Chautauquas started on Lake Erie in the late 1800s as an outdoor training program for Sunday school teachers. By the turn of the century, the assemblies became a classic American event that attracted lecturers and performers to present for thousands of gathered listeners.
One of the few remaining Chautauquas in the United States, Boulder’s has hosted more than 120 years of emerging and established musicians and speakers, film festivals and art exhibitions, attracting more than a million visitors every year to the park against the Flatirons. Here are a few highlights of this year’s summer concert series at the Colorado Chautauqua.
August 3
Steve Earle & The Dukes with Special Guest The Whitmore Sisters
Steve Earle has won three Grammys for his songs that fuse rock, country and folk, acted for TV and onstage, and produced several albums and scores. He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020 and released his 21st studio album the following year.
August 13
Jesse Cook
Canadian guitarist Jesse Cook has collected ten platinum and gold studio albums for his unique blend of flamenco with classical, jazz, blues and Brazilian samba over the last 25 years.
August 28
Robert Cray
Over the past four decades, Robert Cray’s soulful blues music has won him five Grammys. His latest album, “That’s What I Heard,” pays homage to Curtis Mayfield, The Sensational Nightingales and more.
August 31
Gipsy Kings featuring Nicolas Reyes with Al Olender
Nicolas Reyes’ father began the family legacy with a popular flamenco duo. When the pair split, Nicolas played with his dad in the band Los Reyes before traveling around France to perform on his own as the Gipsy Kings. Gipsy Kings’ pop music transcends generations, nodding to flamenco and salsa in their mostly Spanish songs.
September 3
Rising Appalachia with Birds of Play
Founded by sisters Leah and Chloe Smith, Rising Appalachia has traveled the world performing for two decades, selling out venues across the country. The Smith sisters’ songs blend the sounds of their southern roots with world and urban music on their newest folk album, “Leylines.”
September 23
Dirtwire
Dirtwire mixes modern technology’s electronic noise with delta blues. The band’s three members create their experimental music from sampled beats, along with modern and ancient instruments like guitars and banjos, whamola basses and West African kamale ngonis.
Chautauqua.com
