Old Town gets in the ‘Americana’ spirit

Guitarist Mato Nanji and the other members of the Native American band Indigenous perform Saturday during the Americana minifestival in Old Town.

Old Town has been the home to two minifestivals so far this year — Busker Days and Youth in Arts. Today and Saturday, June 9, the city is serving up the third Old Town minifestival — called Americana — which is part of the New Mexico Centennial Festival Series.

The city is putting an original spin on what Americana is, said Mancle Anderson, in charge of Old Town technical operations in Albuquerque’s Cultural Services Department.

That’s because the minifestival encompasses a variety of music, from blues to folk and bluegrass to old-time New Mexico Hispanic music.

“We’re approaching it as representative of the American musical/cultural experience. Americana is usually a radio programming format,” Anderson said.

The headliner is the Native American blues band Indigenous. The music is free.

Here is the roster of bands:

Today

GAZEBO

5-6 p.m. Squash Blossom Boys (original bluegrass and covers)

6-7 p.m. Bébé La La featuring songs by violist-guitarist Alicia Ultan & singer/accordionist Maryse Lapierre (French ballads and original folk-rock)

7-8 p.m. Breaking Blue (newgrass)

Saturday, June 9

GAZEBO

2-2:45 p.m. Frank and James Chavez (Old-time Hispanic music of New Mexico)

3-3:45 p.m. Indigenous

Intermission. Kevin Morgan (original alt-country)

4:15-5 p.m. Indigenous

PATIO MARKET

Noon-1 p.m. Cornbread Blues Band

1-2 p.m. Terry Clements (singer-songwriter)

2-3 p.m. Jaded Heart Duo with Roger Jameson and Alicia Ultan (nostalgic, romantic folk rock)

PLAZA HACIENDA

Noon-1 p.m. Cole Mitchell (country rock)

1-2 p.m. E. Christina Herr & Wild Frontier (alt-country)

2-3 p.m. Gary Reynolds (mountain folk-country)

NORTH ROMERO

Noon-1 p.m. Three Leaf Shamrock (Celtic music)

1:30-2:30 p.m. Cornbread Blues Band

They will play in the alcove by John’s Western Gallery. Following that, they and John Simmons, nicknamed “The Human Jukebox,” will be wandering minstrels throughout Old Town.