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Route 66 Summerfest WHEN: 2-11 p.m. Saturday, July 18 WHERE: Various locations in Nob Hill HOW MUCH: Free ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Things to know

Summerfests are free to the public to attend. Pets are welcome on leashes. This is a rain-or-shine event. Park and Ride

Beat the traffic and take the free Park and Ride. To take advantage of this service, park in the parking lot on the southwest corner of University and Lomas. The Park and Ride bus will take guests directly to Summerfest. To take the Park and Ride back to the parking lot, meet at Johnson Field on Redondo Drive. Buses will run from 2-11 p.m. Bike Valet

Ride your bike and take advantage of the free bike valet provided by Esperanza Bike Shop located on Central Avenue, west of Carlisle in the Fan Tang parking lot. Do you want to feature your bicycle in the first ever Bicycle Show on Route 66? See below for more details. Main Stage Schedule (Central Avenue and Girard)

2:45 p.m. – Mystic Vic Blues Band

3:55 p.m. – NuMethods with Lowell Burton

5 p.m. – Alex Maryol

6 p.m. – hONEyhoUSe

7:40 p.m. – Leni Stern African Quartet

9 p.m. – Roomful of Blues Cork & Tap Stage (Central Avenue between Montclaire and Sierra)

2 p.m. – Quality Retreads

3:05 p.m. – Le Chat Lunatique

4:15 p.m. – Alma Reunion Band

5:25 p.m. – Porter Draw

6:35 p.m. – Zoltan Orkestar

7:40 p.m. – Pleasure Pilots

8:50 p.m. – PANdemonium East Stage (Central Avenue and Washington)

2:30 p.m. – Steve Chavez NM Marimba Band

3:40 p.m. – Los Primos with Lenore Armijo

4:50 p.m. – Baracuntanga

6 p.m. – Todd Tijerina Band

7:10 p.m. – Felix y Los Gatos

8:20 p.m. – Calle 66

Leni Stern is ready for some new music. But first, she has some touring to get done.

“I’m always on the go,” she says during a recent phone interview from her New York home. “Today is amazing and I’m enjoying all of the new energy.”

Stern’s year so far has been nothing short of amazing. A few months ago, she traveled to Senegal, where she played a jazz festival and ended up recording some songs for a new album.

Stern will perform as part of the Route 66 Summerfest on the main stage at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, July 18.

She says that at the Senegal festival she was able to meet The Faye Brothers, who opened her eyes with their drum playing.

“We played on a boat that was anchored in front of the large venue,” she says. “The river Senegal has some waves and I was scared to slip into the water with my amp and pedals.”

Stern is an electric guitarist, singer and n’gono (Malian banjo) player. Her interest began as a child in Germany, where she started piano at 6 and was playing guitar by 11.

“I’ve always been interested in music and learning,” she says. “This is why I enjoy being on the road and traveling to new areas. It’s important for me to keep learning from others.”

Stern’s latest album is 2013’s “Jelell.” She’s readying a new album, which features some of her friends from Senegal.

“Being around them really inspired me with the new music,” she says. “This is the part of the music I really enjoy.”

Stern last visited New Mexico in the spring and says she enjoys the energy the Land of Enchantment has.

“Performing there gives me some energy,” she says. “Hopefully the rains will stay away during our performance at Summerfest.”

