Socorro's annual 4th of July bash:Music and new activities
Socorro - Socorro knows how to celebrate Independence Day and the 2007 party south of Macey Center promises to live up to the expectation. Along with spectacular displays of fireworks by the blow-'em-up specialists EMRTC, there's a variety of great food and fun all day from 11 am to 10 pm.
This year's musical line up will treat audiences to The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band" a a truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment " (3:30-5 pm). Before that, Eddie Benavidez y Los Jesters will perform (1:30-3pm)followed by Red Wine, with Spanish, R&B, Country, Rock, Hip-Hop, 50s Rock n Rolls, 60s, 70s, PopTop 40 and Reggaeton. Socorro's own variety band Remedy will complete the day's musical events which start at 11 with the Socorro Community Band. plus dance and martial arts demos.
The water slide, balloon jump and foam party will keep kids occupied and cool and many non-profit groups will offer cold drinks and food.
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been entertaining audiences, young and old, since 1975. True to the original 1920's jug bands of the South, our music comes alive with washboard, jug, kazoo, washtub bass, spoons, guitar and banjo. The band delights audiences with jug band, ragtime, country and bluegrass music with some rock 'n roll or a Spanish ranchera added for spice. Ben might even play a classical music piece. Performances have included appearances at the KIMO Theater, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Bio Park, Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Placitas Artists Series, and with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The group also plays for national and international conferences, weddings, private parties, school and community events. "Old Dog New Tricks," was released in 2004, according to their website www.watermelonmountainjugband.com
Members of The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band are professionals on stage as well as off. Gary Oleson (washtub bass) is a retired math teacher from Los Lunas High School. Five-time New Mexico banjo champion Ben Perea (banjo, guitar) is the band director at Valley High School in Albuquerque. JoAnn Sartorius (vocals, kazoo, spoons, jug) works with youth in Santa Fe as a social worker and counselor. Pat Houlihan (vocals, guitar, jaw harp) is a professor of English at the Albuquerque Technical Vocational Institute. Barbara Piper (washboard, high-hat, percussion) is a behavior consultant for the Albuquerque Public Schools and an independent educational consultant.
The Watermelon Mountain Jug Band has been recognized as "one of New Mexico's treasured natural resources"…"a truly unique mixture of music, mirth and pure entertainment"…"totally irresistible." So sing along! Grab a kazoo and enjoy! It's just too much fun to miss!
For more information about any of the day's events, please call the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series office, 505-835-5688 or the City of Socorro Tourism Dept. 505-835-8927.
Socorro's annual 4th of July bash:Music and new activities
The band delights audiences with jug band, ragtime, country and bluegrass music with some rock 'n roll or a Spanish ranchera added for spice. Ben might even play a classical music piece. Performances have included appearances at the KIMO Theater, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Bio Park, Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, Placitas Artists Series, and with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. The group also plays for national and international conferences, weddings, private parties, school and community events. "Old Dog New Tricks," was released in 2004, according to their website 
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