Caravan East   

7605 Central Ave NE
Albuquerque, NM 87108
505-265-7877
www.caravaneast.com

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Never mind this new pop-country stuff, Caravan East is for the dyed-in-the-wool country music lover. Built in the '60s, seating 800 and needing half a city block for parking, the Caravan was Albuquerques first mega-club. In its heyday, this was the only country nightclub in town and was a main player in Albuquerques nightlife scene. Today, the huge Vegas-style marquee still lights up Route 66, advertising live entertainment and daily drink specials. While DJs all over town spin the Dixie Chicks, you can hear the twang of the steel guitar or a finely tuned fiddle live at the Caravan, still a favorite stop for live country music. The low stage keeps the bands closely connected to the dancers on the spacious hardwood dance floor, which sits front and center and is surrounded by a sea of tables, three large bars, several pool tables and three big screens looping rough rodeo rides. Theres also a small grill that goes beyond the basic bar food and offers burritos and enchiladas. With so much competition, crowds here are lighter now, but are among the best dressed in town. This is one club where the citys prevalent casualness has not beaten out a sharp country look. Country nightclubs come and go, but the Caravan East was here before Garth was, and it's still here today. -- Susanna Suddarth