Random Acts
Patty Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones play KiMo Theatre; Rainbow Family Pride Festival at the Railyard Park; Béla Fleck and the Flecktones at Taos Mesa Brewing; and Minnesota Boychoir performs at the Capitol and the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi
Rock out like a girl: Patty Griffin and Rickie Lee Jones
On her self-titled tenth album, released in 2019, Grammy Award-winning gospel and Americana musician Patty Griffin (left) sings about women remaining strong under pressure and overcoming hardships. Rickie Lee Jones has a more bluesy approach to similar sorts of themes, with an unapologetic sex appeal. Her last album is 2015’s The Other Side of Desire. Jones plays at the KiMo Theatre (423 Central Ave. NW, Albuquerque) at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25. Tickets are $35$55, holdmyticket.com/event/337700. Griffin plays at the KiMo Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27, with guest Carrie Rodriguez. Tickets are $30-$45, holdmyticket.com/event/337420. Purchase tickets for either show by phone, 505-886-1251. — Jennifer Levin
Back together, with friends: Béla Fleck & the Flecktones
There are some very good reasons why Béla Fleck has won more than a dozen Grammy awards. The best is that he’s a musical genius, and one who’s not limited by genre descriptions. One of his most successful units is Béla Fleck & the Flecktones. That band — with Howard Levy on piano and harmonica, Victor Wooten on bass, and Roy “Futureman” Wooten on percussion and drumitar (which Wooten invented) — has been working for a long time, winning Grammys back in 1996, 1998, and 2000. Béla and the ’Tones play Taos Mesa Brewing, 20 ABC Mesa Road in El Prado, on Saturday, June 22. The all-ages event starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $37 in advance and $42 day of show; kids 12 and under get in for $11; for tickets 505-886-1251, taosmesabrewing.com — Paul Weideman
Songs of summer: Minnesota Boychoir
This month, the Twin Cities-based Minnesota Boychoir — the oldest in that state — arrives in the Southwest for the first time as part of its 36th annual summer tour. The choir performs a mix of sacred and secular pieces that include Billy Joel’s “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel),” “All Good Gifts” from the musical Godspell, and the Spanish-language song “Viva la Quinta Brigada” (“Long Live the Fifth Brigade”), among others. The choir tours Arizona and New Mexico from June 19 to 30 and includes 58 boys from its Cantabile and Allegro ensembles. They perform at two locations in Santa Fe on Friday, June 21: at 12 p.m. at the New Mexico State Capitol (490 Old Santa Fe Trail); and at 5:15 and 6:15 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (131 Cathedral Place). These are free, family-friendly events. For more information, visit boychoir.org. — Michael Abatemarco
Pride for all ages: Rainbow Family Pride Festival
In Santa Fe, LGBTQ+ pride is so mainstream that there’s a familyoriented event that is alcohol- and smoke-free, and perfect for kids, pets, and anyone looking for a fun afternoon outdoors. The Santa Fe Community Foundation’s Envision Fund sponsors the Rainbow Family Pride Festival in the Railyard Park (740 Cerrillos Road), from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 23. This is a free event that is a great alternative to some of the more adult-oriented activities of Pride Month. Attractions include music, stilt walkers, games, face painting, vendor booths, food trucks, and more. For more information, call 505-470-8675 or go to pridesantafe.org/2019-pride-events. — J.L.