Reyes and Cordelia Garcia are just two of the performers we planned to welcome at Nuestra Música this April. This beloved annual event celebrating the music and culture of New Mexico could not take place in 2020, so the Garcias agreed to perform these three original songs at The Lensic this week. Thank you, Reyes and Cordelia. We’re looking forward to Nuestra Música 2021.

Santa Fe-based singer-songwriter Justin Lindsey performs “Great America” and two other original tunes. When he’s not performing, Justin is a valued member of the Lensic production crew. You can find more of his music online: @justinlindseymusic on Instagram, Justin Lindsey Music on YouTube, and St.Range on Spotify.

Johnny Bell is a man of many musical talents. He’s also a Lensic production team alum. Here, he shares three original songs (“Stay at Home,” “Social Distance #3,” and “Chicken Wire”) composed for the banjo. You can hear more of Johnny’s music, including work he’s done with band Johnny Bell and the Visitors, at johnnybell.bandcamp.com.

Matt Sanford is an actor and technical theater expert (he’s the former Lensic stage manager and internship director) when he’s not making music. Matt recently performed this song by Possessed by Paul James for The Ghost Light Sessions.

Santa Fe-based Nohe & Sus Santos, led by celebrated Honduran vocalist and songwriter Nohelia Sosa, mixes Spanish  and English with the musical vibes of Central and North America. Usually a four-piece band, they came to The Lensic as a duo and shared their upbeat sound, which incorporates alt-rock en Espanol, Cumbia, pop grooves, and more. More at https://www.facebook.com/noheysussantos/.

The fabulous Felecia Ford teamed up with the equally fabulous Justin Lindsey for this rockin’ Americana Ghost Light Session. Hear more and learn about Felecia’s many projects (including her latest solo album, Kissing Booth) at Felecia Ford Music on Facebook. Want more Justin Lindsey? Check out @justinlindseymusic on Instagram, Justin Lindsey Music on YouTube, and St.Range on Spotify.

Gina Browning and Joe Illick are not only well-loved performers; they’re also among Santa Fe’s most passionate supporters of the performing arts. Both have performed on stages around the world, Gina as a professional soprano and Joe as a musician, composer, and conductor. Joe is currently artistic director at the Fort Worth Opera. We appreciate you, Joe and Gina. Thank you for stopping by for a Ghost Light Sesssion!

Garry Blackchild is an indie folk singer-songwriter based in Taos, New Mexico. His music embodies rustic Americana and country blues, layered with soulful vocals. Garry describes himself as a musical troubadour of universal truth for modern times. His newest EP, “Rebel Folk” (available on Spotify and iTunes), is an ode to 16 years of living in New Mexico. Learn more about Garry, who’s also a featured Sofar artist in Santa Fe, on Facebook.

Steinway Artist Jacquelyn Helin has played solo recitals in London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Carnegie Recital Hall, Washington D.C.’s Corcoran Gallery, and many other venues. She regularly performs with the Santa Fe Opera, the New Mexico Performing Arts Society, and Chatter. Jacquelyn is a founding faculty member of the New Mexico School for the Arts and music director at the United Church of Santa Fe. She’s a piano teacher, too! Brava.

Lucy Barna has been singing her story since she got her first guitar at 17. She performs as a solo artist and with her bands Hot Honey, HitchHike Honey, and High Hippie Associates. Follow Lucy on Facebook (@LucyBarna) and visit LucyBarna.com to learn more.

Kirk Matthews blends Southwestern style with urban folk. A singer-songwriter and producer who spent much of the past decade in Los Angeles, he’s now back in his home state, New Mexico. He’s a Sofar Santa Fe artist, too. More at KirkMatthewsMusic.com.

Singer-songwriter Talia Kosh of Golden General brought her ukulele to The Lensic! Talia is active in the music community and received the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2014. She’s also the founder of Lawyers for the Arts. Learn more about Talia and her music on on Facebook and Instagram @GoldenGeneralMusic.

What a treat—Free Range Buddhas (Francesca Jozette with Justin Pucila and Jake Montiel) played a set for us. Known for their spirited blend of indie Americana, rock, punk, blues, and psychedelic pop, Free Range Buddhas won a New Mexico Music Award in 2018 for “Best Pop Album.” Hear lots more on Facebook and Instagram @FreeRangeBuddhas and on youTube @Glitterstarbucks.

Betsy Scarinzi and Justin Lindsey of Santa Fe’s alt country–desert rock band The HollyHocks: yet more proof that Santa Fe has an incredible community of incredibly talented musicians. The HollyHocks were nominated for “Best Band” in the 2018 Santa Fe Reporter’s Readers Poll. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Santa Fe flamenco favorite La Emi recently danced on our stage! La Emi, who trained under the great Maria Benítez, has been dancing since age 4 and has performed on stages from New Mexico to Spain. Currently, she teaches and directs at the school she founded, EmiArteFlamenco Academy. She’s also the featured performer at The Lodge in Santa Fe. Learn more at http://www.emiarteflamenco.com/.

