SUBTITLE: A human cannonball, hypnosis and live music
From the parade on Main Street, funnel cakes to carousels, ribbons for the best pies and “Wiggles and Wags” dog exhibition, the Eastern New Mexico State Fair is here. This year, the organizers of the fair offer a wide variety of entertainment and music. Following is a glimpse into this year’s highlights:
Chachi “The Rocketman” Valenica
Hold on to your cowboy hat when you see Chachi “The Rocketman” Valenica being shot out of a cannon at speeds of 55 mph, heights of more than 65 feet and distances of 165 feet. He lands in a narrow net, set 20 feet off of the ground.
Ron Diamond and his “Hypnosis Magic Show — Comedy at the Speed of Sleep”
Ron Diamond, an entertainer with a background in clinical psychology and a passion for magic and mentalism, has been performing at fairs around the U.S. Having performed in more than 22,000 shows, including as an entertainer and trainer with the Walt Disney Company, he combines his skills in his shows, which are family-friendly and comedy-driven.
Music at the fair
Kicking off the musical entertainment on Monday after the parade are local singers and songwriters, folklorico dancers and bands
The Mammoth Cults
Headliner in the evening is local band The Mammoth Cults on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The band, formerly known as The Matthew Palmer Band, has performed throughout New Mexico. Their style is described as alternative blues, incorporating elements of alternative rock. The band currently consists of three members, Palmer, Brady Chambers and their newest member, drummer Jeremy Taylor White, who joined the band in late June after filling in for the former drummer. They recently performed at the Doso Dirtbags album release.
Brittney’s Rage
On Thursday at 7 p.m., Brittney’s Rage performs. El Paso, Texas and Hollywood, California, are the stomping grounds of the rock ’n’ roll band. Brittney’s Rage came to be in 2012 when guitarist and audio engineer Tony Muela met local singer Brittney, and they began writing and covering music.
Twist on Taylor tribute show
The Twist on Taylor tribute show with Sarah Jessica Rhodes, performing in the style of Taylor Swift, begins Thursday at 9 p.m.
Rhodes, a seasoned performer from East Texas, transitioned from a classically trained pianist and dancer to a Taylor Swift tribute artist.
Justin Kemp Band
On Friday at 7 p.m., the Justin Kemp Band performs 1990s-style country songs. The band is well known in the region. They have performed at various festivals. Justin Kemp said in a phone interview that he is bringing new songs with him that the fair audience will hear live for the very first time.
Rick Trevino
Headliner Rick Trevino performs on Friday at 9 p.m. Only in his early 50s, Rick Trevino is considered a country music legend. Growing up in Texas, music surrounded him. His father, Ricardo Trevino, was a Tejano musician, however, Rick Trevino said that he never wanted to play anything but the music he loved, which was country. In 1995, he was quoted on the radio that country music was not a fad where he grew up. It meant not a specific genre in Texas, but “a way of life.”
Los Consentidos de Cuidad Juarez
Saturday, the last day of the fair, is traditionally highlighting Roswell’s Hispanic and Mexican roots. On Saturday, at 5:30 p.m., Roswell’s Tejano band Los Consentidos de Cuidad Juarez performs. Band member Mariano Morones, Jr. said that the band has performed in various states recently and is looking forward to the Eastern New Mexico State Fair. They have been busy this year, releasing a new song and touring almost every weekend. “We’ll be playing norteños music. We’ll be playing huapangos. We’ll be playing cumbias, and lots of cumbias, because that’s what the kids nowadays like to hear. And a couple of corridos — ballads. But you know, we’re there to please the crowd. If any of the crowd ask for a song that we might know, we’re just … going to have to play it for them,” Morones said and chuckled.
Conjunto Azabache
On Saturday at 9:30 p.m., Mexican tunes will fill the air when the headliner, Conjunto Azabache, performs. Established 30 years ago and with a discography that extends to 27 releases and about 30 singles, Conjunto Azabache defines itself as a musical group with a romantic “norteño sax” style, which due to its trajectory is also portrayed in two very similar but different terms: revolution and evolution. Welcome in both countries, the U.S. and their beloved homeland Mexico, the band crosses borders, spreading joy and sharing their talent as they move from coast to coast. Motivated by their fans and success, the band grows with every gig. “Our style is fresher, more youthful, more cheerful and versatile, but without losing the essence of what we have been over the years — revolutionary,” the band’s vocalist, Ionathan Delgado, said in an email. The evolutionary part came when they realized that the stage sometimes isolates the artist from the audience below. That is why they prefer to abandon their position on stage at times, join the spectators, and even share the microphone singing a song with them, he said.
The times are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances. For updates and more information, visit enmsf.com.
