In rhythm: Memorial Day Blues Festival comes to Placitas

For Jim Casey, the blues hits right in his soul.

“Blues and jazz are two genres that get right to the point,” Casey says. “That’s what I enjoy about them.”

Casey is a board member of the Canyon Blues and Jazz organization based in Placitas. For years, the organization has worked to get festival-type events to Placitas.

The organization, founded in 2019, is driven by an all-volunteer workforce.

It presents staged outdoor evening Sandia Chill Concerts at the Placitas Homestead Village shopping center parking lot. Attendees set up their own chairs, picnic under the shade of large trees, and enjoy 90-120 minute concerts within the protected boundary of the shopping center

On Sunday, May 25, the organization will host the Memorial Day Blues Festival for the second year.

The organization already hosts the successful Placitas Jazz Festival and the Labor Day Blues Festival.

“Every month, we are trying to put on an event,” Casey says. “These are the first steps for us to accomplish the goal.”

This year’s festival begins at 6:30 p.m. and runs through 10 p.m.

The line-up includes Memphis P-Tails, Kaktus Kats with Michael Matison and Joanie Cere, and Joe Warner & Friends. Each of the three sets will be an hour long.

Casey grew up in the Texas Panhandle and then moved to Dallas. This is where he cut his teeth with blues music.

“It’s the one style of music where you can hit one note and get chills,” he says. “I grew up listening to Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. I always like the stuff coming from England.”

About 10 years ago, Casey retired in Placitas and began learning about the local music scene via performing.

“It was the best way to meet the key players in New Mexico,” he says. “A friend of mine told me that I needed to start a band and then it would all fall into place.”

In late 2023, the organization had the idea to do a Memorial Day Blues Festival inspired by the success of its Labor Day event.

Casey says the mission of Canyon Blues and Jazz is to organize and sponsor quality music concerts for Placitas and surrounding communities, promote the quality of life in these communities, and to fundraise for local charitable organizations through ticketing and memberships.

Planning began in November for this year’s event, and the festival is run by volunteers.

“We wanted to create a festival atmosphere for the entire family,” Casey says. “It’s a picnic vibe and there is a pizza restaurant and a grocery store nearby. We wanted to be able to pay the performers and give back to the community.”

Some of the proceeds from each event go to charity. The Memorial Day Blues Festival will benefit KUPR radio.

In rhythm: Memorial Day Blues Festival comes to Placitas