Photos and article by Shirin McArthur and Charlie McKee
Nosotros Concert
Photo by Charlie McKee
With seemingly stalwart conviction and great good humor, WNMU President Joseph Shepard accepts the "Ice Bucket Challenge" to raise money for ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease.
Photo by Charlie McKee
Bayard's Illusion Band warms up the audience as the crowd starts to gather.
Photo by Charlie McKee
Sporting their best concert hats, Josephine Padilla (left) and Richard Hagerstrom (right) enjoy the Latin rhythms. Hagerstrom reports that his head gear is made of genuine beaver fur.
Photo by Shirin McArthur
As Nosotros performs their first set, a classic New Mexico rainbow appears overhead.
Photo by Shirin McArthur
Classic cars are on display, while hungry folks line up at the food vendors' booths.
Photo by Shirin McArthur
Miss Claramae Pierce, 20 months old, prefers a peach to the taco stand.
Photo by Charlie McKee
Celebrating its 20th year, the Nosotros nine-piece band entertains the crowd with its unique Latin mix.
Photo by Charlie McKee
Cumbia, anyone?
Photo by Shirin McArthur
Meanwhile, children amuse themselves on the grassy hillside to the sounds of the bands.
Photo by Shirin McArthur
Ryley Quimby, 1 and 1/2 years old, dances to the Latin beat with daddy, Jason.
Photo by Charlie McKee
Mosotros works its magic, and concert goers can't seem to stop dancing on a glorious summer evening.
Grant County's young and young-at-heart gathered on a beautiful summer Friday evening to listen to Albuquerque's award-winning band Nosotros, as well as Bayard's own Illusion Band, perform outdoors at Old James Stadium on the Western New Mexico University (WNMU) campus. The "End of Summer Concert" was presented jointly by the Mimbres Region Arts Council (MRAC) and WNMU and featured vibrant Latin rhythms, all manner of expressive dancing, classic cars, and picnics on the grass.
Between the performances of the two bands, WNMU President Joseph Shepard accepted the ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge," to the crowd's amazement and amusement, as two burly WNMU students gleefully dumped a very large bucket of ice over Shepard's head. Shepard told the audience that he accepted the challenge to help raise money for and awareness of ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). Shepard then challenged WNMU Vice Presidents Jack Crocker and Isaac Brundage, as well as the presidents of New Mexico State University, University of New Mexico, and New Mexico Tech, to accept the Ice Bucket Challenge.