Performance Stages

Ken Keppeler & Jeanie McLerie of Silver City N.M. are the core of Bayou Seco. This is their fifth time to play at the Albuquerque Folk Festival.

Ken and Jeanie have been making music together since 1978, always with an ear to the regional traditions that capture their interest. The band's performances are filled with tunes gathered from the source, the direct transmission through human contact and interaction. Old Cajun music, New Mexican dance tunes and songs, cowboy songs, and fiddle tunes from the Tohono O'Odham people of Southern Arizona, all played with authenticity and joy. Rare music from the old country and the new world will fill the air, and stories that go with them. Spirited fiddling, banjo and guitar, rollicking accordion, cowboy prairie rhymes and ballads.

Bayou Seco has recorded ten CD's, and has been on several PBS television programs, and on many radio shows. The CD, "More Memories in Cababi" is a tribute to the Tohono O'odham fiddler, Elliott Johnson, who shared many beautiful old style double violin tunes with the Ken and Jeanie in the last few years of his life. Recent CD's "Sunnyside" and "A Slice of Live" have been highly acclaimed.

Based in the Santa Fe/Albuquerque area of New Mexico, Los Primos will perform where ever they are called. Los Primos, a seasoned group of musicians, perform with a passion and fresh perspective the traditional music of the Mariachi and Trio Romantico. They have earned a reputation for the variety of music they play and the ability to adapt each show to entertain their audience. Their colorful and festive guayabera shirts have become a trademark which parallels the unique and festive entertainment that this group provides.

The group has performed for hundreds of events of every kind. Los Primos has performed for many public and private events both on and off stage at festivals, theatres, wedding ceremonies/receptions and private serenades/serenatas. Along with dance company Ballet en Fuego, Los Primos have produced the sold out "Fiesta de Colores" show. Performing for more than 40 weddings a year, Los Primos' acoustic music is a favorite of brides from around the world who choose to have their ceremony and reception in the beautiful and historic city of Santa Fe.

Reminiscent of American folk combined with a dose of Appalachian country, gospel, old English street songs and just a hint of old Bostonian sailing music, Holy Water and Whiskey will have you smiling ear to ear from the first note that they play. Their music is infused with spirit, beautiful melodies, intricately woven harmonies, class-act musicianship, humor and stories. The group consists of Maggie Washburne on bass, Scott Altenbach on guitar, and Bruce Washburne on guitar and banjo. Bruce and Maggie met in a band in Hawaii in 1977, were married, and have been playing music together ever since. In 2003 they started singing with Scott, Colorado native and musician, and Holy Water and Whiskey was formed. They all got their start playing and performing during the folk movement of the 60's, and their musical tastes have evolved since then to include many other acoustic styles. Their first CD "Better Late than Never" reflects these varied interests. Their second CD "Spirits of All Kinds" was released in July of 2008 and it continues their tradition of fine harmony singing and an eclectic and interesting selection of songs. Their third CD "Miners, Outlaws, and Other Relatives" was released in December, 2010 and was nominated for five 2011 NM Music Association Awards, won in two categories (Best vocal and best western song). Their beautifully rendered bluegrass gospel tunes and other tunes with spiritual themes sometimes earn them invitations to perform at church events, but they are just as much at home playing those and their other tunes at pubs, festivals, parties, fund raisers and other concert settings. Audiences can expect a fun, interactive evening, as the band genuinely believes that music and laughter are universally healing.

La Rondalla de Albuquerque is a musical group dedicated to presenting traditional Hispanic songs of New Mexico. The group is sponsored by the City of Albuquerque and directed by Otilio Ruiz. There are 20 members of the group which includes singers accompanied by Mexican harps, vihuelas, guitarrons, guitars, a violin and mandolin. La Rondalla plays at the Patio Market in Old Town, Albuquerque from 10-12 AM every Saturday, spring, summer and fall.

Contact: Scott Mathis mandowork@msn.com

Special Orchestra®, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to help persons with developmental disabilities share in the joy of making music. Using similarly tuned instruments (key of C), special orchestras can start playing right away! The New Mexico Special Orchestra, the pioneer ensemble of Special Orchestra, Inc., has been helping people with special needs make music since 1999.

This fun all-girl trio bends the rules of common sense and good taste with an eclectic mix of smart-alecky originals and tasty interpretations from Elvis Costello to Leonard Cohen to David Bowie and Bach again, played with luscious harmonies and solid musicianship. Katie Gill plays guitar and ukulele, Amy Blackburn is on violin, viola and mandolin, Nancy Harvin plays electric bass and percussion. Rockin' kazoo solos on request.

The music of Jack Williams, rooted in his native South Carolina, was shaped by a 54-year career of playing folk, rock, jazz, R&B, classical and the popular music of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Counted among the most dynamic performers on today's "folk" circuit, Jack is considered a "musician's musician", an uncommonly unique guitarist, a writer of vivid songs with a strong sense of place, and a storyteller in an old Southern tradition who further illustrates each tale with his guitar.

Avoiding the compromises of the commercial music industry during his 50+-year professional career, Jack prefers touring under the radar, playing concerts, large and small, week in and week out, from the sheer love of music and performing. Playing for more than 50 house concerts each year, Jack enjoys the intimacy of that venue most of all, with a more personal connection to his listeners. Jack is a sought-after artist on all contemporary acoustic music stages, from coffeehouses and festivals to music halls and city arts stages. From acclaimed appearances at the Newport, Boston, Philadelphia, Kerrville, New Bedford SummerFest Folk Festivals, his musicianship, songs, stories and commanding presence have established him as an uncommonly inspiring and influential performer.

In addition to his successful solo career, Jack's credits include guitar work with legendary singer/songwriters Mickey Newbury, Harry Nilsson, Tom Paxton, Peter Yarrow, and Steve Gillette, among others. He currently has a DVD ("High Cotton") and seven CDs of original songs on Wind River / Folk Era Records: "Bound for Glory – Live", "Laughing in the Face of the Blues", "Walkin' Dreams", "Live & In Good Company", "Eternity & Main", "Across the Winterline", and "Dreams of the Song Dog". His CD "Don't Let Go" is a collection of cover songs reflecting the major influences on his musical development.

Williams' music is born at the meeting ground of the traditional and the contemporary - original Southern-American songwriting and performance at its best, drawing deeply from the eclectic well of our musical heritage. Jack's fusion of guitar, voice and songs - which are loaded with delightful influences from his career in jazz, classical, rock, blues, country and folk - should not be missed.

One of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation, Peter Ostoushko was influenced originally by the mandolin, balalaika and bandura tunes played by his father and family friends while he was growing up in the Ukrainian community of Northeast Minneapolis. He has since made his unique mark as a sideman, session player, headliner and composer of everything from folk to jazz to classical, having mastered both mandolin and violin. He has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal , Norman Blake, Willie Nelson Emmylou Harris, and Chet Atkins, but he is perhaps best known as a frequent performer and one time Music Director on the popular radio show, Prairie Home Companion. He has also appeared on Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, and even Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and has provided music for the Ken Burns documentaries, Lewis & Clarke, and Mark Twain, as well as other nationally distributed programs such as The Dakota Conflict and Grant Wood's America.

As a solo performer, Peter has produced a number of recordings, including Down the Streets of My Old Neighborhood, Slüz Düz Music, and the three albums that make up his Heartland Trilogy: Heart of the Heartland, Pilgrims of the Heartroad and Sacred Heart, as well as a collaboration with longtime friend Norman Blake, Meeting on Southern Soil. His latest work, The Mando Chronicles, may go down in history as one of the greatest CD compilation albums ever, certainly for fans of mandolin music. Peter himself tells us that "Finally after 3 years in the making my new CD recording The Mando Chronicles is out. It is a 3 CD set of you guessed it, mandolin music. It was a labor of love that I'm very proud of. It's kind of a history of the mandolin as it relates to my own journey of playing the instrument. It has Classical, American Old Time, Brazilian, Irish, Ragtime, my own Ukrainian Roots music and much, much more. Even at 3½ hours of music it is but a "drop in the bucket" in terms of all the mandolin music I have played over the years, but at some point I had to say enough is enough. As it is, I couldn't fit all the music I recorded on to 3 CDs. Perhaps some time down the road I will make a Mando Chronicles 2."

Peter Ostroushko is one of the amazing musical talents of our time and he never seems to run out of creative gems to share with his many fans throughout the world.

Peter Ostroushko will be appearing with guitarist Dean MaGraw:

Composer/Guitarist Dean Magraw's musical passion transcends all boundaries, yet the vital essence of his distinctive style remains, while performing and recording solo, with numerous regional ensembles, and on projects with international notables as diverse as Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, South Indian virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker, epic songstress Ruth MacKenzie, Irish supergroup Altan, radio personality Garrison Keillor, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, and many others.

"Dean Magraw… so liquid, lyrical and effortless it's like listening to a dancer." -Steve Tibbetts

"Dean Magraw unveils soulful melodic grooves intricately designed to heal the broken dancer, confuse the boldest mathematician, and eradicate ennui in our lifetime." -Nick Lethert

The traditional, yet contemporary, Squash Blossom Boys bring together a mix of Old Time, Swing, and driving Bluegrass music. Versed in jazz improvisation and music arrangement, the band creates a unique sound that explores the roots and boundaries of Americana. The band's stylistic versatility lends itself to the demands of multiple audiences. They have played at festivals, performance spaces, bars, restaurants, and grower's markets. The music of the Squash Blossom Boys accommodates both calm, easy-listening atmospheres, as well as upbeat lively venues.

With Dustin Orbesen, Kit Murray, Kyle Malone, and Maren Hatch, the Squash Blossom Boys have played everything from jazz to reggae only to finally become a Bluegrass band. Occasionally, mandolinist Tristan Scroggins, violinist Sam Weiss, and multi- instrumentalist Ezra Bussman perform alongside the core quartet. Together, the boys have won several awards including Pickin' in the Pines and Albuquerque Folk Festival's band competitions, as well as The Weekly Alibi's "Best of Burque".

Albuquerque's The Porter Draw is an aggressive Americana band, with their roots firmly planted in bluegrass, country, and punk alike. Combining traditional American music with punk energy and attitude, they pull the whole thing together with excellent songwriting and tight harmonies for a unique sound. The band has earned a reputation for providing a whiskey-soaked soundtrack for the rowdy crowds at bars and brew pubs all over the Southwest. Their second-full length, California Widow, showcases the band's growth with an expanded line-up and a greater focus on the alt-country portion of their sound. The band recorded the album at Frogville Studios in Santa Fe, with the help of Bill Palmer, who engineered, mixed, and mastered it.

In their time together, The Porter Draw has played with some of the country's front-runners in contemporary alt-country, psycho-billy, and second generation bluegrass, including Cross Canadian Ragweed, Tumbledown, Blue Sky Green Grass, Cadillac Sky, and the Reverend Horton Heat, to name a few. The band has been playing together officially since summer of 2007, and released their debut, Trouble, in 2009, influenced by an eclectic mix of Steve Earle, Robert Earl Keen, Appalachian mountain bluegrass, east coast hardcore and 1990's East Bay melodic punk. The Porter Draw is: Ben Wood (banjo), Russell James Pyle (guitar, vocals), Joshua Gingerich (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Dandee Fleming (bass), and Joey Gonzales (drums, percussion).

The Lost Howlin' Coyotes are a New Mexico based bluegrass band. Steeped in traditional bluegrass and gospel music, the Coyotes deliver a unique blend of original tunes, bluegrass standards, gospel favorites and plenty of surprises at every performance.

