Tag: Denver music

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 EP43 2025

AIRDATES SAT DEC 06-FRI DEC 12 2025 MMMM = Bo Depena, David Lawrence & the Spoonful, The Dirty Turkeys, The Tammy Shine

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
__________________

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.
____________________

Acoustic Junction – Strange Days – Strange Days (2000)
Dressy Bessy – I Saw Cinnamon – Sound Go Round (2002)
(D) Bo Depena – Half of My Mistakes – Rather Move Up (2026)

Andy Frasco & The U.N. – Try Not to Die – Growing Pains (2025)
Augustus – Kick the Doors Down – Color TV and Tall Tales (2020)
Packaging – In Your Pocket – Packaging (2025)
Paper Bird – To the Light – Paper Bird (2016)
Edie Carey – The Chain – The Veil (2022)
Gasoline Lollipops – The River – Kill the Architect (2025)
(D) David Lawrence & the Spoonful – My House is Burning (2026)

Heavy Diamond Ring – Already Gone – The Brightest Light EP (2021)
The Lumineers – Blue Christmas (2016)
Keith Oxman – I Was Doing All Right (George Gershwin) – Doing All Right (2009)

Otis Taylor – Naggin’ Woman Blues – When Negroes Walked the Earth (2000)
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Viceroy Filter King – Always Say Please And Thank You (2000)
(D) The Dirty Turkeys – Soul Sugar (2026)

Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Crush – Her Way Out (2024)
King Cardinal – Christmas List (2019)
Analog Son – This Time Around f. Adryon de Leon – Keep It Coming (2025)
SHEL – You Could Be My Baby – Just Crazy Enough (2016)
The String Cheese Incident – Vertigo (2019)
Clay Street Unit – Rollin‘ – Sin and Squalor (2026)
(D) The Tammy Shine – Junk Mail – Ok Shine Ok (2026)

Planes Mistaken For Stars – Modern Logic – Do You Still Love Me? (2025)
Kerry Pastine and the Crime Scene – Crime Scene Christmas – It’s a Crime Scene Christmas! (2015)
Gerald Albright – Taking Control – G (2016)

THIS WEEK ON YOUTUBE (not all titles)

HOT SPINS WEEK DEC 07. 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 PLAYIST = 83 TITLES TRACKED
(D) 1. DRUNKEN HEARTS – The Other Side SP Nov-25
(D) 2. ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. – Tumbleweed w/JJ Grey SP Nov-25
(D) 2. ELBOW BROTHERS – Trinidad SP Nov-25
(R) 2. TENNIS – Face Down in The Garden LP Feb-25
(D) 3. ALEJANDRA MEZA – Too Bad, So Sad SP Jul-25
(D) 3. CLAY STREET UNIT – Where Have You Gone? / Let’s Get Stoned SP Sep-25
(D) 3. DOGTAGS – KNORR EP Apr-25
(R) 3. EVA ROSE KING – After Tale LP Feb-25
(R) 3. THE RIVER ARKANSAS – Tin Years LP Apr-25

CP S19 EP 42 2025

AIRDATES SAT NOV 29 thru FRIDAY DEC 05 2025. MMMM = Clay Street Unit, Drunken Hearts, Andy Frasco, Elbow Brothers. Stream on demand.

HAPPY HOLLY-DAZE .. I hope you had a tremendous Thanksgiving. As we wind down the year, I hope you’ll HELP SUPPORT THIS SHOW 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
__________________

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.

CP S19 EP42

CW McCall – Wolf Creek Pass – Best of CW McCall (1975)
Starwood – One Time Band – Home Brew (1975)
(D) Clay Street Unit – Where Have You Gone (2025)

The Lumineers – You’re All I Got – Automatic (2025)
Big Head Todd and the Monsters – Hey Delila – Black Beehive (2014)
Eva Rose King, Taylor Ashton – Snapshot – After Tale (2025)
Darryl Purpose – Dreams of Life – Next Time Around (2012)
Megan Burtt – Restless – The Bargain (2015)
The River Arkansas – People Call Me Crazy – Tin Years (2025)
(D) Drunken Hearts – The Other Side (2026)

Boot Gun – Hey Hey – Take What You Got (2020)
Hunter James and the Titanic – Stranger Touch – IV (2025)
Annie Booth Trio – It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – Festive! (2016)

Freddi Henchi Band – Celebration (f. Larry Wilkens) – Freddi Henchi Band (1981)
Zephyr – I Must Be Dreaming – Heartbeat (1981)
(D) Andy Frasco & the U.N. feat JJ Grey – Tumbleweed (2026)

Big Dopes – Draggin’ This On (2025)
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver – Diabolical Catholic – Lick My Soul (2023)
Vivian Oblivion – Animals (2025)
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – I Need Never Get Old – Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (2015)
DeVotchKa – Contrabanda – 100 Lovers (2011)
Tennis – 12 Blown Tires – Face Down In the Garden (2025)
(D) The Elbow Brothers – Going to Trinidad (2025)

Bevin Luna – Masquerade – Madison and Angelus (2022)
The Velveteers – Go Fly Away – A Million Knives (2025)
Nelson Rangell – Do You Hear What I Hear – All I Hope for Christmas (2007)

THIS WEEK ON YOUTUBE (not all titles)

HOT SPINS WEEK ENDING NOV 20, 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 country.

ALL STATIONS + THE COLORADO PLAYLIST – 66 TITLES TRACKED

(D) 1. EMILY SCOTT ROBINSON – Appalachia / Dirt Bag Saloon SP Oct-25
(R) 1. LEFTOVER SALMON – Let’s Party About It LP Mar-25
(1) 2. GASOLINE LOLLIPOPS – Kill the Architect LP Mar-25
(D) 3. THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – 20/20 LP Aug-25
(2) 4. BEST MAN – People Pleaser LP May-25

PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE COLORADO PLAYLIST