29 May Music on the Green: FREE Concerts Fridays, Mountain Village, Starts 6/7
Denise Mongan and Beyond the Groove Productions in partnership with the Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association (TMVOA), Madeline Hotel and Residences, the Telluride Ski & Golf, and the Town of Mountain Village presents the third annual Music on the Green. The robust line-up of FREE concerts features a wide variety of bands and musicians. (See below.) Concerts, 5 – 7 p.m., take place on Reflection Plaza (adjacent to Madeline Hotel & Residences) in Mountain Village.
Scroll down for highlights and a taste of some of the acts. Events are rain or shine.
To learn more about Music on the Green contact the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association (TMVOA) at (970) 728-1904 or visit tmvoa.org and facebook.com/BeyondTheGroove.
“These free Friday shows at Reflection Plaza offer an intimate experience with top-class local and national acts, it is quite an eclectic line-up,” said Denise Mongan of Beyond the Groove Productions. “It is a chance to relax and socialize while enjoying live music performances in an intimate outdoor venue.”
“Music on the Green is a great way to start to your summer weekends,” added Anton Benitez, president of TMVOA. “Meet up with friends, grab a drink, a bite to eat, and enjoy live music in Reflection Plaza.”
Music on the Green, highlights:
Brent Cowles is the son of a minister and as a boy he attended church several times a week – that is when he had not gone fishing.
Cowles is also a fixture on the Colorado music scene. The Denver native has drawn the limelight since his days in the Americana band “You Me & Apollo.” Since leaving the group he founded while still in his teens, Cowles has been grinding out a solo career. His first full-length album, How To Be Okay Alone, was released in June 2018.
Denise Mongan loves the man’s voice, which soars like a church choir soloist in songs that focus on quotidian concerns from self-doubt to debt plus the many temptations along the way that steer us off the high road.
“Brent is our season-opener for the Music on the Green series, which means we are starting off with a bang. I think he is one of the most exciting acts in an overall exciting lineup. Physically Brent is small, but what a big, beautiful talent. Don’t miss him,” said Mongan.
Here is a sample of Brent Cowles in action. His concert is June 7.
Benyaro follows Cowles, with a debut show in the Telluride region on June 14.
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Benyaro is a Brooklyn-based acoustic roots/soul band.
As the story goes, it was 2004 and Ben Musser had just moved from Austin, TX to New York City looking to put together an act. Leaving behind projects as the drummer for Ross Flournoy (The Broken West) and Scott Claassen (Scott Claassen, The Broken West), Musser headed east where he knew only an artist manager and his sister, an accomplished singer.
Musser took a job with the artist manager and discovered that working for their client, North Carolina troubadour Malcolm Holcombe, would change his musical world forever. He jammed with Holcombe whenever he could and began studying his voice, his guitar playing, and his songs. Along with these new influences, working for Holcombe armed Musser with connections in and a deep knowledge of the “roots” music business.
Musser went on to study the sounds of Wilson Pickett and Ray Charles. Now a frontman, Musser needed a bandmate and found upright bassist Tucker Yaro on Craigslist in the spring of 2005. They called themselves Benyaro.
Benyaro’s latest LP was produced with Danny Kadar (Avett Brothers, My Morning Jacket) and generated strong buzz and official appearances at SXSW ’18 and ’19, Treefort ’18, Sundance ’18, Magic City Blues ’18, Lancaster Roots & Blues ’19, among others top venues.
Looking ahead, Benyaro is now in pre-production for their next LP with Scott Mathews (The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Roy Orbison).
“Punk-Americana…astutely written” – No Depression.
“Benyaro excels in the rougher, funkier edges of Americana.” – Twangville.
“Triumphant…with a touch of humor” – Glide Magazine.
“Americana…with a splash of gritty soul and punk.” – Mountain Xpress.
Singer-songwriter Sammy Brue performs on June 28:
“Stories are all around us, and I’m listening to people even when they think I’m not,” states prodigy Sammy Brue.“If I get to the emotion of it, I can find the words.”
I Am Nice is the 17-year-old Utah singer-songwriter’s New West debut. The 12-song album—produced by Ben Tanner of Alabama Shakes and John Paul White of the Civil Wars— shows the young troubadour to be a timeless talent whose catchy compositions embody the sort of wisdom, empathy, and insight that is usually associated with more experienced songwriters.
With influences ranging from Nirvana to Leadbelly and Woody Guthrie, the Oregon-born teen (who has been writing songs since he was 10 years old) has already caught the eyes and ears of artists like Justin Townes Earle and Lucinda Williams.
Game on.
The concert on July 12 features piano man Robert Ellis.
Robert Ellis’ Texas Piano Man comes out Feb. 14
In a game of free association, when we say “Piano Man,” it is likely you respond with “Billy Joel.” But if you are in the now and in the know, you might say Robert Ellis, who unlike Joel, does not tickle the ivories in the service of life advice. Nope, this Texas piano man dresses for the occasion, “like the big shot he is going to be,” says Mongan, adding: “I have been watching Robert Ellis for seven or more years, including his performance at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival in 2015. Ellis is a ‘Steady Eddie,’ not an overnight success, but this singer-songwriter-piano man is a force to be reckoned with – and recently announced in the lineup for the prestigious 2019 Newport Folk Festival.”
You can say you knew Robert Ellis when:
Denise Mongan is an Irish lass from the top of her blarney to the bottom of her shoe-shaking feet, so it should come as no big surprise she has scheduled two bands from her home country: I Draw Slow is up on August 2; folk-rock singer Pat Byrne is on deck August 23.
