Meet the Musicians of Vino in the Valley 2026: Live Music, Local Legends & Mountain Magic
From the roots of New Mexico to the national stage, ths 2026 Vino in the Valley lineup brings together an unforgettable mix of soulful acoustic sets, foot-stomping Americana, bluesy ballads, and powerhouse vocals. Whether you're sipping wine in the sun or dancing under the stars, here's who you'll be hearing all weekend long, June 19 – 21, 2026, in Red River, New Mexico!
Featured Acts
Syd Masters
Syd Masters is an American singer and songwriter of traditional Western music, and the author and recording artist of New Mexico’s Official State Cowboy Song. In 2024, Syd was named the International Western Music Association Male Performer of the Year and received the Western Writers of America’s Spur Award for “Song of the Year.” He’s also earned Best Country Western Song honors from the New Mexico Music Industry, including both 1st and 2nd place finishes, helping make him one of the most decorated recording artists in New Mexico Music Awards history. Beyond the stage, Syd’s work includes supporting troops and veterans, including being named an official ambassador to Guitars for Vets, which provides musical healing through guitars and lessons for returning veterans coping with PTSD. His music and performances have been featured in major media outlets, including The Travel Channel, CMT, RFD-TV, MTV, New Mexico True, and PBS Colores, and his original songs have appeared in film and television, including the Universal Studios feature film Paul, in which he also appears on screen.
Casey James
Casey James is a guitarist's guitarist with the kind of stage presence that turns a set into a shared moment. He first captured national attention as the 3rd-place finalist on American Idol (Season 9), with USA Today calling him 'the best guitar player the show had ever seen.' After radio hits like 'Let's Don't Call It A Night,' 'Crying On a Suitcase,' and 'Fall Apart,' Casey stepped away from a major-label deal to make music without limits. With his 2017 album Strip It Down, he finally made the blues project he'd always envisioned, introducing his sound to a whole new audience and earning rave reviews worldwide. His 2020 follow-up, If You Don't Know By Now, dives deeper, spotlighting his range as an inspired, melodic guitarist and an expressive, soulful vocalist. Expect a performance that's equal parts craft, grit, heart, and mountain-night electricity with every note and pause.
Ry Taylor & The Sidetrips
Born and raised on Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, singer-songwriter Ry Taylor has been immersed in music since childhood-playing for family and friends at ten, and performing professionally by fifteen. A musical gift passed down from his father, northern New Mexico songwriter Rod Taylor, Ry has played throughout the Enchanted Circle and neighboring states, pairing heartfelt originals with the songs that bring a crowd together. He honed his craft at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, earning certificates in commercial music, live sound, and studio technology. His genre-bending style moves through Acoustic Groove, Americana, Latin Jazz, Alternative Rock, and more-perfect for a festival day that blends art, wine, and fresh air. Having called Red River, Angel Fire, Santa Fe, and Taos home, Ry shows up as both performer and community participant, with a set built for easy listening and real connection, start to finish.
Opening Day Pulse
Friday, June 19, 2026—
10:00 AM: Gates and Vendors Open
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Zia Rust Outlaws
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM: Oscar Butler
1:15 PM: Bees & Locusts
2:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Jackal
4:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Lady’s Mantle
5:30 PM: Last Call
6:00 PM: Gates Close
Zia Rust Outlaws
Zia Rust Outlaws was forged in the heart of the Sangre De Cristo Mountains back in 2025. Band members Jesse Qeño (bass), AJ Miera (lead guitar and vocals), and John Vigil (acoustic rhythm guitar, harmonica, and vocals) each bring a different sound to the band, creating a harmonious mix of Country, Grunge, and Classic Rock to the sets they play.
Oscar Butler
Oscar Butler is a New Mexico-based performing songwriter known for soulful vocals, intricate delta-style guitar, and story-rich songs that blend Southern blues warmth with indie-folk heart. He earned the 2025 New Mexico Entertainment Award (Jazz/Blues), following a 2023 New Mexico Music Award win and a 2024 nomination. His one-man Smooth Like Gravy Gourmet Blues Show pairs music, storytelling, humor, and live illustrations that bring each song's narrative to life.
Bees & Locusts
The Bees & Locusts are a seven-piece band from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Taos, blending organic hip-hop/R&B with soul and funk, influenced by traditional Native rhythms. Indigenous-led and rooted in Taos Pueblo, the collective-frontman Cody 'Ph8' Mirabal, Damon Young, Jonah Romero, Solomon Goot, Naomi Gomez, Sarah Martinez, and Gabriel Lincoln-delivers upbeat originals made for dancing. Their name reflects balance and duality: creation and destruction, light and dark.
Jackal
Jack & Nicole (Jackal) have been making music together since 2014, blending soft harmonies with rowdy rock and swinging country into a sound that feels both familiar and full of surprises. Now joined by drummer India, the duo-turned-trio can lull babies to sleep and get your grandparents dancing - sometimes in the same set. From originals to classic covers, Jackal builds their show around connection: easy sing-alongs, toe-tapping rhythms, and the kind of energy that makes strangers feel like friends. Expect warm chemistry onstage, playful moments between songs, and a set that invites you to stay awhile, sway closer, and join in.
