Category: Live Music News

Carbon Valley Music Festival

What’s new in the goat pen?  No new shows for Aug 6-12 and Aug 13-20.  Too busy with festivals and a kitchen remodel of all things.  So, I’ll have a new episode of the Colorado Sound out to all the stations for the week of Aug 20-26.

I just experienced a spectacular couple of days.  I just finished up with the Carbon Valley Music Festival IV.  Drew Emmitt Band, Hazel Miller Band, Onda, Boa & the Constrictors, Bonnie & the Clydes, Lalla Rookh, and the Frederick High School Gold Tones Jazz Band set a new standard by which future bills will be measured.  Every single act was rightfully on their game.

Thanks go out to a stellar production crew:  Bob Foss/Riffactory on foh, Skinny from SSS Productions on lights, Big John (stage manager) and the INCREDIBLE Marshall Austin MAP32 stage.  I will have pics up sometime soon, I promise.  We also had a couple of tapers out doing sound and video of the Drew Emmitt set – and from what I heard, the audio will be up on archives.org sometime in the next couple of months.

About that stage:  As a performer and/or emcee, I’ve been on countless numbers of stages going back to 1970.  As a show producer I’ve used smaller stages, like the MAP24 and the SL100.  As a member of the production staff and crew, I’ve been on stages as large as the SL450.  In every single case, the MAP32 kills.  The design was thought up by someone with experience playing on and/or doing production on a stage.  As someone standing in the audience with an eye on visual aesthetics this stage sets a standard the others can really only aspire to.  It is a truly magnificent visual presence.

We just used one at the 2011 Carbon Valley Music Festival (Dacono, CO).  My client (the city of Dacono), the several thousand fans in attendance and each and every single musician and crew member who participated was absolutely blown away.  Nothing but complete praise … oh, and the two man crew, consisting of “Senior” (age 72) and Greg (age about 30 something, I’m guessing) had no problem putting the stage up, taking it down, and driving it off on a 1 ton dually.  I rebooked it for next year on the spot.  Best value for the dollar you can imagine if you want a stage presence that really impresses everyone.

Chris K. / Rocky Mountain Music Network

A Rare Concert Posting (and it’s NOT Colorado!!)

Okay, so in reality, a very very good friend of mine asked me to help — namely the lovely Liz Barnez 🙂

Looks like she has done gone and gotten herself into the concert promotion business … so, with a little help from her friends …here’s the latest …

SUNRISE RANCH CONCERTS and MUDHEAD MUSIC PRODUCTION PRESENT Pieta Brown and Carrie Rodriguez

Sunrise Ranch invites you to an evening of music under the dome as they continue their successful Concert Series on Saturday, May 14, 2011.  Doors open at 6:30 pm and the concert begins at 7:00 pm.

The concert features the talents of Pieta Brown and Carrie Rodriguez. A rising singer/songwriter who calls Iowa home, Pieta is the daughter of folk singer Greg Brown who blends folk, rock, country and blues to create a sound uniquely her own and has been described as a “self-styled poetess, folk goddess and country waif (BBC).”  Pieta has recently enjoyed media coverage on NPR, Paste, Harp, No Depression, American Songwriter and recently released a new CD “One and All” (2010, Red House Records) and wrapped up a US/Canadian tour supporting Dire Straits co-founder Mark Knopfler.  Pieta has also successfully toured with JJ Cale, Calexico, Ani DiFranco, Mason Jennings, among others.

Carrie Rodriguez is a classically trained fiddle-toting, mandoguitar-slinging Texas-based singer/songwriter just beginning to flex her artistic muscles with “Love and Circumstance” (2010, Opus Records). On the new CD Carrie covers Lucinda Williams, Townes Van Zandt, as well as material that includes tributes to members of her family.   Carrie honors her father, fellow troubadour David Rodriguez, with his unreleased “When I Heard Gypsy Davey Sing,” and her great aunt, singer Eva Garza, with “La Punalada Trapera” from the Mexican-American performer’s repertoire.  In addition to the new CD, Carrie made a recent national TV appearance on Austin City Limits (PBS) and toured with Los Lonely Boys, John Prine, Lucinda Williams and more.   MOJO Magazine says Carrie is “hot and steamy one minute and pure Nashville the next.”

Tickets can be purchased for $20 by calling 1-877-SUN(786)-0078 or online at www.sunriseranch.org. The concert will be held in The Dome at Sunrise Ranch, a beautiful 400-seat venue located west of Loveland, Colorado near Masonville. The acoustics and ambience of this venue will enhance the power of these talented performers.

Sunrise Ranch is a Spiritual Center cradled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. By day the wide-open blue of the Colorado sky stretches overhead; and by night, there is an endless canopy of brilliant stars. It is known as a place for learning, reflection, and transformation. This evening promises to be one full of music, energy and sweet memories.

Denver Undiscovered – A Preview

Caught this in Westword … can’t wait for the full film to come out in Feb.  According to Westword’s article, the premiere will be at the Meadowlark (Denver) on Feb 4th.