:: Leftover Salmon ::

:: Aquatic Hitchhiker CD release concert ::

:: 700 block of Santa Fe Drive ::

:: May 13 from 1 to 6 p.m. ::

By Brian F. Johnson

No more pussy footin’ around about it. Leftover Salmon is no longer on hiatus —that ended years ago. And this year they will officially shelve the “reunion” status they’ve been playing under since they started dabbling in shows again in 2007.

No, in 2012 Leftover Salmon doesn’t need a qualifier for their status. For the first time since 2002, the band is simply that — a band — firing on all cylinders with a tour schedule of more than 60 dates lined up for the year.

“Yeah, were a full-on band again, man,” said guitarist and Leftover Salmon co-founder Vince Herman, during a recent interview with The Marquee.

Herman — never one to sound like Eeyore in the first place — was particularly lively, when The Marquee caught up with him while on a tour stop in Atlanta. It was the first day after a few weeks on tour when the group had time to stop and do laundry, and aside from the struggle of getting the machine to work, Herman seemed down-right giddy about the prospect of clean clothes.

But that nugget of joy was minor in comparison to Herman’s other reasons for being so jolly. The lead singer, who in recent months has dropped some serious weight and is working hard to keep it off, seems to have signed a new lease on life that is showing up in his health, his love life, and most importantly for us, in the band that he helped start back in 1989.

“It was time to shit or get off the pot,” he laughed. “You can only do the reunion stuff for so long before people start saying, ‘Well, are you a band or not?’”

Herman was quick to point out that he and his Leftover bandmates will continue to pursue their side projects, but that for the first time since the hiatus, Salmon is the main focus.

“I’m going to keep Great American Taxi going and I want to keep playing with my kids. We don’t want to put all of our eggs in one basket. We all have side projects that are worth maintaining and it brings other energy to the band when you can get out and do other things, you know? But man, this has just been too much fun,” he said.

All of that fun has resulted in Leftover Salmon’s first album in eight years — Aquatic Hitchhiker, which will be released May 22 on the band’s own label LoS Records. The album, which was recorded in Denver at Mighty Fine Studios, and in Portland, Ore. at Cloud Sound Studios, was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, and Herman said that they had the unique experience of having Berlin involved in some of the writing sessions for the album.

“This was way more collaborative than anything that we’ve ever done before. In the past a lot of songs came pre-assembled, where the writer kind of had an idea of what they wanted it to sound like. For this process, we were writing for the record and we had some writing sessions where we got together and hung out for a few days and generated material. That was a really different process for us and having Steve there for those sessions really helped facilitate a lot of great ideas too,” Herman said.

As with past Leftover Salmon albums, Herman and mandolin virtuoso Drew Emmitt shouldered a large portion of the writing duties, but Aquatic Hitchhiker also features a song by bassist Greg Garrison, “Gone For Long,” and two songs, including the title track, by banjo shredder and Leftover’s newest member, Andy Thorn.

Herman gave Thorn great praise and admitted that the addition of the newest and youngest member of the group has a lot to do with the band’s new energy and enthusiasm. “Andy coming into the picture is definitely a major part of this,” said Herman. “He’s just a really talented kid. It’s phenomenal the shit he can play. It’s pretty out of hand.”

Leftover Salmon was one of the first bands that Thorn saw live at the age of 15, when he was growing up in North Carolina, and it’s clear in his playing that Leftover’s founding banjoist Mark Vann — who passed away in 2002 — was an integral influence on Thorn’s style. But Herman said that there is something more to Thorn’s style that the group is absolutely relishing. “It’s his willingness to go out and play really weird shit, while sticking to the real traditional bluegrass, which makes him really Mark-like. You never know what way he’s going to go on a solo,” Herman said. “You know we’ve all evolved as players by doing our other projects — it’s really expanded our ears. And so when you put that together — the songs, the new material, the players developing a bit more — it just kind of ends up that we’re a better band than when we dropped off, especially with Andy Thorn in that ‘BanJovi’ position.”

While the band was cutting the album in Portland, they were joined by a crew from iClips.net, which filmed and is now releasing a five-part documentary on Leftover and the creation of Aquatic Hitchhiker. Obviously influenced by the esoteric IFC Channel sketch comedy show “Portlandia,” the documentary bares the name Salmonlandia, and is being released as a five episode series on iClips.net. The series includes five download tracks, three of which are on the new album, and two of which are available only through iClips.

