Event Information
18+ w/ valid photo ID, under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Head For The Hills Biography
Head for the Hills has created a sound that is all at once organic, precise, timeless, and brand-new, as reported by the Missoula Independent. The acclaimed Colorado quartet has been receiving nationwide recognition in response to their refreshing take on acoustic music. Described as progressive acoustic/contemporary roots, H4TH produces an endearing mixture of homegrown compositions, traditional harmonies, and improvisation. In the live setting, H4TH effortlessly ventures into a myriad of musical styles and sonic landscapes that appeal to a boundless array of listeners.
The past year has been outright explosive year for the quartet, having been voted by the Westword Magazine Music Showcase (Denver, CO) as the Best Bluegrass band in Colorado, a highly esteemed honor, for 2 years in a row (2010 and 2011). Additionally, the band has been receiving national attention, from their recently released self titled studio effort. The group was selected to perform at SxSW in 2011, and were also a SxSW Critics Picks Must See choice, via the Austin Statesman/360. The band has a host of music festivals scheduled for summer 2011 including DelFest, NightGrass at Telluride Bluegrass Festival (Sold Out), High Sierra Music Festival, Crested Butte Music Festival (Bluegrass in Paradise), Yarmony Grass Music Festival (Late Night Set), NedFest, Strings Music Festival, Boats & Bluegrass & more.
To get a sense of Head for the Hills snowballing momentum, look no further than the surrounding talent on their self titled sophomore release (2010), Head for the Hills. The album garnered the group a charted position on the CMJ Top 200 national radio listings. The six year old pickers attracted heavyweights like longtime bluegrass aficionado, Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) as their producer who took them up to Bill Nershis Sleeping Giant studio to record. Studio engineer Gus Skinas engineered the effort, boasts a particularly intriguing history having digitally remastered Pink Floyds Dark Side of the Moon; helped Sony develop the early iterations digital audio; and invented an innovative multi-tracker called Sonoma that combines the warmth of analog with the ease and efficiency of digital. In addition, Vance Powell, who adorns his mantle with a Grammy for his work on the Raconteurs wildly successful Consolers of the Lonely album, mixed the record. The self titled release earned the group a number 29 position on Colorado Radios Top 50 Albums of 2010.
In 2007, for their debut studio effort, Robbers Roost, the band joined forces with the talented producer/performer Sally Van Meter. Ms. Van Meter, among her impressive list of accomplishments, is credited for her 1994 Grammy Award Winning work on The Great Dobro Sessions. She has also produced albums for artists like Yonder Mountain String Band, Open Road Bluegrass and Allison Brown.
Head for the Hills have performed, supported, and shared programming with such notables as: David Grisman, Sam Bush, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Ween, Bruce Hornsby, Emmylou Harris, Dr. Dog, Little Feat, Nickel Creek, The Avett Brothers, Yonder Mountain String Band, Tim O Brien, Peter Rowan, Punch Brothers, Doc Watson, Railroad Earth, and have performed at Wakarusa Music Festival, Telluride Bluegrass Festival (NightGrass), Northwest String Summit, Mulberry Mountain Harvest Festival, Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival (Official Evening Performance), Yarmony Grass Music Festival, Bristol Rhythm and Roots and many more.
Many respected avenues have sighted Head for the Hills as the next breath of fresh air to emerge from the acoustic realm. With direction from a plethora of talented company and an ever-evolving approach to progressive acoustic music, there is no telling what successes lay ahead for this group of talented musicians.
Waiting On Trial Biography
After hearing good things for months, I finally saw my first Waiting on Trial show the other night. Mostly, til this recent show, I have seen them in and around Durango, Colorado where they make their home. Sometimes I would see them fishing and other times playing music good music. It is old timey with that youthful energy that old timey music had before old people were the only ones playing it. Chris Lane brings his own 3 finger style banjo to the group. Vocally it is Eric Elliot that shines. Though the band brings together fine harmonies, Erics lead vocals are strong and ring true with a classic vaudeville tone, hinting of a time gone on. Bringing the names mentioned thus far to a quintet are Ryan Doty on guitar, Robin Davis on fiddle, and Ryan Zernis on bass. The group focuses heavily on songwriting, and performs mostly original material. As a collective whole, Waiting on Trial is a welcome addition to the acoustic scene, in Durango and beyond. Not quite bluegrass and not quite old time, they are the Animas River in a spring flood; they are the La Plata Mountains in a dusting of October snow; they are a grove of Ponderosas in a summer fir, you know it is going to happen eventually, but you never really know what it will be all about. All you can do is sit back and take it in. David Smith, Sweet By and By Bluegrass KDUR.