Volunteers Needed for MeadowGrass

Plans are shaping up for the Seventh Annual MeadowGrass Music Festival happening Friday, May 22, 2015 to Sunday, May 24, 2015 at La Foret Conference & Retreat Center in Black Forest.  With a stellar lineup that includes Blue Rodeo, Stephen Kellogg, Shook Twins (pictured below), The Ragbirds, HONEYHONEY, The Stray Birds, Roosevelt Dime, Front Country, Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion, Reed Foehl, and Trout Steak Revival, among many others, you do not want to miss out on this year's festival!


We can't produce the festival without a cadre of committed volunteers, whom we reward with complimentary admission and a t-shirt.  Working four hours earns a volunteer a day pass, while two four-hour shifts are worth a weekend pass and three shifts comes with free on-site camping as well.  Visit our website to learn more about volunteering and apply for a position. Or, you can simply purchase tickets on-line or in person at Moondog Music Shop.  Camping is limited and right now there are less than 100 camping passes left!

While you are waiting for the region's premier music festival, here are our picks for the some of the best area shows this week:

1.  Spirits of the Red City, Black Forest Community Center, Fri March 27 (7 pm, $5 BRAS members, $10 non-members).  The Black Rose Acoustic Society welcomes this exciting, ethereal eight-member string ensemble to its Open Stage.  The Black Forest show marks the first show of a nine-day run for SOTRC, who end the tour at Songbird Cellars in Beulah on April 3 & 4 opening for The Haunted Windchimes.

2.  Ani Difranco, Pikes Peak Center, Sat March 28 (8 pm, $32 - $42).  Sure, she's mellowed with age and motherhood, but the punk sensibility that made us fall in love with Ani back in the day still shines through from time to time.  She will be playing the Pikes Peak Center with bass and drums in support of her new album Allergic to Water, before heading up to close the tour with two nights at the Boulder Theater.

3.  Devon Allman Band, Stargazers Theatre, Fri March 27 (8 pm, $15 adv, $20 day of show).  Devon continues the legacy established by his father Gregg with his own take on southern blues rock.  He's been to the Springs several times, both with his own band and as part of the all-star Royal Southern Brotherhood.  Catch him in the smaller venues while you can.

4.  Caravan of Thieves, Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts (Palmer Lake), Fri March 27 (7:30 pm, Adv: $17 TLCA members, $22 non-members; add $5 for day of show).  Fuzz and Carrie have made regular stops in the area for several years snow, starting at The Loft in Old Colorado City before migrating to Palmer Lake.  Their show is highly entertaining - comedic banter complimented by virtuoso musical chops.  If you haven't seen them yet, you are missing out.

5.  in/PLANES and Bluebook, The Modbo, Fri March 27 (8 pm, $5).  Only $5 - are you kidding?  Two amazing duo projects on one stage - with Inaiah Lujan & Desirae Garcia (in/Planes) from the 'Chimes sharing the spotlight with Julie Davis and Joe Pope III (Bluebook), whom you may recall made up half the backing band for Nathaniel Rateliff at MeadowGrass in 2013.  

6.  The Lo-Fi Cowboys and Gyzunglasus, Southside Johnny's, Fri March 27 (8 pm, $5 cover get you a drink token).  Musicians who dominated the Colorado Springs music scene in the '80s & '90s come together to celebrate the life of Marsha Miller, a long time devoted supporter of the local live music scene with her husband Chuck.  This benefit concert is raising funds for Happy Cats Haven in memory of Marsha.  It's been a long time since Gyzunglasus have played a show - let's just say that you can purchase the official Gyzunglasus audio cassette here.   My, how the time does fly! 

7.  Dead Floyd feat. The E.T.s and The MuleTrain Express, Rawkus, Fri March 27 (8 pm, $10).  Speaking of the passage of time, Dead Floyd from Fort Collins is celebrating 50 years of music from the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd with help from two rising local jam bands.  Cosmic, man!

8.  Animal House, Clydesdale Entertainment, Mobdividual & We Woke Up Like This, Zodiac Venue/Bar, Sat March 28 (8 pm, $5).  Red Headed Zombie presents a night of cutting edge, experimental music and hip hop that defies easy categorization.  We love the band name We Woke Up Like This, with music self-described as "Deep Woods Rap Folk Fusion."