THE PERFORMERS
Hawaiian
Pride Nosotros
Jeff
Scroggins & Fresh Horses Civitas
Jenn
Grinels Felonious
Groove Foundation Rebilt
The
Big Spank Aranda
Ryan
McGarvey
TIME: 12:00 PM
Hawaiian Pride (Hula Troop)
Hawaiian Pride is New Mexico’s Premier hula halau. The group consists of about 35 - 40 dancers, Kane (Men), Wahines (Women) and Keiki’s (Children). Since the group’s beginning in 1999, they have performed at various events, parties and occasions. Each year is a very eventful year for Hawaiian Pride. The group has had the distinct pleasure of performing in many cities and states, including Colorado, Nevada, California and Hawaii. The group has also been featured in the May, June, September 2007 and March 2008 issues of Albuquerque, The Magazine. Hawaiian Pride was also voted as Best of the City for 2007.
Hawaiian Pride is proud to represent the State of Hawaii here in New Mexico and also to preserve their Pacific Island culture and way of life. Hawaiian Pride’s goal is to educate the community’s here in New Mexico and throughout the Southwest about their Hawaiian Culture and also to keep it alive through dance, music and language.
TIME: 1:00 PM
Nosotros
Nosotros seamlessly combines Latin rhythms with elements of Flamenco, Jazz, Salsa, and Rock, creating an original sound that is unmistakably Nosotros. M.E. Schenck of Hyperactive Music Magazine may have interpreted their sound best by saying “Nosotros’ music is not to be explained, it is to be felt in the pit of our souls.” In 2006, Nosotros released their critically acclaimed fourth album, "Llena La Alma", engineered and co-produced by Grammy Award Winning Engineer J. Douglas Geist. “Llena La Alma” has since been getting both national and international radio play and their song “Hermosa” was named as a finalist in the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The award-winning ensemble was formed in the southern New Mexico town of Las Cruces. Nosotros successfully self-produced two albums, “Palomo” and “Pico,” both of which received excellent reviews and sold very well. The band gained an almost immediate following while playing every venue the town had to offer. Nosotros continued to play for capacity sized crowds and relocated to the Albuquerque/Santa Fe area, firmly establishing themselves as one of the most popular bands in New Mexico. Nosotros caught the ear of percussionist/producer Chris Trujillo who is best known for his work with Tom Petty, The Black Crowes, Rod Stewart, Toto and Diana Ross. Nosotros released their third album, self-titled “Nosotros”, produced by Trujillo. This self-titled album received numerous awards, cementing the group’s reputation as a Latin music powerhouse. At the 2004 MIC Awards, Nosotros won awards for “Album of the Year,” “Best Traditional Hispanic Song,” and “Best Salsa/Tropical Song.” Trujillo was also recognized as “Producer of the Year.” Nosotros now performs to a large fan base playing at various music festivals, nightclubs, private bookings, and television/radio programs. Nosotros has shared the stage with a wide variety of world-renowned artists such as the Gipsy Kings, Etta James, Lisa Loeb, Robert Cray, Los Lonely Boys, and Tony Furtado, to name a few. Nosotros features Carlos Fontana on vocals and percussion; Shane Derk on flamenco and electric guitars; Randy Sanchez on vocals and Cuban tres; Gil Uribe on bass and vocals; Manuel Ramirez Ruiz on saxophone, vocals and percussion; and Dennis Jasso on vocals and drums.
TIME: 2:00 PM
Jeff Scroggins and Fresh Horses
www.myspace.com/jeffscrogginsfreshhorses
Jeff Scroggins & Fresh Horses is the incorporation of the sounds and spirit of the Southwest. Jeff first fell in love with the Southwest on a 1983 trip to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. He now lives in New Mexico where the spirit of the Southwest runs strong.
The Fresh Horses concept is a band built around a core group of musicians that help to define the band’s sound that then draws from a “stable” of hot players to help maintain a top quality musical experience. The name also has a distinctly Western connotation that fits well with Jeff’s love of New Mexico and the Rocky Mountain West and his desire to incorporate elements of it into the band. “Fresh Horses” immediately engenders strong visual elements that are quintessentially western and represent the power and freedom of the band’s music.
