Tag: Fort Collins

MISHAWAKA AMPHITHEATRE ANNOUNCES 100th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EVENTS

Mish Logo JPGBELLVUE, Colo., Jan. 7, 2016 — Two themes have remained constant at Mishawaka Amphitheatre over the years: music and community.

Homesteaded in 1916 by Walter S. Thompson (and originally called “Thompson’s Resort”), Mishawaka Amphitheatre has provided a memorable gathering spot for Colorado residents and visitors to enjoy food and beverage, art, music, and spectacular natural surroundings for 100 years. Today, venue owners announced plans to celebrate the Mishawaka’s 100th anniversary with a series of events, specials, community-minded collaborations and concerts, kicking off in January with festivities extending through September 2016.

Dani Grant, Mishawaka Amphitheatre general manager, describes the plans as individual events connected to historical happenings. “We looked at significant dates in 1916 and planned related celebrations,” Grant said. “It is our intention to honor Mishawaka and her fans with each special event, all of which will maintain the music and community focus. It is such an honor to invite everyone to enjoy this incredible authentic place and its history. We are all very excited about commemorating the upcoming 100th year.”

Grant said the anniversary celebration will include deals and discounts at the restaurant, the release of Mishawaka Ale (a 2016 signature Odell Brewing Company beer), a video premier, building with Habitat for Humanity, a commissioned original art release and gallery show featuring local artist Chris Bates, VIP parties, and more. The pinnacle event will be a special 100th anniversary concert featuring a surprise national touring act to be announced with the 2016 season lineup.

More details will be released over time on all of the events currently being planned, and perhaps more that may come to fruition. The information will be made available via the Mishawaka website (www.themishawaka.com) and through social media channels. A general schedule of events can be found below:

Mishawaka Amphitheatre 100th Anniversary Celebration (current schedule of events)

Steak Your Claim: February through September 2016

February kicks off this season-long special restaurant offer. The original property homestead application fee for The Mishawaka property was a mere $18, and Walter S. Thompson paid it in February of 1916. Mishawaka wants to treat customers and the community to a hearty dinner special including a steak, an appetizer and a draft beer — all for $18. Available February through September 2016.

Sleep-out at The Mish + Chris Bates Original Mishawaka 100 Art Reveal: March 2016

In March of 1916, the Thompson family had their first overnight at the property. In March of 2016, Mishawaka will host a sleepover party with musical entertainment for customers. The sleepover will be preceded by a gallery exhibit revealing the Mishawaka 100th anniversary art piece commissioned from local artist Chris Bates. Details will be announced February 1, 2016.

Season Lineup Video Premier at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery OtterBox Digital Dome: April 2016

Join us to find out what the 2016 season line up has to offer and see the 2016 Mishawaka video filmed by Koi-Fly Productions in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Additionally, see the museum’s exhibit on the High Park Fire and learn more about the survivors and the horrific event that caused so much strife in the canyon. This event will be free and open to the public, but will require RSVP as space will be very limited. RSVP access for the season lineup and video viewing will be released March 1.

Odell Brewing Company Releases Mishawaka Ale: May 2016

Odell Brewing Company will release a signature seasonal beer dubbed Mishawaka Ale. The first opportunity for the public to try it will be at our annual season kickoff concert, Head for the Hills “Pickin’ on the Poudre” on May 14. Tickets will be available when the season opens in April of 2016.

Habitat for Humanity and Mishawaka Partner to Raise Roofs: June 2016

In June of 1916, Walter S. Thompson began to build the famous dance hall. In order to get it done, he relied on the mental and physical support of extended family and friends. Mishawaka values the help of family and community to make dreams come true, so we partnered with Habitat for Humanity to raise funds for their organization and celebrate community spirit. Join us in June 2016 for a Habitat for Humanity building event that includes musical entertainment and refreshments by Mishawaka. Details will be announced in April 2016.

Unveiling the Historical Chronicle and Exhibit at Mishawaka Amphitheatre: August 2016

There are many artifacts and media pieces that have been collected over the years by fans and friends of Mishawaka. We are creating a permanent display of these items for the public to enjoy. The details will be released for this event in July 2016. If you have any Mishawaka artifacts or memorabilia to share with us, please contact us at info@themishawaka.com.

The Colorado Sound S10 – BEST OF 2015 + NEW BEGINNINGS

Goat_Logo_color_on_whiteHappy New Year.  It was a hellova year in 2015, personally for sure, but also in our scene.  It’s Monday morning.  Besides Colorado music and radio, I’m also a homer when it comes to the Broncos who I had the pleasure of witnessing live as they won against San Diego and tied up the #1 seed going into the playoffs.

