Final Rockabilly a hit

More than 5,000 took part in the fifth and final Rockabilly on the Route in a successful yet bitter-sweet farewell to Tucumcari.

For five years, the Tucumcari Convention Center and other various locations across town come to life for one weekend in June during the four-day music festival celebrating Route 66 and classic Americana.

This year's event featured the music of 27 bands from across the country and world, including the Stratoliners of Fort Worth, Texas.

The band has only been together for six months, and this was its first Rockabilly on the Route.

Lead singer Victor Trevino Jr. said band members are sad there will not be a festival next year, said Victor Trevino Jr.

Trevino said the atmosphere of the entire event was amazing; the response and excitement of the crowd from the Friday night Rumble on the Route concert had the band wanting to perform more.

This event has such a great vibe and life, we would love to perform here again with an even longer set, said Brenden Fenno, drummer.

Fenno said the songs the band perform are short, usually two or three minutes. He said the band would be very interested in returning to Tucumcari to perform.

"If it's for Rockabilly on the Route that would be great, if it's not we still want to come back and perform," said Fenno.

Rockabilly on the Route has attracted some of the biggest names in Rockabilly culture.

In 2013, Wanda Jackson, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, performed during the Rumble on the Route. In 2016, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats performed and groups like Jem Crossland and the Hypertonics, The Delta Bombers and Lucky Tubb and the Modern Day Troubadours.

This year, the stage was filled with rock and roll fame as Deke Dickerson and the Ecco-Fonics performed.

Performing on the bass was Brett Harding of Social Distortion, on Drums Chris "Sugarballs" Sprague and lead guitarist and vocalist Deke Dickerson.

"Both of the concerts had amazing performers," said Rita Martinez, Tucumcari resident.

This is the largest crowd we have had during the Rumble on the Route concert, said event co-producer Simon Cantlon, Friday night.

Brenna Sneed, also known as Miss Mandy Mischief, had been competing for the past three years to win the Miss Rockabilly on the Route pin-up contest.

This year, Sneed won the crown, an achievement she said carries both pride and sadness.

"I am sad that my crowning was the last," Sneed said. "However, I will represent the title as Miss Rockabilly on the Route with great pride and respect."

Sneed said she hopes one day she will pass on the title of Miss Rockabilly. She said when the time comes, she will be ready.

Making their first trip to Tucumcari, while hopefully not their last, were the performers of the Austin, Texas- based Captain Burton's Fun Time Sideshow Circus.

"We were invited to Rockabilly on the Route," said Haru Sparks, fire breather.

Sparks said the response from the crowd during the performances was very positive. She said the different performers of the show all enjoyed the feedback from the event.

Catlon and co-event producer Ungelbah Davila, of Pink Flamingo Productions, were not available for additional comments.