It’s been four years since Navajo and Hopi guitarist and vocalist JJ Otero co-founded the first annual Rock The 9 Native Music Festival in Albuquerque. This year the seasoned festival, which unofficially coincides with the Gathering of Nations, takes place over three nights at Low Spirits. Here’s the complete, illustrated schedule for the fest. Thursday, April 28 Jim Ruel, 8:30 p.m. Jim Ruel is a Los Angeles-based, Milwaukee-raised Ojibwe. The award-winning, internationally recognized comedian specializes in nerdy, urban Indian humor. This year he hosts Rock The 9 and will make funny ha-ha at the beginning of each night and in-between sets. Roger Cultee Band, 9 p.m. This Burque local—also known as RCB—gets the fest going with blues rock. From The Ashes, 10 p.m. Local reggae rocker Daisy Chain, 11 p.m. Seattle four-piece purveyor of blues rock and funky soul Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers, midnight Santa Fe-based bluesness
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Gabriel Ayala
Friday, April 29 Jim Ruel, 8:30 p.m. See above. Gabriel Ayala Trio, 9 p.m. Tuscon classical guitarist Ayala performs “jazzmenco.” Scotti Cliff, 10 p.m. This Lakota from South Dakota plays the blues and contemporary rock and roll. Chucki Begay and the Mother Earth Blues Band, 11 p.m. Diné singer/songwriter Begay blends her contemporary Native American music with soulful blues rock. Plateros, midnight A family blues rock power trio from the Navajo Nation.
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Saving Damsels
Saturday, April 30 Jim Ruel, 8:30 p.m . See above. Saving Damsels, 9 p.m. Led by Rock The 9 organizer JJ Otero, this local act blends a variety of styles to create Native soul rock. The Old Main, 10 p.m. Albuquerque Americana roots rock beer-drinking rodeo The Jir Project, 11 p.m. Bluesy, Burque-based pop rock Sir Harrison and the Blues Kings, midnight Funky blues rock trio from Mesa, Ariz.
