Two enterprising Colorado arts organizations are joining forces in February 2016 to create performance and continuing education opportunities for Colorado musicians.
February 19 – 21, 2016, Breckenridge Creative Arts, or BreckCreate, and SpokesBUZZ will launch the Colorado Music Convergence, a weekend gathering and showcase for independent artists, bands and industry professionals from around the state.
The weekend will feature career development workshops, mentoring sessions, networking events, and performances, as well as introduce Detour, a statewide touring program run by Colorado Creative Industries.
“It’s amazing the amount of energy all these Colorado organizations and places are putting into music right now,” said Dani Grant, SpokesBUZZ executive director. “SpokesBUZZ BandSwap was originally designed to expand audiences and establish well-supported reciprocal touring routes for Colorado bands nationally.
Detour uses many of the same ideas, but in the context of the communities, towns, and cities throughout our state, providing much-needed assistance here at home. Breckenridge truly understands the importance of programs like these, and has proved to be the perfect partner for our launch event.”
In addition to the merging of Detour and BandSwap, CCI and others will host workshops on the Colorado Music Strategy, licensing for Colorado artists, presenting and promoting across the state, and more.
The three-day gathering will be hosted in venues throughout downtown Breckenridge, including the Riverwalk Center as well as in various studios and performance spaces on the new Breckenridge Arts District campus.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with SpokesBUZZ and Colorado Creative Industries on this project,” said Robb Woulfe, President and CEO of BreckCreate. “This is a great opportunity to showcase some amazing Colorado talent and to bring together many of our music industry colleagues, and we are honored to host the event.”
Several 2016 music festivities and programs will build on momentum of the February gathering. At its annual Summit in May, CCI will prominently feature musicians, music business, and the 2016 Detour kickoff, as well as a preview of the June announcement of the Colorado Music Strategy.
All of this work, and the ongoing Detour program, will serve to showcase the state’s musical talent, music businesses, tourism attractions, festivals, and recreation. It will connect these musicians, venues, talent buyers, media, tourism offices, and more to foster a robust creative economy and improved quality of life for all Coloradans.
Colorado Music Convergence
Friday, February 19 – Sunday, February 21, 2016
Presented by BreckCreate and SpokesBUZZ, in partnership with Colorado Creative Industries, and sponsored by: Mishawaka Amphitheatre, KUNC Community Radio 91.5 FM, and KSMT FM Always Mountain Time 102.7/102.1
Friday, February 19
8 p.m. – 12 a.m. Music Showcase at Riverwalk Center (Doors at 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, February 20
2 – 3:15 p.m. Presenters and Promoters Workshop (hosted by BreckCreate)
Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. Thank you for an amazing 2015. I cannot express enough my gratitude and deepest appreciation for your gifts of financial support and love right now. My wife and I have each dealt with potentially deadly diseases the past three years, she twice. Mine was cured by new medicine. We’re hoping that new medicines cure my wife’s.
Please visit AIM at Melanoma Foundation for more information about this rare cancer. Much love to my friends in our scene who are also suffering from other forms of cancer, and to the family of JD Kelly who we lost this year to colon cancer. We’ll be hearing from friends in our scene about this subject and others this coming year on the show.
Our band Goatz! finished off the season with an acoustic show at Oskar Blues in Lyons, after successful appearances at Avogadro’s Number (Fort Collins), the Walnut Room (Denver), and the Mishawaka Amphitheatre, where we debuted this summer. After over six years, and not being kids anymore, debuting a new project has been an exhilarating and rejuvenating experience. Miss Pattie and I are looking forward to many more great shows in 2016.
The Colorado Sound once again took a big step forward in being the most widely heard Colorado music radio program in the state, thanks to addition of KSUT in Ignacio/Durango, and KCMJ in Colorado Springs. As of now, the station is heard a total of 60 hours a week on 39 frequencies.
The feedback has been truly encouraging. According to sources in the industry, The Colorado Sound is among the top two most listened to hours of programming in Northern Colorado on Saturdays. That’s pretty cool. Those are ears on Colorado music. That makes my heart happy.
