#COMUSIC TOP 30 DECEMBER 2025

In December 2025, Lettuce’s “Cook LP” topped the Colorado music charts, showcasing local artists from various stations. Notable entries include “NoCO Sings the Holidays” and upcoming albums from Clay Street Unit and The Tammy Shine. The Colorado Playlist continues its mission to promote Colorado music, relying on listener support for sustainability.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The last look back at what happened in 2025 – DECEMBER’s TOP 30 ..

HOW THE CHART IS PUT TOGETHER

Every week I survey more than a dozen Colorado community/public and college stations, including Colorado Playlist spins on respective stations. The weekly survey period runs from midnight Sunday through the next Saturday. 

The monthly survey period starts from the first week, ending with a Saturday. It continues through the last week, which also ends on a Saturday.  Titles are linked to its respective YouTube page.

Titles are tracked from the date of release of the first single from an LP/EP, for twelve months. Example: DOR = DEC 2023. I stopped tracking it in NOV 2024 (twelve months).

KAFM, KBUT, KCSU, KDNK, KDUR, KFFR, KLZR, KOTO, KSJD, KSUT, KRFC, KRZA and KVNF are surveyed via Spinitron, offering search functions for artists to track airplay on over three hundred stations and programs around the country.

LP = album (5 or more songs)
EP = extended play (3-5 songs)
SP = single play (1-2 songs)

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#CO MUSIC TOP 30 NOV 28-DEC 28 2025

Lettuce – Cook LP jumped from (16) in September to (1) in December, based on spins from 88.9 KRFC and some of the mountain stations. Lettuce formed in Boston. Over the years three of the six members moved to Colorado. They have since become deeply ingrained in the scene. So, they get counted as a band based, at least in part, in our state. Tracks from their most recent album “Cook” started dropping in July. The final full length release dropped DEC 3, 2025. (Spotify, YouTube)

NoCO Sings the Holidays is the season’s holiday release, featuring mostly Fort Collins based artists. The album received copious spins at KRFC with a few added on the Colorado Playlist. The holiday album debuts at #2.  (Spotify, YouTube)

Debuting at #4 in the monthly TOP 30 is the upcoming album Sin & Squalor from Clay Street Unit, due out February 13th. Tracks began to appear in the spring of 2025. One track broke out in the statewide HOT SPINS in September. The band sold out Denver’s Ogden Theater (1500 cap) in December. You can catch them at Red Rocks in support of the String Cheese Incident on Friday, July 17.  (Spotify, YouTube)

The Tammy Shine Ok Shine Ok, debuting at #6 is the solo debut from Dressy Bessy founder, guitarist and lead singer, Tammy Ealom. The album release show is Feb 21 at the Hi-Dive in Denver. The single, Junk Mail, dropped in December and was debuted by 105.5 The Colorado Sound. (Spotify, YouTube)
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(R) 1. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 2. VARIOUS – NoCO Sings the Holidays LP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 3. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 4. CLAY STREET UNIT – Sin and Squalor LP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(6) 5. LIZ BARNEZ – Wholehearted LP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 6. THE TAMMY SHINE – Ok Shine Ok LP Dec-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 7. DOGTAGS – Roseworld LP Apr-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 8. MYSTEE – bold and bright SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 9. EDITH – Salt SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(8) 9. GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – XXV LP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 10. CITRA – The Light In Your Eyes SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 10. THE DIRTY TURKEYS – Soul Sugar SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 11. MYSTEE – Forget Me Not EP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(14) 12. A.J. FULLERTON – Magnetic Light LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 12. BALLPARK –Loose Screw SP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 13. EDITH – Sounds of Scenery SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 14. CITRA – Long Way Around SP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 14. VIVIAN OBLIVION – Animals SP Jul-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(18) 15. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Growing Pains LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(1) 15. GASOLINE LOLLIPOPS – Kill the Architect LP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(7) 15. GRAVEYARD CHOIR – The Wake LP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 15. SOUR MAGIC – The Hive LP May-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(11) 16. PACKAGING – Packaging LP Jun-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 17. MARFA – Daisy SP Nov-24 (Spotify, YouTube)
(15) 18. A.J. FULLERTON & LAUREN FRIHAUF – Slow Killer / Bitter Song / Expectations / I Don’t Wanna Grow Up SP Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 19. DRUNKEN HEARTS – The Other Side SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 19. EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON – Dirt Bag Saloon SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 20. KING CARDINAL – Reviver Sep-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 21. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Tumbleweed feat. JJ Grey SP Nov-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(D) 21. DAVID LAWRENCE & THE SPOONFUL – My House is Burning SP Oct-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(5) 21. LEFTOVER SALMON – Let’s Party About It LP Mar-25 (Spotify, YouTube)
(R) 21. TENNIS – Face Down in The Garden LP Feb-25 (Spotify, YouTube)

