If you want to see the hottest blues bands in north-central New Mexico, you don't need to be a barfly. You only need to go to Madrid on the Turquoise Trail a few miles south of Santa Fe.
Every summer for the last 26 years the New Mexico Jazz Workshop has sponsored the Madrid Blues Festival at Oscar Huber Memorial Ballpark just off Route 14.
The Madrid Blues Festival is comprised of five Sunday afternoons filled with music. Last year, the workshop celebrated its 25th year by bringing in such blues luminaries as guitarists Tab Benoit and Big Bill Morganfield to headline shows.
"It has stood the test of time," said Michael Koster, editor of the Santa Fe-based roots music publication Thirsty Ear. "It's been there for 25 years. My hat's off to anyone who can do that in New Mexico."
The performers on this year's bill will be primarily local, but two shows will have national acts headlining. The Father's Day Blues Festival this Sunday will include Morganfield, the son of blues great Muddy Water. The final Labor Day Blues Festival will feature renowned blues group the Kinsey Report.
The lineup is a virtual who's who of the local blues and roots scene - the Rattle Cats, the Memphis P-Tails, Dem Bones, Alex Maryol, Chris Draccup, Todd Tijerina, the Sultans, the Albuquerque Blues Connection and Stan Hirsch.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Despite the emphasis the New Mexico Jazz Workshop places on roots music, the workshop's executive director Ed Ulman said the gatherings at Madrid are more than simple music festivals.
"It's more than just music," he said. "It's about people getting out to soak up the flavor of Madrid, to get away from urban life. We've got bit of a Woodstock feel to it."
In recent years the festival has become a badge of honor for local blues and roots musicians - a sign of popularity and quality music. The blues fest is a showcase for the area's small, yet vital blues scene.
"The Madrid Blues Festival is all about taking care of the local blues scene," Ulman said. "You could say it's a reward for blues bands. The bands we're presenting have a high level musicianship, but they also put on a great show and they're able to draw people."
Jack Fortner, guitarist for local roots/blues act Dem Bones, agrees that the festival is a showcase for locals, though he's self-effacing when asked to place his group at the head of the class.
"It's nice to be invited, but as far as status, our band has no status," he said with a chuckle.
"We do enjoy playing, it's always a good time. It's in the daytime, but it's really set up like a show. They bring in a big sound system. It's a great show, you have corn dancers out their in the dirt. It runs the whole gamut from kids to grandparents."
Koster said events like the Madrid Blues Festival and his magazine's Thirsty Ear Festival are alternatives to the mainstream - which is why he doesn't see the glut of concerts at area casinos or shows at the Journal Pavilion as being detrimental to either festival.
"There's always some overlap, mainly with people who like mainstream artists who are not necessarily mainstream," he said. "But there's not that much overlap. If someone has a choice between Garth Brooks and The Flatlanders, and they choose Garth Brooks, they're not gonna come to Thirsty Ear or Madrid anyway."
For information on the Madrid Blues Festival, call the New Mexico Jazz Workshop at 255-9798.
Fesitival Schedule
Sunday, June 16: Father's Day Blues Festival
Big Bill Morganfield with the Memphis P'tails, Rattle Cats and Dennis Dillon
Sunday, July 7: Midsummer Blues Fest
Alex Maryol, Joanie and the Mooncats, Dem Bones and Chris Dracup
Sunday, August 4: Late Summer Blues Fest
Motor Kings, Todd Tijerina, Big Kahuna Rhythm & Blues Revue and Stan Hirsch
Sunday, September 1: Labor Day Blues Fest
The Kinsey Report with the Albuquerque Blues Connection, Sultans and Larry Freedman
All shows are on Sundays from 2-6 p.m. at the Oscar Huber Memorial Ballpark on Route 14 in Madrid, N.M.
Admission: $12 for Adults, $11 for Seniors 60 years and older and students with college i.d., $10 for Members.
All shows will be held rain or shine.
