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Redd & the Paper Flowers are a truly exceptional Folk band from Knoxville, Tennessee: we saw them at one of our favorite hangouts for beer and music, City Star Brewing. If you’ve been there, you know that the City Star patrons tend to talk loudly and ignore the band. Not this time! The whole room was silent for Redd and the band’s amazing musicianship and harmonies. We HAD to invite them to play at The Barn!

Redd Daugherty began as a solo artist during the 2020 pandemic, while teaching high school English at L&N STEM Academy in Knoxville, TN. During this time, she appeared on Season 19 of American Idol; released her first, solo album Monsters & Mothers; quit teaching to pursue music full time; and began working alongside her mentor and close friend, Adam Ivy.

Redd met members Gavin Gregg, Katie Adams, and Colleen d'Alelio through friends and at open mics. The group quickly realized they had similar goals and began making and playing music together almost immediately.

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Salomé Songbird is, at a glance, a string-band. But between its members – Ariele Macadangdang, Dr. Joy Adams, and Bryan Dubrow – their background spans fiddle tunes to free jazz; and baroque to bebop to bluegrass. As an acoustic trio, Salomé Songbird channels these influences into original songs inspired by mental health, religious trauma, and cartoons.

Joy and Ariele formed Salomé Songbird in Miami in 2015. In preparing for a small coffee house performance they discovered that their voices and songwriting styles complemented each other perfectly. In 2022 they regrouped in Colorado, with the addition of Bryan on guitar. All accomplished musicians in their own right, the band members have performed around the world, sharing the stage with artists including Darol Anger, Nathaniel Rateliff, The Flobots, Kygo, Ben Folds, and Dave Liebman.

Sarah Clanton is a remarkable Nashville-based artist who fearlessly combines classical cello chops with indie folk-pop songwriting. A multi-talented singer-songwriter, cellist, business owner, and professional mermaid, Sarah's creative journey is an enchanting story of innovation, artistry, and advocacy. Sarah's music defies easy categorization, blending musical elements into a genre-defying sound that's all her own.

One of the most notable pieces of Sarah's artistic journey is her dedication to advocating for artists' rights. In 2018, she founded Tunedough®, a company designed to simplify the complex world of royalties for musicians. Drawing from her extensive industry experience, Sarah developed a self-guided course within Tunedough® to educate artists about available royalties and how to navigate the process with confidence. Her mission is clear: to empower musicians to collect their hard-earned earnings and establish sustainable income streams.  As a performer, Sarah is a storyteller at heart. Her lyrics delve into themes of self-discovery, mindfulness, and unity. Each song is a heartfelt narrative, inviting listeners to explore their own emotions and experiences. Whether she's performing solo with her cello or sharing the stage with talented musicians, Sarah's live shows are an immersive experience, leaving audiences moved and inspired.

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Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams.

Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few.

Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener.  

Marty Eggers (bass) composed his first rag, "Front St. Rag," in 1982. Influenced by New Orleans and San Francisco style bands that played around the Bay Area in the '70s and '80s. Organized the Front St. Wanderers in 1984 and was instrumental in formation of the Sacramento Ragtime Society. Currently he works with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Butch Thompson Trio, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Tichenor Family Trio, and as a soloist at Pier 23 in San Francisco. 

Josh Collazo is a Los Angeles-based drummer, composer, and arranger with distinct expertise in playing jazz and swing music from the 1930s and 40s. Collazo is recognized for being at the forefront of pre-bop drummers worldwide. In addition to playing with Carl Sonny Leyland, he regularly performs with Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Jonathan Stout & his Campus Five, Dave Stuckey & the Hot House Gang, The Phi-Psonics, and his own group, Candy Jacket Jazz Band. Over the past 20+ years, Josh has toured the globe extensively, had his music featured in film and television, and has performed live on several high-profile shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Austin City Limits.

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Hailing from the Colorado Front Range, Rusty 44 is overflowing with infectious energy and pure joy. They weave together bluegrass, blues, Americana, and anything else that strikes their fancy, creating a unique sonic tapestry. Their sound is further enriched by tight, church-bred harmonies and impressive displays of instrumental prowess. This diverse group thrives on collaboration, and their love for music is evident from the first note.

It’s clear these friends are having a blast sharing their music, and they’re sure to get you moving too!

Stacy Heikes sang in a trio with her sisters from the age of 8, and picked up the violin in junior high school. She played classical music in orchestras and string quartets for the first half of her life, then turned to the "dark" side -- bluegrass, and she ain't goin' back! 

