STAFF WRITERs

The Southwest Traditional and Bluegrass Music Association (aka Southwest Pickers) announces the 46th Annual Bluegrass and Traditional Music Festival to be held on August 13 – 15, 2021 at Brandenberg Park in beautiful Red River, NM. This celebration of traditional acoustic music will include a mix of bluegrass and traditional music concerts, informal and hosted jam sessions, workshops, open mic, contests, retail, BINGO and more activities for the entire family.

This year’s festival host band will feature Albuquerque’s own award-winning, Higher Ground Bluegrass band. Based in northern New Mexico, Higher Ground Bluegrass’ members reside in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and LosAlamos. Founded in 1998, they play original, contemporary, and traditional music informed by the American traditions of folk, bluegrass, country, and rock’n’roll.

This year’s festival headliner is Grammy-nominated Shawn Lane and his family band. Also appearing are Texas troubadours Augusta Road, Colorado’s Blue Canyon Boys, Hard Road Trio, Mystic Lizard, local favorites the Fritz Davis Band, Old Time balladeers the Tarsal Tappers Band, and festival Master of Ceremonies Mike Powell.
Advance tickets are available at: www.southwestpickers-festival.org For more information contact Tony Mora at (505) 610-7425, president@southwestpickers.org

This project is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, Red River Tourism and Lodger’s Tax, and the New Mexico Music Guild.