Friends of Folk to bring top musicians to Estes Park on Tuesday

Story by Barb Boyer Buck

In honor of the memory of local musician Dick Orleans, the Estes Arts District presents a free concert every year, Friends of Folk. This year, the event will take place on Tuesday, June 24 from 3:30-10:00 p.m. at Performance Park. While admission is free, all proceeds from the sale of beverages and food will benefit the local artists’ scholarship fund and future Friends of Folk benefit events.

Headlining the festival is ShinyRibs, an Austin-based band with a mix of Texas Blues, New Orleans R&B funk, horn- driven Memphis Soul, country twang, border music, big band swing, and roots-rock. This is a high-energy, nine-piece band led by Kevin Russell, the charismatic frontman that engages the audience with his antics as well as his music. They will be the last performance of the evening.

Before ShinyRibs, The Burroughs take the stage with their “sweaty soul music.” This group has performed on stages all over the United States, but they came from Greeley, Colo.  They, too are a group of nine who play a wide variety of instruments including horns, guitars, and drums.  The frontman is John Burroughs who encourages the audience to participate in their funky grooves.

The Estes Park band Stepmother Nature will perform electric soul and funk music, headlined by vocalist Sophie Frankl. These local musicians can hold their own with the better-known acts at Friends of Folk and their rock and funk blend will be sure to get the audience up to dance! They most recently performed at the Pride in the Park at the Slab in downtown Estes Park.

River Mann takes its inspiration from American roots music, contemporary folk, progressive rock, and classical music.  Led by Estes Park’s own William Thomas, the songwriter performs lead vocals and guitar, expresses the human condition “with sincerity and passion.”  He is joined by Madalyn McCoy on violin, Gabriel Anthony on slide guitar. James Davis on bass, and one of Colorado’s most explosive young drummers, Mr. Benjamin Waterson.

Salom Songbird is a string band that performs” scathing lullabies” as a free-spirited acoustic trio.  Their songs are a combination of the various backgrounds of each of the musicians, Ariele Macadangdang, Joy Adams, and Bryan Dubrow which include influences from old time and bluegrass, to jazz, pop, and even death metal.

SnowBelt Bluegrass is a duo from Estes Park that performs “toe-tapping blugrass music.”   Max and Ann blend bluegrass, old-time, folk, and improvisational jams to create a sound that includes original songs, fiddle-tune standards, and creative exploration.

Jazon Lenz is an Estes Park-based artist specializing in live looping. During his 13 years of service with the 43rd Army Band, Jason was awarded the Colonel Finley Hamilton Outstanding Military Musician Award. He is currently raising money for his first Solo Album, “Dimples and Diastema.”

Food trucks available onsite include Mangia Mangia (pizza), Rations, and WesTex BBQ.  Numerous sponsors throughout Town have made this event possible.

The Estes Valley Voice Arts& Entertainment page is sponsored by the Historic Park Theater. Tonight, June 23, at 8 p.m. 7 Nations – Celtic Rock Band will perform live at the Historic Park Theater. Tickets are $25.