The Official publication of the Colorado Society July 2016

RockyGrassRockyGrass BandBand CompetitionCompetition 20162016 Colorado Bluegrass Scene Gears Up for the Biggest Contest of the Year What’s Inside: • LaPorte Swing Station...... 4

• Pickin' Sprouts...... 5

Address Service Requested Service Address • Changes with Pete Wernick...... 6 Wheat Ridge, CO 80034-0406 CO Ridge, Wheat Bluegrass News

P.O. Box 406 Box P.O. Performance Calendar, Music Society Music Colorado Bluegrass Colorado CBMS Bands on Call & More! EXECUTIVE MESSAGE Mentoring ere we are! Full-tilt boogie into festival season! It is sideways and you have to figure out how to make it work anyway. I love a time that I often reflect on the many new jammers the quote, “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” Neale Donald we welcome into the fold, and a time to reflect on Walsch must have been a bluegrass picker at heart, because most great the many folks who have served as mentors and breaks begin at the end of your comfort zone too, for better or worse. teachers in our musical lives. We all had them, So this month, explore your inner mentor! Even if you are just starting didn’t we? out, you have something to offer the circle! Be gentle with yourself so “Bluegrass” is the community of folks we find ourselves in. The quality that you can be gentle with others. Everyone is just kind of afraid that ofH that community is defined by our ability to be a mentor to some and they are not good enough and living in their head at points, and the best a student of others. The learning and passing down of the music is jams occurs when we can all feel safe and supported. something that most of us are involved in. Play nice and be safe! So, what are the qualities of a bluegrass mentor? Well, we know that it involves knowing a lot about the genre, the people who formed it historically, and the people who continue to grow and continue to change the music. But it also involves putting people at ease. “No, you Annie Savage are not going to bring about the end times if you cannot nail your break President in the key of B like you practiced at home.” It involves being able to Colorado Bluegrass Music Society communicate why we are more beholden to the art of backing up our fellow jammers than nailing that break, by the way. I read somewhere recently that “bluegrass is 90% recovery.” Meaning, the magic is what happens when that break you were trying to nail goes

Pow'r Pickin' Production Staff Editor in Chief: Garian Vigil - [email protected] The Official publication of the Advertising Sales: Annie Savage - [email protected] COLORADO BLUEGRASS MUSIC SOCIETY Graphic Design : Bone Doggie - [email protected] A non-profit association of Bluegrass enthusiasts. Proofers: Annie Savage, John Schmidt, Garian Vigil JULY 2016 CD Reviewer: Garian Vigil - cds@ coloradobluegrass.org ****** P.O. Box 406, Wheat Ridge, CO 80034-0406 Representatives Web site: www.coloradobluegrass.org B.J. Suter Greg Worth www.facebook.com/theCBMS 303-485-5222 303-918-0335 [email protected] [email protected] Editorial E-mail: [email protected] Advertising E-mail: [email protected] Kevin Slick John Clancy CD Reviews E-Mail: cds@ coloradobluegrass.org 303-718-3143 303-323-1937 [email protected] [email protected] COLORADO BLUEGRASS MUSIC SOCIETY BOARD of DIRECTORS:

President Vice-President Key Volunteers Annie Savage Marte Meyer Joy Maples John Schmidt 319-601-6379 303-726-8549 Web Wrangler Membership Coordinator [email protected] [email protected] 719-465-3025 970-663-7581 [email protected] [email protected] Treasurer Educational Outreach Secretary Randy Jones Co-chair Janeen Bogue All information contained in Pow’r Pickin’ is the opinion of the authors. 303-431-1899 Joel Denman 303-517-4860 Such information does not necessarily represent the opinion or policy of the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, its officers or members, unless [email protected] (303)549-1864 [email protected] otherwise noted.

2 ON THE COVER RockyGrass Band Competition 2016 Colorado Bluegrass Scene Gears Up for the Biggest Contest of the Year By Garian Vigil ndoubtedly, the RockyGrass band competition is the most anticipated bluegrass contest around. The tight-knit festivarian and Academy communities, the red hot Colorado music scene and the cozy Wildflower Pavilion all serve to create hype that can sometimes overshadow the main stage feature acts. “I watch the whole competition every year,” says Dianne Stober, a Uyearly RockyGrass attendee. “It’s one of my favorite parts of festival. Where else can you see so many up and coming bands playing and singing their hearts out in one place?” Stober is the host of a house concert series in Fort Collins and always watches the band contest with interest. “It’s a great place for me to preview potential artists to host,” she says. “It’s been one stream of artists for us, we’ve had finalists or winners of the band competition [such as] Trout Steak Revival, Front Country, The Railsplitters and Rapidgrass Quintet.” “This year’s list of bands is a nice mix of hot young Colorado bands and some rising national stars from around the country,” says Brian Eyster, Director of Communications for Planet Bluegrass. Savage Hearts / Photo Joshua Elioseff There are eight Colorado bands registered for the contest: Boozegrass, Burn It Blue, Canyon Collected, Masontown, Psychodillo, “It’s a representation of how much of a big deal is Ragged Union, Savage Hearts and Timber! (exclamation point theirs). these days. The RockyGrass band competition is not about up-and- The bands from out of state include CBMS member band Johnny coming bands; a lot of the bands are completely professional and have Campbell and the Bluegrass Drifters from Nashville, plus Hank, Pattie & achieved a lot already. That shows how serious the bands take it and the the Current from North Carolina, Honeysuckle Possums of California and community as a whole,” he says. Mustache Brothers from South Carolina. Eric Wiggs, of Masontown, agrees that winning the contest can give a Anticipation for the band competition started building earlier than usual professional band a huge boost in the industry. “As we’ve seen through because Denver Jamgrass, a local Facebook music fan page, produced some of our friends, like Railsplitters, Caribou Mountain and Rapidgrass, two showcases with regional bands participating in the contest. how winning the RockyGrass band competition can catapult your band “This is the first time we’ve been approached by a local venue about into a different level of visibility and credibility when trying to approach showcasing the contest bands,” says Eyster. “It’s a testament to the venues, booking agents or PR firms,” he says. reputation of the contest and the quality of the contest bands that another Canyon Collected’s Leon Elam agrees that if they were to win, they’d venue would promote a showcase of these bands. We’re thrilled to see it. be “elated” but the distinction of the win would give them extra cachet These young bands deserve lots of exposure!” with venue buyers. “We would use that to our advantage as we continue Kirk Hubbard, who helps run the Denver Jamgrass page, says the booking tours across the country,” he says. idea to produce the showcase started on Facebook because a number Jon Pickett who competed with his band Chain Station in the Telluride of bands posted when they got confirmation they were accepted into the contest says that even though all the Colorado bands know each other, contest. the rivalries stay friendly. “Ragged Union are friends of ours and it was “Within a short time, I learned that seven bands were from the Front great to watch them play and sing solidly into second place. [Fellow Range, so I suggested that we do some sort of showcase highlighting the finalists] Mile High Express became friends that weekend and we now bands—not thinking it would come to fruition, but everyone seemed to have a show coming up together July 22.” like it so we just went with it,” Hubbard says. Wiggs concurs, “You always want the best for your friends, and you Hubbard believes that the band competition has become such a big hope they bring their A-game as well. With so much great music in the deal partly because of the high caliber of the participating performers. Continued on page 11