Being heard on three “competing” stations in the same market is unprecedented – so big love to my friends at KRFC, Radio 94.9, and KUNC for supporting the show, and for supporting Colorado music throughout their programming.
Before I get too far into this, I need to make an apology to a few friends … In this week’s show I inadvertently credited the name “Oh, Starling” to Dave Preston and Rachel James — when in fact, “Oh, Starling” is Dan Craig and Jessica Sonner. I didn’t even realize I’d done it until I was listening … Dave and Rachel have a duo called “Dearling.”
I love what both duos have done. Dave and Rachel have been very creative with output this year. It’s been awhile since Dan and Jessica have found time to record, especially as Dan continues his medical/surgical residency. Much love to both couples.
April 2016 marks the official 10th anniversary of The Colorado Sound. It’s time for a change – to re-envision, re-brand, re-market, expand and grow. Plans are in the works. Our 10th ANNIVERSARY PARTY will be hosted by the Mishawaka Amphitheater. And, the very name “The Colorado Sound” will take on an entirely new meaning in February 2016.
I’ll be taking a break over Christmas to spend with my family. I’ll be back in two weeks with the BEST OF 2015, and while some of my personal favorites may make that list, here is what has been in steady rotation in my car.
FAVORITE CHRIS K. CAR-TUNES 2015
My favorite car-tunes of 2015 when I’m not listening to The Colorado Sound Live365 tend to bend strongly in a “country” direction… with the exception of my personal FAVORITE ALBUM OF THE YEAR – Megan Burtt‘s “The Bargain.” Her cd release show also stands out as my favorite show of the year that I was not directly and personally involved with in some capacity (same with the album).
FAVORITE NEW FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST of 2015 – Amberly Chalberg for her absolutely touching tribute to her father, “There Will Come A Day.” Two songs in particular, “Chicago” and “Big Blue Truck” are among my most played car-tunes.
FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST of 2015 – John Paul Hodge. Among my favorite car-tunes – “Big and Rich” and “Bakersfield Draw”
FAVORITE BLUEGRASS PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ARTIST – Erin Youngberg’s whimsical and mystical “She Wants to Eat the Moon” from the FY5 (Finnders and Youngberg) EP of the same name.
FAVORITE BLUEGRASS PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR BAND Rapidgrass Quintet – “Crooked Road” from album of the same name
FAVORITE ALT-COUNTRY ROCK ALBUM – Todd Ademan “Highways and Lowways.” There’s always got to be some back-beat mixed in with that country. Three songs made it into the car-tunes mix: “Cold Mississippi Blues,” “Right Before You Said Hello” and “The Devil Is for Drinking.”
FAVORITE BLUES/FUNK ALBUM – Chris Daniel’s & the Kings featuring Freddi Gowdy – “Funky To the Bone.” If you’re going to have some back-beat you gotta add some funkiness to it all. (Full Disclosure: Chris Daniels is a client of mine and among my closest friends … it’s still among my favorite car-tunes). Tracks in car-tunes mix: “Funky To the Bone,” “Something You Got”
FAVORITE AMERICANA/FOLK-ROCK SONG – King Cardinal “Gasoline” from “Once A Giant EP”
And although the rest of the country was a year behind us here in Colorado, Richie Furay’s “We Were the Dreamers” remains as one of my favorite car-tunes for 2015.
Ok, so my FAVORITE FOOD is BBQ … I’ve eaten it all over the country, in well over 150 bbq joints. Danny Shafer‘s “Barbecue” from his most recent, “Weddings, Floods and Funerals” makes the playlist as a favored car-tune of 2015. (Full Disclosure: Danny is a client of mine, one of my closest friends and handles booking for Oskar Blues … all of which means he’s responsible for the health of my wallet and my heart).
