Special travels: Da Terra Meiga set to finish off eight-day NM tour at Sister on Aug. 31

Ruben Cortiñas Ares is grateful to be back in New Mexico.

The former Albuquerque resident is back on tour with his band Da Terra Meiga.

Cortiñas Ares planned a trip back to New Mexico from Spain, so the band could tour once again around the state.

The final concert takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, when Da Terra Meiga takes the stage at Sister in Downtown Albuquerque.

Also on the slate is Meta Morfos and Sol de la Noche.

“Last time I performed here, I didn’t have the band,” he says. “This time around I was able to schedule eight performances over two weeks. We don’t have the chance to perform in New Mexico a lot anymore. This trip has been super special for us.”

Da Terra Meiga is a fusion of Galician folk, Latin and rock beats that brings music, folktale and magic to life on the stage with rhythm and love.

The concept of the band began with Cortiñas Ares, a multi-genre artist from Galicia, a region in the far northwest of Spain renowned for its Celtic heritage and history of witchcraft.

Known as the “Witches Land (Terra Meiga),” Galicia and its unique traditional music followed Cortiñas Ares across the world on his journey to the Land of Enchantment.

He’s been traveling back to New Mexico from Spain when he gets a chance.

In Spain, he’s recording music under El Corta, which began to take off.

“I’ve been working construction in Spain and put music on the back burner,” he says. “With this push, I’m working to become a full-time musician. I started El Corta during the pandemic, and I just need to get back to business with performing.”

With his solo project, he wanted to do something different but still with a flamenco guitar flair. “I’ve been collaborating with different artists, and they are featured guests,” he says. “The one thing that makes me happy is being on stage performing. I think I was born to do that for my life.”

Cortiñas Ares says that KUNM plays El Corta and Da Terra Meiga songs, which helps keep him connected to Albuquerque.

“Albuquerque is a really good town, and it helped me grow,” he says. “I was able to make some great connections here. I wanted to come back and do some shows as a way of thanking the community for continuing to support me.”

Cortiñas Ares says the final show at Sister in Downtown Albuquerque will be a great moment because he will be sharing the stage with his friends.

“Music does bring people together,” he says. “This will be a night of celebration and I hope people come out to enjoy it with us.”