Live Music Is Art - Go Get Some

Our friends at the Cultural Office of the Pikes Peak Region have once again delcared October to be Arts Month, with the goal of encouraging everyone in the community to have at least one new arts experience in the next 31 days.  Here in Colorado Springs we are blessed with many talented artists working in visual media, dance, literary arts, theater, film, and yes - songwriting and musical performance.

Looking to get your groove on this month?  Well here are our top 10 picks for concerts happening over the next week:

1.   Lamplighter Sessions feat. Peter Mulvey, Danielle Ate The Sandwich and John Statz, Friends House Concerts (Skyway), Fri Oct 2 (7:30 pm, $30).  

Wisconsin native Peter Mulvey is a gifted songwriter and performer and frequent visitor the Springs' longest-running house concert series, with more than a dozen albums to his credit.  This creative genius collaboratively shares his stage with two up and coming Colorado artists - John Statz and ukelele player Danielle Ate The Sandwich, whose brand new fifth studio album Drawing Back the Curtains is also the soundtrack to the documentary Packed in the Trunk: The Lost Art of Edith Lake Wilkinson.  Do not miss this concert!

2.  The Artini feat. Miguel Dakota & the Differents and Tejon Street Corner Thieves, The Mansion / The Mezzanine, Thurs Oct 1 (6 pm, free).  It's the kick-off party for Arts Month!  Celebrate the strength and diversity of the Colorado Springs arts community with an evening of music, improv, painting, film, opera, and much more!

3.  Manitou Springs Heritage Brew Festival, Memorial Park (Manitou Springs), Sat Oct 3 (1 pm, Adv: $35 or $60 for two; Day of Show: $45).  In case you hadn't noticed, craft beer is delicious with live music!  Aiming to satisfy the void left by the demise of the Craft Lager Festival, the inaugural Heritage Brew Fest presents the music of Grant Sabin, Xanthe Alexis & the Electric Universe, Blue Frog and Joe Johnson & His Band alongside a tasty selection of microbrews.  Proceeds benefit the Manitou Springs Heritage Center.

4.  The Lil' Smokies, Front Range Barbeque (Old Colorado City), Wed Sept 30 (7:30 pm, free).  The winners of the 2015 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition hail from Montana, but this week these six gents in ties storm into the west side's favorite music venue.

5.  Crystal Bowersox with John Paul Hodge and Taylor Tesler, Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (Palmer Lake), Fri Oct 2 (7 pm, Adv: $20 TLCA members, $25 non-members; Day of Show: $25 members, $30 non-members).  Rising to prominence following her runner up finish on American Idol, Crystal Bowersox continues to prove that she has the musical chops and songwriting talent for the long haul.

6.  Face Vocal Band, Studio Bee at the Pikes Peak Center, Fri Oct 2 (7 pm, $23).  This acapella rock band has been named Best Local Music Group by the Boulder Weekly for two years running, and you can catch them sing and beatbox live in the small room at the Pikes Peak Center.  

7.  Ira Wolf, Jives Coffee Lounge (University Village), Sun Oct 4 (7:30 pm, free).  Originally from Montana, this young singer-songwriter from Nashville is touring in support of her debut album, Fickle Heart.  

8.  Joe & Vicki Price, Front Range Barbeque (OCC), Sat Oct 3 (7:30 pm, free).  The award-winning blues duo from Iowa mark the release of a new  album, Night Owls, with a return engagement on the Front Range patio.  

9.  The Peculiar Pretzelmen with S.S. Web, Eric Maloney and The Widowhood Effect, The Black Sheep, Sun Oct 4 (8 pm, $8 adv, $10 day of show).  Who Brought The Serpents Down, ask the self-proclaimed "Black Blooded Sneaky Bastards in Pinstripe Suits" in yes, yet another brand new album.

10.  Monsters of Mock feat. Mac Sabbath, Brass Monkey, Maiden Denver and Goya performing as Pantera, The Black Sheep, Fri Oct 2 (8 pm, $15 or $5 early bird).

Normally we don't recommend tribute concerts, but a Black Sabbath cover band that performs as McDonald's characters?  Oh yeah baby!  In addition to Sabbath and Pantera, rock out to the music of Iron Maiden and the Beastie Boys.

Please do confirm all details directly with the venues before you leave home, and tune in to the Grass Roots Revival on community powered radio station KCMJ Tuesdays from 2-4 pm, Wednesdays from 8-10 pm and Thursdays from 1-3 pm.

In the immortal words of Porky Pig – D-D-D-D-D-D-Dat’s all folks!

Many thanks to our sponsors: