Courtesy Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
Bone City
Three reasons to attend this year’s Blossoms & Bones Ghost Ranch Music Festival
Every few years you’ll start to hear the music folk around town talking about how this is finally gonna be the year the Santa Fe music scene becomes amazing. But for those who’ve been paying attention—and not counting the pandemic—we’ve been pretty lucky musically around here since…always. In fact, sometimes it gets so awesome that the goodness must spill out of town, like to the now-annual Blossoms & Bones Ghost Ranch Music Festival in Abiquiú. The show pops off this weekend (tickets were still available as of this writing), and we’ve compiled three reasons you should go (though note there are likely plenty more reasons we can’t fit here).
Number 1? Mavis. Freaking. Staples. That’s right, nerds, the iconic R&B and gospel singer is coming to our neck of the woods to belt it out and remind everyone why she’s been a constant presence in music since time immemorial.
Number 2? A two-fer: Lucinda Williams and Courtney Barnett. Oh, how we hope Williams plays her Blaze Foley tribute jam “Drunken Angel,” but it’s likely she’ll pull out killer tunes from across her downright massive catalog. Barnett, meanwhile, has that garage punk-meets singer-songwriter thing going on, not to mention one of the more recognizable and unique voices in modern music.
Number 3? All the rest. We’re talking performances from The California Honeydrops, Red Light Cameras and Vance Joy (whose song “Riptide” remains inescapable on rock radio), not to mention beloved local DJ Raashan Ahmad’s Love & Happiness dance party. You’ll never regret going to this event. (Alex De Vore)
Blossoms & Bones Ghost Ranch Music Festival: All Day Friday, Sept. 13, and Saturday, Sept. 14 $135-$235 Ghost Ranch 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiú ghostranchmusicfest.com
Courtesy Kouri Corrao Gallery
When Traditions Dream
If you missed Tokyo-based artist Mitsuru Ando’s last show, Nature’s Algorithm, in 2022 (which SFR covered, btw), you’re in luck—Ando’s work returns to Santa Fe this week. In his upcoming exhibit The External Cycle, the artist takes his calligraphic ink and acrylic talents deeper as he explores new techniques and the bonds between the human soul and nature. While staying true to his connection with the natural world through traditional east Asian landscapes, Ando finds a contemporary twist on scenes of mountains and misty forests while adding a hefty dose of dreamy surrealism that manifests into a body of work into which it’s well worth getting lost. (Adam Ferguson)
Mitsuro Ando: The External Cycle Opening: 5-7 pm Friday, Sept. 13. Free. Kouri+Corrao Gallery 3213 Calle Marie, (505) 820-1888
Courtesy Pixabay.com / Gerd Altmann
Action!
While many would likely think of the Santa Fe International Film Festival as the film event of the year in Santa Fe, cinema fans would do well to remember the Madrid Film Festival, too. Founded by cinephiles Andrew Wice and Joe West (yes, the musician), the fest turns 7 this year with a full weekend of short film screenings—and they’re all made by New Mexico folk. Can this fest be goofy? For sure. Is it a hell of a good time? No doubt. You’ll also catch some meaningful work for sure, and Madrid has plenty to see and do otherwise. In summation: The Madrid Film Festival rules and you should attend if you like movies. (ADV)
7th Annual Madrid Film Festival: 6:30 pm Friday, Sept. 13, Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15. $27-$108. Engine House Theater 2846 NM-14, Madrid, madridfilmfest.org
internationalfolkart.org
War Never Changes
Lest we forget, the war in Ukraine still rages on even as the eyes of the world tend to wander. This week in Santa Fe, patrons of the Museum of International Folk Art can get a tough but perhaps vital reminder of those goings-on when Lviv-based photographer Marta Syrko comes to Museum Hill to show and discuss her work. Syrko will reportedly discuss how the ongoing war has affected her artistic process, as well as her physical and emotional health. She’ll also show her latest round of photos. The event includes a Q&A and an ASL interpreter will be on hand. (ADV)
Ukrainian Photography in the Time of War: The Work of Marta Syrko: 2-4 pm Sunday, Sept. 15 By admission. Museum of International Folk Art 706 Camino Lejo, (505) 476-1204
