KEN PETERSON THINKS of Bands of Enchantment as a New Mexico postcard to the world. Set to begin its third season on January 27, the Albuquerque-based TV show features local, national, and international musicians playing sets in unique venues throughout the state, including the Tucumcari Railroad Museum (season 1), the Albuquerque Rail Yards (season 2), and the Duke City’s historic KiMo Theatre. “It means a great deal,” says Peterson, the creator and executive producer. “What’s said and shared about New Mexico is super important to us.”
As an actor, musician, and writer, Peterson understands the struggle that comes with making art. The show, which Peterson makes with his brother and stepfather, is a labor of love. “Filming at the historic KiMo Theatre was really special,” says Peterson, of the Pueblo Deco movie house that opened in 1927. “The acoustics are unbelievable. It’s such a rich and beautiful theater.”
FAB FIVE
Get to know the New Mexico acts featured on Bands of Enchantment season 3.
Ailani
The 20-year-old Santa Clara Pueblo musician plays and records every instrument in her dreamy songs, then performs live with a guitar and a laptop. “She crafts a melodic tapestry of love, identity, and human nature,” Peterson says. “It’s very personal.”
🎶 Must listen: “Vastplay.”
Albuquerque quartet Prism Bitch.
Photograph courtesy of Bands of Enchantment.
Prism Bitch
With what Peterson calls a “sonic roller coaster” that mixed performance art with thoughtful, subversive rock ’n’ roll, the Albuquerque quartet supported Built to Spill on a national tour in 2022. “Their live experience is theatrical, filled with energy,” he says.
🎶 Must listen: “I” & “II.”
Albuquerque-based quintet The Kipsies.
Photograph courtesy of Bands of Enchantment.
The Kipsies
The Albuquerque-based quintet mixes Americana, bluegrass, and folk on its 2022 album, Breath in Deep. “It’s very earthy music,” Peterson says. “There’s a vastness of the sound, like you feel connected to nature.”
🎶 Must listen: “In Time.”
Byland is a Seattle-based, Albuquerque-raised singer-songwriter known for her cinematic indie-rock sound.
Photograph courtesy of Bands of Enchantment.
Byland
Singer-songwriter Alie Renee, who goes by the stage name Byland, grew up in Albuquerque and now lives in Seattle. The clear, evocative lyrics woven through her songs help to create a sometimes haunted and always thought-provoking atmosphere in her music. “She’s extremely talented,” Peterson says.
🎶 Must listen: “Settle My Mind.”
Slums of Harvard is a six-member band known for their chaotic and care-free atmosphere, eclectic sound, and energetic performances.
Photograph courtesy of Bands of Enchantment.
Slums of Harvard
Formed in the University of New Mexico campus housing on Harvard Street, this rock act delivers songs brimming with confidence and emotion that help listeners remember what it was like to feel young. “They bring an energetic sound and lift everybody up,” Peterson says.
🎶 Must listen: “Twenty Something.”
