Music aplenty: Socorro Fest features two days full of music --- for free

Adrian Gomez, Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
·2 min read

Sep. 14—Take a handful of New Mexico-based musicians.

Put them in the historic Socorro Plaza.

And there is SocorroFest, the two-day event, takes place on Friday, Sept. 15, and Saturday, Sept. 16, and will feature New Mexico native Gonzalo.

According to Ronna Kalish, director of New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series, the event aims to provide two days of rock 'n' roll, country, folk, oldies, blues and more for music lovers.

The city of Socorro and New Mexico Tech's Performing Arts Series (PAS) jointly sponsor the annual music fest to entertain and delight residents, students, tourists and music enthusiasts of all ages.

Kalish says the community is invited to attend the free all-ages festival, which also will include a kids' corner with a bouncy house and imagination blocks, spirits tent, food and arts vendors, 3-on-3 basketball tournament, and esports demonstrations from NMT competitors.

There will be three music stages — Historic Plaza, Capitol Bar & Brewery, Box Canyon Brewing Company.

Each will feature performers from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.

The Spirits Tent — operated by Capitol Bar & Brewery, Bodega Burger Company and Wine Shop, Black Smuggler Winery and Box Canyon Brewing Company — offers a classic beer glass for the $10 entry fee. Those who enter on Friday may bring their glass back on Saturday.

Kalish says a major SocorroFest headliner is The End of the Innocence — A Salute To The Songwriters, a national and international touring act delivering a high-energy, high-level show, performing a full range of chart-topping Grammy award-winning hits from Don Henley, Paul McCartney, Neil Diamond, Dan Fogelberg and Glenn Frey. The musical group has opened for such big names as Kenny Loggins, Little River Band, Randy Meisner, America, Three Dog Night, Kansas, Charlie Daniels, 38 Special and Hotel California: A Salute to the Eagles. SocorroFest attendees will hear them perform songs such as: "Hey Jude," "I Am I Said" and "Desperado."

The festival's marquee performer is Gonzalo, a Spanish dance music star originally from Las Vegas, New Mexico, who, in addition to performing hits such as "Adolorido" and "Sin Sal Ni Limon," also owns and operates a Taos-based music production company, The New Mexico Music Factory.

"He is a New Mexico fave," Kalish says. "His Spanish music should get everyone up and dancing."