The El Paso Streetcar has been running since November of 2018—but this time it is running a little differently. The team of El Paso District 1 Representative, Peter Svarzbein and the El Paso International Music Foundation have worked to bring live music from local talent on the El Paso Streetcar. They will be launching its first collaborated project with the streetcar, Trolley Tracks—a streetcar music series.
The streetcars have been a part of the city since 1902. In 2015 they were restored from the desert where they had been rusting and since 1974 when the tracks were ripped off. They were a longtime source of transportation between Ciudad Juárez, Mexico and El Paso. In 2010, Svarzbein began the process to bring the original trolleys back to unite the city and since the launch of the streetcars, his team has been working vigorously to improve the use of the streetcar by creative approaches.
The president of the El Paso International Music Foundation, Grisel Rodríguez reached out to Svarzbein early January 2019 to discuss collaborating with local musicians. “Part of the reason we wanted to use the streetcar is that we have really amazing talented musicians in El Paso, we feel like the rest of the city needs to know and support its musicians, and this time all of our population can be exposed to it,” said Rodriguez. “It’s really exciting to have another avenue where local musicians can perform. The streetcar is different from other venues, it’s a more intimate show.”
Trolley Tracks will kickoff on Thursday, May 30, 2019, in conjunction with the Last Thursday’s art walk. Local artist, singer/songwriter Chrissy Gurrola—who is currently on the talent show Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento—will be accompanied by drummer/percussionist Eric Boseman. The duo will be playing for one loop of the streetcar, which will be between 30 to 45 minutes.
Each series consists of a different genre and a different musician, who are all local artists. The first series will begin in downtown at 7 p.m. and will wrap up at the downtown Double Tree Hotel for an after party. Trolley Tracks will be on every Last Thursday’s art walk to give the community a chance to see a diverse group of local artists on the border with an after party at a different business along the streetcar line.
The Trolley Tracks will also be working with local, Grammy award-winning music producer and engineer Justin Leeah to record the live performances. Trolley Tracks will be looking into filming the series. These tools will help disseminate the local talent that El Paso has to offer to the community.
Trolley Tracks will be funded by the office of representative Svarzbein, “The streetcar is a great opportunity to get around, and it not only connects our history and cultures but connects us to so much of ourselves. What a better way of showing great diversity and our bands here, Trolley Tracks will get people to appreciate the special scene of our art and culture.”
