Route 66 Summerfest to Feature Headliners QUITAPENAS

Albuquerque's Route 66 Summerfest will take over a section of Central Ave., spanning over a mile, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 22. This vibrant event boasts four stages showcasing local bands, delectable food trucks, engaging free activities for children, and an array of other attractions. At the forefront of Route 66 Summerfest is QUITAPENAS, one word – all caps, four syllables, a tropical Afro-Latin combo born under the warm California sun.

QUITAPENAS borrow aesthetics from the radical 60s, 70s, and 80s. Each song echoes a remix of history and invites one to engage in the liberating evenings of Angola, Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and beyond. The name means “to remove worries.” Everybody has a “pena” and the mission of QUITAPENAS is simple: to make you dance and leave you without a worry.

QUITAPENAS was founded in 2011. The band was formed around their shared love of dance rhythms from the Tropical Afro Latin diaspora. They assembled a group of like minded friends to share the vision that went on to be QUITAPENAS. The group is made up of first generation sons of immigrant parents from Guatemala and Mexico.

Full entertainment schedule:

Main Stage: Central Ave. & Girard Blvd. 

6 p.m. – High Desert Playboys (Americana/bluegrass)

7 p.m. – Severo y Grupo Fuego (Latin)

8:30 p.m. – QUITAPENAS

Wellesley Stage: Central Ave. & Wellesley Dr. 

5 p.m. – Antonio Luis Y Su Proyecto Cumbion (cumbia Colombiana/folklorica)

6:20 p.m. – The Memphis P. Tails (blues/funk)

7:50 p.m. – DK & The Affordables (rock)

NM Jazz Festival Stage: Central Ave. & Carlisle Blvd. 

5 p.m. – Son Como Son (Cuban salsa)

6:20 p.m. – Delbert Anderson & D'DAT

7:50 p.m. – Doug Lawrence's Nuevo Mexicanos

Route 66 East Stage: Central Ave. & Graceland Dr. 

5 p.m. – Burque Sol (reggae)

6:20 p.m. – Slums of Harvard (rock)

7:50 p.m. – Red Light Cameras (rock/garage pop) 

Nob Hill establishments will remain open during Route 66 Summerfest. Apart from the traditional brick and mortar stores and eateries, numerous food trucks will be onsite offering a diverse selection of snacks and more than twenty local artisans will be selling a wide array of handmade products at The Shops.

Route 66 Summerfest is located on Central Ave. between Girard Blvd. and Washington St. Traffic and bus routes in the area will be effected as Central Ave. will be closed. Free Park & Ride will be available at the lot on the southwest corner of Lomas Blvd. and University Blvd. Free buses will run from the lot to Johnson Field throughout the event. Paid parking lots and street parking is available in the surrounding area. A free bike valet will be provided by Esperanza Bike Education Center. 

Route 66 Summerfest is free to the public. This is a rain or shine event. Event sponsors include iHeart Radio and Lucky Boyz Limousine.