Alan Munde was his first banjo teacher, and Country Gazette was the first great bluegrass band that Jeff saw perform live. Through that connection and because of his own Western heritage growing up on a farm in South Central Oklahoma, Jeff became fascinated with the bluegrass music of the West. As he learned more about the history of Country Gazette and its origins, Jeff discovered and came to love the many great bands and musicians that had western connections. The Kentucky Colonels, The Hillmen, New Riders of the Purple Sage, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Bryds, the Eagles, and all the performers that were a part of them laid the foundation for a sound that had distinct bluegrass connections, but was influenced by its surroundings. It is his desire to make music that might continue in and build upon that great tradition.
TIME: 3:00 PM
Civitas
Civitas has been entertaining music lovers and bar patrons around the Southwest for nearly a decade. By skillfully blending styles such as rock, pop, funk, latin, jazz, reggae, and bluegrass, Civitas appeals to listeners with diverse musical tastes. The band is one of the most reputable and recognizable names in the Albuquerque music scene. Their infectious groove is unmistakably prevalent as they seamlessly move between both tightly composed arrangements and free-form improvisation.
Currently, Civitas performs as a trio: RJ Perez on guitar and vocals, Richard DeMello on base and vocals, and Vance Van Donselaar on drums and percussion. All three experienced musicians bring a high level of professionalism, but maintain a likeable, fun-loving attitude on and off the stage.
TIME: 4:00 PM
Jenn Grinels
"Little Words—Big Voice"
One of the rare moments occurs when you hear and see someone so fetching to the ear that the experience stands out, in and of itself. On Thursday night down at Cuppy’s, aka Java Jo’z, Jenn Grinels provided the audience such a moment. Hailing from San Diego, Grinels brought the coffee shop to a halt with her stunning vocals and original songs. Grinels' voice has a ‘torch song’ soulfulness to it that perfectly conveys the ‘lost in love’ lyrics that she writes. She is very polished in vocal delivery . She ‘wowed’ the room and I was right there to find out info on this extraordinary new discovery.
Recently the IE Weekly did an article on the growing DIY phenomena that is rewriting the whole mainstream record industry. Jenn Grinels’ CD ‘Little Words’ shows just how much fun the DIY approach can be without the ‘suits’ looking over your shoulder determining this and that. The cover has an proletarian look to it that is professionally done. Inside the original artwork and hand written notes remind one of a bootleg, but then again this belies the professional intent with which this well crafted and very well mastered CD was done. I was loving the CD before I ever listened to it. Listening to it certainly didn’t diminish my expectations either. Grinels' voice really has to be heard to be believed. It’s jazzy in its pacing, soulful in its delivery, heartfelt in its sensuous tone, and the poetic timing of the words speaks volumes. This is a singer that you know will be discovered, and soon I hope. Grinels is getting ready to embark on a west coast tour - I urge everyone reading these words to be there for two reasons. Grinels puts on a heck of a show and really commands the stage when she is on it. The other reason is to pick up a copy of her CD and listen to her voice, which is head and shoulders above most singers you hear, signed or unsigned. As one North County Times reporter put it, she is one of the top singers on a very short list in San Diego, or anywhere else for that matter, and these old ears have heard a ton or two of songbirds over the years. It will be interesting to see how the future unfolds for this soon-to-be legendary singer. ----P.T. Rothschild, Full Value Reviews (28 Sep 2007)
TIME: 5:00 PM
Felonious Groove Foundation
myspace.com/feloniousgroovefoundation
N.M.'s premier retro-funk contingent incorporates Latin, hip-hop and jazz resulting in a party oriented, high-octane, unforgettable musical experience. Award winning songwriting, chicken-scratch guitars and turntables, slap bass, 70's breakbeats and punchy saxophones are F.G.F. Felonious Groove Foundation was formed in 2000 by Cali Soberanes and Todd Lovato. The two had played music together in high school and would often sneak into 21 and over bars to participate in Santa Fe local open mic sessions. They decided to start the band shortly after moving to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico. F.G.F quickly made it's mark on the scene by winning several "battle-of-the-bands" and relentlessly touring the local club circuit. Influenced heavily by the 70s funk era, Latin rhythms and urban hip-hop, Felonious Groove Foundation quickly became a local favorite, headlining many of the southwest areas largest festivals. The band has also had the opportunity to share the stage with Arrested Development, Fishbone, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Los Mocosos and the B- Side Players. Made up of six young men in their early and mid twenties, FGF was nominated for seven awards at the 2004 New Mexico Music Industry Awards; the regions most prestigious recognition for the musical arts. Awarded for best Hip-hop production, the band continues to shake local night clubs into the wee hours of the night. Recently Lovato and Soberanes wrapped up production on the band' s Third Album "Paper Tiger", Scheduled for release this fall under Penguino Records. With an already large and diverse fan base Felonious Groove Foundation is poised to make a lasting impact on the music industry.
