Rockabilly Stage Will Bring Back Fond Memories
ALBUQUERQUE NM—The giant Centennial Summerfest scheduled for Saturday, June 16th on Central Avenue between 2nd and 10th Streets will feature a total of five stages with a wide variety of entertainment.
The Rockabilly Stage at 6th and Central will draw a crowd eager to hear from some of our area’s most popular rock ‘n roll bands. The Fireballs, the first rock ‘n roll recording band in New Mexico, gained national attention with their #1 Billboard song “Sugar Shack” that stayed at the top of the charts for five weeks in a row. In 1963, they had the largest-selling single recording of all recordings released in the U.S. in a one-year period.
Another Albuquerque favorite, Soul Kitchen, will bring a bluesy sound to the stage with vocalist extraordinaire, Hillary Smith and guitar hero, Chris Dracup, bassist Marcus Casman, and drummer Mark Clark. Smith, winner of Albuquerque the Magazine’s “Best Vocalist” three years in a row, and Dracup, named “Best Musician” by the magazine as well as “Best Solo Act” by Local IQ, bring their blues-drenched sound to thrill audiences everywhere.
The Hubcaps blast from the past celebrates rock ‘n roll oldies from a time when pompadours, Converse’s, leather jackets and poodle skirts topped the fashion world. The incredibly tight harmonies of doo-wop will evoke nostalgia in those who lived it, and enchant our younger generation.
You could not have a rock ‘n roll revival without a group called The Daddy Os! A touch of Elvis, a little Jerry Lee Lewis, and lots of great fun will bring the crowds to the Rockabilly Stage. The trio of Rob Martinez, of traditional mariachi and ode to the Beatles “Mariachi Mystery Tour” fame, Tom Gutierrez, a veteran guitarist and vocalist who has played throughout the state, and drummer Gary Gabaldon who moonlights in a country band, bring great energy and passion to their performances.
While it is an unusual name for a rockabilly band, Cowboys and Indian (singular) is a high-energy rockabilly/hillbilly band that takes its inspiration from artists such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Burnett, Buck Owens and many other stars from the past. With revved up performances, they bring rock ‘n roll back to its roots: simple, loud and raw. Adjacent to the Rockabilly Stage will be a Classic Car Show on the “Mother Road,” Albuquerque’s Route 66, featuring over 50 vintage cars representing clubs around the state.
The Centennial Summerfest in Albuquerque, the largest event in New Mexico celebrating 100 years of statehood, will feature popular genres of music on five different stages along Central Avenue, a Science & Technology Center, a juried art exhibition, food vendors, a Kid’s Fun Zone, and much more. The event begins at Noon and ramps up at 6 p.m. when the Main Stage becomes the focal point for the evening with a performance by the multiple Grammy®-winning band, “Los Lobos.”