Lady’s Mantle
Lady's Mantle invites listeners in with introspective lyrics, chilling harmonies, and a groovy, immersive pulse. Provocative lyrical analogies and expressive energy create a set that feels intimate and electrifying at once. Music with emotional depth that still compels you to move. This Taos-based all-women group blends indie, rock, and jazz influences into a tapestry of sound that's deeply felt and highly danceable. Expect songs that land like a good conversation and rhythms that make it hard to stay still. It's a soundtrack for golden-hour wandering, and for the moment you decide to dance fully without overthinking it.
High Country Western
Saturday June 20, 2026—
10:00 AM: Gates and Vendors Open
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: John Vigil
11:15 AM – 1:00 PM: Michael Smith
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM: Fritz Davis
2:15 PM – 4:00 PM: Syd Masters & The Swing Riders
4:15 PM – 6:00 PM: Ry Taylor & The Sidetrips
5:30 PM: Last Call
John Vigil
Growing up in Taos County, John Vigil started singing old country with his father, early moments that shaped a lifelong desire to play for people. With inspirations like Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and especially Johnny Cash, his songs carry classic country grit and storytelling. Today, John plays everything from country to a touch of classic rock, keeping the focus on what matters: sharing music, sharing stories, and making the crowd feel like they belong.
Michael Smith
Based in Red River for more than 20 years, Michael Smith brings folky, country-Americana to life with an honest, earthy presence. His solo shows weave originals and well-chosen covers that often spark nostalgia-like a familiar road-trip soundtrack you didn't know you needed. Michael's aim is simple and sincere: to create a genuine emotional connection, leaving listeners with a tear, a laugh, or a smile they carry into the rest of their weekend. Expect an unhurried set that fits perfectly between wine tastings and browsing the artisan booths, with room to breathe, listen, and feel at home.
Fritz Davis
Fritz Davis comes from a family where music and performance were simply part of life: a ballerina/multi-instrumentalist grandmother, a piano-playing rodeo clown grandfather, a singing guitarist father, and an entertainer uncle. That rich mix sparked Fritz’s early start - his first recording at age three, then public guitar performances by fourteen. After studying theatre in college and spending a short time teaching, he committed fully to the road and the song. Over the years, Fritz has performed with bands like Catfish Charlie, launched a solo folk career, hosted a radio show, and worked with the Kansas Arts Commission. Eventually he made Red River, New Mexico home, where he performs extensively, stays active in community work, and even created a historical medicine show that blends storytelling with old-time flair. A prolific writer, Fritz has released several albums of original songs - warm, engaging, and built for listening close.
Sweet Sunday Mosaic
Sunday June 21, 2026—
10:00 AM: Gates and Vendors Open
12:30 PM – 2:15 PM: Casey James
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Genevieve Leitner
4:15 – 5:00 PM: Saggy Bottom Boys
4:30 PM: Last Call
5:00 PM: Gates Close
Casey James
Casey James is a guitarist's guitarist with the kind of stage presence that turns a set into a shared moment. He first captured national attention as the 3rd-place finalist on American Idol (Season 9), with USA Today calling him 'the best guitar player the show had ever seen.' After radio hits like 'Let's Don't Call It A Night,' 'Crying On a Suitcase,' and 'Fall Apart,' Casey stepped away from a major-label deal to make music without limits. With his 2017 album Strip It Down, he finally made the blues project he'd always envisioned, introducing his sound to a whole new audience and earning rave reviews worldwide. His 2020 follow-up, If You Don't Know By Now, dives deeper, spotlighting his range as an inspired, melodic guitarist and an expressive, soulful vocalist. Expect a performance that's equal parts craft, grit, heart, and mountain-night electricity with every note and pause.
Genevieve Leitner
With 'elegant virtuosity,' guitarist Genevieve Leitner plays music from around the world and across time periods. She has performed internationally and throughout the U.S., and spent six years in Santiago, Chile, focusing on Latin American composers and traditional rhythms. Her solo album, Enamorada, features Latin American dances and love songs. Genevieve also has a passion for collaboration, performing guitar and sitar in ensembles across opera, theatre, dance, and film music. An educator as well, she teaches guitar at Albuquerque Academy and directs the Albuquerque chapter of the Kithara Project, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching young lives through classical guitar.
Saggy Bottom Boys
The Saggy Bottom Boys, Ute Park’s premier musical duo featuring Billy Robertson and Mike Vineyard, isn't your average local act. Robertson brings the academic prestige of a former University of Texas guitar instructor. Vineyard adds the soulful, seasoned depth of decades in music ministry. Together, they serve up a high-energy, eclectic sonic cocktail. Expect a masterclass blend of jazz, blues, classic rock, pop, and swing. Infused with a healthy dose of humor, they deliver local music at its absolute finest. Don't miss the fresh air sound of New Mexico's favorite duo!
