Jake Leg with Pete Wernick at the CBMS Fundraiser

It’s full on festival season!

In this month’s issue we have a review of the Durango Meltdown and in the next issue we’ll cover McAwesome and Pagosa bluegrass fests. Lots of music out there!

Also in this issue, Jason Hicks regales us with tales of one of his personal heroes Norman Blake and Neil Smart - who has been a fixture at KGNU forever gives us a nice rundown of the CBMS Fundraiser we held on May 18th at Roots Music Project.

Thanks so much for supporting CBMS, we have some great things in store for the next year!

John Pierce - President, Colorado Bluegrass Music Society

CBMS fundraiser at Roots Music Project

By Neil Smart

On the evening of May 18, The Roots Music Project, a young music incubator in Boulder, opened its doors for an evening of music and conversation to benefit the CBMS. The roughly 200 seat venue and staff were top-notch with excellent sound, very tasteful lighting, and great drinks. The Fed Food Truck was also on-site serving up delicious dinners. KGNU radio recorded the event for partial airing at a later date.

A raffle and silent auction were part of the evening, with a framed Billy Strings poster, apparel, goody bags, and tickets to RockyGrass, The Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival, and SnowyGrass up for grabs. Bidding was heavy early, and the raffle winners were announced at the beginning of the show, from the stage. With CBMS President John Pierce on the short-term illness list, former President Kevin Slick served as Master of Ceremonies, and offered some opening remarks about the CBMS and its mission. The show itself was formatted in the fashion of a radio show. Brief conversations between yours truly and the artists followed short sets of music.

The musical evening began with Colorado Bluegrass royalty, Pete and Joan Wernick, whose set featured several Pete-penned songs, including Hot Rize the hit, “He’s Just Like You”. Joan’s stirring lead vocal on the Ola Belle Reed classic “I’ve Endured” was one of the highlights of the evening. The conversation took the friendly and appreciative crowd through a brief history of the Wernick’s beginnings in the music as well as the birth of the RockyGrass, the early CBMS, and growth of the community in Colorado. Our lively jam scene and jamming as a social and educational process got a special mention from Pete.

Jake Leg followed Pete and Joan with a set of virtuoso musicianship, solid vocals, and original material that felt familiar, and brand new all at once. Their songs and tunes allowed the listener to join the musical journey and never leave their seats. Dylan McCarthy’s phenomenal mandolin playing combined with Eric Wiggs’ beautiful guitar, and Justin Hoffenberg’s always masterful fiddle make for the core of a unique, but accessible sound that has been experienced by audiences all over the state over the past few years. Formed out of the Bela Fleck “Drive” tribute band AWD, Jake Leg is another strong Colorado entry into the world of bluegrass. Our conversation ranged from possible upcoming Jake Leg recordings to teaching, songwriting, and Justin’s involvement in the RockyGrass Kids Camp.

After a brief intermission, Colorado bluegrass institutions consummate performers, Blue Canyon Boys took the stage with their blend of excellent musicianship, broad song choices, tight “brother” harmonies from Jason Hicks and Gary Dark, and wry wit. Their set included selections from their vast repertoire of bluegrass standards, great original material, and even their signature version of Pink Floyd’s “Time”. The Hicks penned, regional hit “Rocky Mountain Stars” brought a tear to more than one eye in the crowd. We discussed their long career in the area, from the 2008 Telluride Band Competition win to the present.

The evening concluded with all the performers joining in on a rousing rendition of “Sittin’ On Top of the World”. All told, Beyond the Grass was a huge success in bringing bluegrass music, and the CBMS’ message and mission to those in attendance. I, for one, am looking forward to the next installment, it was a magical evening.

The Durango Meltdown

“Good Timey Downtown Durango” - April 21-23, Durango, Colorado

by David Smith

When Don Rigsby, Josh Williams, and Gene Libbea lean into a single mic for harmonies as high as the La Plata Mountains and as clear as the Animas River, you know that the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown is back in town. From the red brick of the Strater Hotel to the stone block of the Elks Lodge, bluegrass fans made their way through the streets of Durango to take in the sights and sounds of the 27th annual festival, April 21, 22, and 23.

Colorado has bluegrass legends living in its midst. Some are recent transplants who tour the nation with today’s top bands. Some may peak out of the woodwork while laying low and enjoying the Rocky Mountain lifestyle. And others – such as banjo picker Keith Reed – have been active in their communities for decades, inspiring the next generation of pickers and singers and continuing to bring their powerful sound to bluegrass fans.

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown is honored to be tied to Reed through his instruction of the Colorado College Bluegrass Ensemble, part of the College’s Colorado Springs-based Music Department. The Ensemble has appeared annually since 2009 (though Keith’s involvement with the festival goes back even further, as he performed with the past voice of Colorado traditional bluegrass, Open Road).

In addition to mentoring the Ensemble while in town, the last several years have shown Keith bringing his friends in bluegrass to the Meltdown for sets that are often festival highlights. The varying musicians have represented many of the best in the genre, and 2023 might have been the best yet, with the aforementioned trio joined by fiddler Shad Cobb and Reed on banjo to form Tunnel Drive. During these performances, it was an absolute joy to see Josh Williams back on a bluegrass stage. His guitar was as thunderous and melodic as ever, and his voice rang true and honored the honky-tonk, country, and bluegrass roots of Southwest Colorado, a longtime hotbed for those rootsy American sounds.

