Grab your boots, it’s almost time for the Big Barn Dance
Stheir fans, two-steppers with their sawdust-sliding boots, the hundreds of individuals and families who travel to Taos every year, and the lucky locals who live so close all know there is no place they’d rather be in early September than at Michael Hearne’s Big Barn Dance. This year marks the 22nd time the big white tent will be erected and the air will be filled with some of the nation’s best Americana music.
Before fans head into Kit Carson Park on Thursday, Sept. 5 for the threeday event, the Big Barn Dance kicks off with the increasingly popular Art Gallery Stroll. On Wednesday, Sept. 4 from 3–6 p.m., five galleries will open their doors to host musicians who play for free. Fans are encouraged to stroll from gallery to gallery to listen to the talented acts.
Rob Nightingale, owner of Wilder Nightingale Fine Art, will open his gallery doors to host Jeremiah Glauser. “I am so happy Michael Hearne asked me to be a part of the Art Gallery Stroll years ago,” Nightingale said. “I love the rush and energy of the gallery filled with people, all with positive energy, as they listen to the music and gallery hop. Sometimes some will come back and buy a painting and that’s icing on the cake.”
Indeed, the musical love and camaraderie begin with the Art Gallery Stroll. This year, in addition to Nightingale’s gallery, musicians will play at Casa Benavides Bed and Breakfast, Heritage Fine Arts, Michael McCormick Gallery, and Pat Woodall Fine Art. New this year on the Big Barn Dance website is an interactive Google map for fans to see where each gallery is located and who they are hosting.
While the stroll is free and open to everyone, the VIP concert is an exclusive event in Kit Carson Park that same evening from 6:30–9 p.m. As of press time, there were still a few VIP passes widow.
Eliza Gilkyson, who lives in Taos, is scheduled to play at 6:30 p.m. “I’m thrilled to play at the VIP event this year and will have Don Richmond and Jimmy Stadler with me to make it even more fun,” commented Gilkyson. “It’s amazing to see how this little gathering went from a barn to the Old Blinking Light to Kit Carson Park — all out of a love of heartfelt Americana music.” Radney Foster will perform after Gilkyson that evening.
It would certainly be easy for Michael Hearne to reminisce about the growth of his signature, award-winning event — if he had time, that is. This year, High Desert Entertainment presented the first annual Big Barn Dance in Bryan, Texas. Before the Big Barn Dance, they will host the second annual She Rises Music Fest Aug. 30 and 31, and Desert Rhythms, a free community concert Sept. 1 — all at Kit Carson Park.
“We have a strong history to Taos and the reason we started the Big Barn Dance was to introduce new artists to Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque,” said Hearne from California where he was performing with Stadler. “This event draws a lot of people from other states but it’s important to me that locals come out. We want to share this experience with everyone lucky enough to call Taos home.”
This year’s line-up is nothing less than spectacular. Balsam Range will be returning and headlining Thursday night after Suzy Bogguss’ performance, which was stunning last year. “Balsam Range is over-the-top good and Reckless
Kelly is going to be a great show on Friday night,” added Hearne. “John Cowan was the lead singer in one of my favorite bands, New Grass Revival. He was one of the first long-haired hippie guys to play bluegrass music and I’m so excited that he will be playing with his band the New Grass All-Stars. There’s a lot to be excited about this year.”
Orchestrating the diverse schedule of acts, which includes Stephanie Urbina Jones and the Honky Tonk Mariachi, is Sarah Hearne Naftis, event director. “Over the years we’ve come to know the different sets and acts and what time of day the artists will be best received,” explained Naftis. “We’ve got some new acts this year and some returning musicians — it’s going to be a great festival.”
As of Tempo press time, individual day tickets and three-day passes were still available for sale. “Barn dance only” tickets are also available for the final evening on Saturday, Sept. 7 when the listening room chairs are removed and one of Northern New Mexico’s largest dance floors is unveiled. The $25 ticket is always popular with anyone who wants to dance. Two Tons of Steel, Kyle Park and his band, and South by Southwest will close out the festival. There’s something quite special about the final evening which always showcases many of the festival’s musicians joining Hearne and the crowd by singing Dobie Gray’s, “Drift Away.”