It all starts here!
We're so blessed to have SO MANY talented musicians local to us in CO. Come enjoy our versatile and engaging musicians both in classes and with sets that will keep you dancing well past your bedtime (or at least our kids'!).
Head over to our Live Music and Dances page to see the schedule.
Maynard MillsFriday Evening |
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Maynard learned the Blues the hard way in the tough industrial town of Gary, Indiana. He has spent a lifetime immersing himself in the bitter-sweet sounds of Muddy Waters, Albert King, Lightning Hopkins, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, and a host of others too numerous to mention. Once Maynard warms to his work, he captures his audience’s rapt attention with an infectious blend of soulful vocals, punctuated with searing guitar licks.
For over 30 years, Maynard has enjoyed the odd paradox of playing to packed houses while remaining relatively obscure in Denver. He doesn’t seem to mind, however, as he says with a deep and down voice, “I feel very humble to carry on the tradition of these great musicians.”
His upbeat music has a contagious effect that gets even non-dancers up on their feet and onto the dance floor. Feeling good is the name of the game when it comes to the Maynard Mills Blues Band.
For over 30 years, Maynard has enjoyed the odd paradox of playing to packed houses while remaining relatively obscure in Denver. He doesn’t seem to mind, however, as he says with a deep and down voice, “I feel very humble to carry on the tradition of these great musicians.”
His upbeat music has a contagious effect that gets even non-dancers up on their feet and onto the dance floor. Feeling good is the name of the game when it comes to the Maynard Mills Blues Band.
John LongFriday Evening |
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John Long's uncanny ability to sound like a prewar country blues player -- even as he plays original blues pieces he wrote himself or with his older brother Claude Long -- makes his music sound both like a facsimile of the 1920s and early-30s blues 78s he so treasures, while somehow simultaneously sounding refreshingly modern, maybe because nobody plays this kind of throwback blues anymore, at least not with the care and precision that Long brings to it. Long was born in St. Louis, MO in 1950, and grew up listening to his mother's jazz and R&B 78s, and the scratchy sturdiness of the old discs filtered directly into his musical DNA. Before he was even a teen, Long was already trying to figure out how to play country blues songs on guitar. Along with his brother Claude (who also played guitar), he formed the Mystics in the early 60s to play contemporary rock & roll and R&B material, but both brothers were drawn increasingly to the old blues sound, and Long soon realized he had discovered his artistic home in the music of the prewar acoustic blues era. He moved to Chicago in the early 70s, where he was mentored by Homesick James Williamson and began playing local gigs. After seeing Long perform during this time period, none other than Muddy Waters proclaimed Long to be "the best young country blues artist playing today."
Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Steve Leggett, All Music Guide
Lionel YoungSaturday Evening |
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Lionel Young is a high energy performer with a bent for the blues. His LIONEL YOUNG BAND, winners of numerous awards for best in and around the Colorado oregion, have won the 2011 International Blues Challenge (IBC) band competition. Added to his victory at the 2008 IBC in the solo-duo category, that makes Lionel Young the first double champion in the history of the IBC.
Fans of the driven, classically trained Young love his distinctive brand of blues on the electric violin. His show features not only Young originals but interpretations of blues classics by Willie Dixon, Leadbelly and Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with the strength and passion of Young’s playing, his smooth vocals and unique translations. The songs, which include his award-winning composition ” Brown Cloud Over Denver” and “Hey, O.J.,” a controversial little gem, alternately stir up social concerns and soothe the weary soul. It’s prime. It’s fun. It’s Lionel Young.
Born in Rochester, New York, Lionel Young began taking violin lessons at the age of six with Anastasia Jempelis at the Eastman School of Music. He studied with Herbert Greenberg in Pittsburgh, Josef Gingold at Indiana University, and Fritz Siegel at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Opera-Ballet Orchestra and the National Repertory Orchestra which commissioned him to play bluegrass and blues for their summer festival and on a tour of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea during the 1988 Summer Olympic Music Festival.
Throughout his career, Mr. Young has won numerous awards including the Young Artist Award (Pittsburgh Symphony); The Concerto Contest (Carnegie-Mellon); The Passamenic Award (Branchwood String Quartet); and the award for the Best Blues Band 3 times in Westword’s Best of Denver. He’s also won a position with The Denver Chamber Orchestra and premiered a solo piece by William Hill.
Lionel has had the honor of working with such show biz luminaries as: Count Basie, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Paige/Robert Plant, Doc Severenson, Linda Ronstadt, Living Color, Tab Benoit, Los Lobos, Elvin Bishop, Woodie Herman, Stanley Turrentine, Homesick James, Homer Brown, Hamlet Bluiett, Chief Bae, and Johnny Long.
