Society Hall  "where community celebrates!"

Live theater! Serial Killer Barbie presenyted by San Luis Valley Theater Company!

Live theater! Serial Killer Barbie presenyted by San Luis Valley Theater Company!

Anam Cara, which means “soul friend” in Irish, is a trio based in Taos, NM featuring Celtic, New Age, and original music. Julie Hawley on Celtic harp and lead vocals and Jimmie Killingsworth on bouzouki, tenor banjo, and mandolin have been mainstays in the northern New Mexico folk scene for over a decade and have recently teamed with the touring and recording guitar ace and composer, Michael Mandrell, to produce a rich interplay of soulful vocals and intricate instrumental arrangements. The music ranges from rousing to meditative and is designed to move your heart and free your mind.

From the wind-carved plains of Lubbock, Texas, where music is woven into the land, Calistro Junior and Mickie Vasquez step into the spotlight together with their long-awaited duo debut “Chapter 23”. Released on Alamosa's own Howlin’ Dog Records, this self-titled album is a heartfelt collection of songs born from life, love, and years of making music side by side. Featured tracks on the new album include “Little Things” — a haunting reminder of how little things can overwhelm; “It’ll Turn Around” — a hopeful anthem in uncertain times; “Time and Again” — the echoes of love that keep returning; “1,4,3” — a timeless expression of devotion; and “No Tom Petty” — a nostalgic nod to youth, loss, and musical roots.

Calistro “Junior” Vasquez is a singer and songwriter, born in Lubbock and raised in West Texas. He has been playing professionally for over 50 years. Junior began playing guitar at the age of ten and fronted his first band at age 11. From the early 70's to the early 80's, Junior fronted several bands, including Peyote, Texas Rain, Junior's Farm, and Rhema, and traveled throughout Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. They opened for several national acts including David Alan Coe, Styx, Batdorf and Rodney and many more. "Music is the universal language - it knows no boundaries”, says Vasquez. He continues, “It reaches down to the soul and makes a person laugh, cry, reminisce, dance…. My hope is that my music will do just that."

Society Hall board member and area musician and music producer Don Richmond adds, “Junior and Mickie's gorgeous vocals and great songs just transport you to a wonderful place, where life is amazing and the world is full of beauty. Can't help but love them!”

Born and raised in Lubbock, Tx. Junior has been an integral part of the music scene in Lubbock and the surrounding area since 1973. His music is acoustic guitar driven folk/Americana influenced by the likes of America, Batdorf and Rodney, James Taylor, Dan Fogelberg, The Beatles etc… He and his wife Mickie have earned the respect of many fellow successful musicians who’ve encouraged them to take their music to the music lovers throughout the US! Here's some of what their musical friends and peers have to say -

“I’ve known Junior and Mickie Vasquez for over 50 years. Their songwriting and vocal goodness is second to none. Their live shows are stellar and compelling. And, besides all the talent, they are good Human Beings. I’m glad they are finally taking their music to the World”

Lloyd Maines - Musician and Producer (and father of The Chicks Natalie Maines)

My friends and heroes Junior & Mickie Vasquez are consummate musicians. Brilliant singers and instrumentalists — Junior on guitar and Mickie on keys — the two bring years of experience to their gigs. Having a wide and varied repertoire, including finely-crafted original works, they come prepared for any occasion. But of even greater importance, Junior and Mickie are consummate human beings. They bring a bright and genuine presence to their music, a cheery soulfulness which is the most important gift that music — and its practitioners — can bestow. They’re the real deal.
Andy Wilkinson Writer/performer/teacher

"Junior and Mickie Vasquez is a husband and wife team I have followed for decades and proudly proclaim myself as a fan from the beginning. The perfect duet harmony, level of musicianship, and original compositions combined with selective choice of cover material guarantees to win you over as a new fan."
Jay Boy Adams- Singer/Songwriter- Producer

The New Mexico/Colorado based band is excited to present their 9th album to the Society Hall audience, and it's one specially made for the Holidays! Winter Song is a collection of Christmas and winter songs, with four originals from the band, a few old classics, and some songs that are a bit more off the beaten path. Says band member Don Richmond, “We had a lot of fun making this album – walking around in July singing Christmas songs and all! For the concert, we'll play some of the Holiday songs off the album, as well as some of our other songs, and even do some sing-alongs. It will be fun, and of course we hope you can join us!”

The Rifters are: Rod Taylor on guitar, mandolin and vocals (and sleigh bells on the new album), Jim Bradley on bass and vocals, and Don Richmond on guitar, mandolin, fiddle, dobro, banjo, accordion, pedal steel, trumpet and vocals. The album also features several special guests - Michael Hearne on guitar, Paul Pearcy on drums and percussion, Jimmy Stadler on piano, Boulder horn virtuoso Dexter Payne on clarinet, Alamosa native Valerie Naranjo on percussion and her husband Barry Olson on trombone and piano.The Rifters will celebrate their 25th year together in 2027, and as they have been known to say, “We ain't dead yet!”

Singer/Songwriter Max Gomez grew up in Taos, New Mexico, where he fell under the influence of country blues early on and developed a songwriting style that was uniquely his. He received critical acclaim upon the release of his debut album Rule The World (2013, New West Records); and his subsequent EP, Me and Joe (2017, Brigadoon Records), contained a freshly minted classic, “Make It Me,” which has gained over 4 million listeners on Spotify alone.

As a budding performer, Max apprenticed in the rarefied musical micro-climate of northern New Mexico, where troubadours like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard helped foster a Western folk sound both cosmic and country. Max reports that growing up in Taos was, “… wild. It’s still the Wild West compared to any city or suburb. You can get away with just about anything there, and we were turned loose as kids.” At 14, when Gomez performed at a benefit concert, he played “Sunday Mornin’ Coming Down”, the down-and-out classic by future labelmate Kris Kristofferson. Soon thereafter he was playing at a late, lamented institution of a venue called the Old Blinking Light. “The school I went to was playing in that bar,” he says. Country greats like Mentor Williams and Lynn Anderson frequented the place that led them to become fans of his music.

Gomez moved to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue his music career and began writing songs and performing around the city at many notable clubs. He wrote some songs with Shawn Mullins, who later recorded them. “That’s when I began taking it all a little more seriously and turned my music into a job,” says Gomez. In his early twenties he began recording his own songs with producers in New York, L.A., and Nashville. His debut album, Rule the World, was released in 2013 by New West Records, home to the likes of John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, and Steve Earle. Soon after, Kiefer Sutherland directed the music video for the single “Run From You.”

Max followed Rule the World with his EP Me and Joe, containing the single “Make It Me”, which has received over 4 million streams on Spotify. He's been hard at work on his new album Memory Mountain, which be released in 2025.

Gomez grew up in a rich musical environment, but represents more than the sum of his influences—he’s got that ineffable and instantly recognizable x-factor called talent. Melodies that flow naturally. Trenchant lyrics that express wise-beyond-his-years observations on the ways of the heart. Laconic phrasing in a cafe mocha timbre, and guitar skills that can stand alone. In short: the whole package.

Judging by the company he keeps, Gomez is positioned to emerge as a prominent voice of Americana’s next generation. Max has shared billing on hundreds of stages with stalwarts of the genre like Shawn Mullins, James McMurtry, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Patty Griffin, Johnny Depp, Jeff Beck, and John Hiatt.