Fourth Estate “Joy” from Finesse And Fury (1992) Dave Beegle “A Simple Prayer” from Beyond the Desert (2003) (N) Maxwell Mud “All Kinds of Packages” from Maxwell Mud (2015) the Jekylls “Jingle Bells” from A Very Jekylls Christmas EP (2013) Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “Howling At Nothing” from Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (2015) (D) Foxfield Four “Steady to Me” (2016) (D) Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “Crime Scene Christmas” from It’s A Crime Scene Christmas (2015) Nina Storey “Waiting for Love” from Think Twice (2013) Drew Emmitt “Up Where We Are” from Across The Bridge (2005) Justin Roth “Rise” from Rise (2013) (D) Wendy Woo and Robin Hoch “Silent Night” from Soul Cake (2016) Oh, Starling “It Came Upon” from Joy (2009) Keith Oxman “The Oxman Returneth” from Caught Between the Lion and Twins (2008)
HOUR 2
Chris Daniels & the Kings “Santa’s Dog House Blues” from A Rocky Mountain Christmas Collection (2000) (D) Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene “Ride Santa Ride” from It’s A Crime Scene Christmas (2015) (D) Pandas & People “Watch it Burn” from SpokesBUZZ Band Together Volume VI (2015) Oh, Starling “God rest ye merry gentlemen” from Joy (2009) Von Stomper “Ain’t Seen It Yet” from Americado (2015) Coral Creek “Comes a Time” from Coral Creek (2015) Rob Solomon “Christmas Memories” from A Rocky Mountain Christmas Collection (2000) (D) The Burroughs “Cut You Down” from SpokesBUZZ Band Together Volume VI (2016) the Jekylls “First Song About Santa” from A Very Jekylls Christmas EP (2013) Goatz! “Once Upon a Snowflake” from Once Upon A Snowflake (2012) (D) Wendy Woo and Robin Hoch “Little Drummer Boy” from Soul Cake (2016) SHEL “On My Way” from SHEL (2012) Dana Landry Trio “To Wane” from Memphis Skyline (2014)
The Colorado Sound is supported by my incredible friends at theMishawaka Amphitheater … soon to be 100 years old, and yes they have shows year round … during the cold months indoors in the SpokesBUZZ lounge … see www.themishawaka.com for upcoming events. And, please thank them for supporting Colorado music.
The Colorado Sound SUPPORTS SpokesBUZZ … a Colorado 501C3 non-profit dedicated to supporting the global visibility of Colorado sound and culture and to developing the professionalism of our local artists. More info at www.SpokesBUZZ.org ….
It’s the time of year for family, friends, and parties. Not too much has gone on this week. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you vote for your favorites in the FAN POLL. I’m looking forward to sharing the best of the best from this year in our annual BEST OF show coming up in a couple of weeks. The POLL ends Dec 20.
One bit of news broke over the weekend. Veteran Irish Rock band the Indulgers lead singer/band leader Damien McCarron posted an end to their successful 17 year run.
THE COLORADO SOUND LIVE365
Besides the radio show, you can also stream the best of my collection anytime at The Colorado Sound Live365. We’re coming up on the third year that I’ve kept that sidebar going. The past few months have been sketchy to be honest. While the radio show enjoys the love of numerous stations statewide, the metrics on the online side have been slow to develop. A cry for listeners last week rose metrics to the best we’ve had in a few months – and reminded me that it takes constant promotion to make it real.
In order to help cover the costs of running the online station I went to ad supported for non subscribers, and ad-free for subscribers. Gotta thank one new subscriber this weekend.
I also learned that the order of songs is different depending on whether you’re a “free” listener (ad supported) or a subscription / VIP listener (non-ad).
Here’s an example from Monday (today) morning.
Ad supported three song set at 8:06AM
The Fray – Love Don’t Die
Elephant Revival – Birds And Stars
Leftover Salmon – Western Sky
VIP set at 8:07AM
Big Head Todd & The Monsters – Josephina
Yonder Mountain String Band – Criminal
Longest Day of the Year – Black Horse Canyon
These are the top ten songs you heard last week, through Saturday.
