2011 Musical lineup

Randall McKinnon

After growing up in south Arkansas and a stint in graduate school in Denver, Randall McKinnon has settled into the Colorado's high country and proven himself as a favorite on the local entertainment circuit. As a 24 year resident of Summit County, Randall is no stranger to the entertainment expectations and needs of local venues and special events. An interesting life journey from minister and social worker to full-time musician has provided Randall with experiences which allow him to establish a powerful rapport with his audience. His stage presence, warm vocals and solid rhythm guitar bid audiences to make themselves comfortable--it's been said that one of Randall's shows is like being invited into his home, but with a bit more elbow room.
www.randallmckinnon.com

Desciples

Known for their unique blend of reggae-infused rock, profound lyrics, shredding guitar solos and energetic live performances, The Desciples are one of Denver's premier bands on the rise. They are currently defining and shaping a new genre of music that band member Chilli Moreno has dubbed Dreadrock. It's an eclectic sound that's impossible not to groove and move to that The Desciples have pioneered from artists such as Sublime, 311, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Bob Marley.
www.desciplesmusic.com

The Long Players w/ Bill Loyd

In 2004, The Long Players began packing Nashville clubs and theaters with faithful front-to-back renditions of classic albums. The combination of The Long Players as "house band" with the amazing variety of guest artists they have enlisted over the last six years to bring these classic LP's to life has become a staple of Nashville's local music scene and has garnered national attention with feature news stories from NPR's All Things Considered, the AP Wire Service and Reuters / Billboard Magazine.

At each of the band's public shows, The Long Players have chosen to take a portion of the proceeds and donate it to charity. On more than a few occasions, the money has gone directly to musicians to supplement health care expenses when insurance wasn't enough. At other times the money has been donated to organizations like Music Cares, The Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Alive Hospice and others.
www.thelongplayers.com

North Mississippi Allstars Duo

Growing up in Mississippi near Memphis, TN, Luther and Cody Dickinson have had a life-long experience in music.  The brothers soaked up the music of their father, acclaimed musician and renowned producer Jim Dickinson, and absorbed the North Mississippi Blues legacy while playing and shaking it down at the juke joints with their blues ancestors. In 1996, inspired by the Mississippi Hill Country blues tradition of local heroes RL Burnside, Fred McDowell, Junior Kimbrough, and Otha Turner, the Dickinson brothers added bass player Chris Chew and formed the North Mississippi Allstars.  
 
Meanwhile, Cody formed his own group Hill Country Revue, which released its debut record “Make A Move” in May 2009.  They followed up with the release of “Zebra Ranch” in the fall of 2010.  The band toured heavily behind the release and has shared the stage with a number of lauded musicians including the Dave Matthews Band, Gov’t Mule and Big Head Todd & the Monsters.  

As a duo Cody and Luther have toured extensively with Robert Plant and the Band of Joy, played many major festival stages, and released a live record.
www.nmallstars.com

Tim O'Brien

In Tim O’Brien’s music, things come together. The uncanny intersection of traditional and contemporary elements in his songwriting, his tireless dedication to a vast and still-expanding array of instruments, and his ongoing commitment to place himself in as many unique and challenging musical scenarios as possible has made him a key figure in today’s thriving roots music scene – and well beyond it. O’Brien’s presence – be it as a bandleader, songwriter, mentor, instrumentalist, or vocalist – has been strongly felt not only in his own rich music, but in the many recordings of his songs by such artists as the Dixie Chicks, Garth Brooks, Dierks Bentley, Nickel Creek, Kathy Mattea, the New Grass Revival, and the Seldom Scene, and in his recorded collaborations with Steve Martin, the Chieftains, and innumerable others. Most recently, O’Brien has been performing before capacity crowds in the band of Mark Knopfler, who described O’Brien as “a master of American folk music, Irish music, Scottish music – it doesn't matter; a fine songwriter and one of my favorite singers.”
www.timobrien.net

Taj Mahal Trio

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal, a two-time GRAMMY® winner and one of the most influential American blues and roots artists of the past half-century, has made no Faustian deals in his long and distinguished career, but he stands at an important crossroads nonetheless. In his never-ending exploration of the complex origins and underpinnings of American music, he has forged a four-decade career by gathering and distilling countless musical traditions from a range of geographical and cultural sources: the Mississippi Delta, the Appalachian backwoods, the African continent, the Hawaiian islands, Europe, the Caribbean and so much more. Taj Mahal doesn't just stand at the crossroads. He is the crossroads.
www.headsup.com

Colorado State Final of the Texaco Country Showdown

The 30th Annual Country Showdown is designed to find the most promising country music talent in America and to give these performers a chance to launch their professional music careers.

The Country Showdown begins each Spring with over 450 local talent contests sponsored by country music radio stations throughout the US. Winners advance to their respective State competitions held at leading fairs and expositions. Acts then compete for a $1,000 prize, the State Title and the opportunity to advance to one of five Regional Finals. It's the last step before the prestigious National Final held at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN. The audience cheers on the Regional Winners, as they compete for the Grand Prize of $100,000 and the National Title. A uniform judging system is used at all levels of competition to help ensure fairness.
countryshowdown.com

Winfield's Locket

Winfield)s Locket is proving that the art of creating timeless music definitely isn)t a thing of the past. With
an unforgettable vintage‐yet‐fresh, roots‐meets‐soul sound that effortlessly bridges the best elements of
the music from years gone by with a contemporary twist, the talented sisters from Denham Springs,
Louisiana, are making a lasting impression.

Unmistakable sibling harmonies, emotive vocal performances, pristine musicianship and remarkable
songs that stretch conventional boundaries and expectations are just a few things Winfield)s Locket is
quickly becoming known for with music lovers, critics, fellow artists & songwriters and industry insiders
alike. There is no doubt they have something special.

Leslie and Brooke Martin are sisters and close friends who grew up in a musical family. Over the years, they have grown to know each other)s musical tendencies well and have become magical musical collaborators I versatile composers, vocalists, musicians and producers I who complement each other so well there is no doubt they were meant to create music together. When their talents are combined, the result is nothing short of extraordinary.
www.winfieldslocket.com

Great American Taxi

In the past five years, Great American Taxi has become one of the best-known headliners on the jam band circuit. Their uninhibited sound is a swinging concoction of swampy blues, progressive bluegrass, funky New Orleans strut, Southern boogie, honky tonk country, gospel, and good ol’ fashioned rock ’n’ roll. Great American Taxi was born when singer, guitarist, and mandolin player Vince Herman of Leftover Salmon joined keyboard player and singer Chad Staehly for a superstar jam to benefit the Rainforest Action Group in Boulder, in March of 2005. “We put together a dream band of the best local musicians for a one-off gig,” Herman recalls. “It worked so well we had to do it again, and again, and again.” Great American Taxi quickly evolved into one of the best country-, rock-, and bluegrass- influenced jam bands in the land, masterfully blending acoustic and electric instruments into music they call “Americana Without Borders.”
www.greatamericantaxi.com

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder

A life full of music.  That's the story of Ricky Skaggs.  By age 21, he was already considered a "recognized master" of one of America's most demanding art forms, but his career took him in other directions, catapulting him to popularity and success in the mainstream of country music.  His life's path has taken him to various musical genres, from where it all began in bluegrass music, to striking out on new musical journeys, while still leaving his musical roots intact.
www.rickyskaggs.com