It’s been years since the last big blues bash in Madrid at the old ballpark—those all-day, three-chord celebrations of blue notes that corralled every blues man and woman for miles around. It was good times for kids and adults alike, but spending hours in the dusty field under a hot sun could take its toll.

The New Mexico Jazz Workshop has found a way to revive those good times but under what should be more comfortable conditions. This weekend, they’ll launch the latest edition of the Madrid Blues Fest at the Mine Shaft Amphitheater, a tented venue with a small stage and cover for several hundred blues fans. The facility is right next to the longest bar in New Mexico,
located in the Mine Shaft Tavern (est. 1899), which also has one of the better green chile cheese burgers in the state, tasty hand-cut fries, and a longstanding dedication to good music.

“Everybody talks about how much they miss those old days at the ballpark when we had blues shows and big jam sessions and stuff like that,” says Joanie Cere, blues vocalist and festival
curator. So she and Maud Beenhouwer, executive director of the NMJW and a rock solid bassist, took a trip up to Madrid to see what could be done.

The ownership of the Mine Shaft made them an offer that only an idiot would refuse, and the next thing Cere knows, she’s trying to organize about 50 musicians for an afternoon festival.

“It’s 10, 12, 15 people in a set, 3 guitars, 2 basses, 2 drummers, 2 harmonica players, 2 singers, a saxophone player,” says Cere. “It’s going to be fun. I’m going to jump in on a couple different sets.” (See below.)

People are encouraged to bring folding chairs for their comfort, and volunteers will be on hand to help anyone needing assistance in making their way into the venue. The weather is
supposed to be in the upper 70s, with some cloud cover, so dress appropriately.

Madrid Blues Fest
Sunday, September 15, 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Mine Shaft Amphitheater
Madrid, NM
All ages
Tickets $20 general/$15 NMJW members, seniors, students/Children under 12 free
Available in advance here.
For more info, call 505-255-9798, or visit the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.
All sales final, no refunds or exchanges, including no refunds or exchanges due to inclement weather.

© 2013 Mel Minter. All rights reserved.

 

Set Lineups
The set lineups and schedule below are subject to change.

Set 1
2:00 to 2:50

Guitar
Dave Paul
Darin Goldston
Mark Gonzalez

Vocals
Raven Rutherford
Anna Marie Anglada
Joanie Cere (1 song)

Harmonica
Skinny Dinnie Ferguson
Vicente Garcia

Saxophone
Lee Taylor

Keyboard
Larry Freedman

Bass
Kevin Kraybill
John Harris

Drums
Kent Pitzenbarger
Pete Amahl

Set 2
3:00 to 3:50

Guitar
Scott Mitchell
Jay Rodecap
Dimi DiSanti

Vocals
Patti Littlefield
Wendy Beach
Joanie Cere (1 song)

Harmonica
Joe Mancuso
Marvin Jaramillo

Saxophone
John Truitt

Keyboard
Bob Andrews

Bass
Steve Whitman
Jeff Sipe

Drums
Melvin Crisp
John Edwards

Set 3
4:00 to 4:50

Guitar
Jake Jones
Bill Writt
Bob Bolz

Vocals
Kathy Gutierrez
Sally Towne
David Aubol

Harmonica
Marvin Jaramillo
Vicente Garcia

Saxophone
James Roy

Keyboard
Sally Towne
Dave Williams

Bass
David Aubol
Troy Lawton

Drums
Mark McKenna
Melvin Crisp

Set 4
5:00 to 5:50

Guitar
Tiho Dimitrov
Rudy Jaramillo
Darin Goldston

Vocals
Terry Diers
Joanie Cere (1 song)

Harmonica
Ron Lipton
Skinny Dinnie Ferguson

Saxophone
John Truitt

Keyboard
Lydia Clark

Bass
Charles Crawford

Drums
Alfred Alaniz
Arnaldo Acosta