Los Alamos Summer Concert headliner The Blue Ventures draws a massive crowd tonight to Ashley Pond Park. The Blue Ventures de Louis Sanchez, an Española group, breaks record crowds wherever they perform and it appears their performance tonight in Los Alamos is no exception. This group is the literal definition of ‘familia’. Louis Sanchez (manager) is the father of eight children, all of whom play or have played with the group the last 10 years. ‘The music is what has kept our family so tightly knit together,’ Sanchez said. ‘We have lived and breathed our music through two generations.’ The group consists of Louise (keyboard), Harold (bass), Marie (drums), Derrick (guitar), Lawrence  (accordion) and also a four piece brass (Robert, Joseph, David and Frank). All are siblings except Louis’ brother, Johnny and nephew, Frank Martinez. Marie Salazar took over her sister, Matilda’s position as drummer a few years back. Louis the manager and father of seven of the band members also sings with the group. Louis always had a band as a young adult and as his children started getting interested in the music they began replacing band members. Courtesy photo