The Big Barn Dance started out as informal Saturday night neighborhood two-steppin' parties near Taos, New Mexico. Every couple of weeks all summer long during the 1990s, an authentic mountain country barn dance took off under the stars at Casa de Caballos Ranch in Des Montes, up the road from Taos. Michael's band, South X Southwest, showed up with various friends and musical colleagues to pick, play and dance 'til the wee hours. Folks just kept coming, and the Barn Dances became a beloved tradition that music lovers and two-steppers looked forward to year after year.

The Big Barndance Music Festival is a listening room experience in a festival setting that concludes with the Big Barndance, so bring your listening ears as well as your happy feet.