It’s Summertime and the livin’ is easy.
At least monsoon season is upon us, and we’re cooling down a bit here in the Duke City. It’s the perfect time to take in some of the outdoor events happening in Albuquerque. The 35th annual Music Under the Stars series continues at Albuquerque Museum this weekend. The final Zoo Music concert, featuring French/Samoan ukulele phenom Taimane, packs the BioPark on Friday. Country star Darius Rucker hits First Financial Amphitheater at Isleta on Friday. And the 20th annual Lavender in the Village gets going on Saturday at Balloon Fiesta Park. Feel free to take our editorial suggestions on what to do, or dig through The Paper.’s newly revamped calendar for any and all events that appeal to you.
Songs that Save Our Lives (Saturday 25, Music/Spoken Word)
Have you ever felt intimately connected to a song, a perfect mixture of word and music that came in at just the right point in time and changed your life? Of course you have. It’s a fundamental human experience. The folks behind Songs That Save Our Lives: An Evening of Live Music & Storytelling know that feeling all too well. On Saturday, July 25 at 6 p.m., Keshet Center for the Arts (4121 Culter Ave. NE) is inviting storytellers, writers, poets and musician for an evening of creative collaboration. This debut event unfolds as a sequence of tune and tale pairings: A live cover of a submitted song is performed by the local house band METAMORFOS, preceded by the story of how that song held someone through a defining moment. The night’s featured storytellers include Zach Abeyta, Jir Anderson, Hakim Bellamy, Lynn Johnson, Jessica Helen Lopez, Gael Luna, Manuel Montoya, Petra Sánchez and Shelle Sánchez. Tickets are being sold at tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/464014 on a pay-what-you-will basis, a sliding scale between $10 and $20.
Hot Girl Summer (Friday 24, Music)
Albuquerque’s Launchpad (618 Central Ave. SW) is definitely in a seasonal mood. The venerable music venue is celebrating Hot Girl Summer with a night of women-fronted bands. It happens Friday, July 24 from 8 to 11 p.m. The lineup is headlined by Willajay, an alternative pop project featuring the lyrical musical of singer Willa Edwards. Also on the bill are Clarq, Sweet Roll and Maybe So. Between sets, DJ Thot Daughter keeps up the beats. Tickets are $15 at the door. This is a 21+ event.
Rhythm Room Grand Opening R&B Block Party (Friday 24, Music)
The Rhythm Room (400 Central Ave. SW), Downtown ABQ’s newest R&B and comedy nightclub, gets around to celebrating its grand opening with an R&B Block Party. Washington, D.C.-born R&B singer and rapper J. Holiday will be headlining the evening. Tickets (available in advance at tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/464409) will set you back $28.60 general admission or $34.10 for VIP stage front seating.
20th Annual Lavender in the Village Festival (Saturday 25, Festival)
The Lavender in the Village Festival, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque’s annual celebration of all things flowering and fragrant, outgrew its village roots some time ago and has found a new home at the Balloon Fiesta Park (4401 Alameda Blvd. NE). On Saturday, July 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. the Fiesta grounds will host food and drink vendors, arts and crafts, gardening classes, kids activities and, of course, every iteration of lavender you can imagine. Ticket run $7.67 to $24.63 at (lavenderinthevillage.holdmyticket.com/tickets/462405). For complete info, go to lavender.riograndefarm.org/.