By Kevin Hendricks, The Paper.
Rio Rancho and its neighbors don’t need a headliner to fill a weekend. This one comes loaded with New Mexican tradition, back-to-back Bernalillo concerts and three nights of live music in the City of Vision — plus the smell of green chile in the air.
Friday: Happy hour, then music all night
The BLOCK kicks off the weekend early with the Surfside Patio Happy Hour at 5 p.m., then Polynova takes the Main Stage at 7 p.m. — a free show at 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE.
Black Creek brings country to Rio Bravo Brewing at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Worth the drive: Indie rock and comedy in Albuquerque
Albuquerque indie favorites Prism Bitch headline a stacked multi-band bill Friday at 7 p.m. at Sister Bar, 407 Central Ave. NW.
The Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater hosts Calle 66 at 7:30 p.m. Friday as part of the Music Under the Stars series at 2000 Mountain Rd. NW.
Nate Jackson plays Quezada’s Comedy Club Friday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets at quezadas.holdmyticket.com.
Saturday: Nine bands in Bernalillo, chile season and country at The BLOCK
It’s Hatch chile season, and Market Street in Rio Rancho is roasting chile for customers and selling a wide range of green chile foods this week — follow your nose.
Bernalillo turns up the volume Saturday with Música y Más at Rotary Park — a two-day concert and community celebration hosted by the Town of Bernalillo. Saturday’s bill runs from noon to 10 p.m. with De Luz, Mariachi Amigos, Brenda Ortega, Micheal Rascon and Second to Last taking the stage. Sunday scales back to noon-8 p.m. with Mike Romero Y La Raza, Tripple-X Band, Gonzalo and Str8 Shot. Organizers describe it as a celebration of Nuevomexicano music and hometown pride.
The NM Art League brings its “Engaging with the Natural and Human Community” exhibition to the Open Space Visitor Center, 6500 Coors Blvd. NW, Saturday at 2 p.m. Admission is free.
Back in the Saddle returns to The BLOCK Main Stage at 7 p.m. Saturday. Latin Night with DJ Gabe follows at 8 p.m. in the Top of THE BLOCK Bar.
Sunday: Fiestas, trivia and a classic movie
The 333rd Fiestas de San Lorenzo begin Sunday at 2 p.m. in Bernalillo — one of the town’s oldest and most sacred traditions. Dancers assemble for prayers and dances, with a small farmers market and bouncy house on-site. The celebration continues Monday with a Fiesta Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, lunch at 1 p.m. and La Promesa dance at 3:50 p.m., followed by a procession through town along State Route 313. Matachines Dances are scheduled both Monday and Tuesday, closing the tradition with the ceremonial transfer of the San Lorenzo statue to its new hosts, the Baca-Garcia family.
The Fiestas honor St. Lawrence of Rome and are organized by Los Mayordomos, the community stewards responsible for the Matachines dance tradition — training the dancers, feeding the community and organizing musicians and prayer teams, according to Bernalillo Economic and Community Development Director Christina Jones.
The BLOCK closes the weekend Sunday with Brain Sang Game at 4:30 p.m., Braingang Trivia hosted by The Hoff at 6 p.m. (18 and older) and a free outdoor screening of “The Secret of NIMH” at 7 p.m. Bring blankets and chairs; no outside food or drink.
The Corrales Growers’ Market opens at 11 a.m. Sunday at Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., with local produce, honey, baked goods and artisan goods through Nov. 1.
Keep an eye on the sky this weekend — August afternoons bring quick monsoon showers across the Rio Rancho mesa. If you’re heading out after 2 p.m., check the forecast first.
What’s happening this weekend
Hatch Chile Season — Market Street Rio Rancho
Chile roasting and green chile foods available now
Música y Más — Rotary Park, Bernalillo
When: Sat, Aug. 8 | Noon–10 p.m.; Sun, Aug. 9 | Noon–8 p.m.
Saturday lineup: De Luz, Mariachi Amigos, Brenda Ortega, Micheal Rascon, Second to Last
Sunday lineup: Mike Romero Y La Raza, Tripple-X Band, Gonzalo, Str8 Shot
Admission: Free
Las Fiestas de San Lorenzo — Bernalillo
When: Begins Sunday, Aug. 9 | 2 p.m. (continues Mon–Tue)
Where: Rotary Park area and Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Bernalillo
The BLOCK — Weekend lineup
Where: 7805 Enchanted Hills Blvd. NE, Rio Rancho
- Fri, Aug. 7 | 5 p.m.: Surfside Patio Happy Hour; 7 p.m.: Polynova, Main Stage
- Sat, Aug. 8 | 7 p.m.: Back in the Saddle, Main Stage; 8 p.m.: Latin Night with DJ Gabe, Top of THE BLOCK Bar
- Sun, Aug. 9 | 4:30 p.m.: Brain Sang Game; 6 p.m.: Braingang Trivia (18+); 7 p.m.: “The Secret of NIMH” outdoor movie (free; no outside food or drink)
School Supply Drive — The BLOCK
Ongoing through Aug. 16 | Benefiting St. Felix Pantry
Full needs list: theblocknm.com/events/school-supply-drive-aug-2-16
NM Art League — Open Space Visitor Center
When: Saturday, Aug. 8 | 2 p.m.
Where: 6500 Coors Blvd. NW, Albuquerque
Admission: Free | Info: 505-768-4950
Prism Bitch — Sister Bar
When: Friday, Aug. 7 | 7 p.m.
Where: 407 Central Ave. NW, Albuquerque
Also on the bill: TwoLips, Tolliver, Clarq, Thot Daughter
Music Under the Stars — Calle 66
When: Friday, Aug. 7 | 7:30 p.m.
Where: Albuquerque Museum Amphitheater, 2000 Mountain Rd. NW
Nate Jackson — Quezada’s Comedy Club
When: Friday, Aug. 7 | 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: quezadas.holdmyticket.com
Corrales Growers’ Market
When: Sunday, Aug. 9 | 11 a.m.
Where: Corrales Parks & Recreation, 500 Jones Rd., Corrales
Admission: Free | Runs through Nov. 1