In the heart of Boulder, at the base of Mt. Sanitas, sits a quaint stone mason’s cottage originally built in the early 1900s. The once pastoral dwelling now houses Stone Cottage Studios, a captivating space where musical artists of all genres can connect with their fans through intimate events and high-definition live-stream concerts.
Launched in 2018 by Jamie and Davis Maynard, the idea for Stone Cottage Studios originated shortly after completing a filming project for a friend’s album release at a neighboring venue. They soon decided to develop a music production arm to integrate with their already existing video production company, Magic Factor Media. The conception of the studio was based on providing a welcoming space to passionate musicians and to help them connect their music and stories to their existing and future fans. The cottage on the corner of the Maynard’s Boulder property was the perfect informal space to build out an open and inviting floorplan with top-notch audio and video equipment that was conducive to documenting live performances.
The Stone Cottage Sessions, many of which are available to view on SCS’s YouTube channel, soon came to fruition and became a brilliant launching pad for artists to tell their stories through a combination of storytelling and song. The concept of these intimate sessions proved especially beneficial to artists struggling to make ends meet while tours and one-off live shows weren’t an option during the pandemic. Stone Cottage Studios continually pivoted along with the artists, and both were ultimately able to create virtual events that allowed music fans to experience that much-needed human connection that live music provides from the comfort of their own homes. Artists were also able to garner some financial support through the virtual tickets from these events, as well as the exposure to their streaming services, virtual tip jars and Patreon accounts.
An eclectic mix of genres and styles are represented through the partnership of SCS and the artists: Wayne Watts, Megan Burtt, Brendan James, Brad Corrigan, Sean Kelly and Dave Tamkin, just to name a few. SCS has also forged a community connection in Boulder by supporting the School of Music at CU by providing video and audio recordings of students' final recitals. They’ve also partnered with local and national nonprofits like Conscious Alliance - Art That Feeds, Love Light + Melody and the American Red Cross in order to help build the importance of music and community.
While some of the demand for music live streaming has waned a bit since live shows are abundant again, artists continue to use this tool to reach their worldwide fans and broaden their impact on the music scene. Stone Cottage Studios will continue to publish live-stream shows and Stone Cottage Sessions, even planning on expanding their publishing to include SCS playlists on streaming platforms in order to allow the artists they team up with to reach an even broader fanbase. SCS also takes its services on the road and offers high-quality recordings at other venues in order to support artists in any location that matches their aesthetic best. With several outdoor concerts under their belt both pre- and post-pandemic, Stone Cottage Studios will also soon be putting out the schedule for their 2023 Outdoor Concert Series.
Its mission has always been about discovery and inspiration. Both the artists that SCS partners with and their fans have benefited from its high-quality productions and its ability to foster a connection to their local and national music community by providing an authentic experience that’s true to the artist’s vision. We’re excited to see the musical discoveries that 2023 and beyond hold for SCS and the diverse cache of artists they’ll be working with.