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. Please patronize these great local businesses and let them know that you appreciate their support. Contact neal if you'd like to discuss sponsorship options.

AMP Concerts has been helping schedule the entertainment for this year's Folk Art Market. It's a fantastic event, with unbelievable craft artists from around the world. The artisans are the real draw, but look for a fun mix of performances all weekend long, featuring Bobi Céspedes (Afro-Cuban), Balla Kouyaté (Guinea), Le Chat Lunatique, Vietnamese Lion Dancers and many more. For a full schedule, click here.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Saturday, July 11
Cowboy Junkies
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
7:30 PM

Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 in Toronto, and the band is still comprised of its four original members: Margo Timmins (vocals), Michael Timmins (guitar), Peter Timmins (drums) and Alan Anton (bass)—all siblings except for life-long-family-friend Alan. Few bands have lasted nearly as long with their original line-up intact, and fewer still have created as consistently satisfying a body of work.

Cowboy Junkies' latest studio album is At the End of Paths Taken. Despite its title, the album is as much about new beginnings as it is about endings. It is also about human connections, the struggle to sustain those connections over time, and the complexities that can arise even when those connections are maintained. It is, in other words, a classic Cowboy Junkies album—a suite of smart, richly textured songs. PopMatters called it "probably the group's most sonically accomplished disc yet... Even at their angriest, or saddest, or even occasionally happiest, they're always in complete control."

Friday, July 17
Anna Wolfe
CD Release Party
Outpost Performance Space
210 Yale SE
8 PM

Sponsored by:
Newport Furnishings

Anna will join Carol Boss on KUNM's Afternoon Freeform on Wednesday, July 15 at 3:00.

Anna Wolfe is a singer/songwriter blessed with an intriguing voice and the ability to create lyrics that leave a lasting impression. Born in Ohio, Anna now lives in Nashville, Tennessee. Performing since age two, writing music since age seven, and playing guitar and piano since age nine, Anna's combined experience of a young heart and old soul garners her praise from peers and an ever-increasing fan base. She has written and recorded six other albums, including her 2005 release, My Treasure, which was produced by Wendy Waldman. Anna views music in a much bigger sense than what the commercial world affords. She is dedicated to writing and performing music to comfort others and to help the environment. Her calling of service as a songwriting teacher instills in her students a belief in their own imaginations which she nurtures with respect and joy. Join us to celebrate the release of Anna's new CD, Love.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Friday, July 24
James McMurtry
with Lukas Nelson
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
7 PM

These recent years have found James McMurtry's many skills steadily coalescing into an increasingly substantial, formidable whole: the voice, the tunes, the stories and the musicianship have become elementally interwoven to create the inimitable fabric of a distinct, singular artist who is determined to get to the heart of the matter, shake things up and do whatever it takes to make a difference. In his regular column for Entertainment Weekly, noted author (and passionate rock 'n' roll enthusiast) Stephen King cited McMurtry as "the truest, fiercest songwriter of his generation." His latest album, Just Us Kids, made numerous best-of-the-year lists, including those of USA Today, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Opening the show is Lukas Nelson.

otr Saturday, July 25
Over The Rhine
with Kristy Kruger
Outpost Performance Space
210 Yale SE
8 PM

After more than 15 years making music, it's obvious Ohio duo Over The Rhine is in it for the long haul, and for keeps. Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, recently named to Paste magazine's list of 100 Best Living Songwriters, began performing together in 1990 in local Cincinnati clubs and gathering places. Their first show drew about 20 people, most of them friends. But even from these somewhat humble beginnings, audiences immediately believed they had stumbled onto something special. Enveloping their listeners like family, Karin and Linford kept them close to the fold with simple candle-lit stages and playful handwritten newsletters. But above all else, it was the band's songs that drew in more and more eager fans. Karin's voice, full of longing and love, seemed to pierce the soul and became the unmistakable focal point of Over the Rhine's richly spiritual music.

Texas singer/songwriter Kristy Kruger will be opening the show.

Monday, July 27
Tommy Emmanuel
KiMo Theatre
423 Central Ave NW
7:30 PM

Sponsored by OGB Architecturel Millwork

Two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel has a professional career that spans over four decades and continues to intersect with some of the finest musicians throughout the world. A household name in his native Australia, Tommy has garnered hundreds of thousands of loyal fans worldwide. Tommy's unique style—he calls it simply "finger style"—is akin to playing guitar the way a pianist plays piano, using all ten fingers. In 1999, guitar legend Chet Atkins honored Tommy Emmanuel with the title of "Certified Guitar Player" for his lifetime contribution to the instrument, a rare honor shared by only three other people in the world. As a solo performer, Tommy's dazzling performance, flawless guitar skills and voluminous repertoire never fail to amaze and engage his legions. From the wilds of Australia's outback to bustling major cities throughout the world, Emmanuel's flair and unforgettable showmanship have created an enviable fan base that continues to grow even larger every year.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Monday, August 3
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
7:30 PM

