Genre-bending musical group Greensky Bluegrass, known for mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll; HYFI, the leading destination for the highest quality live entertainment and on-demand concert programming on the internet; and special guests Sierra Hull, Railroad Earth, and Steppin’ In It.
 

Although Colorado is well known for getting a tour stop by every big name in music, sometimes it is the local band that makes the night special, especially when gigging in any number of the state’s small clubs or outdoor venues. Last Friday, Tenth Mountain Division was one such band that brought the heat to Mishawaka Amphitheater, one of Northern Colorado’s best kept secrets nestled in the Poudre Canyon just outside of Fort Collins.

There’s nothing quite as freewheeling and fun as calling up a few buddies to get together and play music, creating a bond, and, if the stars align, walking away with a song or two. Now imagine if the friends were tenured professional touring musicians who’ve just never quite had the chance to all be in the same room at the same time. That’s exactly how the newly formed, feel-good Americana collective, The High Hawks, came to be.

Traveling around the western portion of the United States in a large Four Winds RV Todd & Chris are keeping the vibe alive. They have been playing outside gigs from breweries to backyards. They rolled into Boulder this week after a long haul from Salt Lake City. Chris Thompson played the first acoustic set of both original compositions and covers. Chris is a unique singer songwriter, lyrically gifted his style is engaging and up-lifting. His smooth style of playing and the tone of his six string is distinct and robust.

In the first few seconds of The High Hawks’ debut single, a flurry of pulsing electric piano, kick drum, and Townshend-esque guitar strums give way to a flat out J.J. Cale groove just in time for the first line to be sung: “If we could just find a highway...might even find a way to make it home.” And thus, The High Hawks take flight. That tune, “Heroes & Highways,” is an appropriate first taste of music from the long-time-coming, feel-good Americana cooperative, naturally expressing the range of which the bands’ members can reach.

Blue skies, incredible musicians, great friends, and a postcard backdrop were all on tap at this much needed mountain music festival. Todd Sheaffer, lead singer and guitar player with Railroad Earth, headlined the first day of the festival. Music echoed through the valley as laser lights bounced off the hills in perfect harmony. There were plenty of happy folks and plenty of room to spread out and dance. Day number two was perfect sun-soaked bliss in the shadow of Horsetooth Mountain.

After a quiet winter in 2020, the Cloud 9 Adventures event season returns with the official announcement of destination music vacation Strings & Sol. The bluegrass-centric concert experience takes fans to the tropics for an all-inclusive vacation in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The event returns to beloved all-inclusive resorts Now Sapphire and Dreams Riviera Cancun from December 9-13, 2021.

After a long and patient wait to return to the stage, a couple of the jam-world’s favorite pickers are setting out on a month’s long journey to bring the music to the people. Beginning April 5th, Railroad Earth front-man Todd Sheaffer will be joined by multi-instrumentalist Chris Thompson of Coral Creek for a tour of outdoor shows—beginning at Station 26 Brewing in Denver before circling through more of Colorado, Arizona, Southern and Northern California, and up to Oregon before finishing up back where they started.

As we open the windows and let the spring breezes blow, I find myself reflecting on what a year it has been. Confidence Man by Pat Ferguson has been the song to help process all this muck and mire.

In times like we’ve been living, maybe we could all use a friendly voice to lead us to the other side. Perhaps one of music’s most wonderful capabilities is its undeniable ability to bring us comfort in times of tumult. Surely, the sonic pleasantries and lyrical content of some tunes lend themselves to being that warm blanket that covers you and, say, a whole bunch of your friends.