“Any more, trying to figure out what an album is, you have to expand, I guess,” said Herman. “You’ve got to throw some other things in to get it done.”

One of the things that Salmon will be throwing in for local fans is an unprecedented CD release party. Never ones to be satisfied with an ordinary soiree, Leftover Salmon will be taking over the Santa Fe Arts District the weekend before the CD is officially released, to host a free afternoon show in the middle of the 700 block of Santa Fe Drive in Denver. The party, which runs from 1 to 6 p.m. will also serve as a benefit for Conscious Alliance.

“We’re hoping that it’s an absolute fucking mess and there are way too many people,” Herman said. “It’s a great way to celebrate where we’re from and to celebrate the new record. A party in the streets? You know it doesn’t take much to convince me to do something like that.”

:: Leftover Salmon ::

:: Aquatic Hitchhiker CD release concert ::

:: 700 block of Santa Fe Drive ::

:: May 13 from 1 to 6 p.m. ::

Recommended if you Like:

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• New Grass Revival

:: Deer Tick ::

:: Bluebird Theater :: May 13 ::

By Timothy Dwenger

In the music industry there is such a huge difference between recording in a studio and performing live. Bands like The Beatles chose to give up touring entirely and focus on the sound they could only achieve in the studio, while other bands, like The Rolling Stones, seemed to focus more on harnessing the energy and power of their live show in studio settings. It’s a delicate line, and one that’s difficult to toe without alienating one group of fans or another. Are people coming to the shows to hear what they heard on the record? Or are they coming because they genuinely have a love for the band, their creative passion, and what they do on stage?

Providence, Rhode Island’s Deer Tick may not be The Stones or The Beatles, but they certainly are one of the most creatively prolific bands of recent memory. With four albums and two EPs in their short, seven-year career, John McCauley and his various band members have flirted with folk while remaining, at heart, a rock and roll band. Their most recent record, Divine Providence, proves this, in spades.

“I think we were desperate to record something that would capture our live shows,” McCauley said in a recent interview with The Marquee as he prepared to head out on a two-month tour. “Even when we play old tunes like ‘Spend the Night,’ now it sounds more like T. Rex than anything else. We’re able to kind of adapt to whatever situation we’re stuck playing in, but we got really sick of a lot of it, so we made it our mission to make a louder album. I think it really takes coming to a live show to ‘get’ us.”

The ‘us’ that McCauley is referring to is he and his four bandmates. While Deer Tick used to be a rotating cast of characters, McCauley is adamant that the current incarnation of the band is as permanent as it can get. “We’ve been a solid five-piece for a few years now,” he said. “This is the definitive lineup. If anybody quits or dies, Deer Tick is done. It’s me and Ian O’Neil on guitar, Chris Ryan on the bass, Rob Crowell on keys and sax, and Dennis Ryan on drums. We all sing.”

That idea of everyone singing is something that’s relatively new to Deer Tick. Until Divine Providence was released, McCauley was the only one who sang, but the new record features Ryan singing the dark tune “Clownin’ Around,” about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy, Jr. Ryan does a great job on the tune (in fact it’s one of the standout tunes on the album) and McCauley promises it’s not the last time that one of his bandmates will be featured on lead vocals. “I’ve always wanted to be in a band and not the star of the John McCauley show, so it seemed like the right move,” he said. “Yes, we’ll be doing a lot more of that.”

As evidence to this, Deer Tick released an EP entitled Tim back in February that showcases McCauley’s bandmate Ian O’Neil singing lead on another fantastic track, “She’s Not Spanish To Me.” While this EP is comprised of songs that were leftover from the sessions for Divine Providence, it is definitely not just a collection of cutting room rejects. “They’re good songs in my opinion, and didn’t need to be re-recorded,” McCauley said as he explained why the band decided to release the EP. “We just felt they didn’t fit the mood of the Divine Providence record.” He went on to laugh a little about why the band decided to name the EP “Tim.” “Tim is Tim Putnam, owner of our record label Partisan Records,” he said. “We almost got it manufactured with his face on the cover without him knowing about it but the guy who mastered it, John Baldwin, screwed up and mentioned ‘The Tim EP’ in an e-mail chain and let the cat out of the bag. We like to fuck with Tim. He likes to fuck with us, too.” Gag name or not, Tim is a very solid five-song EP that even allows fans a glimpse into the band’s past with an acoustic version of the Divine Providence gem “Main Street.”

