Bands Of Enchantment: Shining a Spotlight on Albuquerque’s Best Music, All Downtown

By Camillo Cretara, The Paper. — Elkhorn Media’s “Bands of Enchantment,” An Emmy Award-winning music series recorded right here in Albuquerque every September, returns with a multi-day concert/TV show taping at the KiMo Theater, Sept. 16 through 18, and a live music festival throughout Downtown Albuquerque on Sept. 19.

New Mexico’s favorite music showcase is back this year for its sixth season and brings fresh artists to famous Albuquerque venues. Some artists include modern blues legend Kingfish and ‘80s jazz-rap group Digable Planets, but also a number of local artists and bands such as Thursday Marks Fall, Levi Platero, Sweet Roll, Heavens Nigh, and Catcalling Canines, who will play venues across Central Avenue Downtown.

Before taking over KiMo Theater, previous seasons of “Bands of Enchantment” were recorded at the Albuquerque Railyard. But why do the show in Albuquerque of all places? With destinations like Santa Fe, which are famous throughout the world, why wouldn’t the show be done there? According to Ken C. Peterson, producer and organizer of “Bands of Enchantment” in all its iterations, “I grew up in Las Cruces and came to all my concerts in Albuquerque. … I feel like it’s such a melting pot of the country ,and New Mexico is, like, the crossroads for me.”

Crossroads might be one of the best ways to describe the Bands of Enchantment Music Festival, which will accompany the concert recordings at KiMo. Over 40 local bands are scheduled to perform at various venues Downtown including Ex Novo, Insideout, The KiMo Theatre and Sister Bar, with two additional outdoor stages on Fifth and Sixth Street. With all the Downtown venues being full of music, not any single one will be playing just one genre. 

“We decided to mix it up, because we really wanted to crosspollinate and expose people to other genres,” Peterson says. “I’m a little older, but we used to go to the record shop, and the wise old record shop owner would introduce us to other things. With [today’s] algorithms, they are feeding you what you already like to eat. We decided to crosspollinate to celebrate all the different genres that are happening within the Albuquerque music scene.”

Another interesting aspect of the Bands of Enchantment Festival will be a classic car show on Central. It’s not often you see classic cars at a music festival, but for Peterson it was something that he felt needed to be included. “Well, we’re on Route 66, it’s season 6, it’s the centennial for [Route] 66. And it’s woven into the culture of Albuquerque, with low riders coming from New Mexico. For us, it feels like only natural to weave that into this music festival,” Peterson says.

Previous seasons of “Bands of Enchantment” can be streamed on PBS, the PBS app, Prime Video, Tubi and The Roku Channel. For those who want to view it live and in person, the Season 6 show tapings at the KiMo Theatre are free to attend between September 16 and 18. RSVP by going to bandsofenchantment.com. The Downtown Music Festival on September 19 is also completely free. To see a complete lineup of bands and a map of the eight different stages/venues go to bandsofenchantment.com or on their instagram @bandsofenchantment.