for them and the audience that music can bring people together in a shared sense of understanding.

For tickets and more information, visit StringsMusicFestival.com.