David Jense’s fiery flatpickinging is heavily influenced by Clarence White, Tony Rice, and Doc Watson. You will rarely see him play without his lucky tortoise shell pick. He cut his teeth in the Washington D.C. bluegrass community. His high-energy playing and strong vocals add a layer of depth and technical expertise. David received a guitar performance degree from the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Mike Smith is a Colorado native who has always lived in the northern Front Range area. He began playing guitar in 4th grade, and got his first mandolin at age 18 when his 3 siblings pooled their money for a birthday gift.  He played only for his own enjoyment until a neighbor suggested he share his talent at church. That's where he began to bump elbows with other musicians.  He started playing outside of church with friends around 2010.

Derek Crane grew up in North Lake Tahoe and then spent his teen years in the central coast of California. Derek found the jazz community, where he was drawn to the double bass. Derek received his Bachelor of Physics degree at UC Santa Cruz. In his senior year he was able to blend his passions for music and the natural world to write his thesis on physical room acoustics. In 2018 Derek moved to Fort Collins seeking world-class rock climbing and a new music community.

Wes Tucker, banjo, is "just a boy from Oklahoma" whose life's journey has taken him many places. At age 19, he found a banjo left in a closet by an uncle and first learned to play.  Wherever he went, the banjo went with him, and though most of the places he travelled had no real bluegrass scene, Wes continued to find people to pick with and kept his ear to Bluegrass CDs.

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The Rifters are Rod Taylor (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Don Richmond (guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, pedal steel guitar, dobro, harmonica, vocals), and Jim Bradley (bass, vocals). Putting out more music than it seems should be right for three guys on stage, the Rifters employ a wide range of acoustic and electric instruments, combined with soaring three-part harmonies, to provide a mesmerizing variety of music from driving blue-grama-grass to ethereal desert beauty. The years of playing to the dance crowds in their northern New Mexico homeland has given their music a toe-tapping rhythm that is engaging and undeniable. With a pedigree of bands like Hired Hands, the Rounders, and South by Southwest among them, the Rifters are truly a musical voice of the west, and their region of high desert vistas and mountain majesty.

The Rifters have released 7 CDs – The Rifters, The Great River, Live at the Sagebrush, Architecture of a Fire, Live at Uptop, Passes and Peaks, and The Enchanted World. Their songs include co-writes with legendary writers such as Chuck Pyle and Waddie Mitchell, and have been covered by iconic artists such as Michael Hearne, Shake Russell, and Bill Hearne. The band celebrated their 20th year together in 2022, and as they have been known to say, “We ain't dead yet!”

The Rifters are at home at a barn dance with the hay and the horses, in a mountain town bar or honky-tonk, in a house concert, or on a festival or concert stage. Their choice of moving and powerful material, both original and by others, their impeccable musicianship, and their strong three part vocal arrangements combine to make The Rifters a crowd-pleasing musical experience.

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On the heels of their successful 2022 release, Highway Islands, Strangebyrds found themselves back in their Byrd Nest Recording Studio writing a brand-new album, a Rock album- Shrieking Violets! With Ray's cancer diagnosis as their impetus, they began to write their sixth studio album with music being their catalyst for a cure and a way to beat this monster down. Harkening back to Ray's Rock Roots from his days performing in a myriad of bands in New York City, they began to draw deeply from the well of inspiration as both patient and caregiver.

In just over a year, twelve brand new Strangebyrds' songs were born. Never ones to be "Shrinking Violets" they decided to call their new album Shrieking Violets - a name that symbolizes their vision and battle to bring hope to others facing life-altering situations.  With the support of their fans & friends, they reached 197% of their Shrieking Violets Kickstarter Campaign in just twenty-five days.  Strangebyrds wishes to thank everyone who has reached out and shown support during this very difficult and eye-opening year.  Their new album, "Shrieking Violets" debuted to a sold out audience on October 21st, 2023 at E-Town Hall in Boulder, Colorado.

The show will be the full band playing the album "Shrieking Violets":

Cari Minor and Ray Smith (Strangebyrds) guitars and vocals
Kort McCumber keys and vocals
Ryan Inman Bass
Ray Leroy Smith Drums

Strangebyrds have recorded six award-winning releases recognized by both the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Songwriting Competitions: Highway Islands (2022), Star Crossed Lovers (2018), Devils & Desires (2015), Migration (2013). Their song "The World Needs Mercy" written for the short Documentary Film, "Common Thread" has won top awards at The Impact DOCS Awards, La Jolla, California 2022, Arrow International Film Festival, Paris, France 2022, The London Movie Awards, London, England 2022, New York Movie Awards (Official Selection), 2023.

