Great & gratis
Catch some big names at free concerts around the state
Just look around and you’ll find that Albuquerque and other cities in New Mexico have free music events this summer.
That’s right, no ticket needed.
Here is a list of some of those events.
Albuquerque
Summerfest series: The major event in the series is the Route 66 Summerfest. It annually attracts 50,000 people to concerts on four outdoor stages on Central Avenue in Nob Hill, which is closed off to automotive traffic.
This year Route 66 Summerfest runs from 3-10 p.m. July 21. Main stage headliners are singer Irma Thomas and the band Ranky Tanky, plus 15 local bands.
The other events in the series are Heights Summerfest, 4-10 p.m. June 9 at North Domingo Baca Park with the Squirrel Nut Zippers; Freedom 4th with country singer Jo Dee Messina, 3-10 p.m. at Balloon Fiesta Park; Downtown Summerfest with Robert Randolph and the Family Band, 4-10 p.m. Aug.
4 at Civic Plaza; and Westside Summerfest with Ozomatli, 4-10 p.m. Aug. 18 at Cottonwood Corners.
Summertime in Old Town. Bands play on weekends throughout the summer in the Old Town Plaza gazebo from the end of May to August. For details of bands, go to cabq.gov.
The season-opening Salsa Under the Stars concert will be at 7 p.m. June 1 in Tiguex Park, Mountain and 19th NW, Old Town. An all-star band of local musicians will pay tribute to the late salsa singer Cheo Feliciano.
The Albuquerque Concert Band is at the Albuquerque International Balloon Museum at 7 p.m. June 6, June 20, July 18 and Aug. 1.
The Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Hillary Smith performs at 7:30 p.m. June 5, July 3 and Aug. 7 at The Cooperage, Lomas and Louisiana NE. Free but donations accepted.
Da Tierra Meiga, 6:30 p.m. June 12 at Lomas/Tramway Library and noon June 21 at the Tony Hillerman Library. To register for free tickets, go to ampconcerts.org.
Joe Daddy and Hoodoo Jeff at 5 p.m. July 19 at Los Griegos Library and at 6 p.m. July 24 at the Juan Tabo Library. To register for free tickets, go to ampconcerts.org.
Jarabe Mexicano at 12:30 p.m. June 28 at North 4th Theater. To register for free tickets, go to ampconcerts.org.
New Mexico Chamber Music Festival concerts on June 9 and 10 at the University of New Mexico. For information on times and venues, go to nmchambermusicfestival.org.
Santa Fe
The South Carolina band Ranky Tanky is at St. John’s College (Music on the Hill) on July 18. Part of the New Mexico Jazz Festival.
The Albuquerque Jazz Orchestra with vocalist Hillary Smith are at the Santa Fe Plaza on July 24. The concert is part of the New Mexico Jazz Festival and the Santa Fe Bandstand summer festival that runs from June 21 through Aug. 11. For details of other bands and dates, go to santafebandstand.org.
Ozomatli is at Railyard Plaza at 8:30 p.m. June 7.
Silver City
The 23rd annual Silver City Blues Festival runs through May 27 with headliners The Bus Tapes, the Ghost Town Blues Band and the Peterson Brothers. Concerts are in Gough Park. There will be a glassblowing contest, plus some 50 artisans and craftspeople as well as food vendors and food trucks. For information, go to silvercitybluesfestival.org.