Band founders Tony Mora and Gordon West teamed up in 2005 as an acoustic duo winning several awards in local competitions and festivals. They have since added the talents of Randy Dupuy on banjo, Cat Rose Mora on bass fiddle, and Louis Blackwell on the fiddle.

The Friends Forever Trio consists of a husband and wife team, Michael and Donna Coy, backed by Christine Nelson on bass. They play and sing folk songs and tunes from various traditions such as Celtic, Gospel, Old-Time, Bluegrass, Cowboy and Traditional Southwestern, as well as Singer/Songwriter and Original, focusing on vocal harmonies and accompanying themselves on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, and bodhran (Irish drum).

"Buffalo Bill" and "Dr. Jo, Flower of the Prairie" present cowboy and western American folk music in the rich spirit of the Rocky Mountain West, harmonizing the good old western songs of long ago plus many original songs on the fiddle, banjo, mandolin, and guitar.

"Buffalo Bill" and "Dr Jo" both live in Lander, WY and part time in Albuquerque, NM. "Buffalo Bill" has been a full time entertainer and world class yodeler for over 25 years. He was also a member of the Grammy award winning New Christy Minstrels from 2005-2008. "Dr Jo" performs on vocals, banjo, and guitar. She was a strolling minstrel for years with the Henry Ford Museum /Greenfield Village Players, in Dearborn MI, where she met Bill. Together they have been performing and touring nationwide for the past 8 years, and won the 2011 Western Music Associations Harmony Duo Award.

Ladyfingers is a four-piece women's ensemble specializing in fun and lively world folk music. From mazurkas to gypsy to traditional and popular tunes, the Ladyfingers' versatility spans from tasteful instrumental music to boisterous bar and party entertainment with an occasional special guest.

With all band members hailing from the Albuquerque area, Ladyfingers features Pat Aruffo's sultry fiddle, Barb Belknap's twinkling mandolin, Erika Gerety's belt-out double bass, and Gretchen Newman's solid rhythm guitar. Singing and harmonizing abound.

The Ladyfingers are listed in the New Mexico Music Directory (www.newmexicomusic.org, a part of the New Mexico Music Commission), and appear annually in different capacities at the Albuquerque Folk Festival. They also perform at the Old Town summer series, the Celtic Festival, at UNM functions, at weddings and private parties, and around Albuquerque at various restaurants, clubs, and taverns.

When you hear Ladyfingers, you are in for a treat!

Lauded as "sparkling" and "exhilarating" Notorious musicians Eden MacAdam-Somer and Larry Unger present a thrilling musical experience in genres that span many continents. With Eden on fiddle and vocals and Larry on guitar and banjo, their music lights up the hall with rhythm and sonority. Their performances are always new and exciting, featuring traditional American, Celtic, and Eastern-European tunes and songs, swing, blues, classical music and the group's original compositions. Notorious has been a featured ensemble at such festivals as Falcon Ridge, Wheatland, Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, Eastbourne International Festival, the Savannah Folk Festival, Pinewoods, and the Augusta Music Festival. Notorious has also performed at the Kennedy Center of Washington D.C., on the Evening Under the Stars Concert Series at Southshore Conservatory of Hingham, Massachusetts, and for the Multi-educational Cultural Center for the Arts of Houston, Texas, and frequently dedicates time to performances and educational programs in schools. The band has also toured extensively, across the entire East and West coasts of the United States, to Alaska, and England.

At home in the worlds of both classical and popular music, Eden MacAdam-Somer is one of the most exciting and versatile young violinists and singers performing today. She has been a featured soloist with symphony and chamber orchestras, jazz and swing bands, bluegrass, DAWG and American folk groups. Eden is also well-versed in the music of other cultures, including Irish music, Eastern-European music, and European music from the Medieval and Renaissance periods. She has been an artist at the Aspen and Beijing International Music festivals, soloist at Texas and Wimberly jazz festivals, performer at Texas and St. Louis Renaissance fairs, and has appeared on numerous recordings in folk, rock, jazz, and classical genres.

