Durango Bluegrass Meltdown
Durango, CO – The 22nd Annual Bluegrass Meltdown will be held April 15-17, 2016.
Some of the 2016 MELTDOWN EVENTS:
FRIDAY, 5 – 7 P.M., POWERHOUSE SCIENCE CENTER,
1333 CAMINO DEL RIO, ALONG THE ANIMAS RIVER
The warm-up for the Meltdown has become one of our festival’s more popular traditions. This free, two-hour concert is held at the Powerhouse Science Center on Friday afternoon, when the festival opens. Powerhouse Science Center is the Four Corner’s hands-on, interactive science center, providing innovative learning and unleashing human potential. Located on the banks of the Animas River in a historic coal-fired, steam-generated AC powerplant, Powerhouse Science Center presents a wide range of programs, exhibits, and activities for curious minds of all ages. They are committed to developing a science center that is welcoming and engaging to all communities in the Four Corners and beyond. They strive to be inclusive because we believe science and technology are for everyone.
Enjoy exceptional bluegrass music and help us kick off the festival for the weekend with (bands yet to be determined) Please use the crosswalk at 12th street and Camino Del Rio.
BAND SHOWCASE
SATURDAY, NOON – 6 P.M., ELKS LODGE, 9TH ST. & EAST 2ND AVE.
Since the early years of the Meltdown, the Band Showcase has provided a stage for bands that want to participate but for whatever reason aren’t ready or willing to play the “main stage”. “Bluegrass Band Criteria” are severely bent for the Band Showcase. This year we have the Next Generation Fiddlers, a young group of over 10 fiddlers who will present a rousing performance by the young aspiring musicians, Tom Klema Family & Friends are a local favorite that always puts on a great set, Colorado College will debut two new and fresh bluegrass ensembles. The Band Showcase never lacks for entertainment, not to mention the youngest and entertaining Band Showcase Emcee in the four corners area, Drew Allsopp. This event continues to be free to the public and always takes place at the Elks Lodge dance hall and continues to be a Meltdown favorite.
SUPER JAM
SATURDAY, 7 – 10 P.M., HENRY STRATER THEATER, 7TH ST. & MAIN AVE.
Join the spontaneous fun of the Meltdown’s Superjam. The event has become a festival tradition and no two are ever the same. Local, regional and national talents come together to collaborate and inspire on the stage of the Henry Strater Theatre. The bluegrass community is a small circle of incredibly talented musicians. It’s often amazing to witness how individuals from different bands are sometimes old friends, past band mates, or just like-minded individuals. It’s impromptu magic, so sit back and see what happens! Finnders and Youngberg will be hosting the event and are sure to throw together some incredible collaborations for the stage.
OLD TIME BARN DANCE WITH SIX DOLLAR STRING BAND
SATURDAY, 7:30 – 10 P.M., ELKS LODGE, 9TH ST. & EAST 2ND AVE.
Admission free with Saturday or Weekend Meltdown Wristband or $10 at the Door.
Do you know how to tell the difference between old time fiddle tunes? They have different titles.
In 2006, after recognizing the popularity of the old timey music scare with bands such as Reeltime Travelers and Sweet Sunny South, the Meltdown introduced the Old Time Barn Dance, at the Elks Lodge dance hall. With the perfect setting of the Elks Lodge and it’s hardwood dance floor and great old timey band, Six Dollar String Band, this has evolved into a “don’t miss” event. Nobody has more fun during the entire Meltdown weekend than the kids of all ages that pack the Elks’ dance floor.
LATE NIGHT SHOW WITH THE GRANT FARM
SATURDAY, 8 – 10 P.M., DURANGO ART CENTER, 8TH ST. & EAST 2ND AVE.
The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown presents an evening with The Grant Farm.
