SOMOS Albuquerque returns September 19th with a lineup of international musical talent, immersive art installations, local food vendors and much more. Last year, the festival moved to its current location at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, and it was a resounding success. More space to roam, explore and connect with the Albuquerque community made SOMOS feel like a high-caliber festival right here in the United States.

SOMOS isn’t just built around the music, either. The Family & Maker’s Village will feature hands-on creative workshops, youth-centric making activities and interactive art projects, with kids able to create sun catchers with Sol Johnson, ceramic pinch pots with Ceramica ABQ, bracelets and weavings with Carrie Botto, or get involved with community publishing through Alex Paramo. Face painting, mystery print machines from Ayeamurs, the Green Machine Museum Theater and more will give younger attendees plenty to see and do throughout the festival. It’s a nice addition to an event that feels designed to bring the whole community together, rather than catering to just one type of festivalgoer.

The Tablao offers a completely different side of the SOMOS experience, bringing traditional dance and performance into the festival. The stage will feature Ballet Folklorico Fiesta Mexicana, Flamenquitas del Barrios, Yjastros: The American Flamenco Repertory Company, Spanish Broom Flamenco, and Prieto. Beyond the performances, the interactive programming includes crowd performance art, a silent disco, Mercado, Native Guitars’ boutique and fashion show, and more, giving attendees plenty of ways to get involved rather than simply watch from the sidelines.

Wax Motif headlines SOMOS after a very significant year. He released House of Wax II, a sequel to 2022’s House of Wax, and it has become the driving force of his current touring cycle. He’s played EDC Las Vegas and Breakaway Festival and currently holds a residency at Zouk Nightclub in Las Vegas. With releases like “Bad & U Know It” featuring Ty Dolla $ign and “Sun Goes Down” with ZHU and Camden Cox, his set at SOMOS is sure to be a special one.

DUCKWRTH fits like a glove in the SOMOS lineup, and his latest project, B SIDE, offers a fresh look at the artist’s ever-changing sound. The album leans into his hip-hop and R&B roots while giving him room to experiment with different styles and approaches, showcasing the creativity and personality that have defined his music from the beginning. That willingness to move between genres has become a defining part of DUCKWRTH’s career, and in recent years he’s increasingly incorporated electronic music into his sound. Chrome Bull explored elements of UK garage and funk, while songs like “All Around the World” with Snakehips and “Sway” with A-Trak & AJ Christou show just how comfortably he moves between hip-hop, R&B and dance music. Whether you’re there for the electronic elements or his lyricism, DUCKWRTH should make for one of the more unique sets of the night.

If you’re looking to get dancing, VNSSA is the perfect candidate for that task. Her groovy house and tech house sets often incorporate elements of disco, making her a perfect fit for the colorful and vibrant atmosphere that SOMOS is known for. Coco & Breezy started as fashion designers before expanding their creative world into DJing and production. They’ve developed a unique, uplifting and soulful sound that will set the dance floor on fire.

With so many different sounds coming together in one place, there’s plenty of reason to stick around and see where the night takes you. There’s a little something for everyone, and it should make for one hell of a night in Albuquerque.