The music scene in this melodious mountain town hits all the right notes

STORY BY PAUL ZIEKE n In Tune With Taos PHOTOGRAPHS BY GERAINT SMITH t’s 5 o’clock on a cool, The Rifters on stage at Old Martina’s Hall late-summer afternoon include (from left) Don Richmond, Rod Taylor, in Taos Ski Valley. Under and Jim Bradley. a large open-air tent, The Rifters take the stage to Iplay a blend of Southwestern- Americana music. As the trio strikes up “Freight Train,” the audience’s enthusiasm is palpable. Toes start tapping. FESTIVAL PLANNER Hands start clapping. It’s easy Taos Solar Music Festival to see that the crowd gathered A rock and pop music festival held in June at Kit Carson Park. solarmusicfest.com. at Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Taos Plaza Live Dance, the annual three-day Weekly concerts on Thursday nights all folk music festival, really loves summer long through September 4 on the Plaza. (575) 751-8800; taoschamber.com. this sound. MORE >>> River and Brews Blues Fest A blues festival in June in Red River, a mountain community north of Taos. redriverbluesfest.com. FACES OF THE MUSIC A wide range of local musicians, from cowboy to classical, keep Taos tuned up. Music From Angel Fire Young and established musicians perform Michael Hearne Christine Autumn John Carey Audrey Davis Johnny Archuleta Billy Archuleta Big Swing Theory Music From Angel Fire nearly 30 classical chamber music concerts at several northern New Mexico locations August 15–31. (575) 377-3233; musicfromangelfire.org. Big Barn Dance A three-day country-folk music festival on September 4–6 at Taos Ski Valley. michaelhearne.com/bigbarndance. COUNTRY JAZZ BLUES HARMONICA TRADITIONAL NORTHERN NEW MEXICAN MUSIC SWING/JUMP BLUES CHAMBER MUSIC Singer-musician Jimmy Stadler has been a local fixture for more than 20 years. He has been voted No. 1 Rock ’n’ Jimmy’s Six Picks Roll Artist in the Taos News’ People’s Choice Awards.

THE I think any venue offering live music gets a tip of my hat; they know that people love real music. That being said:

MUSICAL MAYOR For late at night with the “real bar” feeling, Taos Mesa I’ve played From New York Mayor Bill de Blasio may get more 1 there’s nothing like the Alley Cantina. You can 4 Brewing is 5 every 6 December headlines, but former Taos Mayor Darren Córdova-music has band. get food and a variety of music seven the new kid on Wednesday for through March, the one thing that de Blasio doesn’t: his own band. The politician is nights a week. I can catch the last the block, and it’s more than seven Hotel St. Bernard >>> After finishing several tunes to standing lead vocalist in Darren Córdova y Calór, a Spanish couple of songs from a band on really changing the years at Sabroso in Taos Ski Valley ovations, singer Don Richmond approaches Over the past 20 years, the band has grown into a family affair. my way home at 12:45 a.m. landscape. Some Restaurant in Arroyo has entertainment the microphone to thank the audience for Son Darren Lee plays accordion and keyboards, son Ryan plays 121 Teresina Lane. of the owners are Seco, near Taos Ski ranging from solo drums, and daughter Dynette Marie is a vocalist. Córdova (575) 758-2121; musicians, so they Valley. The restau- artists (like me the warm reception. also owns DMC Broadcasting, which operates four alleycantina.com. built a stage big rant is packed on every Tuesday) to “The music scene here in SOLAR SOUNDS local radio stations, and he is currently in the Radio listeners in Taos have about studio putting finishing touches on the enough for any that night. There’s full-on bands in northern New Mexico is tre- a dozen listening choices. However, one group’s 13th album. Eat yourdarren heart I love the variety of band, and they music on other the Rathskeller Bar mendous,” Richmond tells station—KTAO 101.9 FM—stands out not for what out, Mayor de Blasio. . music that comes provide a great nights, too. Pianist every night from the crowd. “I’ve never seen 2 it broadcasts, but for what it bills itself as: the world’s cordovaycalor.com through at the Taos Inn. sound system and Laura Bulkin is joined 8 to 11. There’s a anything like it. It’s an most powerful solar radio station. Its transmitter atop It’s a small room, but sound man. They’re by singer Katy built-in crowd with ecosystem of great ven- 10,800 -foot Picuris Peak is powered by more than 150 you can count on some adding an outdoor Palmier on Sundays. the hotel guests, ues, great artists, and solar panels. Known around town as KTAOS, the station is kind of music or dancing stage and always On Saturday, Omar and other folks in great audiences that licensed for 100,000 watts and has a broadcast radius of every night. They have seem to be working Rane plays great the Ski Valley swing feed off each other.” 100 miles. All that power is used to serve up music in an a great bar menu and on something new seven-string jazz by, even on the Richmond’s obser- adult album alternative format, plus a weekly program a great restaurant. Very for their patrons. 20 guitar. 470 SR 150, snowiest nights. vation is as true about that airs contemporary and traditional American Indian local. 125 Paseo del ABC Mesa Road. Arroyo Seco. 112 Sutton Place. (575) 776-3333; (575) 776-2251; the Big Barn Dance as it music. The station also offers such hometown news Pueblo Norte. (575) (575) 758-1900; taos 758-2233; taosinn.com. mesabrewing.com. sabrosotaos.com. stbernardtaos.com. is about the music scene segments as Lost and Hound, a twice here all year long. It’s this bulletin about lost pets. The KTAOS Solar Bar at the KTAOS radio station makes a big effort to bring great music to the venue. Inside artistic synergy that makes (575) 758 -daily 3 is a pavilion in the shape of a Quonset hut. There’s also an outdoor stage. Many great shows: Sonny Landre, Taos arguably the most musical ktaos.com. -5826; Los Lonely Boys, and happy hour with local singer-songwriters. 9 SR 150. (575) 758-5826; ktaos.com/blog. city in New Mexico. Everyone from the recent mayor on down seems to be in a band—or loves listening to them. As a result of its musical nature, Taos is home If you like Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 14 … to more than a dozen live music venues that SOOTHING SAVAGE BEASTS Celebrating its 52nd anniversary this year, the Taos School of Music is one of the are open late nearly every night of the week. Taos is home to a variety of music schools that provide both nation’s oldest and most respected summer chamber music programs. Its eight-week session gives students daily coaching with a student-to-faculty ratio of less than 4 to 1. Performers from across the musical spectrum training for students and an opportunity for audiences to hear A summer concert series through August 10 features artists in residence as well as are drawn to this mountain town of 5,700 resi- free or low-cost concerts. Here is a trio of choices: student performances. (575) 776-2388; taosschoolofmusic.com. dents to play in its nightclubs and cafés, as well as to study classical music, opera, or just jam on open mic nights. It’s a great scene for local fans that visitors can enjoy, too. Whether you’re into chamber music or doing the cha-cha, Taos has the tunes for your listen- If you like Chopsticks … ing type. If you like La Traviata … The Taos Youth Music School is a free after- Four weeks of training at the Taos Opera school music education and performance Copy editor Paul Zieke sings the blues whenever he finds a Institute culminates in performances program that serves about 75 students from typo in New Mexico Journey. throughout the month of June. kindergarten through fifth grade. (505) taosoi.org. 927-9419; www.taosyouthmusicschool.org. For free TourBook info and TripTik routings, visit your local branch or go to AAA.com/explore. FIND IT ONLINE For listings of live music events, check out livetaos.com or the entertainment section of the Taos News at taosnews.com/entertainment. ❂ 20 New Mexico Journey | July/August 2014 AAA.com AAA.com July/August 2014 | New Mexico Journey 21