STREET PARTY
Route 66 Summerfest features 17 musical acts on 3 stages
Thousands of visitors are expected at this year’s Route 66 Summerfest on Saturday, July 21.
The event starts at 3 p.m. and runs until 10 p.m.
It will feature a full slate of performers, including Grammy Awardwinning headliner Irma Davis.
Seventeen performances will take place on three stages.
Albuquerque native John Maestas will perform with his band, Juán Tigre, at 7:25 p.m. on the East Stage at Sierra and Central.
He describes the band as a psychedelic rock, pop and electronic group.
“We’re a high-energy show,” he says with a laugh.
Juán Tigre started two years ago with Artha Meadors and Paul Palmer III.
Maestas resides in New Orleans, where he plays in 15 bands and runs his Bubble Bath Records.
He is back to perform for Summerfest, as well as some gigs around town.
“I’ve been involved with Summerfest for a few years,” he says. “It’s all due to Tom Guralnick from the Outpost. He’s had me emcee a few years and this is my second year performing with Juán Tigre.”
According to city organizers, the free event features fun for the whole family including the Old Route 66 Car Show, Mother Road Art Market, Kids Zone and Youth Central.
There will also be food trucks along Central.
The Kids Zone and Youth Central will have activities including free face painting, an inflatable bounce house and two 25-foot rock climbing walls.
Route 66 Summerfest is free. Pets are welcome on leashes. This is a rain-orshine event.
Maestas says being part of a music event is one of the greatest things.
“I see music as a universal language, and all of the genres are dialects,” he says. “Festivals like this is where a music lover can hear everything they want.”