88.9 KRFC (Fort Collins) – 51 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. VARIOUS – NoCO Sings the Holidays LP Nov-25
(1) 2. LIZ BARNEZ – Wholehearted LP Oct-25
(D) 3. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25
(3) 4. A.J. FULLERTON, LAUREN FRIHAUF –Slow Killer / Bitter Song / Expectations / I Don’t Wanna Grow Up SP Sep-25
(D) 5. AUBREY DALE – December SP Nov-25
(4) 5. SUGAR BRITCHES – Terrified And Aroused SP Jul-25

INDIE 102.3 (Denver) – 11 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25
(R) 2. DOGTAGS – Roseworld LP Apr-25
(D) 2. EDITH – Salt SP Oct-25
(D) 3. CITRA – The Light In Your Eyes SP Oct-25
(D) 4. BALLPARK – Loose Screw SP Mar-25
(D) 4. MYSTEE – bold and bright SP Nov-25

105.5 THE COLORADO SOUND (Greeley) – 30 TITLES TRACKED
(1) 1. GRAVEYARD CHOIR – The Wake LP Sep-25
(1) 1. MARFA – Daisy SP Nov-24
(D) 2. THE TAMMY SHINE – Junk Mail SP Dec-25
(D) 3. THE DIRTY TURKEYS –Soul Sugar SP Nov-25
(R) 4. MOONPOOL – Aim SP Jul-25
(D) 5. THE PHOTO ATLAS – Hello Hospital EP Aug-25
(R) 5. SMEAR – Champagne LP Apr-25
(3) 5. VOLORES –the Huntress SP Oct-25

KAFM (Grand Junction), KBUT (Crested Butte), KDNK (Carbondale), KDUR (Durango), KFFR (Winter Park), KLZR (Westcliff), KOTO (Telluride), KRZA (Alamosa), KSJD (Cortez), KSUT (Ignacio/Durango), KVNF (Paonia) – 55 TITLES TRACKED
(7) 1. LETTUCE – Cook LP Jul-25
(1) 2. LEFTOVER SALMON –Let’s Party About It LP Mar-25
(R) 3. REVEREND FREAKCHILD – A Bluesman of Sorts LP May-25
(1) 4. GREENSKY BLUEGRASS – XXV LP Jun-25
(2) 5. A.J. FULLERTON – Magnetic Light LP Feb-25
(R) 5. RAGGED UNION – Pyramid Stairs LP Jun-25

THE COLORADO PLAYLIST NEEDS YOUR HELP PLEASE

The Colorado Playlist is the only show showcasing Colorado music statewide. Your support is essential to keeping it on the air. I offer this show to the stations without charge. As you may know, they are facing their own revenue issues now with the loss of CPB funding. Please make donations via Venmo at chrisk-2 or use the form below. Thank you, sincerely – chrisk

If you represent a business and would like my listeners to know about you, email me at coloradoplaylist@gmail.com for details.

Mishawaka Amphitheatre Partners with Sonic Guild to Launch 2026 Colorado Tour Support Grants

Live music is a gift and we must support our Colorado musicians! We’ve all heard the romanticized stories of bands sleeping in vans and living on ramen to make it to the next gig, but the reality is that the financial strain of touring often ends careers before they truly begin. 

For years, the Mishawaka Amphitheatre has been more than just a venue; it’s been a cornerstone of the Colorado music community. Now, through its “Mish Initiative,” it is stepping up to solve one of the biggest hurdles facing local artists: the staggering cost of taking their music on the road.

I’m excited to share that the Mishawaka is partnering with Sonic Guild to officially expand the Tour Support Grant Program into Colorado for 2026. While Sonic Guild no longer operates a standalone chapter here, the Mishawaka’s funding has created a renewed commitment to our local musicians.

The Mishawaka Impact:

  • Direct Funding: Through the Mish Initiative, ten Colorado-based artists will receive $1,500 grants to offset the “hidden” costs of touring—lodging, van rentals, and gear.
  • National Collaboration: The Mishawaka is joining forces with legendary artist foundations, including Pearl Jam’s Vitalogy Foundation and The Head & The Heart’s Rivers & Roads Foundation, to co-fund this 2026 cycle.
  • Re-engaging Local Icons: This program is specifically designed to support both emerging talent and established Colorado favorites like iZCALLi, 2MX2, and Alysia Kraft as they build audiences outside their home market.

Why this matters now: In today’s economy, an independent tour can be a financial gamble. By providing these application-based grants, the Mishawaka is ensuring that Colorado’s sound reaches fans in the U.S. and Europe without leaving the artists in debt.

What these grants actually cover: These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet; they are the “un-glamorous” essentials that keep a tour alive:

Safety and Rest: Reliable lodging and van rentals.
Sustainability: Food and transportation costs.
Growth: Production of merchandise to sell at shows.

As Terror/Cactus, a 2025 recipient, put it: this support allows artists to stop worrying about the financial strain and start focusing on “creating meaningful connections” with their audiences. 

The first application window for tours taking place between February and May is open now through January 16th.

