Arroyo Seco Live

Arroyo Seco Live is a New Mexico non-profit corporation, with tax exempt status as a charitable organization. Seco Live was formed in 2014 to bring World music, and education concerning the cultures represented, to Northern New Mexico. Arroyo Seco Live outreach is financially underpinned by GFFI, LLC, owner of the outdoor performance space the ‘Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space’ upon which the music and cultural events have occurred. Historically, Arroyo Seco Live has showcased cultural and/or little-known styles of music that may be in danger of being lost, as musical styles evolve and change over time. Cultural preservation is a key aspect and motivating factor in the work Arroyo Seco Live does. The presentations and program are funded entirely by contributions. 

Each of Arroyo Seco Live's shows has featured an educational component.

In 2008, Scott Carlson, John Henderson, Lucio Duran, Joe Trujillo, together with the landlord Casa Miguel, LLC, (whose principal Andy Burns is also the principal of GFFI, LLC, the current owner of the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space), hosted what was the very first specifically free concert with Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue. Trombone Shorty, returned to the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space same time next year, in 2009. 

At the beginning the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space premises consisted of an open fifteen space gravel parking lot, the existing metal building, a wooden deck, and wooden Ramada, in precisely where the existing building, stage, and shade structure are situated today. 

Around this time Yoga gatherings started to occur under the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space ramada, and these gatherings to practice yoga continue today. 

In 2010 ASL produced two live music parties in the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space with Nathan Williams and then Sierra Leone Refugee Allstars. The following is a hyperlink to the Allstars performance on a YouTube video created by Rick Romancito of Taos News Media in 2010: https://youtu.be/-QhQTAMnGvc 

In 2011 ASL produced Groundation at the SecoSpace.
In 2012, ASL produced Rosie Ledet and The Zydeco Playboys and Sister Carol at the SecoSpace.
In 2013, ASL produced Vieux Farka Toure and Homemade Jamz Blues Band at the SecoSpace.
In 2014, Arroyo Seco Live, Inc (ASL) was officially formed and ASL produced Big Sam's Funky Nation and The Taos High School Mariachi Band at the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space.
In 2015, ASL produced Antonia Apodaca, The Campbell Brothers, Cedric Burnside and Homemade Jamz Blues Band at the SecoSpace.
In 2016, ASL produced Reverend John Wilkins and 3D at the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space.
In 2017, ASL produced Dumpstaphunk and Marcia Ball at the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space.
In 2018, ASL produced Mokoomba and Novalima at the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space.
In 2019, ChaWa performed with Hail Creek, along with performances by the Red Willow Dancers of Taos Pueblo.
In 2020, during Covid, Seco Live switched from live music to producing twenty FaceBook broadcasted live music shows with Arroyo Seco Live paying all local musicians.
To further support the community during Covid Arroyo Seco Live produced a Virtual Art Gallery, the Capsule Project, and started, in collaboration with Holy Trinity Church Parish, the Free Essentials and Food Bank behind the Holy Trinity Parish Hall. 

In 2020, ASL started work with Scott MacHardy, Mark Goldman, and Jim Stoner to design and rebuild the Arroyo Seco Live stage and Shade Structure to the existing state of the art Music production space. All construction was locally sourced, and the total cost was $92,000.00. 

In addition, Arroyo Seco Live: (1) operates a free-library box in the Arroyo Seco Live Stage Space that provide books for anyone; (2) sponsors the award-winning Good News for a Good Planet, on their co-owned KNCE, True Taos Radio station; (3) provides Annual Support grants of $1500.00 in ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS to Taos High School graduating seniors, $2,500.00 in HEALING ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS to anyone in Taos County for Yoga Teacher Training, $5,000.00 in LITERACY ARTS SCHOLARSHIPS to Taos School Corp. students in need of Dyslexia Counseling. 

In 2021, Arroyo Seco Live hosted Second Sunday Low Rider events for June, July, August, September, and October. In collaboration with the Harwood Museum of Art, and Taos School Corporation. The last event of the season was a STEMART lowrider design contest where money was awarded to Taos County students. Each event had local live music from Taos School Corporation students, local artists, and Jimmy Stadler. The year ended with a pre-Covid return of Cha Wa. 

In 2022, Melwell Romancito, a first-generational digital artist came out of retirement to build a virtual world for Arroyo Seco Live and help move the organization into the Metaverse. In addition, www.ArroyoSecoLive.org is created. Arroyo Seco Live produced three free shows featuring Foggy Mountain Memory Boys with Desert Prose, Chicken Sedan with Chris Beall, George Porter Jr. with Katy P and the Business. Arroyo Seco Live begins a collaboration with Laurel Taylor of WildeInk Print for high-end hand printed art on hemp apparel.  ASL awards Anice Joy Yoga scholarship to Carmina Rodriguez and weekly free community yoga classes are hosted in SecoLive spaces.

In 2023, ASL partners with JOYYOGA to provide Healing Arts centered events; hosting children’s authors, free weekly community yoga classes, tutors, and emotional wellness coaches. Arroyo Seco Live throws Non for Profit Fest at the Solar Center complete with 20+ local non profits and free live music to the community. Arroyo Seco Live partners with Roots and Wires to continue to help bring world music to Taos from Havana, Cuba - la dame Blanche to Niafunke Mali - Vieux Farka Touré. ASL has projection installation at the SecoLive stage for the Community Imagery Projection Project alongside Price Valentine’s Children’s Cold Weather Drive donation box.

If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to support our work please visit our giving page.