Divine Providence and Tim are definitely a departure from what many Deer Tick fans may have been expecting, but anyone who has seen the band live knows they are also Deer Tick projects through and through. Many of the songs feature McCauley’s strained vocal chords cranking out thought provoking lyrics, but they are flavored with a punk sensibility that was absent from earlier records. In fact, it’s the edginess of The Ramones and The Replacements, that has taken the place of influences like John Prine and Hank Williams and keep these recent releases from being filed under Folk.

So, whether you are a fan of the old Deer Tick or the new, you have to give McCauley and his band credit for stepping to the plate and having the guts to put out an album that was unlike anything they had released before. The irony here is that on Divine Providence they were doing it to give the world a better picture of what they are like when they are performing live and in their element.

:: Deer Tick ::

:: Bluebird Theater :: May 13 ::

Recommended if you Like:

• Blitzen Trapper

• The Black Keys

• The Ramones

:: Roadhouse Rebels ::

:: Oriental Theatre :: May 27 ::

By Brian F. Johnson

It’s the afternoon of 4/20 and Particle keyboardist Steve Molitz has just hopped off a plane in Jacksonville, Fla., on his way to the Wanee Music Festival. That night, he and Particle will cap the day’s festivities with a late-night set that follows performances by Furthur and The Allman Brothers Band. But, as he dashes through the airport, politely but quickly directing traveling companions and greeters, his mind is focused on another task  — talking with The Marquee about his side project Roadhouse Rebels.

“We have a runner. They’re meeting us here,” he said to his crew. “Could you call this number and coordinate, please? And I’ll just get in the car,” he said.

Without missing a step, he’s back on Roadhouse Rebels — a band that he helped put together based around a musical friendship he’s developed over the last decade with rock and roll royalty, The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger.

“We’re always exploring. To me, complacency is the enemy in any creative field. We all have our other groups, but it’s really nice to step out of the normal way of doing things and get a fresh perspective, and we get that by playing with different people,” said Molitz.

Molitz and Krieger met in the Los Angeles music scene in 2002, and Krieger joined Particle on stage at various times over the years. “We loved his playing, but we also loved that he’s on a quest. Robby loves playing and he’s on a lifelong journey, always trying to discover new stuff and try new things,” Molitz recalled.

Earlier in the day, Molitz had connected The Marquee with Krieger, who eagerly talked about the passion that projects like this bring to his music. “This is really liberating,” Krieger told The Marquee. “It’s great to play with Ray [Manzarek], and we do stretch out on certain songs, but the audience expects to hear certain songs, and we can’t very well let them down. But with something like Roadhouse Rebels, we can change stuff up and get away with it.”

Krieger was 18 when he joined The Doors, and the guitarist penned some of The Doors most notable songs, including “Light My Fire,” — one of the first songs Krieger ever wrote.

Four decades after the death of Jim Morrison and the demise of The Doors, Krieger teamed with Molitz and developed Roadhouse Rebels with John Avila of Oingo Boingo on bass. In 2010 the group played a few shows with some other percussionists. This year however, Molitz, who has been playing with and appeared on Black Crowes co-founder Rich Robinson’s newest album Through A Crooked Sun, invited Robinson along for the ride, and he, in turn, brought along his drummer Joe Magistro.

The formula for the group is simple. Take material from each artist, mix it up throughout the set and toss in some covers from artists they appreciate, but rarely get to play. “The first time, we played a bunch of different covers, including some Santana and some Grateful Dead covers,” Molitz said. “We’re getting to explore material and ways of playing that we wouldn’t do in our own groups. You’ll probably never go see Robby and Ray play and walk in on them doing a Grateful Dead classic. Similarly, you probably won’t hear Particle playing Santana.”

These days especially, it seems that Krieger is open to all sorts of music outside the box. He and his fellow surviving Doors, Manzarek and drummer John Densmore, recently recorded the first new material by the three of them since 1978’s American Prayer. Shockingly, it wasn’t rock and roll that brought them together. It was dubstep.