Rare indeed is the artist with the virtuosity to draw the unqualified respect of some of the most iconic legends in jazz and the ability to deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars. Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is one such artist—and there is no one else like him. He is equally adept on trombone and trumpet and is a man to be reckoned with on both. A product of New Orleans' culturally rich Treme neighborhood, Trombone Shorty was a bandleader by the age of six; by the time Trombone Shorty was twelve, he had a Ph.D. in the ways of the streets, which you can still hear in his music. During a visit to a small New Orleans club, Bono and the Edge saw the 12-year-old trombone player. "We were just mesmerized by him," the Edge recalled. Now, at 23, Trombone Shorty has grown into a performer who commands the stage while emanating an elegance and class gleaned from his successful studies at the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. As a graduate, he joined the ranks of alums like Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr., and Nicholas Payton.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Sunday, August 9
Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
7 PM

neville Formed in 2003, Ivan Neville's Dumpstaphunk was initially put together by keyboardist Ivan Neville on a whim in order to perform a solo gig at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Ivan called in cousin Ian Neville (guitar), the double-bass bottom of both Nick Daniels and Tony Hall, and drummer Raymond Webber to round out the show. Named after a song Ivan had recently written, Dumpstaphunk's informal performance became that of immediate legend. The project has since grown from chance side-project into what is now widely considered to be New Orleans' most popular musical export. The band was recently voted New Orleans' Best Funk Band by both Offbeat Magazine and Gambit Weekly, and performs at some of the nation's largest music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Voodoo Fest, 10,000 Lakes, and High Sierra.

!Globalquerque! and New Mexico Jazz Workshop present
Friday, August 14
jose Salsa Under the Stars with
José Conde y Ola Fresca
Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater
2000 Mountain Road NW
7 PM

Ola Fresca means "fresh wave." Founded in 2000 by singer-composer-lyricist and arranger José Conde, Ola Fresca features some of the best musicians in New York City, coming together for a fresh take on rootsy, funky, jazzy, Latin dance music. Born in Chicago and raised in Miami by his Cuban-immigrant parents, Conde has been living in New York since earning a BA from Berklee College of Music in 1997. After experimenting with jazz, rock, funk, blues and latin music in his first couple of years in New York, Conde realized his musical journey was leading him back to his Cuban roots. He formed Ola Fresca in 2000 with a clear goal to write new, original music based on the foundation of traditional, Cuban rhythms and style, while incorporating non-traditional elements for spice.

!Globalquerque!, the National Hispanic Cultural Center and New Mexico Jazz Workshop present
Baby Loves Salsa Saturday, August 15
Baby Loves Salsa
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th Street SW
Noon

This is the story of a band of dogs and cats (gattitos y perritos) from the streets of New York that go on to become the best salsa band in the land. Baby Loves Salsa brings salsa to all kids and adults regardless of whether they speak English or Spanish or whether they dance on 1 or 2 or dance at all, everyone will move, everyone will sway, all will have loads of fun... Perfect for young kids (2-6 years) and a great way to learn about salsa and Spanish in a way that parents and kids children can enjoy together.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Saturday, August 15
Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
7:30 PM

dave alvin One of the heroes and central figures of Los Angeles rock and roots music, Dave Alvin founded The Blasters with his brother Phil and then played with X and the Knitters. A mainstay during much of his career in music has been his electrifying band, The Guilty Men. Following the recent death of Dave's best friend and Guilty Men accordionist Chris Gaffney in early 2008, Alvin decided to move in an exciting new musical direction. In October 2008 he stepped onto the stage of the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco with an all-star, all-female group. Since dubbed The Guilty Women, the group consists of Americana scene vets Cindy Cashdollar, Nina Gerber, Laurie Lewis, Sarah Brown, Amy Farris, Christy McWilson and Lisa Pankrantz. The self-titled debut from this unique assemblage of players, led by Alvin, is a spirited collection of thoughtful yet dynamic tunes featuring world-class musicianship worthy of his now legendary pedigree.

suzanne vega Thursday, August 20
Suzanne Vega
KiMo Theatre
423 Central Ave NW
7:30 PM

Widely regarded as one of the most brilliant songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega emerged as a leading figure of the folk-music revival of the early 1980s when, accompanying herself on acoustic guitar, she sang what has been labeled contemporary folk or neo-folk songs of her own creation in Greenwich Village clubs. Since the release of her self-titled, critically acclaimed 1985 debut album, she has given sold-out concerts in many of the world's best-known halls. Suzanne's songs have always tended to focus on city life, ordinary people and real world subjects. Notably succinct and understated, often cerebral but also streetwise, her lyrics invite multiple interpretations. In short, Suzanne Vega's work is immediately recognizable, as utterly distinct and thoughtful, and as creative and musical now, as it was when her voice was first heard on the radio over 20 years ago.