Dublin, Ireland’s I Draw Slow has already won the adoration of fans in the home country and in North America by combining American folk and Irish storytelling traditions with close-harmony vocals, intriguing instrumentation, and compelling subject matter.
An Irish singer and recording artist, Pat Byrne hails from Borris, County Carlow. And according to Mongan, the man once won the “Voice of Ireland” contest., but rejected reality TV and hopped across the pond to relocate in Austin, Texas.
“Pat’s voice strikes an emotional chord with his audience; ranging from seductive whisper one moment, to full-bodied rock ‘n’ roll growl the next,” said Hot Press Magazine.
Byrne’s early influences were Johnny Cash and Elvis, whose sounds encouraged him to pick up a guitar.
“I’ll be forever grateful to my parents for having their records in the house,” Byrne said.
Byrne started drumming as a young teen, forming his first band in 2007,. He continued to play professionally through his University years. After signing with Universal, Byrne released his album’s debut single, “End Of The World” in November 2012. He continues to tour Ireland, the UK, and Europe as a solo artist.
In 2014,. Byrne began collaborating with Alan Downey of the rock band, Aslan. With him on lead vocals and guitar, the duo performs a diverse range of music including original Byrne.
On his first US tour back in September 2017 Byrne was joined by some of Austin’s finest musicians.
Freddy & Francine return for yet another encore on August 9.
Anyone who heard Freddy & Francine (aka Lee Ferris & Bianca Caruso) at the 44th annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival knows the Americana-Soul duo came, saw, and conquered. In other words, we fell in love with them and they with Telluride.
Image courtesy Kaitlyn Raitz.
This is not your typical boy-meets-girl story.
It is all about two voices with a palpable chemistry coming together as one.
Plus one acoustic guitar.
Two stomping feet,
And a down-to-earth vibe.
Pop goes the dynamic Americana soul duo of Freddy & Francine– aka, Lee Ferris and Bianca Caruso.
“‘Pop’ music gets a bad rap, but it comes from the word ‘popular.’ I’d love to be popular,” Bianca said. “I never discriminate against a song because it’s popular if it stays in your head … every Beatles song is a pop song. We just want to be an annoying pop band!,” Bianca told Billboard earlier this month.
Lee and Bianca met in 2007 in the 40th anniversary revival of the counter-culture Broadway blockbuster “Hair” and then, a few years later, went on to become perhaps one of the most talked about acts at Planet Bluegrass’s Folk Festival in Lyons and at Telluride Bluegrass and Music on the Green last summer in Mountain Village – that is well after becoming Freddy & Francine.
How did those alter egos come into being?
The answer dates back about 10 years when the couple was playing what Bianca once described as an original “1950s prom-rock” song during a show at an L.A. watering hole. During their set, they encouraged everyone to grab a dance partner and choose a cheesy ’50s name. In a blink, Lee morphed into Freddy; Bianca became Francine. And for better for or worse, the handle stuck.
The 2019 Music on the Green line-up, more:
June 7 – Brent Cowles (Alternative/Indie)
June 14 – Benyaro (Rock)
June 21 – You Knew Me When (Folk-rock)
June 28 – Sammy Brue (Singer-songwriter)
July 12 – Robert Ellis – The Texas Piano Man (Singer-songwriter)
July 19 – The Carolyn Sills Combo (Swing Band)
July 26 – Andrew Duhon (Folk)
Aug 2 – I Draw Slow (Irish Folk)
Aug 9 – Freddy & Francine (Pop, Folk)
Aug 16 – McCarthy Jazz Trio (Jazz)
Aug 23 – Pat Byrne (Irish Folk-Rock Singer)
Aug 30 – Jim Parker (Country/Americana)
Sept 6 – Ruby (Indie Rock)
ABOUT BEYOND THE GROOVE PRODUCTIONS:
Beyond the Groove is Denise Mongan’s music production company bringing quality live music to Telluride, Colorado, primarily at Club Red. Past produced shows include Anderson East, Blitzen Trapper, String Cheese Incident, Karl Denson, Michael Franti, Matisyahu, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Motet, and Elephant Revival. Mongan has worked in the music business for almost 30 years and is thrilled to now have the opportunity to be living her passion producing live shows.
ABOUT TELLURIDE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OWNERS ASSOCIATION (TMVOA):
TMVOA is the property owner’s association for the Telluride Mountain Village with an ultimate goal of ensuring that Telluride Mountain Village is a highly sustainable and vital resort community. The funds collected by TMVOA from Real Estate Transfer Assessments and annual member assessments provide funding and support for the operation of the Gondola, Village Court Apartments (which provide affordable housing to assist with the creation of a stable workforce), foster economic development and vitality to increase tourism and provide a vibrant community for all members and guests.
ABOUT MOUNTAIN VILLAGE:
Situated in the heart of the breathtaking San Juan Mountains, Mountain Village was incorporated in 1995 as a home rule municipality. Its founders envisioned a European-style ski-in/ski-out, pedestrian-friendly destination resort that would complement the historic mining town of Telluride. A three-stage gondola transportation system connects the Town of Mountain Village with the Town of Telluride. Situated at 9,500 feet, Mountain Village is comparably a world apart from other resorts: it is innately spectacular, beautifully orchestrated and planned, and overflowing with style, charm, and sophistication. For more information, please visit us on the Web at townofmountainvillage.com.
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