Morning Welcoming Entertainment
10 am to 11 am
Every year, you'll find reasons to get to the festival early. This year, seven venues are starting up on Saturday at 10 a.m. with some special entertainment. Chinese Wushu Dance returns to the Dance Tent, with exciting dragons, lions, and martial arts. If you're into banjos try Banjos, Etc. at Jam with the Band. If you prefer ukes, the Roadrunner Strummers Ukulele Band will be at the Children's Tent. Walt Sala starts off the day's storytelling, Tortilla Junction plays bluegrass and old-time at the Mainstreet Stage, and ShonaSlovakia plays Afro-Gypsy fusion at the Demo Stage. Plus, the
| Venue | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mainstreet Stage | Tortilla Junction | Tortilla Junction has been performing at local venues since 2007. This three member band plays upbeat music on a variety of instruments including guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, dobro, and bass. Their repertoire includes traditional and original bluegrass and old-time with some Cajun, blues, and folk mixed in. Tortilla Junction took 2nd place at the 2008 Statewide bluegrass band competition in Santa Fe and 3rd place in 2010. The band members are the husband-wife team of Art and Lynda Garcia, and local multi-instrumentalist Jerry Grayson. They receive overwhelming positive response wherever they play so be prepared to tap your feet, clap your hands, and sing along! |
| Demonstration Stage | Afro Gypsy Fusion | ShonaSlovakia fuses high energy Shona/Zimbabwe music with Reggae, rock and roll combining Ranchera, New Orleans style, Ska, Latin, Gypsy, R&B and global poly rhythms. ShonaSlovakia enjoys incorporating the "voice" of each musician in the ensemble. Improvisation and fusion music is our core experience. We have been called "Superior entertainment..." and "a foremost dance band." "One of the best new bands in Santa Fe!" Randy Forrester, GOTTA DANCE, KSFR. Our primary driving force is having fun playing together! Sally Blakemore, accordion, extended African marimba, steel drums, bongo and kick block, Rusty Storbeck, soprano African marimba and ho sho, Nicolas Gadbois, lead vocals and guitar, composer of many of our songs, Gerald Rodriguez, percussion and trap set, harmony vocals and Dave Smith, bass guitarist, tuba, bells and harmony vocals. Contact Sally Blakemore for bookings artyprojects@cybermesa.com |
| Dance Tent | Chinese Wushu Dance | Let Martial Artistry's Team Steel Phoenix whisk you to the ancient land of the dragon and the phoenix. Where Chinese lions leap and stalk to the pounding of drums and the clash of cymbals and gongs, a dragon coils through the heavens as it seeks the Celestial Pearl of Wisdom and kung fu heroes soar through the air and display their wushu martial prowess in a manner beautiful to behold. This is a show of pageantry and history, with Northern Chinese dragon dancing, astounding high-flying acrobatics, Southern Chinese Lion dancing, Shaolin kung fu and wushu. Adults and children alike will be thrilled as Steel Phoenix presents the martial arts of China in a high-energy exhibition that brings the excitement and mystery of Chinese Wushu to life! |
| Storytelling | Strange & Possibly True | There's always a moral to Walt's gentle tales. This year he returns with a set of tales that is sure to make you wonder about the thin line between fact and fiction. |
| Children's Tent | Ukes | Kids! At last, a musical instrument that's just your size... come watch & hear how it's played, then try one to see how much fun it is. Learn a song in 10 minutes with the Roadrunner Ukulele Band! |
| Jam with the Band | Banjos Etc. | Good old songs and early jazz favorites with four banjoists, a pianist, and a bassist. Be ready to sing! |