TIME: 6:00 PM
Rebilt
Rebilt is an Albuquerque native punk rock band that live, practice, work, play, and breath their music. The group consists of three members; David Joyce on guitars and vocals, Rick "The-Tick" Sanchez on drums, percussion and vocals, and Lance Stephenson on bass and vocals. Rebilt has officially been been together since April of 2000 with Lance joining them in September of 2006.
Rick Sanchez is one of the original conceivers of the Green Globe Festival and is intent upon helping to insure the future of the Albuquerque community. The band’s commitment to a sustainable future is as passionate as their energetic performances.
TIME: 7:00 PM
The Big Spank
The Big Spank, based in Albuquerque NM, composes and performs with an original musical style they brand "Eclecto-Pop”. The band has been performing across the southwest since 1998 and is currently touring to promote the newly released CD: Gypsy Rug Burn
The Big Spank lives gypsy-style in a converted school bus and is touring full time, spreading their love in the form of feel-good tunes that beg, borrow, and steal from ska, rock, soul, R&B, hip hop, death metal, polka, Norteño, and other genres. Their stage antics and high-energy live performances are not soon forgotten.
The Big Spank includes Bert Lujan on drums, Mike García on guitar, vocals and accordion, Retzen on trombone, Chris Tickner on bass guitar, and Javier Sandoval on guitar and vocals.
TIME: 8:00 PM
Aranda
ARANDA IS AN EXPERIENCE! The wall-shaking Oklahoma brothers are no strangers to
the music scene. Dameon and Gabe Aranda have been writing, singing, and
performing together for over a decade, learning from the likes of Led Zeppelin,
the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, and Jimi Hendrix.
Through strong dedication and friendly rivalry, Gabe and Dameon perfected their onstage presence. "We made each other better by having that competitive spirit," Gabe says. "We don't think about who's the better singer. We think about who is going to sound better on this part, whether this song is screaming for a wailer, a rock singer, or a more soulful voice."
Guitarist Dameon says that every time he learned a few new chords, he would use them to write a song. "We want to go out there with high energy, keep rocking, keep everybody entertained. We want to involve our audience and make it fun," he says. "Our hope is that you'll keep coming back for more."
On April 22nd, Dameon and Gabe released their long-awaited, eagerly anticipated debut album. To produce the record, they enlisted their Grammy-nominated friends Sam Watters and Louis Biancaniello. Aranda now gives us a confident powerhouse of an album that matches the force that they have carried onstage for years.
TIME: 9:00 PM
Ryan McGarvey
At age 21, Albuquerque, New Mexico native Ryan McGarvey has in a relatively
short amount of time not only gained a national, and international fan base, but
admiration from his personal idols as well. In the past few years of Ryan's
career he has had the honor, and the pleasure of sharing the bill with such top
name act's as Blue Oyster Cult, Shemekia Copeland, Shannon Curfman, Chris
Duarte, Ian Moore, John Hammond Jr., Joe Bonamassa, Back Door Slam, Gov't Mule,
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and many more. His debut CD release "Forward In
Reverse" recently reached the top 20 (out of over 200,000 Artist's Cd's) on the
best sellers list on CDBaby.com (The worlds largest online independent
distributor). With rave reviews complimenting everything from his fiery guitar
chops, which range from everything from delta slide to heavy rock, his unique
vocals, or mature songwriting skills, Ryan McGarvey's live shows will leave you
breathless and wanting more. Absorbing influences from everything from early
delta blues, to classic hard rock, to more contemporary blues/rock artist's of
today. In 2006 Ryan was named Guitar Center's "Guitarmaggeddon: Next King Of The
Blues" champion of New Mexico. In 2007 & 2008 he was named "Blues Act Of The
Year" in The Weekly Alibi's Annual Readers Poll. In 2007 Ryan took home the New
Mexico Music Award for "Blues Song Of The Year" for his song "Cryin' Over You",
and was nominated for "Mainstream Rock Song Of The Year" for his song "The One
That Got Away". Most recently Ryan was named one of very few guitar players to
impress the editors of Guitar Player Magazine at the SXSW festival in Austin,
Texas. With a solid rhythm section backing him, Ryan McGarvey and his band are
embarking on bigger and better things... Don't miss your chance to catch them
playing for a hometown crowd!
