This has been a very interesting week. News broke this week that Fort Collins Downtown Business Association executive director Michael Short will be stepping down at the end of the year. While it’s not directly tied to music, this is an important development as thirteen year DBA vet, and assistant director Peggy Lyle, who handled virtually ALL music related activities, resigned in August over apparent managment differences.
The DBA, in conjunction with funding from the Bohemian Foundation, produces several music related events a year in Fort Collins, including Bohemian Nights at New West Fest, the Colorado Brewers Festival, Fortober Fest, and the Friday Night Old Town Concert Series. The question that tops the charts is, what will become of these events if the board of the DBA decides to move the organization away from events and more towards promoting and marketing its downtown business constituency by other means? Obviously only time will tell … but in the meantime another shakeup poses more interesting questions.
Bohemian Foundation Musician Liaison Director Liz Barnez has left her gig there to pursue some personal goals. In an email to me this week Liz writes, “Going to record some stuff with my percussionist Bryon in early November for duo demo… but play trio with Eric, or band add Marty. Going to finish my record with my producer in LA first part of the year. I am going to be touring again with Catie Curtis… so, hoping to be busy with that, and getting Mudhead Music back up and running. I do virtual tour management for bands artists. All advance including, flights, accommodations, tech advance, hospitality, etc. Then create a hard copy or digital book for the tour. It’s like having a tour manager only a lot cheaper. I did this for the subdudes for many years and some Nashville artists. Gonna open it up and try to get a few clients if you hear of a need. Website for Liz Barnez and Mudhead Music to go up in the next month.”
If you are in need, please contact Liz via Facebook.
More directly related to our local music scene was a conversation I was engaged in with a major Denver entertainment (not music) franchise. You can read that story here.
Check out the NEWS AND NOTES excerpt from this week’s show below.
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK
I got an email this past week from Reed Foehl’s PR person asking me if I’d spotlight Reed’s newest video this week. I had included it as part of the SEPTEMBER videos of the month, so it seemed unlikely that I’d bring it out again. However, during the course of our email exchange, I thought to ask if Reed would care to be my November guest on OFFSTAGE …BEYOND THE MUSIC. Reed’s legacy goes back to the late 80s when he was a founding member of ACOUSTIC JUNCTION – a band that achieved considerable success in Colorado in the 90s, and eventually was signed to both Mercury and Capricorn Records. Since the new millennium he’s been busy on a solo career, producing five albums including the new one, “Lost in the West.” Here’s a taste…
OFFSTAGE …BEYOND THE MUSIC
Check out the final installment of OSBTM with October’s featured guest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, and soon to be Colorado Music Hall of Fame member Richie Furay. If you’d like to download this segment, please do so by going to KUNC or Radio 94.9. Otherwise, feel free to stream it here.
PLAYLIST S8|EP40
NEWS & NOTES SEGMENT FROM THIS WEEK’S SHOW
(D) = debut of new lp, ep, or single
(N) = new cut from previously debuted lp or ep
HOUR 1
The Samples “The Birds of Paradise” from Here and Somewhere Else (1998)
Acoustic Junction “Penny For Your Thoughts” from Love It For What It Is (1993)
(N) Quemando “Revolution” from Paradise (2014)
Dianne Reeves “32 Flavors” from Beautiful Life (2014)
Rob Drabkin “Little Steps” from Little Steps EP (2013)
(D) Stella Luce “Rain” from Caldera (2014) The Lovely & Talented “Death of The Lover” from The New American Fable (2010)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Cranston” from Blovdy Tenent Trvth Peace (2004)
Fox Street Allstars “Back to Memphis” from Welcome to the Mighty Pleasin’ (2011)
The Outfit “Station Wagon Apocalypse” from Station Wagon Apocalypse (2014)
Gipsy Moon “Flyin’ (feat. Enion Pelta-Tiller)” from Eventide (2013)
(D) Matt Skellenger “New Radio” from New Radio (2014)
HOUR 2
John Denver “Back Home Again” from Essential John Denver (2007)
Judy Collins “Someday Soon” from Who Knows Where The Time Goes (1988)
(D) Andy Palmer “Storm’s Not Coming” from Storm’s Not Coming (2014)
Jeff Finlin “Walking On Air” from My Moby Dick (2013)
Churchill “Change” from Change EP (2012)
(N) Kyle Hollingsworth “Ordinary” from Speed of Life (2014) String Cheese Incident “So Far From Home” from Song In My Head (2014)
Souther Hillman Furay Band “Fallin In Love” from The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band (1974)
Poco “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” from The Essential Poco (2005)
(N) Tennis “Needle and a Knife” from Ritual In Repeat (2014)
Adam Bodine Trio “Smells Like Teen Spirit” from Adam Bodine Trio Plays Nirvana (2013)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 