3 ON THE NORTHERN BEAT

Swing intoLaPorte

By Jan Peterson vogadro’s Number is mentioned often in Pow’r Heather Allshouse, is the owner who bought the place from the Pickin’ and deservedly so, but it’s not the only previous owners, who bought it from Brad Folk and the Burnetts, bluegrass venue in town. There are the college-age- who originally gave it the name Swing Station after buying and totally oriented venues in Old Town such as The Aggie renovating what had been the old Drinkin‘ Dog. and Hodi’s Half Note, which are large, stand-up only She is working hard, with her employees, to make everyone who venues (no seating to speak of away from the bar) walks in feel welcome. That wholesome, friendly atmosphere is evident with large crowds of young people attracted to wildly-diverse bands from the get-go, with folks (not just employees) eager to engage you from all kinds of genres, including bluegrass from time to time, A in conversation—that, at least, was my experience. And being located including local bands. And there are some new micro-venues are close to the Poudre River trail, she also is encouraging folks to get out of hoping to bring in bluegrass and I will write more on that in a future their cars and ride their bikes (although there is parking available). edition. Besides that, she wants to transform the place from a bar into “a But there is another jewel of a venue just minutes away from Old Town: music venue that serves drinks—a music venue first, and a bar second!” Swing Station situated at the corner of LaPorte and Overland Trail in Towards that end, she books music acts nearly every night of the week LaPorte, which could be considered “a suburb” of Fort Collins. (she employees six, count ‘em, six, sound guys). And she credits her I walk into Swing Station on a recent evening, and almost literally ran assistant manager with booking “incredible” national acts out of Austin, into Derrick Blake manning the soundboard. A singer/song-writer in his as well as local and regional acts. own right, Derrick is also an awesome sound guy, whom I have known They do, of course, serve alcohol, with mostly Colorado beers on for a number of years. The sound booth is squeezed into a corner right tap. “We like to support local breweries,” says Heather, “but we try to at the entrance because Swing Station is a very modestly-sized bar and change our selections weekly to keep things fresh.” And in answer to my music venue. And that very smallness gives you the unique opportunity question (because I have been diagnosed with gluten intolerance), yes, to get really up-close and personal with the musicians playing there. they do have non-gluten alcoholic beverages available.

4 PICKIN' SPROUTS

They book country, alternative, indie and bluegrass acts; “all music is welcome” but they still are primarily presenting bluegrass. “Blue Grama are our favorites!” This popular local bluegrass group had their recent CD release party at Swing Station, and they play the venue often. Be “Break a Leg” sure to check out up-coming acts at the Web site; they often include video clips of artists that you may not be familiar with, so you will know what you’re getting into. Heather tells me she “grew up on bluegrass” in Wyoming—her grandfather played harmonica and accordion—so she likes it and she’s With a Broken Arm happy to support it in her bar. She came to greater Fort Collins directly from Wyoming and became a bartender for the first-time in her life at By Jackson Earles Swing Station. After 1-1/2 years, the then-owner asked her if she was ow that it is July, I can finally get on with my interested in owning the place, and she made the decision to buy it! I summer. I broke my wrist in May and wasn’t to love it when things work out! play for the first part of the summer. Boy have my fingers been itching to play some fast bluegrass! I’ve passed the time listening to a lot of music—while justN fun it also builds your ear and gives you ideas—going to some fun shows. To try to keep my skills up, I have been working with local fiddler, Justin Hoffenberg, from Ragged Union and Long Road Home, on music theory. So if you ever find yourself injured and not able to play, or are sadly separated from your instrument, I thought I’d fill you in on my lessons with Justin. The first thing Justin suggested was piano. He said the piano is relatively easy to play with only one hand. The piano is also a good tool to use when you are trying to hear ideas and chords that might work together and test them. An activity that I have been doing is listening to a song, and trying to Playing on the Inside Stage / web photo figure out the chords by ear. After I think I have them figured out, I test the song on the piano to see if I was right. Over the years, and under the various owners, the place has been remodeled and up-graded repeatedly. Heather’s most recent Another activity that I have been doing is while listening to a song, contributions have been to up-date the performance stage, stage lighting, I isolate an instrument and figure out what it specifically is doing, and and sound system. Bluegrass band agents, take note: she makes it how its part works with the other instruments in the song. a point to take really good care of the bands! And they have an open Something else that that Justin suggested was fingering notes mike night every Wednesday and bluegrass acts are encouraged to and chords to a song on a surface at hand (a desk, an armrest, my participate! cast) pretending to play that song. Whether or not you can play your Then, there is the outside patio area with raised-deck patio seating instrument, learning music theory can grant you a better understanding overlooking the shuffleboard area and the outdoor stage. Summer of music. shows outdoors under the stars, what could be better? Tucked farther With Justin, I have learned about building chord progressions, why away, in the back corner of the patio, are horseshoe pitches and corn the five-seven chord goes back to the one, and when to call C# a Db hole games (bean bag toss). There is something for everyone. and why. “Once we understand the background of something, and They cater to corporate events and other private events, too. In fact, understand why it works, we can take it one step further,” Justin says. O’Dell’s had their company party there the same day I visit. In keeping An online resource I have been using to take what I am learning with her mission to make the place known as welcoming, they encourage about theory from Justin and use it in music is Musescore, which is wedding parties, graduation parties and any other kind of party you can free, downloadable composition software. Musescore is super easy to dream up. use and helps me hear chords that I can’t play on piano or hear in my Finally, here’s something I want to sneak in: in my discussion with head. You can download Musescore at Musescore.org. Heather, I think she might be open to having a Sunday afternoon/evening The most frustrating part about not being able to play has been bluegrass jam happen in the future, if someone could be found to lead it. missing out on all of the jams and gigs and a couple of cool camps. Anyone out there willing to jump in? My cast came off on June 17th, well in time for RockyGrass and the To learn more about the Swing Station and Heather’s upcoming music rest of summer. Next time I see you I’ll be ready to jam and talk a little schedule, go to SwingStationLaporte.com. about augmented chords.