Please don’t ask me about the Avs or the Nuggets … I don’t watch either – just as I don’t listen to or promote certain styles of music, such as metal/punk or rap.   So I’ll accept the criticism that the show is not inclusive of these styles, just as my preference for sports locally is solely Broncos and nothing else.

Over the years I’ve published a best of that detailed, more or less, what Colorado titles were aired at over a dozen stations statewide — including KAFM (Grand Junction), KBUT (Crested Butte), KRFC (Fort Collins), KSUT (Ignacio/Durango), KDUR (Durango), KRCC (Colorado Springs), KUNC (Greeley), KOTO (Telluride), KRZA (Alamosa), KVNF (Paonia), and a few others.

However, last April, I lost all of my spin data (no, I didn’t backup) so I suspended my tracking for the year.  That plus the fact that’s it is incredibly time consuming to keep track of over 300 titles played at stations across the state. What we got in this year’s BEST OF 2015 represents what I saw played without counting spins, what I personally liked, and what fans liked.

The fan favorite list for 2015 is interesting.  Some of the bands definitely got their fanbase riled up to vote for them – hence we have some titles in the list that really never got much in the way of radio support from me, or from stations around the state.  Such is the nature of fan polls – it’s totally about getting your base out to vote for you.

FAN FAVORITE TOP 20

1. Michal Menert – Space Jazz 
2. Longest Day Of The Year – Carapace 
3. Michal Menert – Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics 1 
4. Grim & Darling – Beauty Through Pain 
5. Michael Kirkpatrick – Honey Rider 
6. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats 
7. Megan Burtt – The Bargain 
8. Matt Skellenger – New Radio
9. Nathaniel Rateliff – Closer
10. Grandpa’s Gun – Back Into Town
11. Richie Furay – Hand In Hand
12. Andy Hackbarth – Panorama Motel
12. The Yawpers – American Man
13. Mojomama – Mojomama
13. Natalie Walker – Strange Bird
14. Cary Morin – Tiny Town
14. Elephant Revival – Sands of Now
14. Yonder Mountain String Band – Black Sheep
15. Montropo – Follow Me

TOP NEWS & NOTES 2015

Some of the biggest NEWS & NOTES of 2015 involved some of the most loved and well known venues in the Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins area, and a few guys who are or have been involved with music in our scene over the years.

Former Swallow Hill booking manager David Weingarden and his partner Chris Peck, as Z2 Entertainment inked a deal last summer to book the historic Mishawaka Amphitheatre.  Z2 also books the Fox Theater and the Boulder Theater.  David was instrumental in booking the Botanic Gardens while with Swallow Hill, and Chris came from AC Entertainment in TN, where he was instrumental in booking Bonoroo among other events.

Swallow Hill Music appointed Paul M. Lhevine as Chief Executive Officer of the 36-year-old Colorado home for roots, folk and acoustic music. Paul came to Swallow Hill Music from the Aurora Public Schools Foundation (APSF), where he served as Executive Director while also performing duties as Director of External Affairs for the school district.  Former Swallow Hill executive director Tom Sharf landed the gig as Music Programs Director for the Bohemian Foundation.

Among the biggest stories regionally, Scoo Leary sold the Aggie Theater in Fort Collins to Scott Morrill and his partners, who also own Cervantes in Denver.  Scott and Scoo worked together at Hodi’s Half Note in Fort Collins from 2007-2009.  Scott purchased Cervantes from Jay Bianchi, who also owns Quixotes in Denver.  Jay opened Owsley’s Golden Road on “the Hill” in Boulder this past year.

NEW BEGINNINGS 2016

mishawakaApril marks the 10th anniversary of The Colorado Sound.  2016 marks the 100th birthday of the Mishawaka Amphitheatre.  Expect a combined Anniversary / Birthday Party event this spring.  Date TBA.

The Colorado Sound Live365 may be going away at the end of January.  I got the news over the past week that

“Recently, the Copyright Royalty Board, the governing entity for establishing the sound recording royalty rates that are paid to copyright holders, published the new rates for 2016-20. The previous provisions for small webcasters to opt for a percentage of revenue model were not renewed. The absence of this license will make legally streaming copyrighted musical content prohibitively expensive for many small to mid-sized Internet broadcasters.

Live365 faced an additional blow, losing the support of its investors who have helped the company with its mission for over a decade.”

According to the email, they’ll keep going until the end of January while they look for and negotiate with potential investors.  Fingers crossed that we’ll get to keep the platform, although I’m sure it will mean increased costs in the least.

