PRIME TIME
November 2016 15
Western Music Association’ s International Convention Gallops into Albuquerque
By Sidekick Productions
In one famous hit Western song from George Strait,“ The Cowboy Rides Away.” But this month they are riding our way, singing and reciting Cowboy Poetry as they come!
The Western Music Association’ s international convention gallops into the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town November 9th through 13th. The new venue affords more opportunities for artists to perform around Old Town’ s plaza as well. This year marks the Association’ s 11th consecutive convention / show here, and as always the public is encouraged to attend.
WMA Executive Director Marsha Short is brimming over with excitement.“ In addition to the free daytime stages Thursday through Sunday, there’ s an amazing battle of the bands-style Swing Spectacular Wednesday night, the always sold out Friday Night Opry and the National Awards Show( KiMo Theater) on Saturday.”
The WMA’ s magazine The
Western Way contains the following definition of the genre:“ Western Music is most often acoustic in its core instrumentation. Its lyrics are typically about the lives, loves, lore, locales, legends and legacy of the new and old West, its peoples or Cowboying worldwide.” It’ s an endemic American musical form that has branched out beyond just Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.“ More artists are creating it now than at any time in its history,” reports WMA Executive Vice President and music reviewer Rick Huff,“ and we’ re particularly proud of the young people who are performing it. Sunday from noon until 2 P. M. the WMA New Mexico Chapter is sponsoring a free show starring th5ree of the best young performers... Jeneve Rose Mitchell( the American Idol finalist), Kristyn Harris and Mikki Daniel( both multiple award winning singer / songwriters)! We’ re hoping young people will come, get excited and be inspired to perform!”
Over the years local response to WMA shows has been warm and welcoming, prompting the organization to begin looking at putting down permanent roots here. As Mayor Richard Berry put it,“ we’ re proud and excited that the WMA is working to establish its headquarters, Hall Of Fame, museum and a performance venue in Albuquerque. We feel it’ s a perfect fit culturally and will be of strong economic benefit.” It means
Albuquerque could well become for Western Music what Nashville is for Country!
The WMA Convention will also feature jam sessions, unique vendors, a Western Mercantile and the opportunity to stock up on plenty of Western CDs. For complete convention information and the schedule, go to www. westernmusic. org or call( 505) 563-0673.
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