Live set reviews Bahidora 2026 (Villalobos, Satoshi Tomiie, Four Tet, Daphni & more)

Hi folks, just got back from Bahidora in Mexico and figured I'd write some reviews of some of the sets I experienced.

Obviously you can't listen to everything, and obviously you're not in the same mood for all shows, but I think this could be fun anyway. I don't like writing negative criticism, so you'll have to read between the lines a bit.

Exceeded expectations: Villalobos

I know he's a legend, and I know there's probably a good reason for that...but I had low expectations. I frankly was expecting to be kind of bored. I love minimal, but I just didn't see it working in a festival environment.

I could not have been more wrong. I don't know why but he was absolutely captivating. The music was minimal, yes, but also fun and not at all boring. The crowd loved it. While nobody seemed to be jumping around, everyone seemed to sort of be in the same groove.

I wish I'd had more energy and stayed to the end (I was exhausted) but I'm nonetheless happy to have seen him.

My favorite tiny moment was seeing Four Tet and Dan Snaith walking the backstage stairs to see Villalobos play, and they had the biggest grins on their face.

Met (very high) Expectations: Daphni

Good lord that was fun. He had the crowd bopping and enthralled and just... You know that feeling of communion that a good set can create? Yeah, that happened multiple times. He wasn't my favorite DJ of the night in a "DJ" sense, but it was my favorite show of the night. It was the best party of the night.

Best surprise: Shanti Celste

I was extremely excited to see the entire Giegling showcase, but ended up leaving half way through Konstantin. I just wasn't vibing with it. It seemed "too in his own head", not enough "in everyone else's" if that makes sense.

I ambled over to Shanti Celeste who was playing the Rainbow Disco Club showcase. Wowzers! What a queen. Technically impecable, reading the crowd just right, exuding joy. If "being a bop" were a thing said of people, she'd be it. I'd catch her set any day.

Over my head: Satoshi Tomiie (live)

I loved his set. I really did, but mostly on a technical level. What he crafted there, live, no DAW, no computer, no records... was incredible. Perfect, polished, precise, organic techno. But it didn't make me want to dance. Perhaps bc I had a view of his setup so I was to optically enthralled to pay attention to my body, but I honestly think he went a bit over my head.

Goddamn you're tough!: Wata Igarashi

Came out the gates blasting skull-penetrating techno. I think it took a LOT of the crowd by surprise, especially coming after the Tomiie carress, but eventually he won the crowd over. Still. That was some hard shit.

Not my cuppa: The Blessed Madonna

Super fun, super eclectic, everything I expected her to be...but I think after everyone else's more (is "electronic the right word?") sets her set fell kind of flat. Don't get me wrong, she was super fun, just not my cuppa.

Suprisingly my cuppa: VTSS

I came to her set expecting absolutely nothing having read a lot of neagativity about her sets...but I really liked what she was doing! Loved the hard techno she was pumping and she exuded great energy. (I left bc my companions wanted to see TBM) but i surprisingl

Missed opportunities: Four Tet b2b Daphni.

I missed some of the Sunday acts because I had to leave. F They seemed to have incredibly chemistry together. Bummed I missed it.

Legendary Misses: The Mad Professor

He's a musician who is very important in my musical upbringing and that I hold dear to my heart, but I couldn't stay. He played four hours with Sister Nancy, Sister Audrey and Lady G. One of those moments I'll always wonder "what if."