5 TEACHER FEATURE

By Annie Savage olorado has one of the most sophisticated and Ch Ch Ch Ch Changes versatile jam cultures in the country. This is partially due to the expansive nature of the music community with in general in Colorado, but also has its roots in the folks who run jams as well as the highly educated jammers themselves. This month, we talk with Pete Wernick, who is without a doubt a central figureC in the education of jammers across the country (and beyond) through his founding of the Wernick Method, the premier method for Pete Wernick learning how to “play well with others” on a bluegrass instrument. We talk with Pete about jamming and the sometimes-sticky issues of moving from being a jammer to starting a band and living a life of music. First, we asked what inherent value does being able to jam bring to someone’s overall quality of life. This question drew the quick response, “You can play very satisfying bluegrass within the first month or even the first week of learning!” This is true. In fact, the Wernick Method camps and classes will accept any student who is able to chord G, C, D and A, or play the proper notes on bass or . Why? Because this is literally all you need to know to begin to function in a basic bluegrass jam. Many people could learn to move between three chords in an afternoon. And, he continues with the idea that these three chords could actually change your life. How? Through opening a door to an entire social circle, locally and beyond. “Quality of life is what we are all trying to achieve. Being able to jam bluegrass style gives you an important place in the bluegrass community. You are one of the music makers, and in bluegrass this is someone who is rewarded with respect and able to play a significant role in the community,” Pete says. For example, Pete recommends taking a trip with some of your new jamming friends to a festival you have never attended. He points to a phenomenon that I have experienced first hand as a young jammer. These experiences make life long friends and can become an annual pilgrimage to your favorite festival or create musical partnerships that link families, communities and people together for a lifetime of musical enjoyment. Pete goes on to point out how rare this is in our competition- encouraging society. Sports and many other opportunities for leisure operate on a win/lose situation. Unlike sports, a person who isn’t one of the very best players in bluegrass will still be able to play the game and not sit on the bench. Pete makes a great point when he says, “nobody has to lose in a bluegrass situation.” A lot of people show up at a jam camp or class pretty worried that they’ll be “the worst person there.” We know that because on the first day we often ask, “who’s the worst person here?” and most of them put up their hands. Especially anyone who’s a perfectionist and hates the idea of making a mistake in front of anyone, that’s a problem some people have when learning to jam. Bluegrass jamming is really more about playing back up, supporting the others and singing, than the 15-second break that some players will obsess over. “Being willing to stick your neck out and lead a song, or try a break on a song you don’t know—that takes some nerve, but once somebody starts doing it, you’re more likely to try it,” Pete says. “The first people to break the ice deserve special praise, so we actually give out these nice ‘Jam Hero’ stickers to people who do that. They’re pretty nice stickers too!” Photo Trish McWilliams A lot of adults are intimidated by learning a new skill; comparisons