Application Windows
Grants are awarded through three application cycles, based on tour dates:

  • Stage 1: Tours February–May 2026
    Apply December 15, 2025 – January 16, 2026
  • Stage 2: Tours June–August 2026
    Apply March 16 – April 10, 2026
  • Stage 3: Tours September–December 2026
  • Apply July 13 – August 7, 2026

CP S19 EP44 2025

AIRDATES DEC 13-19 2025
MMMM = Greensky Bluegrass, Emily Scott Robinson, Estin & the 86’d, G-Stylez

HAPPY HOLLY-DAZE. As we wind down the year, I hope you’ll HELP SUPPORT THE COLORADO PLAYLIST in your year end giving.

The Colorado Playlist is the only show showcasing Colorado music statewide. It will turn 20 years old in 2026!

Your support is essential to keeping it on the air.

I make this show available at no cost to public radio stations, which as you may know are facing their own revenue issues now with the loss of CPB funding. Because of those CPB issues, what little money I was making is now $0.

Please make donations via Venmo at chrisk-2 (preferred) or use the form below. Thank you, sincerely – chrisk

To learn about getting your business heard across thirty FM frequencies and on the Colorado Playlist other assets, please email chriskmusic@gmail.com
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MONDAY MORNING MUSIC MEETING

The Monday Morning Music Meeting happens courtesy of Starr’s Guitars in Cedaredge, serving the western slope music community since 1998.

Every year I debut approximately two hundred new current-year songs. Every week I have to make decisions about what to keep to play again and what to archive.

Let me know what you think of the debuts (D) and new songs (N) I shared in the show this week.

Results enter into determining which cuts stay in the library and which cuts might eventually make it to the annual Colorado Playlist Fan & Listener Poll and the “some of the best of the year” show.
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Dianne Reeves – I’ll Be Home for Christmas – Christmas Time Is Here (2004)
(D) Greensky Bluegrass feat. Nathaniel Rateliff – Past My Prime – XXV (2026)

The Barlow – High Spirits – High Spirits (2025)
Graham Good and the Painters – Get After Life (2024)
LatinSoul, Joshua Trinidad –Mama Pacha (2025)
MaryLynn Gillaspie – Skippy’s Dream (‘Hypnagogia’) – Secret Language (2022)
The Yawpers – American Man – American Man (2015)
Sour Magic – Silver Sands (2025)
(D) Emily Scott Robinson – Dirtbag Saloon (2026)

(D) Lid Dixon – Holiday Landslide – NoCO Sings the Holidays VOL 1 (2025)

The Burroughs – Honey Imastar – Honey Imastar (2023)
Adam Bodine – Jacuzzi Marinade – Ribbons for Pigs (2025)

Big Head Todd and the Monsters – I’m Glad (at Christmas Time) (2018)
Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene – Holly Jolly Rock & Roll Party – It’s a Crime Scene Christmas! (2015)
(D) Estin & the 86’d – The Streets (2026)

Rootbeer Richie & The Reveille – Without You – Never Needed Me (2024)
Daniel Rodriguez – Colorado – Sojurn of a Burning Sun (2020)
A.J. Fullerton – Passing Time – Magnectic Light (2025)
Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore – Love Runner – Love Runner (2014)
Born In The Flood – Low Flying Clouds – The Fear That We May Not Be (2005)
piKziL – Exit Strategy (2025)
(D) G-Stylez – Just A Dream (2026)

(D) White Rose Motor Oil – First Song About Santa – Merry Crisis (2025)

Teresa Suydam – Lost Bird – Lost Bird (2024)
Eric Lilley Trio – Bud Bop – Follow Up (2020)

THIS WEEK ON YOUTUBE

HOT SPINS WEEK ENDING DEC 14 2025

STATIONS TRACKED: KAFM Community Radio (Grand Junction), KBUT Community Radio (Crested Butte), KDNK Carbondale Community Access Radio (Carbondale), KDUR Community Radio (Durango), KFFR 88.3 FM (Winter Park), KLZR (Westcliff), KOTO Community Radio Telluride (Telluride), KRFC 88.9 FM (Fort Collins), KRZA Community Radio (Alamosa), KSJD Radio (Cortez), KSUT (Ignacio), KVNF Mountain Grown Public Radio (Paonia), 105.5 The Colorado Sound and Indie1023 (Denver) …

Spins tracked on Spinitron (except 102.3 and 105.5), designed to benefit community and college radio, and offering search functions to track airplay on over 300 stations around the count.

ALL STATIONS + THE COLORADO PLAYLIST – 89 TITLES TRACKED
(2) 1. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Growing Pains LP Feb-25
(3) 1. CLAY STREET UNIT – Sin and Squalor LP Sep-25
(D) 1. DIRTY TURKEYS – Soul Sugar SP Nov-25
(R) 2. GASOLINE LOLLIPOPS – Kill the Architect LP Mar-25
(R) 2. PACKAGING – Packaging LP Jun-25
(D) 2. THE TAMMY SHINE – Ok Shine Ok LP Dec-25
(3) 3. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25
(D) 4. LETTUCE – Rising to the Top / Cook SP Jul-25