Thursday, May 20
Museum Music
Presented by AMP Concerts, this month’s Virtual Third Thursday at the Albuquerque Museum features Lone Piñon, a New Mexican string band, or orquesta típica, whose music celebrates the integrity of their region’s cultural roots. With fiddles, upright bass, accordions, mandolin, guitars and bilingual vocals, they play a wide spectrum of the traditional music that is at home in New Mexico. This month’s free online program also includes Albuquerque Poet Laureate Mary Oishi and yoga with YogaZo. It all goes down on May 20, from 6 to 8pm via Albuquerque Museum’s Facebook (facebook.com/abqmuseum) and YouTube pages (youtube.com/user/AlbuquerqueMuseum). (Devin D. O’Leary)
Friday, May 21
Two-Wheel Drive
It’s Bike to Wherever Day! Nob Hill Main Street is promoting this health- and environment-conscious event. It’s pretty simple: Starting at 6am on May 21, just jump on a bike and go somewhere. Anywhere. Organizers are offering up the following suggestions: “Bike to the grocery store, your favorite business, work, school, your friend’s house, or just wherever.” Bike to Wherever Day! is also the kickoff of the Bike Thru Burque B2W Challenge. The challenge start on Friday, May 21 and ends on Friday, May 28. Organize a team (of up to six people) and take part in the Organizational Competition. Compete for the most points to win prizes. Or sign up as an individual in the Individual Competition and challenge yourself to ride! To check out all the rules, go to bikethruburque.com/events-activities/. (Devin D. O’Leary)
Friday, May 21
Heavy Metal Parking Lot
LowLife Vids’n’Vinyl and LongHair Records (1321 San Mateo NE) offer up a Live Music! Parking Lot Show on May 21 starting at 6:30pm. Seattle, Wash., band Sioux City Pete & the Beggars are the headliners and are advertised as making “some of the filthiest blues-based rawk on the planet.” Other bands on the night’s lineup include Chisme, Tracerase and Osteo Parliament. This is an outdoor show, donations are very welcome, and organizers say that “all the usual common sense rules apply.” (Keep your social distance, and continue to wear a mask until more folks get vaccinated, please.) If you can’t make it on Friday, Sioux City Pete is hanging around town until Saturday, May 22, where “they’re teaming up with some local musicians and entertainers to make an unholy racket” at Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center (202 Harvard SE) starting at 6:30pm. This night’s lineup includes Chisme, Steve Jansen’s Primitive Techno, Osteo Parliament, Big Wrench and MC Big Poppa. A $5 donation to the P&J Center is greatly appreciated. (Devin D. O’Leary)
Saturday, May 22
Liberation Day
Millions of Prisoners New Mexico and Free Them All: New Mexico present a “Hood by Hood, Block by Block” event on May 22 from 4:30pm to 9:30pm. Malcolm X: Celebrating Our Continued Resistance and Fight for Liberation takes place at Dennis Chavez Community Center (715 Kathryn Ave. SE). This free celebration of history, legacy and resistance through the words and actions of Malcolm X features powerful speakers, food, music and visual art performances. A variety of local vendors are on hand as well. Attendees can take in a gallery walk displaying African-American history and can “listen to our stories with rich wisdom from elders.” Organizers are calling the daylong block party “a pop up village of joy and unity!” For more info go to facebook.com/events/1903793683117637. (Devin D. O’Leary)
Saturday, May 22
Livin’ on a Prayer
If you’re itching to see a big summer concert, but still worried over COVID concerns, Balloon Fiesta Park Drive-In has something for you. Drive-In Nights Concert: Bon Jovi hits the big screen on May 22 starting at 8:30pm. This one-night-only concert features a lineup of the band’s biggest hits and best B-sides and is simulcasting at theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Here’s your chance to watch Jon Bon Jovi and pals perform “I’ll Be There For You” from the privacy of your own car! Tickets are $89 per car (up to six people per vehicle). Balloon Fiesta Park is located at 9201 Balloon Fiesta Dr. NE. For more details go to balloonparkdrive.in/shows. (Devin D. O’Leary)