Larry Unger has been a full-time musician since 1984 and has presented a diverse range of musical performances across the United States, Europe, and Scandinavia. Titled "master guitarist" by Dirty Linen, Unger has played with many top contra dance bands and has accompanied such fiddlers as Judy Hyman, Matt Glaser, and Lissa Schneckenburger. Larry's original waltzes and fiddle tunes have been played and recorded by musicians around the world and can also be heard in the Ken Burns documentary, Our National Parks. Initially studying blues guitar with Etta Baker and John Jackson and later taking up the banjo and bass, Unger has become one of the most sought-after rhythm players in the country.

One of the most accomplished instrumentalists and gifted composers of his generation, Peter Ostoushko was influenced originally by the mandolin, balalaika and bandura tunes played by his father and family friends while he was growing up in the Ukrainian community of Northeast Minneapolis. He has since made his unique mark as a sideman, session player, headliner and composer of everything from folk to jazz to classical, having mastered both mandolin and violin. He has worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal , Norman Blake, Willie Nelson Emmylou Harris, and Chet Atkins, but he is perhaps best known as a frequent performer and one time Music Director on the popular radio show, Prairie Home Companion. He has also appeared on Austin City Limits, Late Night with David Letterman, and even Mr. Roger's Neighborhood and has provided music for the Ken Burns documentaries, Lewis & Clarke, and Mark Twain, as well as other nationally distributed programs such as The Dakota Conflict and Grant Wood's America.

As a solo performer, Peter has produced a number of recordings, including Down the Streets of My Old Neighborhood, Slüz Düz Music, and the three albums that make up his Heartland Trilogy: Heart of the Heartland, Pilgrims of the Heartroad and Sacred Heart, as well as a collaboration with longtime friend Norman Blake, Meeting on Southern Soil. His latest work, The Mando Chronicles, may go down in history as one of the greatest CD compilation albums ever, certainly for fans of mandolin music. Peter himself tells us that "Finally after 3 years in the making my new CD recording The Mando Chronicles is out. It is a 3 CD set of you guessed it, mandolin music. It was a labor of love that I'm very proud of. It's kind of a history of the mandolin as it relates to my own journey of playing the instrument. It has Classical, American Old Time, Brazilian, Irish, Ragtime, my own Ukrainian Roots music and much, much more. Even at 3½ hours of music it is but a "drop in the bucket" in terms of all the mandolin music I have played over the years, but at some point I had to say enough is enough. As it is, I couldn't fit all the music I recorded on to 3 CDs. Perhaps some time down the road I will make a Mando Chronicles 2."

Peter Ostroushko is one of the amazing musical talents of our time and he never seems to run out of creative gems to share with his many fans throughout the world.

Peter Ostroushko will be appearing with guitarist Dean MaGraw:

Composer/Guitarist Dean Magraw's musical passion transcends all boundaries, yet the vital essence of his distinctive style remains, while performing and recording solo, with numerous regional ensembles, and on projects with international notables as diverse as Japanese shamisen prodigy Nitta Masahiro, classical violinist Nigel Kennedy, South Indian virtuoso Nirmala Rajasheker, epic songstress Ruth MacKenzie, Irish supergroup Altan, radio personality Garrison Keillor, jazz bassist Anthony Cox, and many others.

