If you go
› What: Nightfall featuring San Rafael Band› Where: Miller Plaza, 850 Market St.› When: 7-10 p.m. Friday, May 5› Admission: Free› For more information: 423-265-0771
Nightfall opens its 30th season of free concerts in downtown Chattanooga’s Miller Plaza on Friday, May 5.
Each concert features a nationally touring headliner at 8 p.m., with a local band opening at 7 o’clock. Bring lawn chairs, buy dinner from a nearby restaurant and enjoy the outdoor concert.
San Rafael Band will kick off this season of Nightfall on Friday night.
Rafael Vasquez blends Latin jazz into a blues-rock sound. He is originally from San Antonio, where he says he remembers “sneaking into small cantinas and clubs, places where beer mixed with the smells of simmering rice and beans, just to hear music.”
He taught himself guitar by listening and learning from the local masters of Latin music. His fusion of jazz, blues and rock has garnered him a reputation as a leader in the emerging Latin pop/jazz genre.
Over the years, Rafael has been a member of several renowned Tejano bands, including Sunny and the SunLiners, Little Joe y la Familia and Augustin Ramirez. He eventually signed with a major label and won a Grammy with Little Joe y la Familia. He has opened for acts such as Michael McDonald and Kevin Eubanks.
Nightfall visitors can expect to hear music from his newest musical project, “El Cine del Corazon,” (The Theater of the Heart). A joint project between Acklen Entertainment and Belmont University, the collection ranges from flamenco guitar to classic Latin rock.
Picnic in the Passageways
Friday afternoons in May will look a little different — and start live music a little earlier than Nightfall —in downtown Chattanooga alleyways.Picnic in the Passageways kicks off Friday, May 5, and will continue every Friday in May from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Cherry Street. There will be food trucks, local music and art projects for everyone to enjoy.The purpose of the lunch-time event is to create a sense of community on the block and provide opportunities for the downtown workforce to visit the Passageways’ art installations.Tryezz will perform Friday and the food truck on-site will be 2 Sons Kitchen and Market. Randy Steele plays May 12 with I Love Tacos on-site. Swayyvo is the musical act May 19 with Chatter Box Cafe food truck selling lunch. Picnic in the Passageways will close May 26 with music by Hip Hop CHA and food sold by California Smothered Burritos. For more information: PassagewaysChattanooga.com.