6 PICKIN' IN THE GRAND VALLEY AND POINTS BEYOND to kids can be an obstacle. It’s natural, but it’s a barrier. So when Pete teaches the first session in a Wernick Method class, he asks, “Does By Veta Gumber, aka Vetabluegrass everyone have a comfort zone?” To which the class answers “Yes.” And he then follows with, “We need you to understand that this is going to DELTA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES be a little uncomfortable. We are going to expand your comfort zone.” If you are looking for some summer fun indoors and not too many It is a process that requires a certain amount of vulnerability. But being people then look no more. Three shows are set for this new music vulnerable together, everyone ends up relaxing, and then you get to series to be held at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center in Delta. enjoy the feeling, “I did it!” Sometimes adults encounter challenges when they move toward June 25, bone tree and The Hallelujah Boys playing in bands after participating in the jam circles. This is a great July 23: Dr. Mary’s Countryside and Karen Mercer & the Boys topic for someone who has actually written a book on the subject. If you August 13: Big Daddy & The Runaways and Gotta Be. haven’t already, now would be a really good time to check out Pete’s book, How to Make A Band Work, available on his Web site. Good, local music in a relaxed atmosphere. For more information There are some common pitfalls of the person looking to transition visit DeltaSummerConcertSeries.wordpress.com, or write to from jammer to band member. Pete points out an obvious but often [email protected] overlooked and under appreciated difference between jamming in a circle and being on stage. SAVE THE DATE “First, now we have to all face the same direction. This is the first time August 25, Mara Levine and Gathering Time, KAFM Radio Room, that happens in a musician’s development. So I always suggest that a KAFMradio.org. Call 970-241-8801 for tickets. Mara Levine and new band set up in the stage formation for rehearsal,” he says. Gathering Time will be making their first Colorado tour. Check out “There is also a different set of rewards, and egos start cropping up a MaraLevine.com or Gathering-Time.com. little bit more. Now we are getting applause and it changes what people think about, such as song selection, where they stand on stage, who is JAMS IN THE GRAND VALLEY singing” and a myriad other new variables. As jams sometimes happen without much notice I recommend you Pete then outlines the chronological tendencies within bands. I have check out GVBluegrass.com for the latest locations and to schedule admittedly seen this very real timeline occur in four bands I have been in. your event. Sometimes, Pete really shows how he must have earned the “Dr ” moniker. He’s just so darned accurate! Musicians, are you looking for a place to perform house concerts? “There is a typical honeymoon period of about a year,” he explains. Here are two venues offered by music professionals. The Radio Room “Year two is the beginning of ‘friction year’ for many bands. By year three, at KAFM in Grand Junction seats 75. Contact Ramona at KAFM at issues start to be dealt with or they take over the band dynamic. Most 970-241-8801 or [email protected]. bands live about three years.” For another venue contact Alycia Vince about The Red Couch Series. It is held at the Redlands Community Center. Use Alyciavince@gmail. So true. Furthermore, “people have very different views on their com or AlyciaVince.com or 810-623-3547. Stray Grass was the series schedule and on their availability.” Again, any musician could tell you how opener. very real this is. And of course, as in life, such are the emotional requirements of being in a band. “You have to be alert, compassionate, considerate. All of that is the stuff that makes life interesting,” he says. There are great benefits in having chosen bluegrass as a profession, however. In his own words, Pete summarizes, “I connect all my activities to what would be good for bluegrass music, not just me... but they go NEW MUSIC AT KAFM together. If I start a good enterprise like a good band like Hot Rize, or start running camps or supervising the dissemination of my jam teaching methods, all of that is good for bluegrass and not just me. So I have the • Junior Sisk & Ramblers Choice, Poor Boys Pleasure, satisfaction of seeing this community flourish a bit more thanks to my Mountain Fever. efforts.” • Misty Mountain String Band, Red Horizon. “That’s great,” he continues, “because I believe in the community and • Del & Dawg, Live, Acoustic Disc. the good bluegrass does for the whole world. It’s a genuine, honest • The Spinney Brothers, Living the Dream. kind of music that puts people in touch with important things in life... • , Blue Skies. just the pleasure and excitement of hearing good sounds, and the thrill of harmony singing and the power of an acoustic string band to lift and Tune in to Bluegrass and Beyond on Tuesdays, 4:00-6:30 p.m. excite, as well as get into deep feelings about life and spirituality.” at KAFMradio.org or 88.1 FM in Grand Junction. New, old, between the lines and outside the box. Pete continues to fortify and inspire the bluegrass community with his Wernick Method camps and classes, his work with the band Hot Rize and his efforts to mentor and support the Colorado bluegrass scene. You If you have Western Slope news or events that you would like can find his book, How to Make a Band Work and information about his published or comments to make you can email me at vetabluegrass@ upcoming events at DrBanjo.com. gmail.com or find Vetabluegrass on Facebook.