Laptop shredder and hotshot producer Skrillex was able to assemble the surviving Doors to play on the track “Breakin’ A Sweat” for the documentary film Re:Generation. “We’ve done that Skrillex song and we just did something else with Tech N9ne,” Krieger said.

Krieger didn’t know who Skrillex was when his manager first confronted him with the dubstep idea, but Krieger asked some kids who were at his house washing cars, and based on their seal of approval agreed to do the project, and shockingly, the guitarist gave the producer some big kudos. “It’s weird, but you know, he really plays that thing [his laptop] like an instrument. It was really cool. It’s different, but it’s still an instrument the way he’s doing it and he’s got some talent,” Krieger said.

He added that while all three Doors weren’t in the same room at the same time — over the years, Krieger and Manzarek have battled with Densmore over various legal and personal issues — that these collaborations could be a sign of things to come. “We weren’t all there at the same time, but we were all on the same track. This could be a trend,” said Krieger, adding that if the opportunity presented itself he could imagine a time when all three share the stage again. “If it were up to me, it’d be no problem,” he said. “I’m sure it will happen at some point.”

In the meantime, Krieger will play a couple of Roadhouse Rebels shows this summer, before he takes off on a big world tour with Manzarek.

:: Roadhouse Rebels ::

:: Oriental Theatre :: May 27 ::

Recommended if you Like:

• The Doors

• Particle

• Rich Robinson

::Rodina ::

:: The Bluebird :: May 10 ::

By Brian Turk

In the U.K., funk music is an underground scene. Here in the Front Range, it’s a mainstay.

The New Mastersounds are one of those mainstays here, despite being from Leeds, England. And now New Mastersounds keyboardist Joe Tatton is hammering his Hammond in a new Colorado-based side project — Rodina.

Rodina is a who’s who of Denver talent, and the entire lineup is rooted in funk and reeks of Jazz Fest and Jam Cruise. Tatton and his partner, singer Aoife Hearty, have been performing under the name Rodina for a few years, but now they have added Joshua Fairman on bass (Kinetix), James Dumm on guitar (Fox Street All Stars), Eric Low on drums (Fox Street All Stars) and Joel Scanlon on percussion (Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad).

“Rodina started off as a songwriting partnership, between myself and Aoife, and we recorded an album about two or three years ago, called Over the Sun,” said Tatton in a recent inter-continental conversation with The Marquee. “The album had a quite ambient and jazzy influence; sort of Morcheba/Zero 7. We recorded with a lot of great U.K. musicians, and we gigged it around a bit. We played with so many different musicians, but Rodina was basically just Aoife and I.”

But that all changed last summer at a festival here in America. “I met up with Josh Fairman at Summer Camp in the States, while I was playing with The New Mastersounds, and Josh was playing with Kinetix. Josh jammed with us at Summer Camp, and then me and Aoife went out to stay with Josh in Denver, and we did a couple of little shows out there. We went to his studio and met a lot of cool guys; that’s how the Denver connection started really,” Tatton said.

Once the connection was made, sparks flew, and a new Rodina began to form. “In January we got an opening slot for George Porter Jr. at Cervantes’ Other Side, and at the same time we recorded an EP at Josh’s studio, which we’ll be releasing when we come over in May. Both the show at Cervantes’ and the EP feature artists from other great Denver bands as well, and we are going under the collaboration title of Rodina,” said Tatton.

When Rodina’s original chill sound and vibe was introduced to the jam friendly Colorado musicians that its lineup now includes, what emerged was a more danceable and crowd friendly Rodina. “It’s really quite diverse, but there will be a fair portion of funk and soul in there, just because of what my background is, and some of the other guys,” said Tatton. “It’s got a very nice jam band element to it. I see it becoming quite an exciting original project. The stuff we’ve done in the studio, it’s thrashing out and jamming, but it is influenced and refers to the pop and the jazz quite nicely. I’ve got songs, Aoife’s got songs, Josh has written some funk tunes. It’s a real mixed bag.”

Not only is it a mixed bag, it’s also a cross-continental endeavor, with the musicians developing material while being separated by the Atlantic. “It’s quite strange, because this project is crossing the ocean. I am recording vocal parts and keyboards over here, and sending it to Josh in Colorado,” said Tatton.

