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Cuevas sisters Tess, 28, and Maria, 25, have always been surrounded by music. Growing up in Topeka, they frequently performed with their grandmother, Maria Teresa Alonzo Cuevas, a musical icon who founded Mariachi Estrella de Topeka, the first all-female mariachi band in Kansas.

Playing as a duo for about five years now — Tess plays violin and Maria plays guitar; both also sing — they added on bandmates D. Garrett Nordstrom and Jason Riley about two years ago to create Maria the Mexican. Now the band is ready to release its first album, Moon Colored Jade, and perform at Love Garden this Friday.

Read the full article (plus interview) at Lawrence.com