“Cari and Ray are such bright lights and such incredibly talented performers and musicians. Plus the spark between them is irresistible. Their new album, Shrieking Violets is an absolute gem. A must have! I’m proud and privileged to know these two exceptional artists.” - Helen Forster, Co-Host, Executive Producer and Creative Director - eTown.org

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Alexa and Lennon met while on Season 24 of the Voice on the 2nd Team Niall. They immediately loved the beauty and ease of each other's voices, and couldn't wait to sing & write more together. They are excited to continue to share what they've created with wider audiences.

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A vocal harmony duo fifteen years in the making, Moors and McCumber have done more than just endear themselves to fans - they’ve built a genuine community. Bridging the gap between classic folk rock and present day Americana, they write heartfelt songs directly inspired by life’s experiences. With their latest record to be released in 2023, 'Wired to the Moon,' they have created some of their most compelling work to date.

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Greg Schochet & Little America may be a newly formed band, but one that has been a long time coming. Greg is twenty plus years into a Colorado performing career, including 16 years as lead guitarist for Halden Wofford & Hi-Beams. His first foray into fronting a band is heavy on musical vision and loaded with accomplished players.

Already renowned as a first call country and bluegrass picker, Greg has assembled a crew to funnel that experience into a Western Swing powerhouse that harkens back to Colorado’s halcyon 70s era. With pedal steel and alto sax bringing the country and swing bona fides, upright bass and drums keep it dancing. Sure there are Bob Wills, Emmylou Harris and Red Knuckles nods, but also original songs and deep cuts from unexpected sources.

The band has been warmly received in its first two years of touring, with appearances at the Pagosa Folk ’n Bluegrass Festival, Dairy Center for the Arts, Harvest Fest in Paonia, and the Boulder Theater. 

Greg Schochet - acoustic and archtop guitar
Bret Billings - pedal steel and harmonica
Jeremy Mohney - alto sax
Conner Hollingsworth - upright bass
Damon Smith - drums

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Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else will say and you'll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak, extreme candor, and a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. This witty wordsmith is known for taking you on an emotional roller coaster, sometimes within the same song. Think John Prine mixed with Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay from Friends all wrapped up in a sweet voice accented by guitar, piano, and ukulele. She's as real as it gets, as anyone who follows her on FB or Instagram knows. 

Shanna started her career at the University of Virginia, fell in love with Boulder, Colorado, and now keeps her fun music flowing out of Nashville unless she's touring the US or Europe. You can't get the same Shanna in a Dress show twice with her spontaneous banter and playful stage presence. She manages to teeter the line masterfully of taking on complex subject matters with smart, bold, and yet accessible lyrics. Her charisma and boldly honest songs are full of interesting language and wordplay and delight audiences of all ages. 

Most recently, Shanna in a Dress was pronounced the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest and will be performing with a full band at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. In 2020 alone, Shanna was a winner in the Kerrville New Folk competition, winner of the Great River Folk Fest Song Competition, a finalist at Songwriter Serenade, and a Grassy Hill Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. 

During the summer of 2021, Shanna bicycled from Seattle to Boston while music-touring on her epic "Tour de Dress," playing over 60 shows from coast to coast and partnering up with the global non-profit Pangaea World Foundation. 

In May 2022, her debut record "Robot" was released after a wildly successful crowdfunded campaign years earlier. She was the winner She has most recently been seen gracing the stages of Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Black Bear Americana Fest, Great River Folk Fest, and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Tom Prasada-Rao calls her "Kerrville's fastest rising star" and she's certainly delightfully unique and is one to watch in the future. 

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This will be the FIRST in a run of release shows for Bonnie and Taylor Sims' newest studio offering, Bonnie & Taylor Sims. Join Bonnie, Taylor, Kevin and Brad in celebrating this release. RIAA Certified Gold recording artists Bonnie & Taylor Sims are one of Colorado's most powerful and dynamic musical duos. From the soul shaking harmonies and masterful songwriting to the endearing onstage moments, Bonnie & Taylor have captivated audiences all across the world. From their most recent global success I See Red tallying over 200 million streams and a deal with Columbia Records to playing countless live shows and festivals around CO and the Western US; tours to Germany, Canada and Sweden; multiple studio albums; exciting collaborations with other area musicians and hundreds of students through summer camps and private lessons Bonnie & Taylor have established themselves as a potent creative force of the vibrant Colorado music scene.