In addition to his duties on bass, Fairman is also known for his talents in the studio. Fairman and percussionist Scanlon operate Laskin Productions, and Fairman is doing a majority of the producing on this project, with Tatton stepping in on the rest. Although Rodina’s members are living on two different continents, Tatton is pleased with the ability to use technology to compensate for distance, and he sees a bright future for Rodina. “We are hoping to have an album by the end of this year, with this lineup, and we’ll definitely be doing it at Josh and Joel’s studio — which is really amazing.”

The next chapter of Rodina is being written this month, as they start spreading their new sounds around Colorado and California, bringing the EP they recorded with them. “We are doing a couple of shows in Colorado, and then a short run down the West Coast, from Seattle to Los Angeles. It’s really exciting how it’s all seemed to come together in the last month. I am excited to see where it goes, and it’s going to be formed by how these shows go, really,” said Tatton.

Colorado is very appealing for the seeds of a new and genre-blending project like Rodina; Tatton feels this music scene provides a more fertile ground for this group than he’d find back home. “The U.K. is funny, because everything has to be pigeon holed. The U.S. opens its arms to the kind of music that crosses over boundaries. I find it such a better experience gigging over there in the States, because you can just try something new, and you can just mix it up a bit,” he said. “People who come to one type of show usually also like many other types of music. That’s why I am quite excited.”

::Rodina ::

:: The Bluebird :: May 10 ::

Recommended if you Like:

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• Portishead

•  Galactic

Thanks to everyone who submitted a haiku for the chance to win a pair of passes to Wakarusa. Winners will receive an email by 5/18/12.

By Brian F. Johnson

www.wakarusa.com

May 31 – June 3

Mulberry Mountain

Ozark, Ark.

Wakarusa may be held more than 14 hours away in Arkansas, but the festival is one of the most Colorado events that takes place outside our state’s borders. From the bands to the production crews to the heady music freaks who attend, year after year, the Colorado contingent shows up loud and proud at Wakarusa.

So, it’s not surprising that this year the festival will host Fort Collins headliner Pretty Lights as well as the live-tronic duo of Big Gigantic. But the list of Colorado-based acts also includes everyone from the Emmit-Nershi Band and Head for the Hills to The Lumineers, Nathaniel Rateliff, VibeSquaD, Paper Diamond, and Eoto, among others. The roster of Colorado acts shows the changing musical landscape of the festival circuit, while also reinforcing what a driving force the Rocky Mountain region is in the national scene.

Located in a remote corner of the Ozarks, Wakarusa has always held its festival grounds in high regard and this year, their Recycalusa program is back. Attendees are encouraged to sign up for the clean concert pledge at cleanconcert.org, which has a simple message: “Leaving no trace, starts with you.”

Wakarusa started humbly eight years ago and while its crowds and its lineup have grown to be on par with the country’s biggest fests, there’s still something very homegrown about the vibe.

You’re going there to see: Pretty Lights, The Avett Brothers, Primus, and Umphrey’s McGee.

You’re going to come home talking about: The Weir, Robinson & Greene Acoustic Trio, which debuted at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.

TRAVEL TIME:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Ozark, Ark.)

Total Est. Time: 14 hours, 28 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 920 miles

YOU NEED TO KNOW: Wakarusa and  Boulder-based Conscious Alliance will once again partner at this year’s festival for a food drive to benefit the local community surrounding Mulberry Mountain. All patrons that donate 20 nonperishable foot items will receive a free limited-edition Waka poster.

Camping: Both on-site and off-site camping is available, but main venue camping is exceptionally better.

By Brian Turk

www.bluegrass.com

June 21-24

Telluride Town Park

Telluride, Colo.

This year’s summer solstice falls on June 20, and it will truly be the longest day of the year for a lot of music lovers. The 39th Annual Telluride Bluegrass festival kicks off the following day, and folks will be wiggling in desk chairs or crowded cars as they countdown the hours til the festival starts.

The popularity of Telluride Bluegrass has grown exponentially over the decades, and the fact that four-day passes were sold out by Christmas 2011 is staggering proof. Telluride Bluegrass is not only a destination for bluegrass lovers and anyone who appreciates acoustic and tradition-based music, the inclusion of outlying genres, and a diverse lineup has made Telluride a yearly tradition for music lovers of all kinds, from all over the globe. This year’s non-bluegrass big names include Bruce Hornsby & the Noise Makers, Brett Dennen, and John Fogerty.