The BIGGEST NEW BEGINNING is I’ll be looking for a new name for the show over the next 6 weeks.  I can’t why exactly, except that I sold the name.  The BIG news on that will be forthcoming soon, I’m sure.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM MR & MRS GOAT

My girl!
My girl!

Deadly disease, we’ve learned, is a family affair.  The impending too-early life transition from earth to wherever may only directly affect the breath of one, but also the heart and ongoing lives of those closest to them, be they family or friends.

Mrs Goat has stage IV metastatic melanoma.  It’s a nasty deadly disease that has extremely limited options for treatment, and now none of which she’s qualified for according to the doctors we’ve seen. The available treatments are now considered too toxic for Miss Pattie.

The curse is that it got into Miss Pattie’s brain and other organs.  She had a massive brain seizure on December 23 at approx 8:40AM as she and I and our daughter were having coffee.

Pattie spent several days being cared for at Good Samaritan hospital in Lafayette.  I cannot say enough good about the experience, as painful as it was.  She is now in hospice care at home.

We don’t know what the next year holds for us.  No one can say for sure whether Mrs Goat will be here in six weeks, six months, or a year .. no one has yet suggested more than a year.  As such, we’re living the best days of our lives as a family – extended as it is throughout our music and radio community.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your love and support.  We deeply appreciate the additional financial support you’ve been providing via our gofundme page, set up by a member of the family.

Goatz! will continue.  Miss Pattie will be on stage as she’s able.  We have shows set up for Feb 12 (Tasty Weasel, Longmont), March 3 (Oskar Blues, Lyons), and March 26 (Avogadro’s Number, Fort Collins with Kerry Pastine & the Crime Scene).

Folks have been asking what we need.  Right now the most pressing need is more business.  I have advertising space available on the show, and time for consulting and servicing Colorado music to media and municipal agencies statewide.  Please email thecoloradosound@gmail.com for more information.

Have a safe, happy and loving 2016.  We love you very much.

Mr & Mrs Goat aka Chris K & Miss Pattie aka Chris and Pattie Kresge

PLAYLIST S10 BEST OF 2015

HOUR 1

Michael Kirkpatrick “I’m Your Man” from Honey Rider (2015)
Leftover Salmon “High Country” from High Country (2015)
Grandpa’s Gun “Trucker Mouth” from Back Into Town (2015)
The Longest Day Of The Year “Last Gray Day” from Carapace (2015)
Montropo “Follow Me” from Follow Me (2015)
Trout Steak Revival “Colorado River” from Brighter Every Day (2015)
The Railsplitters “Tilt-a-whirl” from The Faster It Goes (2015)
Finnders & Youngberg “She Wants to Eat the Moon” from Eat The Moon (2015)
Otis Taylor “Red Meat” from Hey Joe Opus Red Meat (2015)
Ian Cooke “Epilogue” from Antiquasauria
Land Lines “Plans” from Natural World (2014)
In The Whale “Mail” from Full Nelson (2015)
Analog Son “Shady Nights” from Stomp and Shout (2015)

HOUR 2

Andy Hackbarth “Panorama Motel” from Panorama Motel (2015)
Grim & Darling “Quicksand” from Beauty Through Pain (2015)
Young Ancients “Going Back to Tulsa (Tulsa)” from Fishstory (2015)
Cary Morin “Yellow Bird” from Tiny Town (2015)
The Yawpers “Burdens” from American Man (2015)
Richie Furay “Hand in Hand” from Hand In Hand (2015)
Chris Daniels & the Kings “Funky to the Bone” from Funky To the Bone (2015)
Michal Menert “Lightyears Apart” from Space Jazz (2015)
Michal Menert “High Noon” from Michal Menert & the Pretty Fantastics 1 (2015)
Megan Burtt “Fast as I Go” from The Bargain (2015)
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats “S.O.B” from Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (2015)
Matt Skellenger “The Curve” from New Radio (2014)

The CS S9 EP48 – Favorites & Changes

Mr & Mrs Goat .. Aug 2013
Mr & Mrs Goat .. Aug 2013

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.

https://www.reverbnation.com/finndersandyoungberg/song/23792310-she-wants-to-eat-the-moon?wordpress=1&pwc%5Bsize%5D=small

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).

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PLAYLIST S9 EP48 2015

HOUR 1

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)

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mishawakaThe Colorado Sound is supported by my incredible friends at the Mishawaka 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.

SpokesBuzz Fort Collins logoThe 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 ….

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