8/2 Mat Kearney
Nashville-based, Oregon-born Mat Kearney is back with his new studio album January Flower. Written between an isolated retreat in Joshua Tree and his home studio, January Flower sees Kearney in his rawest form, distilling the songwriting process and rediscovering the joy of making music.
8/20 The Jayhawks
The Jayhawks and their rootsy sound were definitely swimming against the tide when they emerged from a crowded Minnesota music scene in 1985. Over the course of two decades, nine albums, countless memorable live shows and enough personal drama to fill a couple of Behind the Music episodes, this beloved band soared to heights few ever achieve while winning the hearts and minds of numerous critics, fans and peers in the process. The band's new studio album, Back Roads And Abandoned Motels, was released in the summer of 2018, featuring Jayhawks' versions of songs Gary Louris had previously written with other artists plus two new compositions.
8/21 The Steeldrivers with Wood Belly
How a quintet could sound so consistent over time, while adding new repertoire and even new lead singers, is a testament to a classically Nashville way of thinking. "I always say we just happen to use traditional instruments, but we're really a singer-songwriter band," Rogers says. One regularly hears the edict to "serve the song" among top-tier players in Music City. But because this is bluegrass, and this is the Steeldrivers, the truth is that often, serving the song means you gotta play like hell.
9/3-4 Amos Lee
With MY NEW MOON, his seventh album, Amos Lee reaches into experiences of hope, hopelessness, loss and renewal. The result is the most wide-ranging musical effort of his career, a set of songs that examines mortality, survival, connection and celebration in deeply personal and profoundly universal ways.
9/18 Kenny G
A phenomenally successful instrumentalist whose recordings routinely made the pop, R&B and jazz charts during the 1980s and ’90s, Kenny G‘s sound became a staple on adult contemporary and smooth jazz radio stations. He’s a fine player with an attractive sound (influenced a bit by Grover Washington, Jr.) who often caresses melodies, putting a lot of emotion into his solos. Because he does not improvise much (sticking mostly to predictable melody statements), his music largely falls outside of jazz. However, because he is listed at the top of “contemporary jazz” charts and is identified with jazz in the minds of the mass public, he is classified as jazz.
9/26 The Wailers
Bob Marley and the Wailers recorded, toured and made history together between 1972 and 1981. It was Bob Marley himself that requested the Wailers stayed together. Today, carrying on the mission are legitimate members, children-of-legends, and a host of immensely talented musicians. Together they bring the smoothest backing vocals, contributing to this unique melting pot, both classic and excitingly fresh at the same time.
Restaurant Round-Up:
What pairs perfectly with a summer concert at Chautauqua? Getting take-out and supporting local from one of our favorite spots with a tantalizing to-go menu!
1. Basta | Hard-to-find but acclaimed eatery with a creative, market-driven menu of salumi, pizzas and more.
2. Blofish | Bringing Tokyo-style dining to downtown Boulder–this pocket-sized sushi bar is setting a new standard for landlocked sushi lovers.
3. Centro Mexican Kitchen | Imaginative Latin fare that brings the flavor home no matter where you indulge.
4. Pizzeria Locale | A Colorado-based establishment that provides an authentic taste of Napoletana pizza.
5. Il Pastaio | Italian comfort that's good for the soul.
6. Cured | Charcuterie, cheese, wine, beer, picnics—need we say more?