Telluride isn’t just about the music, but the entire experience.

You’re going there to see: Punch Brothers and Del McCoury Band.

You’re going to come home talking about: The rhythmic vintage sounds of The Devil Makes Three, and the grace and authenticity of Delta Mae.

Travel time:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Telluride, Colo.)

Total Est. Time: 6 hours, 53 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 363 miles

YOU NEED TO KNOW: Telluride Bluegrass likes to stay up late. Once the sun goes down and the festival gates close, it’s time for the festival’s late-night component, NightGrass. The NightGrass schedule starts on Wednesday night, and if you really want to get in your Telluride “happy place” right off the bat, then celebrate Festival eve. Start your four day festival experience by taking the sunset gondola from Telluride to Mountain Village, partying with Yonder Mountain String Band.

Camping: Yes — but it’s the most sought-after camping pass in America. Good luck.

By Jeffrey V. Smith

www.summercampfestival.com

May 25-27

Three Sisters Park

Chillicothe, Ill.

Umphrey’s McGee and moe. lead the lineup at this Midwest, Memorial Day weekend, family-themed festival – now in its eleventh year – as they have for more than a decade. Although built around those bands’ three days of multi-set performances, Summer Camp Music Festival is about much, much more. The festival, which has grown from a small local event to more than 20,000 attendees, hosting over 74 bands on seven stages over three days, still maintains the same energy and family-feel it had over a decade ago.

Summer Camp is known for its wooded camping sites, intimate late-night shows, and numerous sets from the headliners. It’s a prescription for fun that keeps “scampers” coming back each year. Attendees can expect an abundance of moe. and Umphrey’s McGee along with stellar sets from the massive line-up of the industry’s up-and-comers and top acts, including unannounced sound checks, sit-ins and other mouthwatering musical treats. This year, heavy-hitting artists Primus, Jane’s Addiction, and Bob Weir also add to the mix. But honestly, it’s the huge array of up-and-coming bands heavy on jamming, electronic dance and progressive jam rock, that give Summer Camp its feel and appeal. Despite its distance from home, Colorado bands are well represented by Pretty Lights, Leftover Salmon, EOTO, Elephant Revival, Yonder Mountain String Band, Big Gigantic and Underground Orchestra members, Trichome, and James & the Devil.

You’re going there to see: Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Jane’s Addiction, Primus, Gov’t Mule, Yonder Mountain String Band, Galactic, Leftover Salmon.

You’re going to come home talking about: Gigantic Underground Conspiracy (featuring members of Big Gigantic and Underground Orchestra), and soul revivalists J.C. Brooks and the Uptown Sound.

TRAVEL TIME:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Chillicothe, Ill.)

Total Est. Time: 14 hours, 51 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 934 miles

YOU NEED TO KNOW: Summer Camp Field Day is a year-round team-based competition taking place both at the festival and online. Four teams coordinate their members and decide aspects of their themes like team songs, mascots, etc. Each year, one team is named the Summer Camp Field Day champion. Their team flag will be flown on Sunday, and for the entire festival the following year until the new winner’s flag is raised. The winning team receives a keg party during the flag raising ceremony and a trophy to show off while at the festival.

Camping: Extensive camping and camping amenities are available. Spots, including a precious few in the trees, are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

By Brian F. Johnson

www.bohemiannights.org

Aug 10-12

Old Town, Fort Collins, Colo.

Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest will once again feature the first-rate talent of Colorado musicians coming from around the state to perform during the three-day, free, outdoor music extravaganza. As much a street fair as it is a music festival, Bohemian Nights is unparalleled in scope among free festivals along the Front Range. Though centered around Colorado acts, the headliners each year carry some big clout and bring with them some big crowds.

Bohemian Nights is the music arm of the 22-year-old NewWestFest community celebration meant to honor the town’s birthday. The Bohemian Foundation was founded by philanthropist Pat Stryker in 2001 with the humble goal of making the world a better place.

You’re going there to see: Headliners will be announced in June.

You’re going to come home talking about:

Colorado bands you didn’t know existed. Again, the lineup will be announced soon, but the committee charged with that task does a great job showcasing known Colorado talent, while also finding up-and-coming acts that few folks know about.

