AMP Concerts - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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There is a lot involved in putting on these events. We couldn't do it without our sponsors, McCune Charitable Foundation, Southwest Roots Music, 999dine.com, New Mexico Tourism, Holiday Inn Select-Albuquerque Airport, and WESTAF. We are happy to have sound support from Audio Excellence. Endless gratitude to these folks for providing exceptional goods and services. Contact neal@abqmusic.com if you'd like to discuss sponsorship options or learn about the AMP discount with our hotel sponsors: Holiday Inn Select and Rio Grande Inn.

AMP is happy to suggest great music and arts events around the region. This is not a complete list, but rather a personal selection of some of our favorite cultural options. Always verify with the venue to make sure none of the details have changed.

We'll highlight standout events, but first here is a list of organizations that are so reliable that we can wholeheartedly endorse everything they do. We're including ourselves since a lot of people find this page directly, and you should check out our shows before leaving!

AMP Concerts - The best folk, acoustic, Americana and world music in Albuquerque

Southwest Roots Music - Blues, roots, folk and more. Don't miss the Thirsty Ear Festival at the Eaves Movie Ranch every Labor Day.

Outpost Productions - All flavors of jazz, and a little of everything else.

FanMan Productions - Popular, traditional and world music.

The Southwest Pickers - Bluegrass performances, workshops and jam sessions.

Chamber Music Albuquerque has long been home to string ensembles working in the classical mode. They have also launced several interesting series, dubbed Americana and Chamber Music X, that focus on a more modern and eclectic repertoire.

Merri's Dance and Music eNews is a great on-line resource for contra dance and folk music.

The ABQ Music Association holds a monthly Musicians Workshop dealing with various aspects of the music biz. It is held the first Monday of every month.

FUSION Theatre Company - consistantly the best live theatre in the state of New Mexico. We can unequivalenty recommend ANY production that FUSION is responsible for.

If you came here looking for rock and roll, you'll probably be disappointed. We don't do a lot in that area and it isn't a strong part of our local calendar. But Albuquerque has some great rock clubs. When we're in the mood, we'll drop by The Launchpad (temporarily closed, but coming back soon!), Burt's Tiki Lounge or the Atomic Cantina.

Our favorite radio

89.9 FM - KUNM - The only station in Albuquerque that regularly plays the kind of music we bring to town. Plus, they maintain one of the best arts and culture calendar in town.

Notable events

Despite our best efforts, we don't always manage to keep this page up to date. Sorry if you've checked in and we are behind again!

It's a somewhat light time for music right now. Perhaps you should take in some theater? I haven't yet seen Boston Marriage at the Cell Theater yet, but those guys produce the most reliably high quality theater in New Mexico, so I'm pretty comfortable recommending it sight unseen. Plus, it's a David Mamet play, so you can count on cutting dialog and a stellar script. The prodcution runs through May 18.

Our pals in the Tricklock Theater Company are opening their next production Cowboys are my Weakness on May 2nd at Rodey Theater. It's chock full of many of our favorite local actors and live music, so we are looking forward to it! It'll run through May 18. Jeff, Ron and I caught the premier and can highly recommend the show. It is hilarious, but also insightful and exhilerating. It is definitely one of Tricklock's stronger productions. It's performed in a curious style - a very literal adaptation from a book of short stories. I almost think it shouldn't work, but totally does, in part because the writing is so strong that it really shines through, combined with the fact that the Tricklock actors really bring their characters to life. It's really an amazing bit of acting, where so many of the company regular's get to shine. Highly, highly recommended.

If you think Mother's Day is best celebrated with raucous country rock music, you are in luck. Grab mom and rush over to the Santa Fe Brewing Company to see Cross Canadian Ragweed. If mom has more eclectic taste, then you should take her to the Outpost to see The Dagar Ensemble's performance of Indian classical music.

Cool music continues in waves at the Santa Fe Brewing Company with Americana singer Kathleen Edwards and the very intriguing lap steel guitar-centered The Last Town Chorus - Monday, May 12. On May 13, it's Amy LaVere, who's debut CD Anchors & Anvils has been in heavy rotation in my CD player. It's jazzy, slinky, smart and fun. And Amy plays stand-up bass, which is pretty uncommon for a band leader.

Free music on Civic Plaza, May 14 at noon, with the melodic pop rock of David Kurtz. That night, you can get your Irish groove on with Buille at the South Broadway Cultural Center. You may remember them as Karan Casey's backing band when we had her at the Lobo a few years ago.

Word on the street is that the Pink Martini show at the Lensic on May 15 is just about sold out. If you are up that way, you may have to go for dance music of an entirely different sort with the South Austin Jug Band at the Santa Fe Brewing Company. Meanwhile, at the Outpost Performance Space, one of Albuquerque's finest piano players Jeff Brown fronts a trio melding jazz and classical style.

On May 16, you get another shot at South Austin Jug Band, this time outside at Los Alamos' Ashley Pond. Two nights of far reaching experimental jazz kick off in the Outpost's Creative Soundspace weekend. Tonight's offering is musician/poet's Oluyemi Thomas & Henry Grimes. Meanwhile, our friends at Rhythm for a Reason have one of their regular fundraisers for Healthcare for the Homeless. This one is Blanco - A White Party at Lotus in downtown ABQ. Dress in appropriately pale outfits and jam to the tunes of Albuquerque's best band Le Chat Lunatique, as well as a DJ set from the (I am told) legendary Scumfrog.

On Saturday, May 17, the Creative Soundspace weekend continues at the Outpost with Chris Jonas’ The Sun Spits Cherries and
The Nakatani/Weaver/Balistreri Trio. They promise an evening that is part improvisation, part composition, layering and juxtaposing materials and focusing on space, color, timbre and interaction.

On May 18, on downtown Albuquerque's Civic Plaza, it's the 2008 Festival of Asian Cultures. It runs from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm and features music, Asian foods, and performances from local Cambodian, Chinese, East Indian, Filipino, Hawaiian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Middle Eastern, Nepali, Tahitian, Thai and Vietnamese groups. Feel free to wear your Asian attire or costume. That night, we'll be hosting Mark Olson (Jayhawks, Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers) and Boris McCutcheon for a night of Americana duos at the Cooperage.

We just keep finding more and more great, melodic, melancholy Americana bands. Our latest discover - The Bittersweets - will be at the Santa Fe Brewing Company on May 19th. Their latest CD, The Life You Always Wanted, is an excellent addition to the genre.

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