"Dean Magraw… so liquid, lyrical and effortless it's like listening to a dancer." -Steve Tibbetts

"Dean Magraw unveils soulful melodic grooves intricately designed to heal the broken dancer, confuse the boldest mathematician, and eradicate ennui in our lifetime." -Nick Lethert

The type of music that Le Chat Lunatique plays is a combination of Gypsy Swing, Western Swing and anything else they please! Filthy, Mangy Jazz is their forte! All of this madness came about due to John Sandlin and Muni Kulasinghe's mutual love for the great Hot Club of France, a gypsy swing group from 1940's Paris, which included the combined genius of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli. Jared Putnam's western swing background has fused itself into the mix and given them a fine repertoire of classic western swing tunes. In addition, Fernando Garavito's latin background has seeped into the rhythmic palette and given them a formidable groove. Le Chat Lunatique was voted "Best Jazz Act" in the Weekly Alibi's 2007 Best of Burque issue ("the best thing about this quartet's hot, Parisian-swing-style jazz is how immensely listenable and, well, fun it is"). They also won the 2007 New Mexico Talent Showcase in the Jazz/blues/gospel division. They have opened for Asleep at the Wheel, The Hot Club of San Francisco, and The Djangomatics.

Albuquerque's own Irish music trio Finn's Thumb performs traditional songs and music of Ireland with respect and passion. Finn's Thumb has been playing music together since June of 2010, performing at playhouses, pubs, weddings, and corporate and public events throughout Albuquerque. The trio includes Jeannie Dyke (guitar, vocals, whistle, flute) Dain Forsythe (flute, whistles, bohdrán, vocals) and Pam Morden (violin, mandolin, bouzouki).

Incorporating the sounds and rhythms of Jewish music from many parts of the world, The Rebbe's Orkestra brings a unique style to Klezmer–the Jewish instrumental dance music of Eastern Europe. The band's repertoire also includes instrumental pieces from the Middle-East, folk songs in Yiddish, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), Hebrew, Russian, Arabic and Romanes (the language of the Roma/ Gypsies), Israeli folk dance tunes, traditional fiddle tunes and songs from New Mexico, as well as traditional music from the Mediterranean and the Balkans. Recording and performing throughout the southwest since 1996, The Rebbe's Orkestra has been exploring the ways in which Jewish people have interacted with surrounding musical traditions over the centuries to produce music which is uplifting and unique. From Spain to Iraq, Poland to the Mediterranean: The Rebbe's Orkestra plays tunes and songs as widely divergent as the geography and yet with surprisingly similar themes. The band released its first CD "Klezmer y mas" in 2010 to widespread acclaim.

The Rebbe's Orkestra's members are: Beth Cohen-violin/mandolin/banjo/vocals; Barbara Friedman-bass/tambura/vocals; Randy Edmunds-guitar/tambura/vocals; Debo Orlofsky-accordion/vocals; And percussionist Mary Masuk.

The Rebbe's Orkestra plays for concerts, wedding ceremonies and receptions, bar/bat mitzvah parties, baby namings, educational workshops and concerts, dance parties, and festivals, and has created, produced and performed two musical theater pieces written by Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, a former member of the band.

Band members include Beth Cohen on violin, mandolin, tenor banjo, and vocals, Debo Orlofsky on accordion and vocals, Randy Edmonds on guitar, tambura and vocals, and Barbara Friedman on electric bass and vocals.

Timothy Hill is an amazingly gifted and versatile singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist. A dynamic and engaging performer whose broad range of experience with jazz, folk, and world music gives his music a richness and depth rarely heard today.

Considered in the tradition of singer-songwriters, his voice draws comparisons to James Taylor, his incisive lyrics are reminiscent of Jackson Browne and Bruce Cockburn, and his musical dexterity and adventurousness is comparable to Tim Buckley. Hill, however, is following his own path, finding new textures and resonances, creating music with universal appeal in this global era.

As an original member of David Hykes' world-renowned group The Harmonic Choir, he is one of the pioneers in the art of harmonic singing, or overtone singing. Writing in the New York Times, Robert Palmer called Hill a virtuoso of the Tibetan chanting technique. Hill appears on eight recordings by David Hykes and The Harmonic Choir, including their landmark recording, Hearing Solar Winds, and has performed with them throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan.

He has also appeared as a guest vocalist on recordings by singer-songwriters Katell Keineg, Larry John McNally, Dorothy Scott, Jane Kelly Williams, new music cellist Robert Een, klezmer clarinetist extraordinaire Giora Feidman, and others.