Travel time:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from

Denver, Colo. to Old Town, Fort Collins)

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 9 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 65.2 miles

YOU NEED TO KNOW: This isn’t like a festival that you attend in a field. Bohemian Nights literally takes over Old Town, and for an attendee that’s a great thing. Yes, of course, you can stand in the heat and have a turkey leg like at other festivals, but the beauty of Bohemian Nights is that it happens right out in front of Fort Collins businesses. So while the junk food from street vendors might get you through at certain times, you can also sit in air conditioned comfort at countless local restaurants, and in many cases you’ll still be able to hear what’s happening outside. With six stages relatively spread out from one another, the chair in that restaurant could become your new best friend, which reminds us: folding chairs are darn near a necessity at this event, but come headliner time, it gets packed and if you have a chair you’re not going to be doing traffic flow any favors.

Camping: No.

By Levi Macy

www.sonicbloomfestival.com

June 21-24

Shadows Ranch

Georgetown, Colo.

The premier electronic Colorado music festival, Sonic Bloom will be returning to the always sublime Shadows Ranch for its second year at the site. This marks the seventh anniversary for the festival as a whole, and in the past seven years Sonic Bloom has grown to be one of the greatest showcases of all things beautiful in the electronica music scene. It is not only a festival of music, but a celebration of spiritual bliss. Every year, they bring in both heavy hitters and rising stars for the four-day event. The result is an extended weekend of both visual and sonic stimulation all with one goal: to unify all forms of human creative expression.

For one extended weekend this summer, Shadows Ranch in Georgetown, Colorado will be the absolute epicenter of the burgeoning Colorado electronic dance music scene. On top of the world class artists that perform each night, every day is filled with the opportunity to help you get more in touch with yourself and your surroundings. You can choose from workshops in yoga, spirituality, and the unified field theory. It really is more than just your run-of-the-mill music festival. Special attention to all details are taken into account in order for everyone in attendance to find peace if only for four short days.

You’re going there to see: Tipper, Emancipator, OTT, Eskmo, Bonobo

You’re going to come home talking about: Random Rab, Griz, Welder, Ill-Esha, Filastine

TRAVEL TIME:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Georgetown, Colo.)

Total Est. Time: 54 minutes

Total Est. Distance: 42.4 mi.

YOU NEED TO KNOW: The festival strives to leave zero waste. Also remember that if you get the adventure bug, there are multiple options not far from the festival grounds, including white water rafting, backcountry hiking, and even the Georgetown Loop Railroad.

Camping: There is camping on-site and an auxiliary campground once the site reaches capacity.

By Timothy Dwenger

www.bluegrass.com/folks

August 17-19

Planet Bluegrass Ranch

Lyons, Colo.

Over the last couple of years the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival has grown leaps and bounds. Last year featured their best lineup yet with artists like Bob Weir, Brandi Carlile, Jackson Browne and more, and this year they may have outdone themselves.

With a lineup topped by none other than Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, the Planet Bluegrass staff has tipped their hats to all of the long-time festivarians who have made the pilgrimage to Lyons year after year, hoping to catch this Texan on the banks of the St. Vrain. It’s also clear with the addition of indie folk’s marquee act, Iron & Wine, that the staff is serious about keeping younger folks, who have become interested in the festival in recent years, in the mix.

It’s this kind of genre-blurring dedication to great music that keeps the Folks Festival so relevant. Folk music is about great lyrics, it’s about passionate story-telling, and most importantly, it’s about the community that it takes to make this music an integral part of the fabric of our nation’s history. With the Folks Festival, Planet Bluegrass is proving again and again that the folk tradition is alive and well in this country.

You’re going there to see: Lyle Lovett, Iron & Wine, Amos Lee, and Dawes.

You’re going to come home talking about: Local upstarts Elephant Revival and their hauntingly beautiful sound, and Caleb Hawley, who has reinvented songs like Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke” and Bruce Hornsby’s “The Way It Is” with his mind-blowing guitar skills.

TRAVEL TIME:

(As calculated by maps.google.com from Denver, Colo. to Lyons, Colo.)

Total Est. Time: 1 hour, 1 minute

Total Est. Distance: 45.9 miles

While early lineup announcements included the legendary Randy Newman, Newman unfortunately had to cancel his appearance at the Festival this summer.

Camping: Both on-site and off-site camping is available, but very limited.