Bomba Estéreo and La Misa Negra at the Stern Grove Festival

Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Stern Grove Festival
by Dave Golden

The second concert of the 2026 Stern Grove Festival season began with a typical cool and overcast June Gloom morning in San Francisco. As KEXP DJ Albina Cabrera welcomed crowds into the grove, the energy was already building. Oakland’s La Misa Negra opened the afternoon blending energetic vintage Colombian cumbia with a hard-rock edge, filling the grove with their percussion-driven, horn-laced sound.

By the time headliners Bomba Estéreo took the stage, Stern Grove was packed and ready to move. The Colombian group brought their signature electro-tropical sound, blending traditional Caribbean rhythms with electronic beats, reggae grooves, and psychedelic textures. From the moment they took the stage, nearly everyone in the grove was on their feet dancing, jumping, and singing along; this was not a show to experience from a blanket. Many locals showed their pride as Colombian flags waved throughout the crowd, while onstage, giant inflatable mushrooms and a colorful oversized face created a psychedelic backdrop inspired by Colombian culture and nature. Across a 17-song set that included “To My Love,” “Fuego,” “Soy Yo,” and “Ojitos Lindos,” Bomba Estéreo transformed Stern Grove into a celebration of Colombian music and culture.