9 years seems like some kind of milestone … I’m not sure why. Bohemian Nights AT New West Fest is 9 this year. New West Fest is 25. Perhaps it’s that New West West is 25 that’s the milestone. New West Fest is the official birthday party for the city of Fort Collins. There has been music at New West Fest over the entire 25 years, as I recall, but not always national it seems … and not always the focus. That much changed 9 years ago, when the Bohemian Foundation spun off Bohemian Nights.
I was at the first meetings for that inaugural season. The one thing that I remember being stressed then is the same thing that is stressed now – this organization and this event is about promoting COLORADO music. The nationals are here to support that effort. They are here to draw attention to our scene.
There are five major music festivals each year that focus on local/regional acts. FoCoMX (Fort Collins, April). CHUN Peoples’ Fair (Denver, June). Westword Music Showcase (Denver, June). Denver Post Underground Music Showcase (DPUMS, Denver, July). Bohemian Nights at New West Fest (Fort Collins, August).
A smaller one day event, The Capitol Hill Music Festival, launched this year featuring 20 local acts… including the Railbenders, Rebel Tongue, Take to the Oars, and Vices I Admire.
I am equally positive that there are other shows that focus on Colorado music regionally – such as the Carbon Valley Music & Spirits Festival, and others… but the five mentioned do stand out as being the major Colorado music events of the summer season.
Bohemian Nights has emerged as the premiere Colorado music event of the year – and one of the most well attended overall. It is the last major Colorado music event of the season… although the Capitol Hill Music Festival is also on Sat Aug 17.
Only the CHUN People’s Fair and Bohemian Nights at New West Fest are free to the public, and all ages throughout. A big emphasis is placed on youth as part of Bohemian Nights/New West Fest. The Kids’s Music Adventure is truly a unique one-of-a-kind experience for the kids and the adults who put it on. The Capitol Hill Music Festival also has a youth component to it; it’s a benefit for the Flobots initiative Youth on Record. 
At over 70 acts, it’s the broad representation of diverse talent and the production elements, along with exquisite musician services that define the quality of Bohemian Nights. It’s about legends, award winners and Colorado Music Hall of Fame inductees as well as locally emerging talent. It is the crown that caps the season – the last final big event of the summer before school really starts …in a city increasingly known as the music capital of Colorado for the focus placed on local music by the city, the Downtown Business Association, stations like KRFC, KUNC, and Radio94.9, and the Bohemian Foundation. Seriously brilliant.
Thanks for 9 incredible years everyone.
An embed is not possible for this blog, so pls go directly to this YouTube page for an entire overview of Bohemian Nights at New West Fest …
For the full lineup with links, music, schedules, and more … http://www.bohemiannights.org/
PLAYLIST S7 EP29 SPECIAL EDITION
BOHEMIAN NIGHTS AT NEW WEST FEST
how bout an 8 minute coffee break? 😉
Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band featuring Erica Brown “You’re Going to Miss Me” from Tangled Road Again (2013)
Bad Brad & the Fat Cats “Eyes on the Prize” from Eyes on the Prize (2013)
Ten Pound Elephant “Talk to Me” from Ten Pound Elephant (2012)
Juno What?! “Take Control of Your Body” from Shameless (2011)
The Epilouges “The Fallout” from Cinematics (2012)
Head for The Hills “Breakfast Noir” from Blue Ruin (2013)
Grant Farm “I Come From the Country” from Grant Farm (2012)
Post Paradise “Digging Secrets” from Digging Secrets (2013)
The Patti Fiasco “Small Town Lights” from Small Town Lights (2013)
You Me and Apollo “Oh My Molly” from You Me and Apollo (2012)
The Jekylls “You’re Probably Right” from The Sweet Factory (2012)
Jon Wirtz “Country” from Tourist (2013)
The Samples “Heaven” from Rehearsing for Life (2005)
Darryl Purpose “Dreams of Life” from Next Time Around (2012)
Chris Daniels “Better Days” from Better Days (2012)
Finders And Youngberg “Driftwood” from FY5 (2011)
El Toro de la Muerte “Things In My Head” from Dancer These Days (2011)
Air Dubai “Warning” [single] (2013)
My Body Sings Electric “Oceancrest” [single] (2013)
SHEL “The Battle of Evermore” from SHEL (2012)
Fierce Bad Rabbit “Shine A Light” from Maestro & the Elephant (2013)
Otis Taylor “Blue Rain In Africa” from My World Is Gone (2013)
Cassie Taylor “Out of My Mind” from Blue (2011)
Adam Bodine Trio “Up ‘N Hear” from Up ‘N Hear (2011)
Chris K's Colorado Playlist 