Fans of the driven, classically trained Young love his distinctive brand of blues on the electric violin. His show features not only Young originals but interpretations of blues classics by Willie Dixon, Leadbelly and Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with the strength and passion of Young’s playing, his smooth vocals and unique translations. The songs, which include his award-winning composition ” Brown Cloud Over Denver” and “Hey, O.J.,” a controversial little gem, alternately stir up social concerns and soothe the weary soul. It’s prime. It’s fun. It’s Lionel Young.
Born in Rochester, New York, Lionel Young began taking violin lessons at the age of six with Anastasia Jempelis at the Eastman School of Music. He studied with Herbert Greenberg in Pittsburgh, Josef Gingold at Indiana University, and Fritz Siegel at Carnegie Mellon University. He was a member of the Pittsburgh Opera-Ballet Orchestra and the National Repertory Orchestra which commissioned him to play bluegrass and blues for their summer festival and on a tour of Japan, Taiwan, and Korea during the 1988 Summer Olympic Music Festival.
Throughout his career, Mr. Young has won numerous awards including the Young Artist Award (Pittsburgh Symphony); The Concerto Contest (Carnegie-Mellon); The Passamenic Award (Branchwood String Quartet); and the award for the Best Blues Band 3 times in Westword’s Best of Denver. He’s also won a position with The Denver Chamber Orchestra and premiered a solo piece by William Hill.
Lionel has had the honor of working with such show biz luminaries as: Count Basie, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Jimmy Paige/Robert Plant, Doc Severenson, Linda Ronstadt, Living Color, Tab Benoit, Los Lobos, Elvin Bishop, Woodie Herman, Stanley Turrentine, Homesick James, Homer Brown, Hamlet Bluiett, Chief Bae, and Johnny Long.
Delta SonicsSunday Evening |
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The Delta Sonics are a well-known Colorado act that averages around 200 shows a year.
The Delta Sonics music takes a Chicago Blues base and seasons it with Swing, Delta, N’awlins R&B and some early Rock n' Roll . They were Westword’s best blues band in Denver six of nine years. They have been featured at many of the major festivals in Colorado, including the Taste of Colorado, Pearl St. Blues & Brews, the Five Points Jazz Festival, Parker Days, Denver BBQ Fest, the Beaver Creek BBQ Festival , Cheyenne Frontier Days , the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, City Park Jazz, the Palisade Peach Fest and many others.
The Delta Sonics won Denver's Best Blues Band in Westword magazine 6 years out of nine years ( 2012-2020) . Also, I recently received a Colorado Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award-2022 , " Favorite Band -2023 & 2024" " Favorite Duo - 2023 & 2024.
Al Chesis supplies vocals & foot stomping showmanship but it's his harmonica playing that grabs you. He has been a Hohner endorser since 1992. Al recently received a Colorado Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award . Bob Pellegrino supplies the dazzling, slide guitar. Bob was the Colorado Blues Society’s best slide guitar player in three years in a row. Rising bass star Alissa Chesis and Kyle Roberts on drums ‘drive the bus’ and are a grooving rhythm section .
The Sonics have been the Mile Hi ‘go-to’ band for touring Blues national acts for 15 yrs. The band has backed national blues acts like Big Bill Morganfield, Steadyrollin' Bob Margolin, Ronnie Baker Brooks, grammy -nominated Lurrie Bell, grammy -nominated John Primer and the late Pinetop Perkins, & the late Bo Diddley.
The Delta Sonics opened for BB King (twice) Robert Cray ( three times) and Jimmy Vaughn (twice) among many others . Al Chesis is a featured guest on Big Head Todd's album " Black Beehive*
The Delta Sonics music takes a Chicago Blues base and seasons it with Swing, Delta, N’awlins R&B and some early Rock n' Roll . They were Westword’s best blues band in Denver six of nine years. They have been featured at many of the major festivals in Colorado, including the Taste of Colorado, Pearl St. Blues & Brews, the Five Points Jazz Festival, Parker Days, Denver BBQ Fest, the Beaver Creek BBQ Festival , Cheyenne Frontier Days , the Cherry Creek Arts Festival, City Park Jazz, the Palisade Peach Fest and many others.
The Delta Sonics won Denver's Best Blues Band in Westword magazine 6 years out of nine years ( 2012-2020) . Also, I recently received a Colorado Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award-2022 , " Favorite Band -2023 & 2024" " Favorite Duo - 2023 & 2024.
Al Chesis supplies vocals & foot stomping showmanship but it's his harmonica playing that grabs you. He has been a Hohner endorser since 1992. Al recently received a Colorado Blues Society Lifetime Achievement Award . Bob Pellegrino supplies the dazzling, slide guitar. Bob was the Colorado Blues Society’s best slide guitar player in three years in a row. Rising bass star Alissa Chesis and Kyle Roberts on drums ‘drive the bus’ and are a grooving rhythm section .
The Sonics have been the Mile Hi ‘go-to’ band for touring Blues national acts for 15 yrs. The band has backed national blues acts like Big Bill Morganfield, Steadyrollin' Bob Margolin, Ronnie Baker Brooks, grammy -nominated Lurrie Bell, grammy -nominated John Primer and the late Pinetop Perkins, & the late Bo Diddley.