Admission free with Saturday or Weekend Meltdown Wristband or $10 at the Door)
Grant Farm is a band on a mission. Lead by National Flatpicking Guitar Champion Tyler Grant (Emmitt/Nershi Band), the talented four-piece is built on the foundation of love, family and the joy of music. The Grant Farm train stops at all stations on the North American roots music line, and is not afraid to let the whistle scream with some blistering jams. After several solid seasons of touring Coast-to-Coast behind their eponymous 2012 debut album, Grant Farm and the 2014 follow up, Plowin’ Time (#2 JamBand Radio Charts), audiences everywhere are a-buzz with the Roots, Rock and Cris-Co statement that Grant Farm brings to every performance. In September 2014 Grant Farm collaborated with the band Fruition to release Meeting on the Mountain, an inspired EP that has reached #8 on the JamBand Radio charts and #148 on the AMA Radio Charts.Former members of The Drew Emmitt Band, Emmitt-Nershi Band, Donovan Frankenreiter and Hot Soup, these fine young players have been featured on stage with the likes of The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters, The Motet, Head For The Hills, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Tim O’Brien, Dumpstaphunk, Tony Rice, Larry Keel, Keller Williams, Jon Oates, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Disco Biscuits, Abigail Washburn and Peter Rowan.
The seeds of Grant Farm were planted in 2009 by Tyler Grant and Andy Thorn (Leftover Salmon). Tyler was fresh off the boat from Nashville, TN and Andy from Chapel Hill, NC. The duo found themselves in Boulder, CO as members of The Emmitt-Nershi Band, and were eager to showcase some of their original music. When Tyler gave his notice to ENB at the end of 2010 he was driven to make a bigger statement with his music so he dusted off his Telecaster guitar, rounded up a core band, plugged in, turned up, and watched the sprouts of the Grant Farm concept grow.
With the help of Thorn and stellar bassist Keith Moseley of The String Cheese Incident, the electric Grant Farm started rehearsing in early 2011. Their concerts in Denver, Boulder and the mountains beyond caused a ripple in the local music scene that led to some fine festival plays the following Summers, including Northwest String Summit, Suwanee Springfest, SCI Horning’s Hideout, Yarmonygrass, Four Corners Folk Festival, NedFest, Chattanooga Riverfront, Fort Collins Bark n’ Bluegrass, French Broad River Festival, WInterWonderGrass and Campout for the Cause. With a country-disco (Cris-Co), roots-rock, booty-shakin’ jam-tastic concept fully formed, Grant Farm prepared to annihilate audiences across the country.
The permanent lineup of Grant Farm is Tyler “The Champ” Grant on electric guitar and vocals, uber-talented Adrian “ACE” Engfer on bass and vocals, rock solid Sean “Magic” Macaulay on drums and the phenomenally prodigious Kevin “Money” McHugh on keyboards and vocals. Look for them Spring and Summer 2015 at a Festival near you and for the Plowin Time album from Grant Central Records on CD, Vinyl, iTunes, and DSD Pure formats. Also check out Meeting on the Mountain on iTunes. C’mon, it’s PLOWIN’ TIME!
GOSPEL SET
SUNDAY MORNING, 10 A.M. – 1 P.M. DURANGO ART CENTER, 8TH ST. & EAST 2ND AVE.
You don’t want to miss the gospel set on Sunday morning. This set highlights the versatility of at least three of the bands performing at the festival. There’s no reason to fret about missing church during the Meltdown, the a cappella vocals bring out heavenly harmonies. God is definitely present on Sunday mornings!
JAMMING
The Meltdown features many indoor and outdoor (weather permitting) locations for informal jamming. The management of the Strater and Rochester Hotels welcome musicians to gather and play for their own enjoyment as well as that of the hotel guests. Numerous downtown bars and restaurants also encourage musicians to play at their discretion, and may offer complementary food and drink. Spring afternoons in Durango are often very pleasant and jamming on the sidewalks and at outdoor cafes can be a pleasant way to make new friends and expose the general public to the joys of bluegrass. Look for the Meltdown Flyer in the windows of participating establishments.
The Strater Hotel lobby is open for jamming until midnight, late night jamming is open in the Pullman room in the basement of the Strater Hotel into the wee hours.
BAR GIGS
FRIDAY & SATURDAY NIGHTS, SEE PROGRAM GUIDE FOR LOCATION
Part of the fun during the Meltdown is enjoying live bluegrass music while sampling great food and drink at some of Durango’s finest downtown bars and restaurants. Many of the same bands that play the main stages will also provide late night entertainment with no cover charge for those with Meltdown wristbands. See schedules on side bar for locations and times.
For additional information visit: http://www.durangomeltdown.com/
