Cousin Curtiss’ fiery ode to life on the road
Curtiss O’Rorke Stedman, aka Cousin Curtiss, has moved from Placerville to Montrose, where he’s recorded his latest album. It delivers his signature “roots-stomp” sound — think “the blues at bluegrass speeds.” Curtiss shared his favorite track with us, a fiery ode to life on the road, titled “Furnace.”
‘Uncomfortable Plateau’ finds a home at the Cavalcade
In Fruita, there’s a renovated storefront called the Cavalcade, a nonprofit arts venue featuring open night mic on Thursdays. Greg Luck runs the popular event, and performs in it too, as “The Uncomfortable Plateau.” He shares how he came up with that name, and his song, “Looking Back.”
Infamous Stringdusters pay tribute to classic bluegrass
Chris Pandolfi, of Denver, plays banjo for The Infamous Stringdusters. They perform at Red Rocks September 6, supporting country star Dierks Bentley.
The music and magic of ‘Red Rocks: The Concert Years’
Red Rocks was recently named the most attended music venue in the world. G. Brown, executive director of the Colorado Music Experience, wrote a history of the amphitheater, and he’s just updated it with more stories and photographs to delight fans. The book’s called, “Red Rocks: The Concert Years.”
Remembering Colorado music pioneer Max Morath
We remember a Colorado music pioneer who transported audiences to another time and place. Max Morath was a pianist, composer, TV personality and author with a deep love of American popular music, especially ragtime.
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is back for a 50th pluckin’ time
The 50th Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival starts Thursday. Every June, thousands of “festivarians,” as they’re known, descend on the small mountain town for 4 days of music.
A Denver bluegrass musician branches out
Travis McNamara is best known as the banjo player in the band Trout Steak Revival. But the pandemic pushed him into an experimental space — anything but bluegrass. The result of virtual connections he made with other Colorado artists is “Moon Calendar,” an album that’s both highly listenable and full of surprises.
A musical homecoming for singer-songwriter Jill Sobule
ule recently had something of a musical homecoming. The Denver-born, LA-based singer-songwriter made her first big splash with audiences in 1995 with the queer-themed single “I Kissed a Girl.” The last weekend of February, Sobule returned to Denver for a pair of sold-out shows that made her feel right at home, literally! She performed in the house she grew up in. And It all started with a visit to the old Hilltop neighborhood.
Crêpe Girl is an indie project with French roots
Crêpe Girl is the indie music project of 21-year-old Eliza Grégoire, of Grand Junction. She’s a first-generation American, born to French parents.
Dianne Reeves gets a shoutout (singout?) at the Emmys
Jazz artist and Denver native Dianne Reeves didn’t attend last week’s Emmys, but her work was very much present when actress Sheryl Lee Ralph gave new life to her song, “Endangered Species” in Ralph’s acceptance speech.
Denver Gay Men’s Chorus wraps 40th season with ‘Unbreakable’
The Denver Gay Men’s Chorus kicks off Pride Month and wraps up its 40th season with a production that spans a century of the LGBTQ experience. The show, “Unbreakable,” brings both tears and laughter.
Telluride singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson remembers a ‘Hometown Hero’
Telluride singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson mixes folk and country — as she reflects on faith and loss. Her album American Siren — released last fall — features a song about her cousin who became an Army Ranger out of high school.
Pueblo-raised pianist and composer honors the Black experience in America
At age 82, Mary D. Watkins still makes music. She has collaborated on a new opera about Emmett Till, the 14 year old who was kidnapped, tortured, and lynched in Mississippi in 1955.
Busy times ahead for The Burroughs
Briana Harris manages and plays saxophone for the Greeley band The Burroughs. She says 2022 includes studio work and a busy concert schedule.
Cousin Curtiss goes root-stomping live in Ridgway
The return of live music is a long time coming for artists like Cousin Curtiss of Montrose. The singer-songwriter just released a new album that was recorded live at the Sherbino Courtyard in Ridgway, Colorado. As always, Curtiss delivers a high energy performance in his signature “root-stomp” style.
Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn returns to Colorado
Singer-songwriter Marc Cohn found huge success in 1991 with “Walking In Memphis.” It helped win him a Grammy, and established his career as a gifted storyteller, soul man and steward of American roots music.