Local Music
Explore music by local musicians
Explore music by local musicians
New Mexico has a rich musical history that continues to thrive today. From Al Hurricane to The Shins, our local musicians span an incredibly diverse range of styles, from indigenous music to cutting edge alternative sounds.
• To explore the work of our talented New Mexican artists, just type in the terms “local music” or “local music collection” for a subject search in the ABC Library catalog.
Enjoy the sounds of New Mexico!
Did you know...?
Did you know...?
Some highlights from New Mexico's musical history
Igor Stravinsky’s opera, The Rake’s Progress was performed during the Santa Fe Opera’s first season in 1957 and Mr. Stravinsky traveled to Santa Fe to oversee the production. He was so impressed by the company and the location that he spent the next six summers in Santa Fe and said that the years he spent there were among the happiest of his life.
Stravinsky also debuted his work, Threni: id est Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae at the St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe, NM on Jul 12, 1959.
Also at the Santa Fe Opera, The Tempest by Thomas Adès had its American premiere on July 29, 2006.
Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, Waylon Jennings and LeAnn Rimes all made recordings at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. Mr. Petty was a producer, a recording engineer and acted as Buddy Holly’s first manager. As a songwriter he was credited as a collaborator on the songs, “It’s So Easy”, “That’ll Be the Day” and “Peggy Sue”.
Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs, from Raton, New Mexico, also recorded their hit record, “Sugar Shack” at Norman Petty Studios. It went to #1 on the Billboard chart in 1963, eventually earning them a gold record.
Musicians with ABQ ties
Musicians with ties to New Mexico
Nels Andrews, a Kerrville Folk Festival regular and mentioned by NPR's Folk Alley as having one of the best records of 2012, lived in ABQ in the '90s and '00s.
Randy Castillo (drummer for Ozzy Osbourne and Mötley Crüe) born in ABQ, 1950. Attended West Mesa High School.
Ingrid Chavez (poet, writer and Prince collaborator) born in ABQ, 1965.
Jason Daniello was one of the founding members of the band Naomi, one of the big local acts of the 1990s - they toured extensively and released 2 CDs. Jason, now a solo artist, has relocated to North Carolina.
Bo Diddley, R&B guitar legend, lived in Los Lunas from 1971-78.
John Dieterich of Deerhoof lives in ABQ as of 2018.
Michael Goodroe (bassist, the Motels) Attended St. Pius High School. Currently a Medical Technologist living in ABQ.
Jim Morrison Attended Monroe and Wilson Middle Schools, 1955-1957.
Bob Ostertag composer, musician, multi-media artist, activist, and collaborator with the Kronos Quartet, John Zorn, etc. Born in ABQ, 1957.
Xzibit (Alvin Nathaniel Joiner IV) Attended Cibola High School.
Local Music Organizations
Local Music Organizations & Events
Events
- ABQ Folk Fest The Albuquerque Folk Festival provides an opportunity for the public to experience and participate in folk music, song, dance, and storytelling through educational workshops, demonstrations and performances. Folk activities enhance community expression and the continuance of cultural traditions.
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- ABQToDo: Music Events
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- Chatter Chatter / Ensemble Music New Mexico presents a full spectrum of chamber music in the classical idiom – from Baroque through the 21st century, with attention to American composers. 60+ unique concerts are presented each year. Chatter performs in unconventional, intimate venues; fosters curiosity about and understanding of today’s composers by juxtaposing and weaving together new and traditional classical music. In its three series, Chatter offers adventuresome programming and informative engagement between musicians and audience plus challenging opportunities for professional musicians. Chatter brings music and poetry together each Sunday and brings youth to the stage and to the audience.
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- Festival Flamenco Each June, the National Institute of Flamenco and the University of New Mexico host Festival Flamenco Internacional de Alburquerque, bringing the finest flamenco artists in the world to Albuquerque. For seven days, the city is filled with the pulse of flamenco, and is transformed into a cultural epicenter for the art form.
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- Gathering of Nations In the past 32 years the Gathering of Nations has grown from an early, simple dream to one of the world’s most recognized annual festivals. From the beginning the concept has always been to produce an event where Native people can come together each year to celebrate and share culture, and a place where singers and dancers can feel confident that competition is fair to all.
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- ¡Globalquerque! Join us at the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 4th St SW, at Avenida César Chávez). Enjoy musical performances in the intimate setting of the Fountain Courtyard, the state of the art Albuquerque Journal Theatre, and dance outside on the Plaza Mayor. Don't miss the Global Fiesta free Saturday daytime programming and the Global Village of Crafts, Culture and Cuisine.
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- Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque Mariachi Spectacular de Albuquerque’s (MSA) mission is to promote culture, arts & excellence in art education demonstrating Albuquerque’s ethnic Heart & Soul.
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- Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival Celtic music is a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe. It refers to both orally-transmitted traditional music and recorded music and the styles vary considerably to include everything from "trad" (traditional) music to a wide range of hybrids.
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- Santa Fe Opera
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Organizations
- Albuquerque Music Teachers Association The Albuquerque Music Teachers Association is an organization of music teachers devoted to the pursuit of excellence in music education.
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- AMP Concerts AMP Concerts became an official business on September 10, 2004 and became a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation in 2007. .AMP's goal is to complement the music available around town, working both independently and in collaboration with many other local groups to provide additional chances to experience world, folk, acoustic and Americana music.
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- Avokado Artists Avokado Artists Management and Consulting is a company that specializes in a variety of independent music-related services including artist management, marketing & promotion, general label consultation and music supervision.
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- Music Guild of New Mexico For the love of music, the Music Guild of New Mexico supports, promotes, and encourages nonprofit musical organizations that will educate, enhance, engage, and enrich the quality of our New Mexico community.
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- New Mexico Folk Music and Dance Society FolkMADS is a non-profit organization which promotes and teaches traditional music and dance. Our reach includes Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and Las Cruces.
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- New Mexico Jazz Workshop The New Mexico Jazz Workshop is a professional organization committed to providing unlimited access to a higher quality of life through education and performance. The New Mexico Jazz Workshop utilizes social programs and performance to connect the community with the essence of jazz – creating a more empowered and vibrant community.
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- Opera Southwest
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- Outpost Performance Space Outpost Productions has been a non-profit arts organization since 1988. Since 1990, we've made our home at the Outpost Performance Space, a unique and intimate, non-smoking, non-alcohol, storefront alternative performance venue.
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- New Mexico Philharmonic As the major professional orchestra in the state, the New Mexico Philharmonic is committed to inspiring audiences of all ages and backgrounds through its artistic excellence, innovative programming, and educational and community engagement.
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Miscellaneous Information
- New Mexico Music Awards To recognize excellence in recorded music produced within the state of New Mexico, thereby elevating the quality of music produced within the state.
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- listen!ABQ
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