Indie folk singer-songwriter Taylor Kress was one of the first musicians to record a Ghost Light Session with us this spring—and we’re glad he did. From Knoxville, Tennessee, he’s now a resident of Ojo Caliente and bringing his talent and passion to all of us in New Mexico. Learn and hear more about Taylor and his band, Jubal, on Facebook @jubaltune.

We’re big fans of the haunting harmonies that seem so effortlessly created by The Sally Janks: Riley Walker, Daniel Blue, and Miriam Kass. You can learn more about them (and hear more of their music) on Facebook at @thesallyjanks.

Local legend in the house! Alex Maryol, Santa Fe’s favorite blues guitarist, performs songs from his latest album, In the Meantime. Learn more about Alex and his music at AlexMaryol.com.

This week we are pleased to bring you James Westbay, a Santa Fe-based singer-songwriter you may recognize from his many gigs around town, both solo and with the band High Hippie Associates.

Santa Fe fiddlers Greg Butera and Karina Wilson are amazing together, solo, and in the various ensembles they each play with around town. More Greg on Spotify and on Facebook @gbuteramusic. More Karina on Facebook @karinawilsonmusic.

Jesse Tatum is the principal flutist with the Santa Fe Symphony. She’s also principal flutist with the Opera Southwest Orchestra and a principal player with the adventurous chamber music ensemble Chatter. Please visit JesseTatumFlute.com to hear more.

Award-winning singer-songwriter David Berkeley has been praised for his “lustrous, melancholy voice with shades of Tim Buckley and Nick Drake” (New York Times). Based in Santa Fe, he’s toured with musicians from Dido and Ben Folds to Billy Bragg and Ray Lamontagne. Learn more at DavidBerkeley.com.

Another local treasure: Award-winning singer-songwriter-producer Jono Manson has roots in New York City, but Santa Fe’s been his home since the early ’90s. Jono’s 2020 album, Silver Moon, includes collaborations with a few of his pals (Joan Osborne, Terry Allen, Eliza Gilkyson . . . ). Learn more, hear more at JonoManson.com.

Nacha Mendez is a Santa Fe favorite and a multitalented New Mexico original. A New Mexico Platinum Music Awards Lifetime Achievement winner, here the eclectic pan-Latin singer-songwriter plays with Carla Kountoupes on violin and Melanie Monsour on piano. Learn more about Nacha Mendez and her music at NachaMendez.com.

Ezra Shcolnik, 19, is an accomplished violinist and composer who performed his own composition at age 12, with the Performance Santa Fe Orchestra. He has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (where he is part of the composer fellowship program) and the New Mexico Philharmonic. Read more about Ezra at LAPhil.com.

Lynn Drury’s “Nolamericana Music” is a mix of what she calls Mississippi grit and New Orleans groove. She stopped by earlier this summer to record with us. We’re thinking of you, Lynn, and everyone on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast as they face yet another hurricane this weekend. Hear more at lynndrury.com.

Tash Terry and Elena Higgins, who perform as the multi-award-winning Indgie Femme, bring their Dine, Maori, and Samoan cultural heritage to their music. The acoustic duo aims to bring hope and healing to Mother Earth (and audiences) through their powerful performances. Learn more at IndigieFemme.com.

Gabriela Fogo and Luiz Barrionuevo, both originally from Brazil, play violin and viola with the Santa Fe Symphony and New Mexico Philharmonic. Together they FogoNuevo Duo, and we were lucky enough to have them record a Ghost Light Session at The Lensic. Learn more on the FogoNuevo Facebook page.

Nacha Mendez is a Santa Fe favorite and a multitalented New Mexico original. A New Mexico Platinum Music Awards Lifetime Achievement winner, here the eclectic pan-Latin singer-songwriter plays with Carla Kountoupes on violin and Melanie Monsour on piano. Learn more about Nacha Mendez and her music at nachamendez.com

Medium Bird is an experimental soundscape and dream-pop project based in Santa Fe. Natural sounds and live instrumentation are collaged together to create a consuming and cathartic sound experience. Hear more at https://mediumbird.bandcamp.com/

Violinist Stephen Redfield is concertmaster of Santa Fe Pro Musica and a renowned musician who performs with chamber orchestras and at festivals around the world. He is also an associate professor of violin at University of Southern Mississippi School of Music. Here, he performs J. S. Bach’s Partita in D Minor for Solo Violin.

The Troy Browne Trio—guitarist Troy Browne, bassist Case Tanner, and drummer Brit Alexander—play classics with a twist, along with some catchy new songs of their own. Find more of the group’s music at https://www.reverbnation.com/troybrownetrio.

Laurianne Fiorentino has won numerous awards and been nominated for Artist of the Year by the National Academy of Songwriters. A longtime Santa Fean originally from Northampton, Massachusetts, she plays harmonica, the bamboo flute, and more in addition to singing and playing guitar. Learn more and hear more at http://www.lauriannefiorentino.com/.

Jeremy Bleich (guitar), Paul Brown (acoustic bass), and Milton Villarrubia III (drums) are the Glass Key Trio, an eclectic acoustic ensemble exploring music inspired by folk, jazz, classical, and country genres. Learn more on Facebook and SoundCloud.

