AMP Concerts - Albuquerque, New Mexico

AMP is happy to suggest great music and arts events around the region. This is not a complete list, but rather a personal selection of some of our favorite cultural options. Always verify with the venue to make sure none of the details have changed.

We'll highlight standout events, but first here is a list of organizations that are so reliable that we can wholeheartedly endorse everything they do. We're including ourselves since a lot of people find this page directly, and you should check out our shows before leaving!

AMP Concerts - The best folk, acoustic, Americana and world music in Albuquerque

Outpost Productions - All flavors of jazz, and a little of everything else.

FanMan Productions - Popular, traditional and world music.

The Southwest Pickers - Bluegrass performances, workshops and jam sessions.

Southwest Roots Music - Blues, roots, folk and more. Don't miss the Thirsty Ear Festival at the Eaves Movie Ranch. New dates: June 12 to 14, 2009.

Chamber Music Albuquerque has long been home to string ensembles working in the classical mode. They have also launced several interesting series, dubbed Americana and Chamber Music X, that focus on a more modern and eclectic repertoire.

There's always fun music going on during the summer. In Albuquerque, you can't go wrong with Summer Nights at the Botanic Garden, Zoo Music, and Jazz and Salsa Under the Stars at the Albuquerque Museum. You can also make the lovely day trip to Los Alamos for the Los Alamos County Summer Concert Series.

Albuquerque Folk Festival turns Expo New Mexico into a giant musical village every June. A great mix of acoustic preformers will be there, but the real treat of the fest is the hundreds of workshops on all levels of music and dance, from jaw harp to mandolin, African to Scandinavian. It's a great, interactive musical day.

FUSION Theatre Company - consistantly the best live theatre in the state of New Mexico. We can unequivalenty recommend ANY production that FUSION is responsible for.

And our pals at Tricklock Theater Company are always pushing the edges in the non-traditional theater front. Every January they put on the Revolutions International Theater Festival, which brings a variety of stunning cutting edge theater companies to Albuquerque for a brilliant frenzy of activity.

If you came here looking for rock and roll, you'll probably be disappointed. We don't do a lot in that area and it isn't a strong part of our local calendar. But Albuquerque has some great rock clubs. When we're in the mood, we'll drop by The Launchpad, Burt's Tiki Lounge or the Atomic Cantina.

Visiting Albuquerque? Check out the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau for lots of useful info.

Our favorite radio

89.9 FM - KUNM - The only station in Albuquerque that regularly plays the kind of music we bring to town. Plus, they maintain one of the best arts and culture calendar in town.

Notable events

Despite our best efforts, we don't always manage to keep this page up to date. Sorry if you've checked in and we are behind again!

Not sure why I didn't notice the name Reba Hasko last time she came through town, but judging by what the Alibi wrote then, I would have liked it! We all get a second chance when she returns to the Launchpad on January 7. "...An almost ominous sense of suspense and mystery has always been a part of Hasko's shtick. From her early acoustic days with only a piano and her voice, Hasko has branched out to include synthesizer and a bevy of computer-generated bells, horns, strings and hollow overtones. Her classically trained voice slithers and climbs, sometimes panting, often cooing and usually brushed with vibrato. Her two LPs (2001's Live at Studio 43 and 2006's Seeds from the Twisted Pear) are blissfully avant-garde..."
- Simon McCormick, The Weekly Alibi (Sep 10, 2008)

Their blend of Mexican and American folk traditions seems to have captured the hearts of many folks in Albuquerque. And now they are adding Welsh story songs into the mix! That's a decidedly unexpected turn from the Santa Cruz River Band, who return to Albuquerque on January 11 for a show at South Broadway Cultural Center.

Many of us first learned of Jamaican "toasting" through Pato Banton's debut, facing off against Ranking Roger in the song "Pato and Roger a Go Talk" on the English Beat's 1982 release "Special Beat Service". Since then, the nimble tongued master has teamed up with tons of Reggae and pop luminaries. Undoubtedly a fun show at the Launchpad on January 11.

The 9th Annual Revolutions International Theatre Festival kicks off on January 13. Revolutions is one of the highlights of our year. We gorge ourselves on exciting cutting edge theatre from around the world. The festival is full of surprises and fun. You really need to see at least one event during the three weeks that it runs. Our goal is always to see everything, and we come very close. It wraps up on January 31.

Sandia Heights Coffeehouse Concert Series presents the acoustic duo of Hannah Alkire and Joe Scott, more formally known as Acoustic Eidolon at the Church of the Good Shepherd (7834 Tennyson NE) on January 17 at 7:30 pm. It's probably a backhanded compliment to say that Acoustic Eidolon are the best double-neck guitar/cello duo out there! They are both accomplished musicians who perform mostly instrumental music in a wide variety of styles. We hosted them in both the Bosque House Concert Series and the Windchime Gallery Series. For more info, contact Linda Bolton.

Ahem. If it is January 18, you undoubtedly were looking for info on our Sam Bush show at the KiMo. Openers the Band of Heathens will be doing a full show of their own at the Cooperage on January 19.

Wovenhand - a side project of 16 Horsepower - bring their haunting gothic country to the Launchpad on January 24. There is a stunning goth-country scene in Denver, and if that sounds intriguing, then look up Slim Cessna's Auto Club and Munly Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots to get started. (Thanks Carol, for introducing me to those bands!) They undoubtedly hark back to 16 Horsepower (and probably "Hallowed Grave"-era Violent Femmes), and Wovenhand carries on that tradition in spades.