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Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone has felt but no one else will say and you'll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak, extreme candor, and a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. This witty wordsmith is known for taking you on an emotional roller coaster, sometimes within the same song. Think John Prine mixed with Ingrid Michaelson with a twist of Phoebe Buffay from Friends all wrapped up in a sweet voice accented by guitar, piano, and ukulele. She's as real as it gets, as anyone who follows her on FB or Instagram knows. 

Shanna started her career at the University of Virginia, fell in love with Boulder, Colorado, and now keeps her fun music flowing out of Nashville unless she's touring the US or Europe. You can't get the same Shanna in a Dress show twice with her spontaneous banter and playful stage presence. She manages to teeter the line masterfully of taking on complex subject matters with smart, bold, and yet accessible lyrics. Her charisma and boldly honest songs are full of interesting language and wordplay and delight audiences of all ages. 

Most recently, Shanna in a Dress was pronounced the winner of the Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriting Contest and will be performing with a full band at the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest. In 2020 alone, Shanna was a winner in the Kerrville New Folk competition, winner of the Great River Folk Fest Song Competition, a finalist at Songwriter Serenade, and a Grassy Hill Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. 

During the summer of 2021, Shanna bicycled from Seattle to Boston while music-touring on her epic "Tour de Dress," playing over 60 shows from coast to coast and partnering up with the global non-profit Pangaea World Foundation. 

In May 2022, her debut record "Robot" was released after a wildly successful crowdfunded campaign years earlier. She was the winner She has most recently been seen gracing the stages of Kerrville Folk Festival, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Black Bear Americana Fest, Great River Folk Fest, and the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Tom Prasada-Rao calls her "Kerrville's fastest rising star" and she's certainly delightfully unique and is one to watch in the future. 

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Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams.

Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few.

Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener.  

Marty Eggers (bass) composed his first rag, "Front St. Rag," in 1982. Influenced by New Orleans and San Francisco style bands that played around the Bay Area in the '70s and '80s. Organized the Front St. Wanderers in 1984 and was instrumental in formation of the Sacramento Ragtime Society. Currently he works with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Butch Thompson Trio, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Tichenor Family Trio, and as a soloist at Pier 23 in San Francisco. 

Josh Collazo is a Los Angeles-based drummer, composer, and arranger with distinct expertise in playing jazz and swing music from the 1930s and 40s. Collazo is recognized for being at the forefront of pre-bop drummers worldwide. In addition to playing with Carl Sonny Leyland, he regularly performs with Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Jonathan Stout & his Campus Five, Dave Stuckey & the Hot House Gang, The Phi-Psonics, and his own group, Candy Jacket Jazz Band. Over the past 20+ years, Josh has toured the globe extensively, had his music featured in film and television, and has performed live on several high-profile shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Yo Gabba Gabba, and Austin City Limits.

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Three bands together create a great night of live music!

Applegate

One of the most dynamic new bands to come out of the Colorado music scene, Applegate fuses seasoned musicianship with unfettered emotion with their unique blend of pop, indie-rock and blues, leaving audiences inspired and engaged.

Teresa Storch Band

Teresa Storch Band grew organically from the meeting of (now husband and wife) Teresa Storch and Peter Lacis. Storch’s soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, along with Lacis’ soaring and complex guitar arrangements, create an original, genre-pushing rock sound with jam and roots origins. Joined by Longmont's favorite rhythm section: Chad Mathis on bass and Chris Wright on drums, the band's combined energy and harmonies draw you in. TSB is excited to be releasing new music in 2023!

Billy Shaddox

Billy Shaddox straddles a line between singer-songwriter and crafter of cosmic rock music.  A transplant from the west coast, Shaddox draws on his upbringing and time near the ocean combined with his current tenure in the foothills of the Rockies to craft music that is grounded in the western landscapes he calls home.  His songs are a sonic telling of the experiences and observations of a life during pivotal times, coming to terms with change, longing for connection, recognizing the past and dreaming of a world in right relation with itself.  Billy is an avid skateboarder and hosts concerts on the skate ramp at his home he calls "The Rampitheater".  He and his band play regularly in Lyons, and the surrounding area, and always deliver a dynamic performance of his songs.

