• Dexter & the Moonrocks + High June at El Rey Downtown

    El Rey Theater
    Downtownlive musicTickets

    104.1 The Edge is sending Dexter and the Moonrocks through Albuquerque on the 12 Steps Tour, with High June opening at El Rey on Central. El Rey's long room can feel cavernous for a two-band bill, so arriving early puts you closer to the stage before the crowd fills in behind you. Tickets are through...

  • Junkyard Butterfly at Launchpad

    Launchpad
    Downtownlive musicTickets

    Three local acts share the Launchpad stage on a Thursday night, with Junkyard Butterfly closing out a bill that spans whatever territory Facing Allodox and Morningstar stake out before them. Launchpad's room rewards getting there early: the sound mix from the back half of the floor is noticeably better than crowding the stage. Tickets are...

  • RED After Party

    Gaia's Kava Root
    UNM Arealate-nightTickets

    RIOT ENT. closes out the night at Gaia's Kava Root with this late ticketed after party, running what amounts to the final hours before sunrise. Gaia's is a kava bar, so the drink situation is non-alcoholic by default, which either fits your night perfectly or explains why you should plan accordingly before you arrive. Tickets...

  • Friday Night Hip-Hop Cypher

    Gaia's Kava Root
    UNM Areahip-hopDetails

    An open hip-hop cypher hosted by Taylor Cheek at Gaia's Kava Root, one of the more low-key and genuinely welcoming spots on Central. Kava bars run a different energy than alcohol venues, which tends to keep the room focused on the music rather than the noise around it. If you've been sitting on sixteen bars,...

  • Tablao Flamenco Friday Show

    Tablao Flamenco Albuquerque at Hotel Albuquerque
    latinTickets

    A seated flamenco show in the tablao format, meaning close quarters with the performers and no fourth wall to hide behind. Hotel Albuquerque's space for this series is small enough that you feel the footwork in your chest, which is either exactly what you want or a reason to check your comfort level with intensity...

  • John Maestas at Outpost Performance Space

    Outpost Performance Space
    UNM AreajazzTickets

    John Maestas brings his Juan Tigre project to Outpost for the 20th Annual New Mexico Jazz Festival, a milestone run for what has become one of the state's most important jazz showcases. Outpost is one of the few rooms in Albuquerque genuinely built for listening, with sightlines and acoustics that reward actually paying attention to...

  • Live Improv Comedy at The Box

    Outpost Performance Space
    UNM AreacomedyTickets

    The Box brings improv comedy to its intimate black-box space on Central, where the room holds maybe 60 people and the performers can see every wince and laugh. That closeness is the whole thing here, for better and occasionally for worse. Grab a ticket in advance; this format sells out faster than you'd expect for...

  • TYNAN at Effex Nightclub, Route 66 Downtown

    Effex
    DowntownelectronicDetails

    TYNAN is one of the sharper names working the overlap between bass house and the heavier riddim and deathstep side of the spectrum, and this is a proper club night, not a festival side stage. Effex runs late and the sound system in that main room handles low-end well, which matters more than usual for...

  • Dolly Parton Tribute Night at Launchpad

    Launchpad
    Downtowncover/tributeTickets

    Seven local acts, each doing their own version of Dolly, across a single late night at one of Central's most reliable small stages. Launchpad runs loud, the sightlines from the back bar are fine, and a seven-band bill means the room will be at capacity before 11. Grab tickets in advance; the door line for...

  • Reklez Rodeo at Gaia’s Kava Root

    Gaia's Kava Root
    UNM AreadanceDetails

    A rodeo-themed party night at Gaia's Kava Root, the kava bar on Central that doubles as one of the more reliably energetic late-night spots near campus. The 18+ door keeps it college-adjacent without being strictly all-ages, and the kava bar setup means you can pace yourself differently than you would at a standard venue. Tickets...