Luke Montavon
I n June, we told you that this year’s Santa Fe Pride festivities, usually held on and around the Plaza during that month, had moved to September to accommodate more vendors, more music, more students—more pride. At the time, Santa Fe Human Rights Alliance president Richard Brethour-Bell also stated that it was about having a little more time to make it the best Pride in Santa Fe ever.
Now, as we head toward the weekend, Brethour-Bell says he's feeling very positive and thinks they've accomplished just that. "It was clearly the best decision," he says. "We have more entertainment than we've ever had before." And though Brethour-Bell says many were concerned by the move from June to September, it's nothing new. "There are many Prides that take place before and after June," he points out. "You just have to do what's best for your community and to get more people involved and more entertainers."
Event highlights, according to Brethour-Bell, include the Thursday night screening of documentary Out of Iraq, a stirring star-crossed lovers tale; the Friday night parade, which starts at Fort Marcy and culminates in a Plaza-based dance party (and is followed by a bubble afterparty at Skylight); and, of course, the all-day festival at Santa Fe University of Art and Design on Saturday. That's not even mentioning appearances from X Factor, America's Got Talent and RuPaul's Drag Race contestants and more local and national talent than even seems doable.
The wind-down, if you will, is the Sunday Pride Brunch at Museum Hill Café (you'll need reservations, as this fills up quick and proceeds go to LGBTQ+ scholarships at the Santa Fe Community College). Does Brethour-Bell have a favorite part of the weekend? "All of it," he says simply. Find a full list of events and info at santafepride.org.
Reception: 5:30 pm; Screening: 7 pm Thursday Sept. 14. $5.
The Screen,
1600 St. Michael's Drive,
473-6494
Gather at 6 pm; Parade at 7 pm Friday Sept. 15. Free.
Starts at Fort Marcy Park,
490 Bishop's Lodge Road
Noon, Saturday September 16. Free.
Santa Fe University of Art and Design,
1600 St. Michael's Drive,
473-6011
10 am Sunday Sept. 17. Free (pay for food).
Museum Hill Café,
710 Camino Lejo,
984-8900
Spotty
Courtesy The Blind Spots
Back in April, we told you about Ithaca, New York’s The Blind Spots, a rock (and we mean
rock
) band that operates like some kind of Blondie- esque, Springsteen-ish indie-pop act and explodes brains with the power of front woman Maddy Walsh’s awesome vocals. These things remain true, and Walsh-plus-band returns to Santa Fe for another performance of their self-described “moxy-rock” jams. You’ll even find notes of Americana and reggae hidden in their tunes, which is all well and good but, for our money, Walsh alone kind of makes the trip worth it. When last we spoke, she told us they were thinking they might “release something that packs more of a punch,” and we’re hoping that’s what’s happened. (ADV)
10 pm Wednesday Sept. 13. Free.
Boxcar,
530 S Guadalupe St.,
988-7222.
Hey, Girl
Courtesy Erin Currier
One of our favorite local galleries (Blue Rain) welcomes one of our favorite local artists (Erin Currier) for what will probably be one of our favorite local shows in recent memory—Fight Like a Girl. Currier combines bold color palettes and found collage of materials collected across the globe with exaggerated portraiture and iconography to make one badass statement on social inequality. These works are straight gorgeous, y'all, and an excellent reminder that women, no matter where they're from, kick ass. (ADV)
Erin Currier: Fight Like a Girl:
5 pm Friday Sept. 15.
Blue Rain Gallery,
544 Guadalupe St.,
954-9902.
That Moment When…
Courtesy AHAFestival.com
Two stages, over two dozen art booths, pop-ups, curated vendors, food trucks, beers, coffee and—oh, man! The AHA Festival of Progressive Arts is back, rules hard and is free. Now in its seventh year as Santa Fe’s go-to late-summer arts jam, this iteration might just be the biggest and best they’ve ever hosted. Performances include Disasterman, Chicharra, Flossy Clouds, The Hammeritz and many more. Plus, artists and designers like clothing brand Happy Loco, local imprint Matron Records and SFR fave illustrator Thea Milinairé (among so many damn others) sweeten the already super-sweet deal. Be there or be bummed. (ADV)
AHA Festival of Progressive Arts:
1-8 pm Sunday Sept. 17. Free.
Santa Fe Railyard,
Guadalupe Street and Paseo de Peralta.
