YOUR AD HERE »

Mt. Sopris Music Festival offers diverse lineup

April E. Clark
Arts and entertainment contributor
Carlton Pride and Mighty Zion
Staff Photo |

CARBONDALE — For lip-trombonist Lipbone Redding, one of the perks in playing Carbondale since 2007 is knowing people may come and go, but the mountain town always stays the same.

“Some of the faces change but the vibe never does,” he said. “That’s what I love about the place.”

Redding said Carbondale’s welcoming musical environment and encouragement from KDNK Community Access Radio has been integral in his seven-year run in the Roaring Fork Valley. He plays at 6 p.m. today as part of the Mt. Sopris Music Festival at Steve’s Guitars.



“Carbondale is one of my favorite spots on planet Earth,” Redding said. “I hope to honor my friends and extended family and offer much in the way of viable reciprocation.”

In support of his upcoming release, “Esmeralda,” Redding will play new material as well as older favorites at the festival.



“I’ll have a bunch of new songs from my upcoming album,” he said. “Some laughing, some crying, some dancing, some singing. Good times.”

Known for his distinctive style of performance art infused into his singing and songwriting, Redding said he enjoys experimenting with new ventures in music.

“I am always pushing my own boundaries,” he said. “My new undertakings are always glacial in movement. I never really notice how far I’ve come until I look back.”

Steve knows Mt. Sopris

For Mt. Sopris Music Festival organizer Steve Standiford, the live music Redding and the lengthy list of musicians will play today downtown is the perfect way to open the diverse two-day show.

Along with helping produce the annual festival, Standiford owns and manages Steve’s Guitars, one of the venues for the event along with the outdoor stage erected at Fourth and Main streets. In his weekly email, Standiford wrote in length, and excitement, about the acts for Mt. Sopris Music Festival, now in its 13th year, running today and tomorrow.

“We have booked over 20 music acts for your listening pleasure this week,” he noted.

Standiford said festivalgoers should expect “fantastic music talent” during the festival.

The live music begins at 5 p.m. today at Town Plaza and ends Saturday night in downtown Carbondale.

Standiford said music lineup posters with times, venues and acts will be posted around the area and venues for reference. He previewed the lineup on what crowds will see and hear Friday and Saturday:

Friday

5 p.m. The Josefina Mendez Band – http://www.josefinamendez.com

Steve: This hot jazz/Latin jazz trio has been lighting it up all over the valley in the past few years, making all kinds of new fans in the Hotel Jerome, Limelight Hotel, the Westin, Steve’s and many more venues. Tim Fox plays some sweet trumpet and piano and Mike Facey plays bass/guitar and sings. And Josefina sings some fabulous songs in three languages. She and Tim just came back from a tour in Argentina.

6 p.m. Lipbone Redding – http://www.lipbone.com

Steve: Lipbone has been coming to Carbondale for years to share his amazing musical talents. He weaves funky rhythms, catchy original songs, brash humor, soulful singing and inventive guitar playing with exotic and percussive vocal sounds such as throat-singing, bass and beat boxing and realistic lip tromboning. A fantastic Dr. John-like entertainer.

6:45 p.m. Wade Newsome

Steve: Besides running a successful coffee shop, The Blend, and being an accomplished endurance biker/racer, Wade is also a talented performance artist. You may have caught his original word shows at the 5Point Film Fest and other places including Steve’s Guitars.

7 p.m. The Steve Skinner Band – http://www.steveskinner.com

Steve: Steve Skinner keeps busy as general manager of KDNK during the day and later works the “swing shift” with his musical friends. He has been playing original rock and roll for decades in the valley in all kinds of venues and genres. He will be rocking his electric guitar and singing up a storm with his musical buddies, Louie Girardot on electric bass and vocals and Captain X on drums. Special guest on keyboards is Vid Weatherwax.

8 p.m. Let Them Roar – http://www.letthemroar.com

Steve: Known to most fans as All the Pretty Horses, this high-energy alt-country band with a new name plays some sweet original music. They just played Strawberry Days, and have performed all over the valley and Colorado. Olivia Pevec is the roaring lead singer who rides the music made by her talented band of Frank Martin on guitar/slide and vocals, Mateo Sandate on electric guitars, Ashton Taufer on electric bass, and Aaron Taylor on drums. A mighty good band.