7 Bands on Call For more information on CBMS member Bands, visit coloradobluegrass.org

Acoustic Mining Company Johnny Campbell & The Bluegrass The Gregg Daigle Band Last Spike Drivers The Railsplitters [email protected] Drifters [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.acousticminingcompany.com [email protected] www.daigleband.com 303-349-9433 www.therailsplitters.com 720-220-0909 www.thebluegrassdrifters.com 505-243-4910 www.facebook.com/lastspikedrivers/ 734-846-1229 Denver, CO 931-743-1906 Albuquerque, NM Strasburg, CO Boulder, CO Nashville, TN The Badly Bent Gypsy Social Club Lineage Music Project Ran Off The Rooster [email protected] Credibility Gap facebook.com/GypsyJazzSocialClub [email protected] 970-231-7643 www.thebadlybent.com credibilitygap.com [email protected] www.lineagemusic.com [email protected] 970-946-6345 [email protected] (970) 901-5963 970-222-2496 reverbnation.com/ranofftherooster Durango, CO (303) 567-9108 Crested Butte, CO Fort Collins, CO Estes Park, CO Idaho Springs, CO Bettman & Halpin Henscratch Ron Lynam & Cowtown The Ransom Notes stephaniebettman.com Coral Creek String Band [email protected] cowtownboogie.com reverbnation.com/theransomnotes [email protected] [email protected] facebook.com/henscratchmusic [email protected] [email protected] 323-791-7763 www.coralcreek.net 303-815-3634 (970) 224-5690 (303) 819-4491 Denver, CO 720-331-3064 Boulder, CO. Fort Collins, CO Nashville, TN Golden, CO Blue Moon Bluegrass Band High Plains Tradition Mason Street The Road West [email protected] Crystal Hill Billys [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] bluemoonbluegrass.com [email protected] www.highplainstradition.com 970-223-2400 Fort Collins, CO theroadwestmusic.com 303-842-7145 facebook.com/crystalhillbillys 303-913-6355 Boulder, CO Evergreen, CO 719-465-3025 Commerce City, CO Martin Gilmore Manitou Springs, CO [email protected] Rocky Mountain Jewgrass The Black Family String Band Highland Ramblers www.martingilmore.com rockymountainjewgrass.com [email protected] Mary Beth Cross 312-203-1656 307-399-3131 [email protected] (970) 640-3121 marybethcross.com [email protected] Englewood, CO (303) 748-4815 Cedaredge, CO [email protected] www.highlandramblers.com Denver, CO (303) 842-1587 Denver, CO Masontown Blue Canyon Boys Denver, CO 262-212-9105 Running Out Of Road Band [email protected] The Hippie Buckaroos [email protected] [email protected] bluecanyonboys.com Crow Hill Bluegrass 303-440-4764 masontownmusic.com www.roormusic.com 720-855-3709 [email protected] [email protected] Denver, CO 970-884-9757 Eastlake, CO 303-646-4275 hippiebuckaroos.com Bayfield, CO Parker, CO Lafayette, CO Mayhem Gulch Bob Berry 650-575-8080 Silverplume & The Whole Bagnell Dam Bunch Dr. Harlan’s Amazing Bluegrass Tonic Hit & Run Bluegrass [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.mayhemgulch.com www.silverplumeband.com 303-884-7301 www.bluegrasstonic.com www.hitandrunbluegrass.com Boulder, CO 304-419-1515 Thornton, CO 303-249-7986 615-418-8409 Longmont, CO Denver, CO Nashville, TN The McDaileys’ Bone Tree susankdailey.com Southern Exposure [email protected] Fox Run Hot Rize [email protected] reverbnation.com/southernexposure- www.bonetree.us [email protected] www.hotrize.com 970-482-4346 bluegrass 970-931-2231 www.reverbnation.com/foxrun3 [email protected] Fort Collins CO 80521 [email protected] Whitewater, CO 719-487-8272 (ask for Dan) 303-652-8346 (303) 763-9996 Lafayette, CO Colorado Springs, CO Niwot, CO Pete Wernick & Flexigrass Boxcar 79 drbanjo.com The StanleyTones [email protected] Free The Honey Jeff Scroggins & Colorado [email protected] www.stanleytonesbluegrass.com www.reverbnation.com/boxcar79 [email protected] [email protected] (303) 652-8346 [email protected] 303-993-6613 www.freethehoney.com www.JeffScrogginsandColorado.com Niwot, CO 303-776-2508 Boulder, CO 720-454-5456 303.489.9083 Longmont, CO Gunnison, CO. Conifer, CO Quickdraw Homegrown Music Burn It Blue quickdrawhomegrownmusic.com Steel Pennies 303-667-4290 Giddyup Kitty Kantankerous [email protected] steelpenniesbluegrass.com [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] (303) 431-1899 [email protected] www.burnitbluegrass.com 720-684-8175 www.reverbnation.com/kantankerous Wheat Ridge, CO (303) 666-1111 Louisville, CO Golden, CO www.giddyupkitty.com 303-363-8985 Longmont, CO Denver, CO Ragged Union Sugar Creek Cat E. Wampus [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Grass It Up Laramie River Band reverbnation.com/raggedunion www.annamcbrayer.wix.com/sugar- www.CatEWampus.com grassitup.com 720.480.1159 512-563-9821 creek-durango 720-454-9991 [email protected] [email protected] Golden, CO 970-769-3933 Lakewood, CO (719) 339-3121 facebook.com/laramieriverband Durango, CO Colorado Springs, CO Loveland, CO

