Music to Your Ears

Fair Play

It's the 70th anniversary of the New Mexico State Fair. If there were ever a year to eat deep-fried Twinkies, this is it (though the must-scarf junk food item for 2008 appears to be chocolate-covered bacon). And this week's free music programming makes it a can't-miss.

Friday, Sept. 12, is Hip-Hop Culture Day. (Incidentally, it's also Science and Technology Day, Native American Day, Jr. Livestock Day, and Beef Day.) New York underground hip-hop ambassador and Triple Threat Productions founder J-Live is headlining with DJ Flo Fader on the Ford Stage, conveniently nestled in the heart of Food on a Stick Alley. Representing the local hip-hop heads are Skinnyfat, Definition Rare, Mantis Fist, Zoology, The Lifted Drifters, Darbstar, DJ Mitten and RustaRhymes. Breakdance crews UHF, Iron Bread Kids, PFR and 3HC are scheduled to strut alongside an art "explosion" by Albert Rosales. The music starts at noon.

Then on Sunday, Sept. 14, it's Youth Culture Day at the Ford Stage. Wander by between 1 and 10 p.m. to hear the many shades of rock music by Soular, Volume Volume, The Ground Beneath, Hit By A Bus, Scarless, My Freudian Slip, The Harlow Defense, Last Monday and Shoot My Cupid. Keep an eye out for a live flash art competition hosted by Ian of Ends !n Tragedy.

Rounding out the week with some big names, the oh-so-fair-appropriate Molly Hatchet is grinding out a free concert on Monday, Sept. 15, followed by a trip back to 1995 with the Gin Blossoms on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

All the shows listed here are free with your regular paid admission to the fair. Log on to exponm.com/fair for the day-by-day rundown on rates.

 

$SXSW$

Hey bands! South by Southwest is accepting showcase applications for music acts at the 2009 festival in Austin—but apply by Sept. 26, and you'll shave $10 off the regular $35 application fee. If you've already been swindled into buying a Sonicbids account, you can do it through there—or just log on to SXSW.com and apply (jump directly to the rules here). The deadline for domestic bands is Oct. 24. $25 is a pittance for the chance to represent Burque at SXSW. Show those Texans how we role.