Yasmeen Lookman, mezzo-soprano, has performed both locally and internationally, including appointments with the New Mexico Philharmonic, Opera Southwest, and the International Lyric Academy in Viterbo, Italy. She is a staff musician at the United Church of Santa Fe. Yasmeen is accompanied by Robert Tweten on piano.

David Felberg plays throughout the Southwest as concert soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician. He performs with Santa Fe Pro Musica, he’s concertmaster of the Santa Fe Symphony, and he’s associate concertmaster of the New Mexico Philharmonic. He’s also co-founder and artistic director of Chatter.

Singer-songwriter Shawn Williams, based in New Orleans, blends country, rockabilly, and the blues. Her newest album, The Fear of Living. The Fear of Loving, was recorded during lockdown and released in August 2020. Learn more at shawnwilliamsmusic.com.

Mezzo-soprano Kehar Joanna Koslowsky is an accomplished vocal artist. She has performed as a soloist, recitalist, and choral artist with the Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe Women’s Ensemble, the New Mexico Bach Society, Zia Singers, and more! She is accompanied by Robert Tweten, conductor and pianist.

Westin McDowell considers himself a wandering minstrel—he loves to ramble and he loves to perform and entertain. For his Ghost Light Session, Westin plays favorites like “The Big Rock Candy Mountain” from the Old American Songbook. Learn more about Westin at https://westinsongs.com/.

Singing songs of his own making and playing the West African kora, guitar, drums, and percussion instruments, Robby Rothschild draws from the dual wells of tradition and personal expression. His new EP is available for download here. Learn more about Robby and his music at his website, RobbyRothschild.com.

Woven Talon’s Andrew Tumason (composer, multi-instrumentalist, vocals) and Gregory Gutin (Indian percussion) perform a set of original music. Woven Talon’s newest album, Kahu, was released in July 2020 and is a sound journey inspired by Tumason’s travels in New Zealand and Australia. Learn more at WovenTalon.com.

Luke Gullickson is a composer, pianist, guitarist, songwriter, and improviser. His projects stretch from indie-folk songwriting toward broader and quieter forms of chamber music inspired by place, geography, language, literature, shamanism, and divination. The Chicago Tribune described his recent music as “a sonic wash of various intensities and allusions.” Hear more at his website, LukeGullickson.com.

Santa Fe singer-songwriter Kipp Bentley recently released his debut album, Rose of Jericho. When he’s not making music, Kipp is an education writer and rug weaver, creating rugs at Estambre Studios with his wife, Linda. Learn more about Kipp and his work at KippBentley.com.

D’Lightning Mob is a Santa Fe musical collective with elements of folk implosion, trip-hop, tribal, psych trance, funk, and dreamy high-desert rock. Learn more about d’Lightning Mob (Lindsay Conover, Vincent Copia, and Jonathan Duran) at D’Lightning Mob. You’ll find new music the band just recorded with David Cragin at Santa Fe Soundworks.

Ballet Taos, a nonprofit organization based in Taos, is both a professional company and a dance academy, with a focus on classical and contemporary dance. Ballet Taos recorded this Ghost Light session at The Lensic in 2020. For more information and news about their upcoming events, please visit BalletTaos.com.

Santa Fe’s favorite traditional Irish musician since 1986, Gerry Carthy was born in County Mayo, on Ireland’s West Coast. He celebrates Irish roots music, playing multiple instruments, including guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, and tin whistle. Gerry is both a performer and teacher. Learn more at https://www.gerrycarthy.com/.

Soprano Jane Trembley is a lifelong member of the Santa Fe arts community. As a young vocalist, Jane attended the New Mexico School for the Arts. Jane went on to the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor’s degree in vocal performance. While at KU, Jane appeared in Don Giovianni, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Riders to the Sea. She is accompanied on piano here by Robert Tweten.

Friends/collaborators Char Rothschild & Willa Roberts are members of Balkan ensemble EVET. Char (Korvin Orkestar, Round Mountain) was drawn to Balkan music through CSF’s contemporary music program in the ’90s. He teaches music at Turquoise Trail Charter School. Willa, a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and teacher specializing in music from Eastern Europe, the Mid East, and Indonesia, directs Santa Fe’s Sevda Choir and is a member of local favorite Rumelia Collective.

New Mexico Music Award-winning singer-songwriter Tiho Dimitrov teams up with divine vocalist Myrrhine Rosemary (Controlled Burn) for this week’s Ghost Light Session. You’re in for a treat. Learn more on Tiho’s website and the Controlled Burn Facebook page.

Santa Fe’s Ross Hamlin (guitar) and Johnny Bell (banjo) recently recorded this Ghost Light Session, featuring original music. That’s a shruti box in the foreground.

Tenney Walsh, a singer-songwriter and actress based in Taos, began writing songs when she was living in New York City. There, she acted on and off Broadway before turning to music as an outlet for storytelling. Learn more/hear more on her pages on Facebook and Soundcloud.