8 UPCOMING SHOWS

Sweetwater String Band [email protected] Friday, July 1, 7:00 pm, Ran Off The Rooster, Sunday, July 10 10:00 am, Steel Pennies, Wednesday, July 20, 7:00 pm, Ragged Union, www.sweetwaterstringband.com The Barrel, 116 E. Elkhorn Ave., Estes Park High Mountain Hay Fever, Westcliffe Vail Summer Bluegrass Series, Vail 865-382-2993 Durango, CO Saturday, July 2, 12:00 pm, Jeff Scroggins Wednesday, July 13, 7:00 pm, Mary Beth Thursday, July 21, 10:00 pm, Masontown, & Colorado, Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival, Cross, House Concert, 4239 S Elkhart St, Bohemian Biergarten, 2017 13th Street, That Damn Sasquatch Lions Way, Nanaimo, Subd. B, Qualicum Aurora Boulder [email protected] Beach, BC www.facebook.com/thatdamnsas- Friday, July 15, 12:00 pm, Laramie River Thursday, July 21, 6:00 pm, Woodshed Red, quatch09 Sunday, July 3, 12:00 pm, Running Out Band, Avogadro’s Number, 605 South Mason Ridgeway Concert Series, Ridgeway 785-633-6654 Of Road, Aspen Bluegrass Sundays, Street, Fort Collins Friday, July 22, 8:30 pm, Blue Canyon Boys, Englewood, CO Aspen Friday, July 15, 5:00 pm, Jeff Scroggins & Oskar Grill & Brew, 3030 Main St., Nancy Thorwardson and the Silver Stars Sunday, July 3, 12:00 pm, Jeff Scroggins & Colorado, Darrington Bluegrass Festival, Lyons nancythorwardson.com/IonaGibsonMu- Colorado, Lighthouse Bluegrass Festival, Darrington Bluegrass Music Park, Darrington, Saturday, July 23, 8:00 am, The sic/SilverStars.html Lions Way, Nanaimo, Subd. B, Qualicum WA TuneFarmers, Golden Farmers Market, 1019 [email protected] Beach, BC Friday, July 15, 10:00 am, Free the Honey, 10th Street, Golden 720-775-7516 Lyons, CO Sunday, July 3, 4:30 pm, Laramie River Wallsburg Music Festival, Mountain Country, Saturday, July 23, 7:00 pm, Ran Off The Timber! Band, Oskar blues Grill & Brew, 3030 Main Wallsburg, UT Rooster, The Barrel, 116 E. Elkhorn Ave., facebook.com/TimberBluegrass St., Lyons, Friday, July 15, 7:00 pm, Ran Off The Estes Park [email protected] Monday, July 4, 3:00 pm, Ran Off The Rooster, Estes Park Performance Park Saturday, July 23, 7:00 pm, That Damn 303-564-9902 Rooster, American Legion, 850 N St Vrain Amphitheater, Estes Park Boulder, CO Sasquatch, Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave., Estes Park Saturday, July 16, 2:00 pm, Ragged Union, Ave., Denver The Tunefarmers Thursday, July 7, 7:00 pm, Ran Off The Northwest String Summit, North Plains, OR 303-921-3407 Saturday, July 23, 8:00 pm, SilverPlume, Rooster, Estes Park Performance Park Saturday, July 16, 12:00 pm, Ran Off The Jake’s Brew Bar, 2540 West Main Street, [email protected] Amphitheater, Estes Park www.reverbnation.com/theTune Rooster, Avogadro’s Number, 605 South Littleton Farmer Northglenn, CO Thursday, July 7, 6:00 pm, Dr. Harlan’s Mason Street, Fort Collins Saturday, July 23, 1:00 pm, Ran Off The Amazing Bluegrass Tonic, High Mountain Hay Saturday, July 16, 8:30 pm, Masontown, Rooster, SnowyGrass Festival, Riverside Uptown Toodeloo String Band Fever Festival, Westcliffe [email protected] Oskar blues Grill & Brew, 3030 Main St., Park, Estes Park www.UptownToodeloo.com Friday, July 8, 8:00 pm, Blue Canyon Boys, Lyons Sunday, July 24, 7:30 pm, Masontown, The 720-331-3064 the BEACH, 901 South Main Street, Buena Saturday, July 16, 4:00 pm, Masontown, Fork, Lyons Golden, CO Vista Spirit Hound Distillers, 4196 Ute Highway, Tuesday, July 26, 7:00 pm, Free the Honey, Vi The Fiddler Friday, July 8, 6:00 pm, Ragged Union, St Lyons The Sherbino Theater, Ridgway Vi Wickam Julien Hotel, Boulder Saturday, July 16, 7:00 pm, Hot Rize, 970-215-6366 Wednesday, July 27, 7:00 pm, Woodshed Friday, July 8, 5:00 pm, Jeff Scroggins & Steamboat Springs Free Summer Concert Red, Front Range Barbeque, 2330 West [email protected] Colorado Big Horn Mountain Festival, Series, Steamboat Springs www.vithefiddler.com Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs Johnson County Fairgrounds, Buffalo, WY Fort Collins, CO Saturday, July 16, 12:00 pm, The Thursday, July 28, 7:00 pm, Blue Canyon Friday, July 8, 9:00 am, Steel Pennies, High Stanleytones, Snowy Mountain Brewery, 601 Boys, Foote Lagoon Amphitheatre, Loveland Weld County Ramblers Mountain Hay Fever, Westcliffe East Pic Pike Road, Saratoga, WY www.weldcountyramblers.com Friday, July 29, 5:30 pm, Donna S-Scheer, [email protected] Friday, July 8, 5:00 pm, Coral Creek, Summer Saturday, July 16, 11:00 am, Jeff Scroggins The Alpine Restaurant and Bar, 1106 Rose 303-775-8764 of Love Festival, 1111 Summer of Love Way, & Colorado, Darrington Bluegrass Festival, Street, Georgetown Lyons, CO Hawkhurst, Kent Darrington Bluegrass Music Park, Darrington, WA Friday, July 29, 6:00 pm, Coral Creek, the WireWood Station Saturday, July 9, 12:00 pm, Blue Canyon BEACH, 901 South Main Street, Buena Vista 719-487-1194 Boys, Ute Pass Cultural Center, 210 E Saturday, July 16, 11:00 am, Coral Creek, [email protected] Midland Ave., Woodland Park Rudry Festival, Rudry Village Hall, Rudry, Saturday, July 30, 8:00 am, The TuneFarmers, Cherry Creek Fresh Market, wirewood-station.com Saturday, July 9, 12:30, Jeff Scroggins & Wales Monument, CO 1st Avenue and University, Denver Colorado Big Horn Mountain Festival Sunday, July 17, 7:30 pm, Ran Off The Saturday, July 30, 11:00 am, Blue Canyon WMD Bluegrass Band Johnson County Fairgrounds, Buffalo, WY Rooster, The Fork, Lyons [email protected] Boys, Wildlife West Music Festival, W Saturday, July 9, 1:00, Steel Pennies, High Sunday, July 17, 11:00 am, Jeff Scroggins Frontage Rd, Edgewood, NM wmdbluegrass.com Mountain Hay Fever, Westcliffe & Colorado, Darrington Bluegrass Festival, 719-232-2875 Darrington Bluegrass Music Park, Darrington, Saturday, July 30, 9:00 am, Ran Off The Colorado Springs, CO Sunday, July 10, 12:00 pm, Masontown, Rooster, The Stone Cup, Lyons Station 26 Brewing Company, 7045 East 38th WA Woodshed Red Avenue, Denver Sunday, July 17, 5:30 pm, Hot Rize, Red Saturday, July 30, 7:30 pm, Southern 719-439-6316 Exposure, Hemple Auditorium, Estes Park Sunday, July 10, 7:00 pm, Bettman & Halpin, Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda [email protected] Pkwy, Golden WoodshedRed.com Red River Community House, East Main Saturday, July 30, 12:00 pm, Masontown, Colorado Springs, CO Street, Red River, NM Monday, July 18, 7:00 am, Southern RockyGrass Band Contest, Planet Bluegrass, Lyons Sunday, July 10, 11:00 am, Jeff Scroggins Exposure, Denver Post Train to Frontier Clarke Wright - Fiddler Days, Union Station, Denver [email protected] & Colorado, Big Horn Mountain Festival, clarkewright.com Johnson County Fairgrounds, Buffalo, WY Fort Collins CO • 970-215-3974

