Gallup starts 2025 Arts Crawl season

GALLUP – As the sun dipped below the red mesas and dusk stretched over the high desert, West Coal Avenue came alive with music, laughter, and the scent of fresh frybread drifting between open galleries and bustling vendor tents.

The first Gallup Arts Crawl of 2025 arrived on April 12 with a full heart, inviting families from across Diné Bikéyah and beyond to share in a celebration of creativity, community, and culture. From the hum of street musicians to the gleam of hand-thrown pottery and the soft scratch of paintbrushes in motion, the evening unfolded as a sensory tribute to the artistic soul of the Southwest.

“It was nice to see everybody out again and all the vendors and it was really busy and a very poppin’ night,” said Nicole Young, an artist and jewelry maker from Bread Springs, New Mexico, who set up her table “Young Designs” with her mother, Evalena Young, just outside Weaving in Beauty.

“It’s always packed and it’s the kickoff for the summer season, so it’s very exciting to look forward to,” Nicole said.

Held every second Saturday from April through September, the Gallup Arts Crawl transforms historic Downtown Gallup into a vibrant stage where tradition meets experimentation, and local artists take the center spotlight. The kickoff event offered everything from live music and book signings to hands-on crafts for kids, drawing young and old alike into its magnetic rhythm.

‘Faceless’ band bridges generations with genre-bending sound

A Zuni father and son made waves in the Gallup music scene with a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is crowd-pleasing.

The band Faceless, fronted by vocalist Lavaughn Eriacho and his father, guitarist/drummer Donnie Eriacho, delivered an electrifying set Saturday night. Based in Zuni Pueblo, the Eriachos say their music is rooted in heavy metal but has evolved to bridge genres — and generations.

“What surprises me the most is the little kids,” Lavaughn said. “We’ll play ’70s or ’80s songs and they know them. Then we switch to Three Days Grace or Morgan Wallen, and they know those too. It’s awesome seeing kids, parents, and even grandparents vibing with us.”

The group, which once played strictly metal in bar venues across the region, now blends elements of classic rock, country and modern alternative into its setlist. The transformation, they said, began after they lost their bass player, opening creative space to experiment with other genres.

“We’re still Faceless, even if we’re not doing as many metal shows,” Lavaughn said. “We’ve just expanded our sound. Anybody can play fast and loud – try playing something clean and slow. That takes skill.”

Faceless has become a staple of Gallup’s monthly Arts Crawl events. In its first year, the duo drew such large crowds they were asked to move to the event’s main stage.

“They told us we were creating a walking hazard,” Donnie said. “That’s when we knew something was clicking.”

This year marks the third consecutive year the band has been hired to perform throughout the Arts Crawl season. Saturday night’s show was their first outdoor performance of the year.

“It always feels good to play loud again,” Donnie said. “The wind was a little much at first, but I think we scared it off.”

While the Eriachos are no strangers to the local music scene, they’ve recently branched out to Albuquerque, playing venues like Nexus Brewery and El Vado. Donnie said the experience has inspired them to keep pushing creatively.

“We’re just fans of music who got lucky enough to play what we love,” Lavaughn said. “If someone hears us and decides to start a band with their friends, that’s the best outcome we could ask for.”

Despite challenges setting up, including confusion over vendor space and limited parking, the duo said they were grateful for the opportunity to keep performing for their community.

“We feed off the energy of the crowd,” Donnie said. “It’s not just about playing music. We want people to leave saying they had an experience.”

Coal Avenue pluses with community, culture

Coal Avenue and Second Street served as the heart of the festivities, echoing with foot traffic, children’s laughter, and the thump of drumbeats as attendees enjoyed the bands under the soft glow of evening lights.

Cooks from local restaurants and pop-up food vendors served Navajo tacos, carne adovada, and fresh lemonade to hungry visitors weaving between booths.

“Rosco’s is a food truck that serves Mexican American food. We specialize in tacos and fries, but we also make really good burritos and quesadillas,” said Dillion Garcia of Rosco’s LLC. “Tonight’s event, this was probably our best Arts Crawl yet.

“As for future events, we’ll probably be at all the Arts Crawl (events). If not, you can usually find us at the college on Thursdays, and at Lava on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays,” Garcia said. “I just want to add that we use quality ingredients, we put effort into the presentation, and we try to get orders out in a timely manner. So come see us — we’ll make sure you’re taken care of.”

The event is free to the public, and it’s more than a gallery walk. It’s a communal heartbeat. It’s where culture isn’t just preserved but performed and passed on, one brushstroke and song at a time.

Information: https://www.visitgallup.com/things-to-do/arts-culture/artscrawl/.

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