TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. — The Truth or Consequences Fiesta 2025 Committee has announced a full slate of diverse and dynamic musical acts for the event’s 75th anniversary celebration, taking place here May 2-4. From country and western, classic Hispanic and punk/ska to blues and rock and roll, a slew of genres will be on tap.
“We’ve got something for everyone this year, including several returning favorites,” said Destiny Mitchell, T or C Fiesta 2025 event coordinator. “We’re especially thrilled to have the spirited, one-of-a-kind rock and mariachi band Metalachi, who are from Los Angeles and have a big following in North America, as our Saturday night closing act.”
All acts will appear on the Fiesta Main Stage downtown in the Bank of the Southwest parking lot at 504 N. Broadway St., between Clancy and Daniels streets. The weekend’s complete band lineup — schedule is subject to change, and additional musical entertainment for midday Sunday, May 4, may be announced — is as follows:
FRIDAY, MAY 2
The Chachalacas (5:30 p.m.) — The Albuquerque-based trio returns to T or C with its festive, eclectic instrumental music infused with country, blues, Mexican and Central/South American flavors.
Tequila Nights (7:15 p.m.) — Six-piece variety music band local to Arrey/Caballo, N.M., celebrating classic rock, oldies, country and Spanish music.
Rockabilly Strangers (9 p.m.) — Passionate rockabilly, old country, blues, surf, and rock and roll highlight this Las Cruces-based band’s repertoire.
SATURDAY, MAY 3
Pint & A Half (noon) — Classic T or C duo Tami and Duke Sheppard sing power-folk roots Americana tunes from the Great American West.
The Casual Fridays (2 p.m.) — High-energy band out of Las Cruces known for serving up zesty ska, reggae and rock.
Syd Masters & The Swing Riders (4 p.m.) — Singer-songwriter Masters leads this award-winning vintage western cowboy swing band, who are prolific recording artists (e.g., “High Country Trail,” “Under New Mexico Skies”).
Papayas con Chile (6 p.m.) — Lively cumbia, punk, funk and street-style music, with distinctive harmonica and ukulele accents, that echoes from the band’s home base in Las Cruces to the border and the banks of the Rio Grande.
Burt Ferguson & Sierra County Line (8 p.m.) — Soulful country-Americana, country and rock tunes, with Ferguson on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Tim Thompson on lead guitar/vocals, Eric Mowels on bass and Derrick Lee on drums.
Metalachi (10 p.m.) — Heavy metal, mariachi and humor intermix as this wildly costumed cover band pays tribute to the legendary likes of Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne and Queen, creating a bangin’, rise-to-your-feet genre unto itself.
2025 marks 75 years since the annual Fiesta was established in T or C in the spring of 1950. The inaugural event was a dual celebration of the 10th anniversary of the popular NBC national radio show “Truth or Consequences,” which was preparing to debut a television version later that year, and of the decision by the City of Hot Springs, N.M., to retire the name inspired by its coveted mineral-rich geothermal water and adopt the distinctive appellation of Truth or Consequences. The renaming was spurred by a coast-to-coast promotional contest sponsored by the program.
T or C Fiesta 2025 sponsor, vendor and parade entry registration is now open.