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Cari Minor and Ray Smith became Strangebyrds in 2011, writing moving songs about times past and present. Their blend of spot on harmonies and commitment to finessing and honing their craft has developed into a sound they call "Blue Collar Folk". They have recorded four award-winning releases recognized by both the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Songwriting Competitions. The magnetic synergy of Strangebyrds' unique Americana music has forged a reputation for captivating audiences with powerful, universal truths layered within stunning musicianship.

Strangebyrds' fifth album, Highway Islands was released in January 2022 and was made possible by the support of fans worldwide.

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Join the Tim Ostdiek Band for a special show celebrating the release of their new album, The Lost Days. The Lost Days is a 10-song celebration of lostness. It's a conversation between a 13-year-old, a 31-year-old, and an 82-year-old, reflecting on dreams that didn't come true and celebrating what happened instead.

Tim Ostdiek is a playful, uplifting, and engaging singer, songwriter, and performer. His songwriting has garnered accolades such as finalist in the 2019 Telluride Troubadour and finalist in the 2019 and 2022 Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase. His song “Goodbye” was featured in the PBS show Roadtrip Nation. Ostdiek has opened for some of the nation's best singer/songwriters, such as Sarah Jarosz  Whether in a concert hall, club, brewery, or living room, Ostdiek always reaches the hearts of his listeners and sends them out a little brighter than they came in.

The Tim Ostdiek Band features Chad E. Mathis on Bass and Vocals, Jenny Balagna on vocals, Ben Hibberd on drums, David Ford on electric guitar, and Amy Ostdiek on violin.

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When they met by chance ten years ago, James Moors and Kort McCumber felt like the universe was throwing them together for a reason. Like Simon & Garfunkel or Crosby, Stills and Nash, they deliver haunting songs about love and life with dazzling instrumentals and transcendent harmonies. Their fifth CD, Live at the Blue Rock, captures the magic of their live shows. As Grammy award-winning producer Lloyd Maines says, “These guys should be playing every major festival in the country. They bring it all to the stage and deliver in a big way.”

To listen to Moors and McCumber please visit: www.moorsandmccumber.com or www.youtube.com/moorsandmccumber

"For me personally one of the most pleasant surprises of the past weeks, the American duo Moors & McCumber. I know from personal experience the magic of finding that perfect musical partner. James and Kort complete each other...they fill in each others blanks and that makes for really really great music." 
— Gary Louris, The Jayhawks

"Any time that these guys book a gig near you, make an effort to get there. You won't be disappointed."
— James Killen, Houston Music Review

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While April Verch is perhaps best known for playing traditional fiddle styles from her native Ottawa Valley, Canada, her performances extend into old-time American and Appalachian styles and beyond, for a well-rounded tour-de-force of North Americana sounds. Verch tours with world-class musicians as a trio, featuring acoustic guitar, bass and clawhammer banjo in addition to Verch’s vocals, fiddle and foot percussion.

One might suspect a performer with as many talents as Verch would pause to take a breath, or need to somewhat compartmentalize her skills during a live performance. But on stage, Verch is almost superhuman, flawlessly intertwining and overlapping different performative elements. She stepdances while fiddling. She sings while stepdancing. Sometimes she sings, steps and fiddles all at once, with apparent ease and precision. Verch is - as they say - a triple threat in performance, her live show a beautiful companion to her music: versatile, robust, and masterfully executed.

Tickets! Matinee plus evening—both bands play both shows!

Nothing says Christmas like country music! For the 9th year in a row (6th at The Barn!), Colorado's most acclaimed honky-tonkers team up to celebrate the yule in style. The holidays are all about family, eating and drinking and you can be sure that country music has a lot to say on these subjects. Join Halden Wofford and the Hi*Beams and Bonnie and Clydes for a distinctly down home take on Christmas. 

One of Colorado's most popular and enduring acts, the Hi*Beams celebrated ten years together in 2010. Rootsy but not revivalist, the Hi*Beams' rollicking stage act features rocked-up Texas honky tonk and western swing, equal parts original and classic.

Bonnie & the Clydes has been making waves on the Colorado and national music scene since 2010. Spearheaded by Bonnie Sims, Bonnie & the Clydes features strong songwriting, dynamic three part harmonies, and rippin' electric guitar solos, as well as Bonnie Sims' powerful and unique vocal style.

Note: BOTH BANDS ARE PLAYING BOTH SHOWS! This event features DANCING with limited seating available!