9 Sponsoring Businesses CBMS Business Partners

AcousticByLines.com Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor Altona Grange Hall FolkWest, Inc Old Blue Sound Acoustic music industry listing site See Uncle Kit for 10% discounts to 39th and Nelson Road PO Box 3665, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 Quality sound reinforcement service for Colorado regional businesses, all CBMS Members on accessories Longmont, CO 80503 970- 731-5582 for bluegrass and other acoustic music 303-926-7538 [email protected] festivals, concerts, and events. musicians, music teachers, events (including cases, books and CDs). [email protected] www.folkwest.com Dick Pierle and more. 10% membership discount 7515 Grandview Ave, altonagrange.org 715 S 7th Street, Grand Junction, to CBMS members. Arvada, CO 80002 GospelGrass Productions CO 81501 PO Box 2261, Monument, CO 80132 (303) 421-2304 Avogadro’s Number c/o Suzie Solomon 970- 245-0836 or 888-OLD-BLUE www.acousticbylines.com www.picknparlor.com Every Wednesday night - Bluegrass show PO Box 332, Idaho Springs, CO [email protected] at 7pm with a Bluegrass Jam to follow at 80452 - 303-638-3725 www.oldbluesound.com Allegro Music, LLC San Juan 9pm. Shows every Friday & Saturday night. [email protected] 10% off on selected accessories and Quality mandolins for professional Restaurant and full bar. www.gospelgrass.com Planet Bluegrass items; see Tom or Joe Wilkinson players! 10% 605 South Mason, Fort Collins, CO PO Box 769 - 500 West Main Street 80521 Lyons, CO 8054 11280 South Twenty Mile Road, Suite for CBMS Members. The Grass is Bluer 970- 492-1756 Hosted by Hugh Felt on Thursdays, 7-9pm 800-624-2422 110, Parker, CO (303) 680-3915 15503 Hwy 145, [email protected] • www.avogadros.com on KSUT 89.5/90.1 FM www.bluegrass.com [email protected] Dolores, CO 81323 Durango, CO 970- 759-0228 www.allegroguitars.com (970) 822-8094 Barn Jazz Productions [email protected] www.ksut.org Savage Fiddler Barn Jazz Productions specializes in Savagefiddler offers individual and group Colorado Case Company Talent Forge recording, mixing, and mastering music Harmony Music House lessons in all bluegrass and stringed in- Case covers and gig bags for every Quality music instruction for people for all acoustic genres. Boulder's home for music lessons, struments as well as a specialized method book and online tools just for our fiddlers instrument. Colorado Case is also a who wouldn’t otherwise have it. 10% Complete production services available. student jam sessions, kids' classes, house out there! Call to schedule a lesson or dealer for Calton cases. discount to all CBMS members. Jim Hewitt concerts and more. Robert Loeb PO Box 1826 Grand Junction, CO check out the website for more information *10% discount to CBMS Members for Vi Wickam and Matthew Hartz 2525 Broadway, Boulder, CO 80304 81504 on the complete method! 1224 Oxborough Ln. 720-988-0288 any soft cases and case covers. 520-400-4965 102 W Chester St [email protected] Lafayette, CO 80026 1713 E Lincoln Ave, Unit A6 Fort Col- Fort Collins, CO 80525 [email protected] www.harmonymusichouse.com 319-601-6379 lins, CO 80524 970-430-6381 www.barnjazz.com [email protected] (800) 340-0809 www.mytalentforge.com High Mountain Hay Fever Festival wwww.savagefiddler.com [email protected] www. Big Horn Mountain Festival Westcliffe’s four-day bluegrass coloradocase.com Twist & Shout Acoustic Americana, Folk, Old-Timey, celebration, hosted by the Dry Branch Swallow Hill Music Association Biggest selection of bluegrass CDs! Bluegrass and Traditional music. Johnson Fire Squad. Concerts, classes, open stages and jam Denver Folklore Center 10% discount County Fairgrounds in Buffalo, WY. PO PO Box 1199 Westcilffe, CO 81252 sessions - folk & traditional music. 71 E Box 344 Dayton, WY 82836 New and used fretted instruments, for CBMS Members. 719-783-0883 Yale Ave. - Denver, CO 80210 307- 655-9280 303- 777-1003 recordings and books. 2508 E Colfax Ave, [email protected] [email protected] www.highmountainhayfever.org www.swallowhill.com 10% discount for CBMS Members on Denver, CO 80206 www.bighornmountainfestival.com selected items. (303) 722-1943 Music Appreciation Society 1893 South Pearl Street [email protected] Consolidated Accounting & Tax Service David Spira Denver, CO 80210 (303) 777-4786 www.twistandshout.com William L. Carlson 300 S Jackson St, Ste 550¬ 865 Montclair Drive, Palisade, CO Denver, CO 80209 Lakewood School of Music H.B. Woodsongs 81526 303-329-8100 303- 722-8850 Offering private lessons by professional 10% off regularly priced accessories, [email protected] 303- 722-9639 fax teachers on , , banjo, piano, books www.baursmagic.com [email protected] voice, fiddle, songwriting and more. and CDs to CBMS Members. 20% discount to CBMS members off first 3101 28th St Dan Harris Instrument Co. Become a Member Now! months tuition. Boulder, CO 80301 Custom Lutherie and instrument repair 1510 Glenn Ayre Dr., Lakewood, CO (303) 449-0516 302 Sandler Dr. Lafayette, CO 80026 80215 [email protected] 720-352-3641 303-550-7010 www.hbwoodsongs.com [email protected] Lakewoodschoolofmusic.com www.harrisinstruments.com

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown Festival in Durango, CO PO Box 448 Durango CO 81302 970-259-7200 G-Run [email protected] Media and Publicity www.durangomeltdown.com

Media, Public Relations and Social Networking Services Evergreen Bluegrass Festival for a variety of companies, organizations and musicians August 27, 2016 at the Evergreen across the . Rodeo Grounds 29830 Stagecoach Blvd, Evergreen, CO. evergreenbluegrassfestival.com facebook.com/gRunPublicity [email protected]

