Balamil came together in Austin, Texas at the heel of the 70’s renaissance of Chicano movimiento music and 'la 'nueva canción' during a very politically active period.   While many ‘yuppies’ were content to reap their rewards of ‘Reganomics,’ the anti-apartheid movement, Middle East justice movements, and anti U.S. intervention in El Salvador and Nicaragua movements helped promote an internationalist perspective that linked local struggles with others around the world.
 
During this period many of the staples of current Austin Latin@ culture were formed such as La Peña and Mexic-Arte. Founded in 1981, La Peña organized peñas or community gatherings of artists, musicians, poets and la comunidad.  It was at Las Manitas Café where Balamil became a regular La Peña performing group to offer support to a variety of causas. 


Balamíl