Las Cruces UkeFest 2017: May 19 – 21
Plans are well underway for the third Las Cruces UkeFest. We have the dates, May 19 – 21, the location, the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, and our host hotel for out-of-town visitors and our Saturday evening jam session, the Hilton Garden Inn.We're most excited to announce our line-up of talented instructors:
• Jim and Liz Beloff, writers of The Daily Ukulele and the Jumpin' Jim music book series
• Danielle Ate The Sandwich, an indie-folk songwriter, singer, and instructor from Colorado
• Heidi Swedberg, the sweetheart of the ukulele world who will brighten your ukulele outlook
• Daniel Ward, a virtuoso with the strings who will help you improve your strumming and picking
Here's the basic schedule for the weekend:
Friday evening: Concert with the Las Cruces Ukes and our talented instructor/performers
Saturday: Workshops all day long with a catered lunch (included in your registration)
Saturday evening: Jam session led by Jim & Liz Beloff
Sunday morning: More workshops, including "The Gospel According to Uke," a morning gospel-play along session, led by our very own Gorton Smith, a retired pastor and ardent ukulele fan
Workshops (to be announced) will provide instruction for players of all levels. This is a great opportunity for people who have just purchased their first ukulele (or are considering it and want to borrow a ukulele for the weekend) or those who have been playing for years and want to add to their skill set.
The weekend will include vendors, prize drawings, and time to mix and mingle with other fans of the ukulele. The jam session will be held in the lobby of the Hilton Garden Inn, where you can also grab dinner or a drink.
Since our festival venue is the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, you can also explore the exhibits of this state-operated museum dedicated to preserving the history of our state's agriculture. Check out indoor and outdoor exhibits and the incredible views of the iconic Organ Mountains to the east.
More details will be coming soon and we'll be developing a website for the festival, so check back and get ready to register for this great weekend.