The Delta Sonics opened for BB King (twice) Robert Cray ( three times) and Jimmy Vaughn (twice) among many others . Al Chesis is a featured guest on Big Head Todd's album " Black Beehive*
Photos by Grant Fukui
Rex PeoplesSaturday Workshops |
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Rex is a band leader, singer, songwriter, voice coach and Blues in Schools educator. He was named the best blues vocalist by the Colorado Blues Society 8 times. Rex is an International Blues Competition winner, semi finalist, and has had a top 3 album for 12 months running: "Fried Food, Hard liquor."
Andreas SchmidSunday Workshops |
Photo credit to Calvin Locklaer
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Andreas Schmid is a professional drummer with many successful artistic collaborations with notable artists from a variety of backgrounds, such as Jazz, Blues, Funk, Country, World, Pop, Singer/Songwriter and Gospel.
Andreas developed his individual sound through studies at New York’s Drummers’ Collective, graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston and receiving a Master’s in music education at the Zurich Conservatory in Switzerland. He also studied the cajón at the Taller Flamenco in Seville.
He is the cofounder of the Coexistence Trio, Spherio and Motek, for which he composes and arranges.
Andreas additionally runs a small studio (Hit Box Studio) where he records drum tracks for clients as well gives drum and cajon lessons. He thaught at DIME-Denver at MSU and currently teaches Music (K-5) at Steele Elementary School.
Recently Andreas collaborated with Brigitte Moeckli in the multimedia art installation "viewopoints" which was on display in Switzerland, South of France and at Denver's Bitfactory gallery.
Andreas developed his individual sound through studies at New York’s Drummers’ Collective, graduating from Berklee College of Music in Boston and receiving a Master’s in music education at the Zurich Conservatory in Switzerland. He also studied the cajón at the Taller Flamenco in Seville.
He is the cofounder of the Coexistence Trio, Spherio and Motek, for which he composes and arranges.
Andreas additionally runs a small studio (Hit Box Studio) where he records drum tracks for clients as well gives drum and cajon lessons. He thaught at DIME-Denver at MSU and currently teaches Music (K-5) at Steele Elementary School.
Recently Andreas collaborated with Brigitte Moeckli in the multimedia art installation "viewopoints" which was on display in Switzerland, South of France and at Denver's Bitfactory gallery.
Tom AmendSunday Workshops |
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Tom Amend is a multi instrumentalist, composer, and artist living in Denver, Colorado. Tom performs throughout the Rocky Mountain Region in various settings as both a leader and a sideman. He has performed and or recorded with Colorado based artists: Gabriel Mervine, Eric Benny Bloom (Lettuce), Adam Deitch (Lettuce/Adam Deitch Quartet), Taylor Scott, Dominic Lalli (Big Gigantic), Eddie Roberts (New Mastersounds), The Burroughs, The Honky Tonk Express, Paul Romaine, Ken Walker, Dave Devine, Greg Gisbert, Steve Kovalcheck, among many others. Tom has also shared the stage with, Jeff Hamilton, Chris Potter, Christian McBride, Julia Dollison, Joey DeFrancesco, Louis Hayes, Dave Liebman, Pat Bergeson, Sheila Jordan, and others.
Tom’s playing and writing can be heard throughout his discography. His 2019 release, “Frontier Justice” is a swinging album of original music for organ trio that features Steve Kovalcheck and Jeff Hamilton. His 2021 Octet release, “Heliotrope” features a host of Colorado’s finest improvisers playing exciting original music spanning many genres.
Amend received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Masters of Music in Jazz Composition at the University of Northern Colorado. Through his association with UNC, Tom has performed with nationally recognized UNC Lab I, UNC Vanguard Combo, and Vocal Lab. Tom has taught jazz piano and music technology courses at the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, The University of Wyoming, and CCJA (Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts). He currently teaches out of his studio (Yellow Bench Studios).
The Tom Amend Octet sophomore release, “Yellow Bench” is now available!
Tom’s playing and writing can be heard throughout his discography. His 2019 release, “Frontier Justice” is a swinging album of original music for organ trio that features Steve Kovalcheck and Jeff Hamilton. His 2021 Octet release, “Heliotrope” features a host of Colorado’s finest improvisers playing exciting original music spanning many genres.
Amend received a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies and a Masters of Music in Jazz Composition at the University of Northern Colorado. Through his association with UNC, Tom has performed with nationally recognized UNC Lab I, UNC Vanguard Combo, and Vocal Lab. Tom has taught jazz piano and music technology courses at the University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University, The University of Wyoming, and CCJA (Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts). He currently teaches out of his studio (Yellow Bench Studios).
The Tom Amend Octet sophomore release, “Yellow Bench” is now available!