Hill performs his music frequently in and around New York City, where he currently lives. He has appeared at Sin-e, Fez, Mercury Lounge, The Living Room, and Joe's Pub, alongside artists such as Jeff Buckley, Susan McKeown, Martha Wainwright, and Teddy Thompson. In the past few years he has begun touring around the United States and Europe.

He is currently involved in a wide variety of musical projects, including his group Wayfarer, with guitarist Brandon Ross, bassist Doug Weiss and percussionist Jeff Haynes; vocal research group Weave, with Marjorie Johnson, Seth Markel and Sanjay Cherubala; contemporary gospel group River, with Jane Kelly Williams, Dave Richards and Pete McDonald; and urban outsider acoustic group CC&H, with guitarists Chris Cunningham and Jason Crigler.

He has produced three CDs of his music, This Bright World, The Human Place, and Spirit's Body.

"Timothy Hill is an outstanding singer-songwriter whose beautifully expressive voice and texts, by turns warm and strong, personal and transcendent, are enchanting in their scope and range. The breadth and depth of his musical experiences, from some 30 years of overtone singing in The Harmonic Choir to pioneering contemporary, jazz and folk collaborations with a wide range of artists, gives his music and texts a special resonance and subtlety. An artist not be missed." David Hykes, founder/director, The Harmonic Choir

"Timothy Hill is a true poet soul folksinger." Larry John McNally, singer-songwriter, "Nobody's Girl"(Bonnie Raitt), "For My Wedding"(Don Henley)

Saoirse (Seer-shih), in Gaelic, means 'Freedom'. Saoirse, Albuquerque's finest 'Celtic-Eclectic' band, with current members Laura 'Io' Berg, Susan Taichert, John Brinduse, Lisa Nicols, Harlow Pinson, Will Hanley, and Glenn Maxwell, plays progressive Celtic World music. Complimentary vocals, along with a richly layered mix of flutes, fiddles, uilleann pipes, guitars, dulcimers, banjos, mandolins and Bodhrans, make Saoirse an enjoyable listening experience, and a great introduction the power and beauty of the Celtic musical tradition. Don't miss this Southwest favorite! They can be contacted at info@celticeclectic.com.

Founded in 1998 and based in Northern New Mexico, Higher Ground Bluegrass plays original, contemporary, and traditional music, informed by the American traditions of folk, bluegrass, country, and rock and roll.

Fred Bolton (Oak Ridge, TN) plays guitar and sings lead and harmony vocals. Dave Devlin (Long Island, NY) is on mandolin and dobro. Ken "Duke" Weddington (Burlington, NC) plays the banjo, guitar, mandolin, sings lead and harmony vocals, and is a prolific songwriter. Pat Mahoney (Carmel, CA) plays fiddle and sings lead and harmony vocals. Laura Leach (Albuquerque, NM) plays bass and sings harmony vocals.

Higher Ground Bluegrass has recorded four CDs: Bluegrass Classics (2013), Miles and Miles (2008), People Places Memories (2004), and Black and White – Faded and Torn (2001).

Zoltan Orkestar has been filling Albuquerque dance floors for more then four years. With their brand of high energy circus swing and a quick dash of country twang, you'll be on the dance floor before you know what hit you. Comprised of top notch musical talent, the group has four members: Glynda Szekely on vocals, who comes all the way from Michigan to share her legendary voice and is affectionately known as "the hummingbird of the gods"; Zoltan Szekely playing fiery guitar whose impressive musical resume includes a stint in the New York musical "Chutzpah" as well as touring Romania with Al Dimeola's drummer Csaba Cserey; John Keith on accordion, who often appears on stages across the nation with greats like Eric McFadden as well as the Polkettes; and Michael Grimes, who handles upright bass, is a regular in Albuquerque jazz clubs, and has played with many greats, including Bernadette Seacrest. Together they are an unstoppable well-oiled and witty machine known as Zoltan Orkestar.