Edison – Be Someone Fox St. – Somethin About You John Oates – Stone Cold Love Megan Burtt – Fast As I Go The Motet – 123 Musketeer Gripweed – End of the Day Nathaniel Rateliff – Nothing to Show For OneRepublic – Counting Stars P-Nuckle – The System The String Cheese Incident – Outside and Inside
VIDEO PICK OF THE WEEK – BEST OF 2015
Here are the TOP 25 Colorado videos I collected this past year. Suffice it to say that Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats are the most popular export of the year – in every way imaginable. The list also includes: The Yawpers, Chris Daniels & the Kings w/ Freddi Gowdy, Richie Furay, Young Ancients, Medic, Rose Quartz, Andy Palmer, Esme Patterson, Ivory Circle, Tennis, Instant Empire, Safe Boating is No Accident, Treehouse Sanctum, The Knew, Rob Drabkin, Trout Steak Revival, Red Fox Run, SHEL, Kid Astronaut, Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene, Andy Hackbarth, Lara Ruggles, Rapidgrass Quintet
Support has been provided by Fat Pig Society (website coming) A Workers’ Cooperative – Thanks to Fat Pig Society for supplying us with ALL Organic Hemp Infused Coconut Oil to supplement my wife’s cancer treatment. For more information, until they get their website up, contact me at chriskmusic@gmail.com for information and a referral.
The Colorado Sound is supported by my incredible friends at theMishawaka Amphitheater … soon to be 100 years old, and yes they have shows year round … during the cold months indoors in the SpokesBUZZ lounge … see www.themishawaka.com for upcoming events. And, please thank them for supporting Colorado music.
The Colorado Sound SUPPORTS SpokesBUZZ … a Colorado 501C3 non-profit dedicated to supporting the global visibility of Colorado sound and culture and to developing the professionalism of our local artists. More info at www.SpokesBUZZ.org ….
Zephyr “Mad dog” from Heartbeat (1982) The Samples “Close to the Fires” from Samples (1990) (N) Joel Ansett “The Cycle” from The Nature of Us (2016) The Heyday “Had a Feeling” from Till We See the Sun (2010) Eldren “Everybody Went Crazy” from Welcome to Deathville (2015) Philip Bailey “Love Is Real” from Love Is Real (2010) P-Nuckle “The System” from The System (2013) Megan Burtt “In a Minute” from The Bargain (2015) Mollie O’Brien & Rich Moore “Sunday Street” from Love Runner (2014) King Cardinal “Gasoline” from One A Giant EP (2015) Leftover Salmon “Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes” from The Nashville Sessions (1999) Trout Steak Revival “Union Pacific” from Brighter Every Day (2015) Dana Landry Quartet “Puttin’ on the Ritz” from Standard Elevation (2015)
HOUR 2
Sweet Water Well “Zoeology” from Watermelon (1996) Acoustic Junction “Something” from Surrounded by Change (1994) (D) The Northern Empty “Suzie” from Suzie (2016) Land Lines “Plans” from Natural World (2014) Elephant Revival “Sands of Now” from Sands of Now (2015) Churchill “Made a List” from Change EP (2012) Red Fox Run “I Am a Fox” from Red Fox Run (2015) Sherri Jackson “Misery” from Sherri Jackson (1997) Lindsey O’Brien Band “Night Voice” from As Long As It Matters (2008) (N) The Wood Brothers “Without Desire” from Paradise (2015) (N) New Ben Franklins “Bob Wills Is Still the King” from Something Borrowed, Something Blue (2015) Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Mother’s Daughter” from Always Say Please and Thank You (2000) Analog Son “Funkin’ in the Am” from Stomp and Shout (2015)
Two enterprising Colorado arts organizations are joining forces in February 2016 to create performance and continuing education opportunities for Colorado musicians.
The Colorado Sound is supported by my incredible friends at the 
The Colorado Sound SUPPORTS SpokesBUZZ … a Colorado 501C3 non-profit dedicated to supporting the global visibility of Colorado sound and culture and to developing the professionalism of our local artists. More info at 
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 