9 p.m. The Starletts

Steve: This very talented Motown dance band has been making people get off their seats in all kinds of venues around the valley. The band features an all-star vocal section with Shanti Gruber and Meagan Goodwin of the Tippetts, Nikki Miller of Trunk and Marilyn Lindquist, formerly with Electric Lemon. The singers are backed up by Rob Miller on electric guitar, Frank Botti on electric bass and Billy Miller on drums. Great vocal harmonies and four lead singers in one band.

Saturday

Noon – Librarian Sue and Blacksmith Tim

Steve: Interactive music for kids of all ages. Sue is the branch manager of the Glenwood Library and leads a musical storytime and a ukulele group. Tim plays guitar player and is a songwriter. A group of local kids singing on the main stage will join them.

12:30 p.m. Patrick Fagan

Steve: Local singer/songwriter/guitarist/horn player will share some original Americana folk songs, and some sweet horn playing. You might know him from his Phat Pagan Open Mic nights on Monday at Carbondale Beer Works. The loudest voice in town; perfect for pubs.

1 p.m. Morgan Williams and Natalie Spears

Steve: This talented duo blend indie folk rock with an old-timey twist. A variety of original and traditional tunes featuring poetic works, raw vocals, sweet harmony and foot-stomping rhythm. Guitar and stand-up acoustic bass and more.

1:30 p.m. Jim Hawkins

Steve: Local singer/songwriter/guitarist also runs the Four Mile Creek Bed & Breakfast. He loves to write and perform his original songs on valley stages.

2 p.m. Dave Taylor

Steve: Producer at the Cool Brick Studios in Carbondale right behind the Village Smithy, Dave has played acoustic and electric guitars for years while writing and performing songs in the valley and before moving to Carbondale, in New York and LA.

2:30 p.m. Matt Johnson

Steve: Matt is a talented local singer/songwriter/acoustic guitarist who has been playing in the valley for years. His inventive guitar playing and Leonard Cohen-like song poems have won him many fans.

3 p.m. Mack Bailey – http://www.mackbailey.com

Steve: Mack is an accomplished singer/songwriter and a past member of the Limeliters. He also uses his fantastic tenor voice in local John Denver tributes and with the Hard Travelers.

3:30 p.m. Matt Haslett – http://www.matthaslett.com

Steve: Matt is an excellent guitar player, singer and songwriter. He came to the valley and worked in the solar field but has switched to working on his music as a first priority. He blends bluegrass, jazz, rock and folk into his own original music.

4 p.m. The Lost Keys

Steve: This local band features Frank Norwood (Main Street Gallery and Framer) on guitar and banjo along with his musical friends Danny Muse on acoustic guitar and Ernie Kohlar on electric bass.

5 p.m. The 4AM Band

Steve: Corey Madsen and his music buddies Daniel and Josh form a power trio from Glenwood. They plan to show us what a face-melting Four Mile rock band can do in Carbondale.

6 p.m. Ali Sperry, Adam Chaffins and Jamie Dick – http://www.alisperry.com

Steve: A Nashville based touring trio that will play an original blend of indie-pop, folk and rock with a dose of Americana soul, featuring Ali on acoustic guitar and vocals, Adam on bass and vocals and Jamie on drums.

7 p.m. The Nanograms

Steve: A Glenwood-based rock band led by Kendall Spyker of the wonderful Gear Exchange. They rocked the fest last year and are back for more.

8 p.m. Electric Lemon

Steve: A Carbondale-based rock band with Marc Bruell on electric guitar, Dan Rosenthal on drums, Mark Gray on guitar and Pat Fagan on electric bass. Get ready to dance.

9 p.m. Carlton Pride and Mighty Zion

http://www.carltonpride.com

Steve: I bet the famous country singer Charley Pride never thought his son would grow up to be in a funky reggae band. Carlton is bringing his band to its first Sopris Fest to play feel-good, laid-back, bluesy, funk and roots reggae music. Carlton will have guitar, bass, sax and drums to get us in a dance-and-sway mood. Should be a nice, loving, positive way to end this year’s celebration of live music.

Steve Standiford contributed to this report.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.