Last Friday night, Daniel Donato brought his Cosmic Country band and his Allman Brothers tribute project, Trouble No More, to Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom. The sold-out crowd was treated to a night of high-energy guitar wizardry, soulful vocals, and jam-packed renditions of classic songs.
Saturday night, for only the second time in Coors Field’s history, a major concert rolled in, filling some forty thousand seats in the open air of downtown Denver. The massive stage sat in the center of the outfield, and fans blanketed the field, minus the precious infield. Even to a casual fan, the scale and setting alone was exciting. It had all the grandeur of a show at the Pepsi Center with the charm and comfort of a warm summer night in the open air. Zac Brown Band proceeded to rip through a long evening deep with covers and original hits.
On Thursday, June 15th, the main street of Colorado’s most captivating town, was abuzz with an energy and excitement as the crowds (some there for days) made their way to Town Park for the start of the 45th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival. There is no better setting for a music festival; there is no better music for such a setting.
Last Thursday’s late-summer evening with Gov’t Mule, moe. and Blackberry Smoke was a highly anticipated date on the Red Rocks calendar. As fans arrived, the more overtly branded Mule fans heavily populated the crowd. Not to be discounted: moe.’s summer tour has been choked full of great performances and wild energy so there was plenty of anticipation in the venue for the New York rockers that split the bill.
Union Driftwood, the ever-fascinating Colorado native band, is just picking up their pace. The band debuted in 2011, and even though members have shifted, the current line-up seems to be taking them in the right direction. As a band, they play because they need to. For them it’s more than a hobby, or a passion, it’s true love. Union Driftwood will perform from 4:30 until 5:15 at Park House this Saturday, August 1st.
Fox Street boasts a big, soulful Rock n’ Roll sound laced with three-part harmonies, screaming guitars, soulful sax, and a devastatingly funky rhythm section. Eric Low met up with brother and sister duo Rowan (age 10) and Felix (age 7 ¾) Hillhouse to discuss how the band got it’s name, their new album dropping August 1st, and which musicians have influenced him the most.
Cervantes’ threw their 12 year anniversary celebration this past weekend and it was Everyone Orchestra kicking off another year of musical delightment at everyone’s favorite Welton St ballroom. Everyone Orchestra was the band for both Friday and Saturday night, with local bands The Congress opening Friday and Deadphish Orchestra Saturday. On Saturday the scene was filled with excitement, patrons ready to celebrate. The line to get in was long and tight, regulars and newcomers waiting to push through to the party.
The one summarizing thought about this year’s YarmonyGrass: not enough! Just two days of hardly strictly bluegrass on the Colorado River was not enough. The weekend boasted blue skies, warm temperatures and so many friendly faces gathered at Rancho Del Rio for the best of what Colorado has to offer of Bluegrass and string music. Mountain air, clear skies and incredible once in a lifetime collaborations made YarmonyGrass 2014 one of the most beautiful and unforgettable summer festivals to date.
Groove Music and Arts Festival weighed heavy with Funk, with a liberal helping of Bluegrass and Jam on the side. It also included camping, at a very modest price, and several workshops. Families were strongly encouraged to come; children were free and there was a special camping area for families near the main stage area. While the placement of the bands on the schedule wasn’t perfect, the musical selection was fantastic, the venue was gorgeous and the people who came were equally beautiful. All in all, it was an amazing weekend.
For an artist who has spent the better part of 25 years enjoying success on the road and in the recording studio as a founding member of The Black Crowes, one could assume that leaving the nest might be a scary proposition for Rich Robinson. If the music on “The Ceaseless Sight” is any indication, Robinson is shaping an entirely new musical identity. We sat down with Robinson to get the story behind the album more.