10 Competition continued from page 3 Colorado scene these days, it’s a win for all of us if a local group brings it home!” How the bands prepare for the contest differs somewhat, however. “Having all been musicians for several decades, with most of us attending school for music, we are approaching it as a high profile, high stakes concert,” Wiggs says. “We’ve been prepping and tweaking for several months and we feel that we have chosen songs that exemplify our strengths and represent what our music is about.” Elam says Canyon Collected has a more relaxed attitude. “We’re approaching it as a ‘Just one gig; only 15 minutes’ kinda thing. We don’t play one microphone style ever, so we’re practicing that dance and trying to figure out how we make sure everyone can hear Tia [Martini] rip that ukulele. We’re having fun with it and we hope to translate that feeling into a solid set at the band competition.” Chain Station practiced hard but tried hard to maintain a lighthearted outlook. “We approached the Telluride competition with the mindset that we were just going to play three or six songs that we know we crush. Our songs. Songs we know and love. Songs that our fans and friends know and can sing along to,” says Pickett. “We know one thing for sure and it’s that we have fun playing. And when we just relax and do that we play better and people feel that.” Stober says that fun energy is what makes her look forward to the band contest year after year. “We often know a number of bands who are from the Front Range or that we’ve met along the way. That makes it hard to choose one band to cheer for but also leads me to not miss a single moment.”

Chain Station / Promo

11 Advertising in Pow’r Pickin’ Gets the Message Out! BLUEGRASS 24/7 Our readership includes 1,000 individual members, member bands and member businesses with statewide distribution coloradobluegrass.org 10% discount for Bands on Call and CBMS Business Members, 10% discount for advertisements running multiple consecutive months

Payment: Payments must be received BEFORE the 15th of the month for ads to be included in the following month’s publication. , CBMS will no longer accept paper checks or payments by “snail CBMS Hall of Honor Effective August 1, 2009 mail.” You may submit your ad and your payment by contacting Annie Savage at colograss@ gmail.com. All payments must be made by credit card and will be processed electronically 2006 2012 through our PayPal account. PayPal will process your payment whether or not you have a Jerry Mills • Dick Pierle KC Groves • Dave Little personal account established with them. Ken Seaman • Suzie Solomon Gene Milligan Email Submissions: All submissions must be sent electronically and must be high resolution (300 dpi) in JPG or Pete Wernick Michael Burke • Hugh Felt PDF format to: [email protected]. 2007 2013 2016 Advertising Rates & Specifications Mike Dow • Craig Ferguson B. J. Suter Ad Size Specifications...... Price David Patton • Steve Szymanski Tim O'Brien Full page ad 9.125” x 10.75”...... $165 Joan Wernick 3/4 page ad Vert: 6.8” x 10.75”...... $130 2014 ...... Horiz: 9.125” x 7.75” 2009 Doris Gray 1/2 page ad Vert: 4.49” x 10.75”...... $90 ...... Horiz: 9.125” x 5.375” Harry Tuft • Sue Coulter 1/3 page ad Vert: 2.93” x 10.75”...... $60 2015 ...... Horiz: 9.125” x 3.58” 2010 John Schmidt • Drew Emmitt 1/4 page ad 4.49” x 5.25”...... $50 1/6 page ad Vert: 2.93” x 5.25”...... $40 Nick Forster • Rob Osborne Dave Higgs ...... Horiz: 4.49” x 3.45” 1/8 page ad 4.49” x 2.5”...... $30 2011 Ernie Martinez • Fergus Stone Classified Ads: Charles Sawtelle Members - first 15 words free, $0.20 per word thereafter Non-members - $7 for first 30 words, $0.20 per word thereafter. Daniel "Buck" Buckner **Ask us about our ad design services.**

12 KAFM 88.1FM Bluegrass Radio Shows Grand Junction NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS playing Mondays: 4-6PM Sundays: 3-6PM Larry L LaDuke Colorado Artists KAJX 91.1/91.5FM Denver, CO...... Renew Aspen Robb Ruyle Saturdays: 10AM-noon Montrose, CO...... Renew Thanks to all John Mumford KRFC 88.9 FM Centennial, CO...... Renew Fort Collins, Clark R Belyea the Radio DJs Saturday 2-4PM Greenwood Village, CO...... Renew streaming @ krfcfm.com Barb Draper Ridgway, CO...... Renew KGNU 88.5FM Patrick & Kathleen Driscoll Boulder Centennial, CO...... Renew 93.7FM - Nederland 1390AM - Denver Ron Lynam & Cowtown Saturdays: 9AM-noon Bellvue, CO...... Renew-Band Robert Scott KHEN 106.9FM Louisville, CO...... Renew Salida Nancy Thorwardson and the Silver Stars Fridays: 10AM-noon & 3-5PM Lyons, CO...... Renew-Band Patrick Kelley KDNK 88.1/88.3/88.5FM Morrison, CO...... Renew-Premier Aspen to Luke Blaser Glenwood Springs Denver, CO...... New 93.5FM - Leadville Judy Craddock Saturdays: 8-10AM who support Littleton, CO...... New Colorado Artists!! KDUR 91.9/93.9FM Bianca Bentz Durango Superior, CO...... New Tuesdays: 6:30-9pm Richard Harvey And streaming at kdur.org Denver, CO...... New

KSUT 90.1 / 89.5 FM Streaming Live on KSUT.org Hugh Felt’s “The Grass is Bluer” Durango 7-9PM Thursday

KRAN FM 103.3 FM Cheyenne, WY The Pickers Choice w/Jerry Mills Saturdays 10am-11am Rocky Mt. Bluegrass w/Jerry Mills Sundays 10am-11am online at www.1033therange.com

KLVZ 810 AM Denver Sunday 12:30 - 1:30 pm Old Time Gospel Radio Hour

KYGT 102.7 FM Idaho Springs, CO The Miner Pickin' Show Alternate Saturdays 4 - 6 pm kygt.org

KCEG 780 AM, Fountain CO The Best of Bluegrass Sunday 9 - 10 am

KZMU 90.1/106.7 FM Moab, UT The Grass Is Greener Sundays, Noon-3 p.m. Streaming on KZMU.org

13 14 15 Colorado Bluegrass Music Society coloradobluegrass.org