Joining Tunnel Drive in the headliner spots of the festival were Rick Faris, The Slocan Ramblers, The Kody Norris Show (and what a SHOW they brought!), Barbaro, The Tall Poppy String Band, and The Cody Sisters. Aside from headliners though, the Meltdown rightfully prides itself on bringing the many talents of the region to the main stage – most being from the immediate Durango area. In-fact, it was a celebratory time for a few of these local bands as they picked and sang their way into Meltdown lore through multiple-year performances: traditional stalwarts The Badly Bent played their 20th Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, with the old-time Six Dollar String Band playing their 10th. Coinciding with the festival was an honor bestowed upon Durango’s Blue Moon Ramblers, with a room dedication in their name at the Strater Hotel (home of the Diamond Belle Saloon, where they’ve been playing every Sunday night for over two decades). The crowds congratulated them throughout the weekend, and as they took the stage for their 27th appearance – making them the only band to play every single festival!  

Speaking of tenure, a special shoutout goes to local bluegrasser, Steve Labowskie, who with Smelter Mountain Boys, and The Scrugglers, just played his 12th Meltdown. He can also be found hosting bluegrass jams around Durango all year round!

On the other end of the spectrum, 14-year-old Durango High School freshman, Jordan Rainey, played the festival for the very first time. This multi-instrumentalist brought her love of guitar and passion for singing to an enthusiastic full house (including family, friends, teachers, and local fans). With a “Burn Them” (Greensky Bluegrass), “Taking Water” (Billy Strings) opening to her set (followed by powerful originals), all in attendance had peace of mind that live music is in good hands.

Bluegrass fans should mark calendars for the 28th Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, April 19, 20, and 21, 2024! The festival will carry-on its long tradition of bringing headlining traditional bluegrass, old time string band music, along with a solid dose of original songwriting and progressive leaning talents, to the always scenic and good timey downtown Durango.  

“That’s Just a Scale the Fish Come Later” - Norman BlAKE  

By Jason Hicks

A score and a half ago a couple of dear family friends would tell stories of living in the hills of North Carolina and occasionally having the opportunity to hear a musician and his wife perform at the local café’s.  Intimate settings that seem to perfectly fit evenings of acoustic music and songs of the hills.  As a budding heavy metal guitarist, I only half-heartedly listened to the reminiscing stories, but within a few quick years I found myself sitting at attention wanting to know more about those shows.  A gradual disinterest in heavy metal guitar was blossoming into a newfound love for folk music and I soon found myself sitting with 75 of my newest friends listening to the one and only Norman Blake sing and play “good ol’ hill country” folk music with us. 

That evening Norman sat on a small stage with various instruments spread across the floor.  Guitars and fiddles, a mandolin, dobro, a 6 string banjo (yes, he performed a song or two on a banjitar) and he would pause, pick an instrument up and play a few tunes, sing a song from his seemingly vast repertoire, and then make a comment or two about how nice it was for so many of us to come out on a Monday evening and listen to a long winded folk singer.  Fiddle and dobro medleys, fiery ragtime and bluegrass guitar numbers, and traditional folk songs interspersed with Norman Blake originals filled out the evening and after one particularly long folk song he tipped his guitar over for all of us to see his lyric sheet taped to the top of the old Martin dreadnought and gave a little wink and smile. 
But what won me over that night wasn’t his multi-instrumental abilities or his deep knowledge of folk music, it was his ability to communicate with his audience in a simple yet complex manner.  To be friendly and grateful; humble and confident, and to be a vessel for a song or a tune. 

Norman’s musical resume includes Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earl, membership in Johnny Cash’s band and TV show, John Hartford’s “Steam Powered Aereo Plain” as well as the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s legendary “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” album.  He has more than 40 albums under his own belt, many of which are with his wife and lifelong musical partner Nancy Blake (cello, mandolin, guitar, vocals.)  Among his discography are albums with Tut Taylor, Red Rector, the Rising Fawn String Ensemble, Don Edwards and Peter Rowan, Red White and Blue Grass, and his monumental collaborations with Tony Rice.  His recorded career is chock full of off the beaten path fiddle tunes, hidden guitar rag treasures, and fiery original guitar works; almost forgotten ballads and an affinity for songs of the railroad days all interspersed amongst over 50 years of original compositions some of which have become bluegrass standards and benchmark pieces. 

While Norman and Nancy have mostly forgone their touring days to picking at their home in Rising Fawn, Georgia, they have kept busy writing and recording new albums with his most recent album “Day by Day” released in Oct 2021 on Western Jubilee.  Scott O’Malley & Associates along with the Western Jubilee recording in CO Springs have been Norman’s Colorado connection for the past 20 years, providing him with management, bookings, and a recording studio for numerous albums and collaborations throughout the 2000s.

Norman recently celebrated his 85 birthday and although his traveling days appear to be behind him, the Bluegrass Music Hall of Famer’s legacy lives on through his inspiration and entertainment of multiple generations of folkies, guitar aficionados, bluegrass pickers, and acoustic music lovers everywhere.  A quip from Norman’s “Railroad Blues” sums it up nicely: “That’s just a scale, the fish come later.” He’s got the right bait and it won’t be long before he’s got you on the hook. 

Back to the Table of Contents

This month for our “Power Pickin’ from the Past” image we have the 2nd annual Rocky Mountain Bluegrass Festival (now Rockygrass)!

Contributors to this month’s newsletter:

  • John Pierce — President, CBMS

  • Kevin Slick - Board member and former President of CBMS, member of Orchard Creek Band

  • Davide Smith — Longtime contributor to CBMS and local music denizen

  • Jason Hicks — Board member and band member of the Blue Canyon Boys