Craig Daily Press

Craig — For this installment of the Craig Concert Association’s winter concert series, they’re heading Southwest.

Southwestern folk music to be exact.

Ted Ramirez, of the Santa Cruz River Band, said they’re a contemporary, acoustic, three-part harmony weaving in Mexican and Spanish music from old Mexico, the Native American musical traditions of the Southwest and American Cowboy music.

“It’s our own reflection on the Southwest,” Ramirez said, “we tie it together in a personal kind of way, how we learned these styles and where they came from.”

The band’s “Troubadour” style, he said, allows it to not be pinned down to one style.

“When people think about the Southwest, they usually think about Cowboy music and Mariachi,” Ramirez said. “Those are both significant, but only parts. We try to touch on the history and to link it all together for people.”

One used to be a draftsman, one a businessman and another an electrician, but the trio has heavy roots in the Southwest, and felt the need to leave their day jobs and share their affection with audiences all over as a fulltime musical ensemble.

They use a multi-lingual approach to bring the culture and music alive and include stories of their own families in the performance, said Ramirez.

They have toured internationally and have produced three albums.

The Santa Cruz River Band will be performing at the Moffat County High School auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets are $15 at the door, and Craig Concert Association memberships still are available. Call 824-5251.