Two of Fresno’s favorite things – taco trucks and a violinist – are teaming up. Here’s why
.JPG "Red tacos made with red chili sauce-dipped corn tortillas, barbacoa, red guacamole cream, habanero salsa, onion, cilantro and lime from 559 Street Tacos in this file photo from 2019. The taco truck will be part of violinist Patrick Contreras’ Taco Truck Tour to raise money to buy guitars for an after-school music program.")
Patrick Contreras is a Fresno pop-rock violinist who can pack a nightclub.
Fresnans love him.
You know what else Fresnans love? Tacos. Especially the tradition of getting tacos from their favorite taco truck.
Now Contreras and taco trucks are joining forces for a good cause.
The Taco Truck Tour will raise money to buy 10 acoustic-electric guitars for kids to practice with as part of a group serving youth through music.
Starting Monday, Aug. 24 through Thursday, Aug. 27, Contreras will perform his music at a different taco truck each night. People can give money to a donation bucket at each site.
Note that this is not a traditional concert, given the coronavirus pandemic.
“Please don’t bring chairs,” Contreras said. “Come by, grab some tacos, maybe listen to a tune or two, drop a tip and then out.”
Contreras is raising money to buy 10 Ibanez acoustic-electric guitars – which will cost about $3,000 total. They’ll be used by Legacy Commons Community Studio, led by Marcel Woodruff, who is also a community organizer with Faith in the Valley.
Woodruff leads an informal after-school music program in the Legacy Commons Apartments near Edison High School. Teachers volunteer their time there too.
Contreras already bought the program a PA system. But he wanted to do something more.
See, it’s a cause that Contreras has a connection to. Like many of the youth who will benefit, he grew up in a tough neighborhood. His youth was spent coming up near First Street and Tulare Avenue.
“Music for me, growing up in a tough neighborhood, kept me out trouble,” he said. “It mostly gave me an outlet of expression.”
With all the challenges facing people disenfranchised neighborhoods and environments, sometimes there’s not enough bandwidth to deal with kids’ emotions, he said.
“Sometimes feelings are shoved aside, there’s no time to deal with your feelings,” he said. “Music helps do that.”
Here’s the Taco Truck Tour schedule. All performances start at 7 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 24: 559 Street Tacos, 780 E. Nees Ave., near First Street.
Tuesday, Aug. 25: Pepe’s at the Fair, 7063 E. Belmont Ave., near Temperance Ave.
Wednesday, Aug. 26: Taco Pinto, 1785 W. Shaw Ave. near West Avenue.
Thursday, Aug. 27: El Premio Mayor 4718 N. Polk Ave., north of Gettysburg Avenue.