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From our home in the mountains of Rollinsville, CO—Byrd Nest Recording Studio—to County Kerry, Ireland—Mhic An Daill Studio—and back, Strangebyrds—Cari Minor & Ray Smith have put these songs together over the course of the last two years for our new album "Star Crossed Lovers."

From Cari's love of books and history comes a flurry of brand new ballads to Ray's contemporary, moving and rockin' songs of love, life and the beauty of the world around us. Songs about "Star Crossed Lovers" inspired by the 1913 book O Pioneers! by Willa Cather to "Willy", a song inspired by the over 1200 women who dressed as men and fought in the Civil War. "Willy" garnered a top ten songwriters award in both the 2016 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival New Song Competition and the 2017 Telluride Bluegrass Festival-Troubadour Song Competition.

Ray Smith's song "Back Roads" won an honorable mention at both of these events as well. "You Won't Leave My Heart" written by Smith is a tribute to our hero Tom Petty and to all the great musicians who have now passed on who influenced Ray as a young musician.

Minor has recently added the Irish Bouzouki to the Strangebyrds quiver and her love for her Irish heritage & Irish music and lore is evident in the writing of a true story "The Ghosts Of Duffy's Cut"—the tragic tale of 57 men who came from Donegal, Ireland in hopes of a new start in America only to come to a bitter and brutal end within weeks of their arrival. It was only fitting that it was first recorded in County Kerry, Ireland.

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The Common Thread Concert is a night of music celebrating Longmont’s local music scene and YOU, The community that makes it possible. Part concert and part storytelling event, the evening will explore the connective power of music and how it is a common thread that unites us all. The show will feature Teresa Storch, Tim Ostdiek, and Antonio Lopez; all of whom will be performing with their bands. The Common Thread Concert is a presentation of Sound Bridge Music, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which was founded as a grassroots effort to use the power of music to make a positive difference in communities across the Front Range. Harnessing the talents of local musicians, Sound Bridge Music connects artists with opportunities to bring music to those in need of the unique comfort, empowerment, healing and sense of belonging that only music can provide.

More on the artists performing:

Antonio Lopez
Antonio Lopez has the "it" factor. There are those in the know, and those who don't know yet. His acoustic soul and modern folk sound garners comparison to artists such as Amos Lee and Paul Simon. A sixth generation Coloradan, Antonio was born and raised in Alamosa and now resides in Longmont. He has released three albums independently with plans to release a fourth in 2019 entitled Roots and Wings. Previous accolades include song of the year winner in The Southwest Independent Music Awards. Antonio has collaborated with artists such as folk luminaries Don Conoscenti and Daniel Valdez (Santana, Linda Ronstadt).

Teresa Storch
How does woman with a degree in Applied Physics become a nationally touring Singer/Songwriter? While studying engineering at the Colorado School of Mines she became obsessed with live music. One show at Red Rocks Amphitheater prompted her to admit aloud “I think I need to do that!” The voice in her head just wouldn’t let go. In 2001, after getting laid-off from a job, she began busking in the Boston Subways, finally allowing herself to follow that voice.

Since then, Teresa has become an international live performer of joyful strength and riveting, emotional power. Her soulful-Americana songwriting balances on the fence between folk and jazz, drawing comparisons to Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, and Shawn Colvin. Audience members say it’s like seeing Bonnie Raitt when she first started. She has recorded 3 studio and 2 live albums and toured nationally for 12 years, bringing her songs to theaters, clubs, coffeehouses, and living rooms. In 2009 she returned to Colorado after 10 years in the Boston music scene.

Her latest album “Come Clean“(2014) produced by Philip Parker and Jamie Mefford (Gregory Alan Isakov) has garnered international attention, being chosen for The Top Country/Americana Albums of 2015 by Martin Chilton of The Telegraph (UK). John Apice of No Depression Magazine states “Emmylou Harris would find a wealth of inspiration in these songs…” She was chosen a 2015 GrassyHill New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival, selected as an Emerging Artist at the 2015 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and received Honorable Mention in the 2015 Rocky Mountain Folks Fest Songwriter’s Competition.

Tim Ostdiek
Tim Ostdiek is a playful, uplifting, and engaging singer, songwriter and performer. He writes feel-good, big-hearted folk with a drop of something funky. With hopeful and purposeful songs, Ostdiek doesn't shy from the deep and heavy. A tasteful and dynamic guitarist, Ostdiek often fits fingerpicking, strumming, and lead elements into one song. Whether in a concert hall, club, brewery, or living room, Ostdiek always reaches the hearts of his listeners and sends them out a little brighter than they came in.

