SocorroFest

By John Larson
SOCORRO – SocorroFest returns this Saturday, Oct. 10, with four music venues, arts and crafts, food vendors, a harmonica contest, spirits tents and family activities.
“SocorroFest is a delightful opportunity for the city and its people to showcase their talents and skills both to out-of-town visitors, and their own neighbors,” Dean said. “It’s going to be great, We ended up with four stages, and this year we’re starting Friday night with two great bands.”
Friday night, Darren Córdova’s mariachi band, Mariachi Calor, will accompany young mariachi singers competing for prizes starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Plaza.
Gunzawless, a group anchored by the Gonzales brothers, Socorro musicians now living in Phoenix, will take over at 8 p.m. with their Latin-funk-rock-blues sound, and winners of the 2008 Phoenix Music Awards “Instrumental Performance of the Year.”
Eight food vendors have signed up for the hungry, serving “sausage links, Indian tacos, green chile stew tacos, burgers and more,” Dean said.
The spirits tent will include wines from Deming’s St. Clair Winery, and beverages from Socorro Springs Brewing Co., Abbey Brewery in Santa Fe, Sierra Blanca Brewing Co. from Moriarty, and Tractor Brewing Co. in Los Lunas.
About 30 arts and crafts vendors will also be stationed throughout the plaza area, offering a wide variety of creations, from jewelry to woodworking to pottery.
Sponsored by the City of Socorro and aided and abetted by a loyal cast of businesses and individuals, SocorroFest organizers pledge that this year’s celebration of all things Socorro – and New Mexico – will be the biggest and best yet.
Dean said Saturday’s festivities will begin at noon with the second annual Harmonica Contest on the City Hall stage, followed by 20 musical acts.
Suzanne Barteau, organizer of the harmonica contest, said a special tie-in this year will be a free Harmonica Workshop called “Getting on Stage with Harmonica” given by Joe Mancuso and Friends at Socorro’s historic Capitol Bar on the plaza, at 3 p.m.
“The workshop will focus on amplifiers, microphones, and different styles of harmonica playing as they relate to stage performance,” Barteau said. “Joining Joe will be harmonica teacher Brian Walker and sound technician Brian Boggs, both from Albuquerque, to make sure that every one gets some individual attention and comes away from the workshop with the kind of knowledge that can take your playing to the next level.”
Those interested in attending the harmonica workshop should contact Suzanne Barteau at (575) 835-0424 or (505) 340-4280 (cell) for more information.

Noon – Et Alia Belly Dancers (Plaza)
Noon – Harmonica Contest (City Hall Stage)
1 p.m. – Roon. Folk rock. (Plaza)
2 p.m. – Wagogo. Zimbabwe, island, Chicano influence. (Plaza)
2:30 p.m. – Freaky Styley. Jam-based rock. (City Hall Stage)
3 p.m. – Linda and Alexis Mansell. Folk. (Stage Door Grill Patio)
3 p.m. – Harmonica Workshop with Joe Mancuso (Capitol Bar)
3:30 p.m. – Tory and Friends. Spanish. (City Hall Stage)
4 p.m. – Gunzawless. Blues, rock. (Plaza)
4 p.m. – Susie Jean and Ross. Country swing. (Stage Door Grill Patio)
4:30 p.m. – Skallywags. Classic rock. (City Hall Stage)
4:30 p.m. – Toby and Ernie Jaramillo. Spanish. (Capitol Bar)
5:30 p.m. –Doug Figgs. Country, cowboy, folk. (Stage Door Grill Patio)
5:30 p.m. – The Westerners. Country, oldies. (City Hall Stage)
5:30 p.m. – The Bernie Romero Band. Northern Mexico folk. (Capitol Bar)
6 p.m. – Albuquerque Blues Connection (Plaza)
6:30 p.m. – Remedy. Country, Spanish, rock. (City Hall Stage)
6:30 p.m. – Los Ladrones. Old time country. Spanish. (Capitol Bar)
7 p.m. – Tom “Hound Dog” Romancik. Blues. (Stage Door Grill Patio)
8 p.m. – Darren Cordova with Grupo Calor; Mariachi Calor and Dynnette Cordova (Plaza)
8 p.m. – Stage Door Jam with Huckaby Junction (Stage Door Grill Patio)
10 p.m. – Rhythm Prophets. Classic rock, blues. (Capitol Bar)

SocorroFest