AMP Concerts & Fan Man Productions present
Tuesday, August 25
Culture featuring Kenyatta Hill
Beres Hammond
Santa Fe Brewing Company
37 Fire Place
(Just Off NM Highway 14)
6 PM

culture Formed in the rich tradition of harmony trios in 1976, Culture quickly became a part of the vibrant, politically charged Jamaican reggae scene of the day. Shortly after Culture came together, they began working with the "Mighty Two"—producer Joe Gibbs and engineer Errol Thompson. While at Gibbs' studio, the singers recorded a series of powerful singles, many of which ended up on their successful debut album Two Sevens Clash. This initial release was hugely popular in both Jamaica and England. At once Culture became part of a wave of vocal groups (including the Mighty Diamonds, Black Uhuru, the Meditations and countless others) that ruled the reggae scene in the late 70s. In 2006, original lead vocalist Joe Hill passed away, and his son Kenyatta, who was also Culture's audio engineer, now tours and records in his father's place.

beres Beres Hammond is a soulful crooner who writes much of his own material. Hammond specializes in romantic lovers rock, dancehall, conscious roots reggae, hip-hop fusion, and straight-up contemporary R&B. He is considered Jamaica's greatest practicing singer/songwriter and anyone who has listened to his CDs or experienced the fervor elicited by his live performances would undoubtedly agree with that top-ranking assessment. His recent appearance at Jamaica's premier music festival, Reggae Sumfest, was unanimously hailed as the finest of the three-night event as he tore through hit after hit, some dating back to the mid 70s, consistently captivating an audience of nearly 20,000 who sang along so loudly to his beloved songs, they sometimes threatened to drown him out. That Sumfest 2008 performance was but another special moment in time within this adored artist's enduring and truly exceptional career.

Thursday, September 3
The Bills & The Marc Atkinson Trio
South Broadway Cultural Center
1025 Broadway SE
7:30 PM

[photo] The Bills are returning to Albuquerque! From the beautiful West Coast of Canada comes this extraordinary quintet, renowned among folk music fans of all ages for their instrumental virtuosity, lush vocal arrangements, exuberant live performances, evocative songwriting, and refreshingly innovative interpretations of traditional tunes from around the globe. Drawing musical inspiration from a broad range of North American traditions, a mélange of European stylings, rhythms of Latin America, and melodies of the wandering Romany peoples, The Bills have forged a musical style all their own that transcends musical boundaries and defies simple categorization. With three main writers in the band, The Bills have developed a glorious and growing repertoire of songs that speak of their own part of the world.

Marc Atkinson is one of Canada's finest JUNO-nominated, Western Canadian award-winning musicians. He is the leader and composer of the internationally renowned Marc Atkinson Trio (and co-founder, composer and performer in the Bills). The music of this virtuosic group is melodically captivating, sensually charged and ferociously, technically awe-inspiring. Embracing a lifetime of musical influences, Marc and the Trio have just released their fourth CD, The Marc Atkinson Trio IV, praised as the finest yet. The Trio, formed in 2000, has toured North America, England and Europe and has received standing ovations everywhere they perform from the Montreal Jazz Festival to the Vancouver International Folk Festival to DjangoFest Northwest.

Wednesday, September 9
Wendy Rule
The Cooperage
7220 Lomas Blvd NE
(Just east of Louisiana)
7:30 PM show (6:00 PM doors)
21 and over

Australian singer-songwriter Wendy Rule is coming back to Albuquerque, and will be accompanied at this show by cellist Rachel Samuel, her collaborator for the last 12 years. Wendy's music is deeply rooted in her pagan/wiccan beliefs, her love of mythology, and her connection to the world of Nature and the sacred cycles of Life and Death. When describing her music, it's almost impossible to avoid words like magical, enchanting, spellbinding and captivating. Wendy is able to draw audiences in, captivating them with both her music, and the stories behind the music—sharing the myths and personal stories that inspired the music. Her voice is an amazing instrument of its own, capable of incredible range, astonishing dynamics, and powerful emotion.

Globalquerque! September 25-26
¡Globalquerque!
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th St SW

New Mexico's Annual Celebration of World Music and Culture will return to the NHCC in September! Our fifth annual show, produced in partnership with Avokado Artists, will feature a brand-new lineup of great artists from all over the world! Don't miss it!

poster Tuesday, October 6
Lyle Lovett & John Hiatt
Kiva Auditorium
2nd Street & Marquette
8 PM

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt are teaming together for a series of shows that will feature both artists performing side-by-side in an old-fashioned guitar pull. The shows will find both Lovett and Hiatt—who have been touring together in one fashion or another since 1989—alternating songs from throughout their careers. One of the most distinctive songwriters to come out of Nashville, four-time Grammy Award winner Lovett is equally comfortable in pop, rock, blues and country. Eleven-time Grammy nominee Hiatt melds rock, acoustic, folk, new wave and Mississippi Delta blues into songs recorded by some three dozen artists over the last three decades, from Three Dog Night to Eric Clapton.

Tickets on sale July 18.
Member-only pre-sale happening now!