Villa will stage a special edition of the 21-and-over event — which features a mix of DJs spinning throwback jams, live art from local creatives and “backyard boogie vibes” — at the Arizona State Fair on Oct. 13.
Tios & Tias: Arizona State Fair Boogie will take place inside the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and feature what fair organizers describe as “an unmatched atmosphere filled with soulful beats, classic hits, and non-stop dancing.”
In other words, it will offer the same sort of sounds and vibes you'd find at a Tios & Tias day party, only on a much larger scale.
What is Tios & Tias?
Tios & Tias, or “uncles and aunts” in Spanish, originated in 2020 as a weekly livestream on Twitch that Villa launched during the pandemic lockdown. Each Sunday, he would spin sets filled with retro funk, soul, R&B, hip-hop, freestyle, cumbia and cruising classics for a growing audience.For his viewers, it was a virtual space where they could gather and revel in old-school tunes. For Villa, an Arizona native who grew up listening to these old-school genres, it was a chance to celebrate and pay homage to the nostalgic sounds he was weaned on.
In April 2023, Tios & Tias evolved into a series of monthly in-person day parties that Villa hosted at Phoenix hotspots like Cobra Arcade Bar, Club DWNTWN and the Egyptian Motor Hotel. The event offered the same chill, laidback atmosphere as a backyard barbecue.
Villa, a 23-year veteran of the turntables who has a weekly radio show every Saturday at 7 p.m. on Pitbull's Globalization channel on Sirius XM, spins throwback jams during Tios & Tias parties alongside local guest DJs like Mane One, DJ Javin, and Nina Tyco. Meanwhile, patrons kick back, drink, dance, and, as the Tios & Tias website states, “ride the waves of soulful beats, embracing the magic of music.”
What to expect at Tios & Tias: Arizona State Fair Boogie
Tios & Tias’ fanbase has been growing steadily larger in the 16 months since it became a monthly day party. (Some of the day parties have even sold out.) The upcoming edition at the Arizona State Fair will be its largest yet.According to Villa, Tios & Tias: Arizona State Fair Boogie on Oct. 13 will include the same mix of music, art and culture as previous editions of the event. The day party, which runs from 2 to 8 p.m., will feature Villa and special guests playing a mix of oldies, funk, freestyle, hip-hop, R&B throwbacks and Latin hits.
There will also be tattoo and nail artists, old-school photo booths, exclusive merchandise, old-school photo booths and a VIP area at the event.
In an Instagram post announcing Tios & Tias’ upcoming debut at the state fair, Villa expressed his amazement at the event's incredible growth.
“It blows my mind that we've gotten this far. (Tios & Tias) started as a casual livestream in my studio and backyard during COVID to keep myself sane and bring joy to people locked up in their homes. The stream continues to this day,” Villa wrote. “Now we're in the old Phoenix Suns arena for the state fair. What makes it even more special is that we're an Arizona event, and the fair has never hosted a dance party with a DJ lineup like ours.”
Tickets are on sale now at azstatefair.com. General admission is $35 (plus fees) and VIP tickets are $40 and include access to an exclusive area with its own seating, photo booth, and VIP bar.
