Voted “Top 3” best band, Half Broke Horses are a popular Santa Fe-based band formed in 2014. Celebrating 10 years as Santa Fe’s favorite Honky-Tonk band, their crisp vocals and tight musicianship never fails to get listeners of all ages to the dance floor.

If you enjoy the sounds of Emmylou Harris & Lucinda Williams, you will love Half Broke Horses. Rooted in Country & Americana, Half Broke Horses’ songbook covers Country classics and contemporary Americana, plus crossover tunes that are timely and nostalgic at the same time – they really swing!

Accomplishments:

• 2023, 2022, 2021 Nominated for Best Band, Santa Fe Reporter
• 2021, Opening act for Sim Balkey at Santa Fe Plaza Concert Series
• 2019 Awarded Best Band, Top 3, Santa Fe Reporter
• Top 3 Best Band, 2020 & 2019, Albuquerque Journal North Reader’s Choice awards
• 2018 Opening act for the Las Cruces Country Music Festival
• 2017 – current KBAC/98.1 FM added cover of “Can’t Let Go” for radio airplay
• 2016 Opening act for Elen Jewell at Santa Fe Bandstand

Influences:
Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Hank Williams, Sr., Patsy Cline, Kasey Chambers, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Gillian Welch, Steve Earle, and Mary Chapin Carpenter

The Band:

Tasha Curtis
Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Tasha grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where she was heavily influenced by her father’s vast record collection, paving her path to musical expression. Tasha brings deep and earthy tones to songs, making them come to life in a deeply personal way. Her influences include Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Patsy Cline. Tasha has made Santa Fe her home for more than 20 years – and her cat, Macy Gray, is a favorite muse.

David Thom
Lead Guitar
David Thom’s talents are best judged by the admiration of his peers, with numerous invitations to perform from leading artists both onstage and in the studio.  His command of guitar and mandolin is perfectly complemented by wide-ranging vocal abilities.  Though firmly rooted in bluegrass, David’s musical repertoire knows few bounds, from traditional to contemporary, from tributes to originals, from Flatt & Scruggs to The Grateful Dead, to the delight of audiences everywhere.

Suzanne Birrell
Bassist & Harmony Vocals
Suzanne was born with music in her soul. She started out as an oboe player, took up the guitar, and played drums while also performing on alto sax, flute, and trumpet along the way. When she got hold of a bass she found her true love.  Suzanne has performed from coast to coast, Mexico, and Thailand with a variety of bands and styles from bluegrass to country, Cajun, rock and jazz in clubs, festivals, and once on the Austin City Limits. A thrill was winning the Battle of the Bands in LA. Recently she played with Out of Nowhere in Taos.

Arne Bey
Drums
Arne began playing at age seven when his big brother brought home a red sparkly set of Slingerland Drums. Self-taught, by age 13 Arne became the youngest member in the history of the local Musician’s Union. Arne’s earliest influences were traditional, bebop and cool jazz followed by the sounds of everything from the Everly Brothers, Otis Redding to The Rolling Stones and The Beatles of his teen years. In addition to touring and numerous recording dates, Arne has performed on a PBS Special and also at the nationally acclaimed Merlefest in North Carolina.