No matter how Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams approach country, they do a damn fine job, as evidenced by Rocky Mountain Honky Tonk, the band’s latest release. While the five-piece clearly excels at up-tempo cuts, such as “Beaver Hat Boogie,” which features some fine steel guitar from Bret Billings, and…
It was just like a Thanksgiving miracle, to be honest,” says Cassie Taylor, recalling the first time she played bass. Her father, famed Boulder-based bluesman Otis Taylor, and then-bandmate Kenny Passarelli were messing around with “Hey Joe” when a teenage Cassie walked in and said, “Well, that’s kind of a…
Jody Savin and Randall Miller are preparing to release their latest film CBGB in a few months. If those names ring a bell, they should: These are the same filmmakers who announced plans earlier this year to start work on Caribou Records, a movie about the legendary Caribou Ranch recording…
Roots & Rhythm frontman James Speiser and KUVO DJ Erik Troe both know a few things about blues and jazz, so it’s no surprise that the two came up with the concept for Blue Roots Denver, a Denver-produced program that features local blues and jazz musicians. The pilot for the…
Since the release of his 2008 debut, Possible Beginnings, alto saxophonist Aakash Mittal has grown considerably, both as a player and as a composer. He and his quartet have always fused Eastern Indian music and jazz, but on Ocean, which features trumpeter Ron Miles, Mittal pushes things forward with songs…
Prior to being discovered by Gabe Roth of Daptone Records, who released his superb 2011 debut, No Time for Dreaming, Charles Bradley spent a good chunk of his time impersonating James Brown in Brooklyn clubs. Bradley delved into some fairly dark themes on Dreaming, including heartbreak and the death of…
With plans to expand into the former Kitty’s East space next door, the 2UP recently reopened after being closed for a two-week renovation, which is part of a two-phase construction plan. The second part of the plan involves expansion. The addition, which will increase the size of the arcade/bar by…
One of the more highly charged bands of the last decade or so, Gogol Bordello (sharing a bill at Red Rocks this Thursday, August 15, with Queens of the Stone Age) has become legendary for its vigorous live sets. The outfit, which injects punk into gypsy music, was started in…
After hosting Adore Tuesdays at the Living Room for nine months, former Backbeat scribe Ru Black is launching a new Tuesday-night soul series tonight at Epernay Lounge, 1080 14th Street, in the Theatre District. Dubbed the Blueprint, the series is set to kick off this evening with singer, songwriter and…
Like sax players, any discussion of the best trumpeters is likely to involve some of the same names. And that’s not happenstance. It’s because the playing of those greats is so distinctive, prodigious and influential that it truly stands out among countless other horn players. Keep reading for a rundown…
At just 26 years of age, Cassie Taylor already has a decade of performing and recording experience under her belt, having played bass and sung with her father, the great Boulder-based bluesman Otis Taylor, during that time. On her latest effort, Out of My Mind, Taylor proves that she’s got…
Anytime a discussion of jazz saxophone takes place, a handful of names invariably crop up, even from those only vaguely familiar with the form. And there’s a good reason for that: While there have been innumerable saxophonists over the last century or so, none have been as influential as these…
Ben Harper, always a local favorite, will be making his way back to the Mile High City for a show at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House on Friday, November 8, as part of his fall acoustic tour. Tickets ($42.50-$75) go on sale this Friday, August 9, at 10 a.m. See…
After first opening Rock-A-Billies in Arvada in 2010 and opening a second location in Greenwood Village last year, owner Jimmy Nigg is gearing up to open the Monkey Barrel, a live music venue and bar in the central Platte Valley, next month. See more: Rock-A-Billies brings rockabilly to Arvada Nigg…
During his five-year stint as talent buyer at the Meadowlark, it was clear that Jonathan Bitz had a deep passion for the local scene, and as such, he helped cultivate a community of singer-songwriters, most notably with acts like Churchill and the Lumineers. Over the last three years or so,…
Just over two years ago, Chances opened in the former Wolfie’s location at 1135 Bannock Street, and in March of last year, it moved to 1320 15th Street, the space formerly occupied by Rack & Rye (and Sauced after that). Now Chances is moving into much bigger digs when it…
On Josh Quinlan’s 2011 release, Mountain Time Standards, the saxophonist proved that he’s not only a skillful player, but a gifted composer, as well. And there’s a whole lot more where that came from on his latest effort, Open Space. Quinlan and pianist Ben Markley have no trouble traversing the…
JOHN SCOFIELD’S UBERJAM BAND @ BOULDER THEATER | THU, 8/1/13 John Scofield’s never been one to settle in any particular musical style. Deft in a number of them, he always seems to find ways to reinvent himself. With 1998’s A Go Go, he tapped into a whole new audience by…
Independent Records at 937 East Colfax is closing next month. The store, which opened in August, 2000, next to the Ogden Theatre, is having a closing sale with some merchandise discounted 20 to 40 percent. The Denver store is slated to close at the end of August, but it may…
After an appearance last summer at the Paramount Theatre, Fiona Apple is making her way back to Denver for a show at Boettcher Concert Hall on Friday, October 11, with Blake Mills. Tickets ($49.50-$69.50) go on sale this Friday, August 2, at 10 a.m. Keep reading to see what other…
Jack Casey’s Four Mile House, a Glendale fixture since for decades, appears to be closed. The bar, which won Westword’s 2003 Best of Denver award for Best Happy Hour for Absolutely Free Food, started life as a barn, back in the days when what’s now Glendale was filled with dairy…
While having margaritas with his mother in Estes Park, Brandon Hagen looked at the Aerial Tramway and thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if you had some solo artist or a duo just sitting there playing a song for the length of that trip up the hill?” That initial thought sparked…