His songwriting has garnered accolades such as finalist in the 2019 Telluride Troubadour and finalist in the 2019 Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase His song “Goodbye” was featured in the PBS show Roadtrip Nation. Ostdiek has opened for some of the nation's best singer/songwriters, such as Sarah Jarosz and Steve Norbert. and played several prominent Colorado venues such as Swallow Hill. Ostdiek is an important figure in the Longmont, CO, music scene, hosting a weekly open mic/jam and a monthly songwriting group.

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A new and enchanting sound has emerged from the hotbed of the Colorado roots music scene. Masontown, a young band with a concept as timeless as the Rocky Mountains, has alighted onto a bluegrass community that has already produced some of the best that the acoustic music world has to offer. But Colorado, and the wider world of modern music, hasn’t quite heard this yet.

A lauded fiddle champion and classical violinist. A veteran bluegrass mandolin player and composer. One of Colorado’s jazz guitar greats reborn as a flatpicking sensation. An upright bassist with roots running deep in the classical and jazz traditions. These are the individual elements that come together to create Masontown.

Masontown’s sound is a exciting take on the American acoustic tradition. At once fresh and familiar, the group unites the sounds of bluegrass, old-time, folk, and new acoustic music into a sonic melting pot that hearkens back to our deep musical traditions while remaining defiantly modern in conception. Echoes of the poignant exploration of the Matt Flinner Trio blend with the fierce drive of Bill Monroe and the plaintive song-craft of Cahalen Morrison and Eli West. It’s no surprise that the members of Masontown have shared the stage with many of these musical icons that their sound evokes.

The listening halls and dance floors of Colorado have already begun to hail the arrival of this new force in the acoustic music community. Masontown is a band on the move, driven to delight the ears, touch the hearts, and move the feet of generations of music lovers in Colorado and far beyond.      

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The songs from Kyle Donovan's upcoming album have won the young songwriter critical acclaim at five major contests, showcases, and folk festivals across the nation. The storytelling troubadour has been crafting vivid vignettes, capturing moments from everyday life to tell honest tales of love, loss, family, and the passage of time. His upcoming album, Then and Now, is slated for release in the summer of 2019.

He calls the countryside near Boulder, CO home, where he doubles as a musician and a sound engineer, hosting a monthly live-performance podcast featuring independent musicians called The Songwriter Hour.  Kyle recently ran a successful Kickstarter campaign, where over two hundred friends and fans came together to support the release of the new album.  

Honors and Accolades:

• Finalist at Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk Competition in 2019

• Semi-Finalist at Songwriter Serenade in 2019

• Winner of Wildflower! Michael Terry People's Choice Award in 2018

• Finalist at Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Troubadour Contest in 2018

• Emerging Artist at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in 2018

"With an absolutely astounding vocal range, Kyle Donovan sounds like the long-lost love child of Carly Simon and Art Garfunkel. The acoustic instrumentation that supports him is lovely, but over and over Donovan's voice is what draws all of the attention, and for great reason. It's beautiful."
Brian F. Johnson  -  Marquee Magazine  

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Carl Sonny Leyland was born & raised on the South Coast of England, growing up close to the city of Southampton. As a child he was drawn to the American music which he heard on LP records his father would play. It was here that he developed an appreciation for Dixieland jazz, the rock & roll of the 1950s & the country music of Jimmie Rodgers & Hank Williams.

Initially influenced by boogie woogie greats Albert Ammons, Pete Johnson & Meade 'Lux' Lewis, Leyland went on to fully explore the piano blues genre, becoming an authority on early & obscure styles such as those played by Cow Cow Davenport, Little Brother Montgomery, Montana Taylor & Speckled Red to name a few.

Whether playing solo or with his trio, Leyland's playing displays an infectious spontaneity, providing plenty of surprises for the listener.  

Marty Eggers (bass) composed his first rag, "Front St. Rag," in 1982. Influenced by New Orleans and San Francisco style bands that played around the Bay Area in the '70s and '80s. Organized the Front St. Wanderers in 1984 and was instrumental in formation of the Sacramento Ragtime Society. Currently he works with the Yerba Buena Stompers, Butch Thompson Trio, Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, Tichenor Family Trio, and as a soloist at Pier 23 in San Francisco. 

Jeff Hamilton (drums) is simply one of the best traditional jazz & swing drummers playing today. Inventive & hard swinging, Jeff is in high demand with many of the bands on the scene & we are thrilled to have him on board.

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Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish are celebrating a decade of touring full time as The Honey Dewdrops, having played stages and festivals far and wide in North America and Europe.  With tight harmonies and an musical ensemble that includes clawhammer banjo,  mandolin and guitars, the effect is to leave listeners with only what matters:  the heart of the song and clarity over ornamentation.

After leaving their home base of Virginia and living on the road for 2 years, Laura and Kagey now call Baltimore, Maryland home and it's where they wrote and recorded their fourth full-length album, Tangled Country, released May 2015.  Acoustic Guitar Magazine describes the set of songs as “a handcrafted sound centered on swarming harmonies and acoustic guitars that churn like a paddlewheel and shimmer like heat waves on the highway.”  And like their stage performance, these songs rock and reel, and then they console you when you come back down. 

The Honey Dewdrops have a busy year ahead of them with a winter tour in the U.K. and the release of their 5th full-length album, Anyone Can See, out March 1st.

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The Fremonts

Born in New York City and raised in Boulder, Colorado, The Fremonts weave Midwestern ghost stories into restless Americana music. Stephanie Dodd (originally from Fremont, Nebraska - vocals/keyboard/xylophone/accordion) and Justin Badger (originally from Fremont, California - vocals/guitar/kick drum) lace their sound with bluegrass, country, blues, folk and indie pop influences. By blending Dodd’s lyrical voice and Badger’s turbulent style, they take on a range of topics from sprawling tales of escape and ambition to quiet disenchantment with traditional roles in American family life. In their three years of creating music together, The Fremonts have unearthed fresh authenticity in their writing and performances through dedicated practice and community building.

“'How do we get to the light, to the beauty and calm we see on the horizon? How do we tame the chaos of our hearts?'  The Fremonts’ answer is to work your ass off to make your own place, and that’s exactly what they have done. They stake a claim, and they’re not giving it up."

-Libby Emmons, Spill Magazine

"The Fremonts are a Boulder-based band that know how to combine pretty and gruff in all the best ways. Dodd (vocals/keyboard/xylophone) has a gentle, soothing voice that guides you along their lyrical stories. And Badger (vocals/guitar/suitcase kick drum) brings in strong, turbulent tones. It’s a perfect fit."

-Hannah Oreskovich, bolderbeat.com

Foxfeather

“Foxfeather achieves sonic bliss via their new track titled ‘Come And Get Me’…this future classic [is] a captivating mix of old school soul and modern alt-rock tinge in an #indie scene all too familiar with the bland” (Jammerzine)

“Carly Ricks Smith has a spectacular voice which lies somewhere between the folky soprano of a young Joni Mitchell and the jazz-heavy range of Lake Street Dive’s Rachel Price. It’s powerful as well as delicate” (Marquee Magazine).

"time warping...it's an emotional ride into the forest of folk with low-hanging country branches slapping you in the face without apology... its got a good thing going" (Rooster Magazine).

“…it’s sexy. It’s original. These women have crafted something very special and instantly likeable on this album” (Andy Eppler, The Prairie Scholars).

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Yes, there will be dancing!

300 Days exploded onto the Front Range bluegrass scene in 2016 with their fiery, original tunes, handcrafted by a trio of veteran musicians. The powerful, take no prisoners vocals and gravity defying fiddle playing of Melissa McGinley (StereoFidelics), finely honed songwriting by mandolinist and guitarist Nick Dunbar (Mountain Standard Time) and tight rhythms of jazz-trained Dave “Pump” Solzberg (Fox Street All Stars) on upright bass have been electrifying audiences across Colorado.

For being such a young group, 300 Days boasts the instrumental prowess, vocal harmonies and host of original material of a well seasoned band. This Boulder-based ensemble combines their background in bluegrass, folk, rock, jazz and Americana into a sound they call “prograss” that will knock you off your chair and keep your toes tapping.

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Ali Grayson & Beth Wilberger sing soulful tunes with tight harmonies; incorporating tasteful guitar, violin, and viola into their originals and covers. 

By The Lee is a duo born of the Colorado based band, The Railsplitters.
Inspired by touring the world together, Lauren Stovall and Peter Sharpe have been cultivating new music together over the past five years. They are excited to announce their new project.