October 2026 issue out now

Pick up a copy Advertise

Pick up a copyAdvertise with us

Greeley Blues Jam

BandWagon Magazine has covered Greeley Blues Jam in 34 stories since 2012, including 20 features, 2 reviews and 8 photo galleries. The latest: Sacred to Secular: How Robert Randolph Brought the Church to the Blues (May 1, 2026).

34 stories

Photo for “Sacred to Secular: How Robert Randolph Brought the Church to the Blues”

FeaturesSacred to Secular: How Robert Randolph Brought the Church to the BluesPicture a teenaged boy seated inside the House of God Church in Orange, New Jersey.Ava Harris · May 1, 2026

A man with long brown hair and a mustache wears a white cap and denim shirt against a dark backdrop.

FeaturesBen Chapman – Living the Dream as Country’s Next Rising StarBy Briana Harris Alt country artist Ben Chapman has built a world where music seems to be woven into every part of his life.Briana Harris · May 5, 2025

A smiling man with his hair pulled back wears a black Denver Nuggets hoodie at a bar, with a candle flame in front.

FeaturesRight Back Into It: Ben Pu Stays TrueAt the end of most of his gigs, and in conversations with other musicians or friends, Ben Puchalski gets the question: “Dude, why aren’t you bigger?” Puchalski, these days,…Dan England · Mar 2, 2022

A man in sunglasses and a red t-shirt plays an acoustic guitar and harmonica under tall palm trees and a blue sky.

FeaturesStill Thirsty: G. Love & The Juice Stir it UpThe band still carries his name, but G. Love is taking a step back from the spotlight.Dan England · Feb 23, 2022

Smiling woman with curly dark hair and a black tank top leans arms-crossed against a weathered brick wall outdoors.

CommunityFor Life: Emily Nelson on The DrumsEmily Nelson had a feeling the universe had something in mind for her. “The drums were just a fun way to get healthy again,” she said, “and a year later, Erica was there.” Erica, Brown, the Denver blues diva and Greeley favorite, brought Nelson in to her all-woman band the Cast Iron Queens after several life-changing events gave Nelson the strength not to be paralyzed by perfectionism.Dan England · Jun 3, 2021

Dense crowd of concertgoers packs an outdoor arena floor at dusk, with fans filling the tiered stands behind them.

FeaturesPump Up The Jam: Festivals Get the OK in Vaccinated NoCo – We Break It DownJustin Watada sighed through a tired laugh. “I’ve had better years,” he said. Watada’s run 17 Greeley Stampedes and this year’s been the toughest. Yes, this year, even with the good news that there will actually be a 2021 Stampede. “We are on version 10 of our budget this year,” Watada said. “We are 50-some days away, and there’s still so much unknown.” Still, even more big events look promising, The Greeley Blues Jam, May Play, Friday Fest, The Greeley Arts Picnic and more promise to happen, but what they’ll look and sound like remains to be seen. If last year was a bummer, this year is more like chaos. Let’s Dig In.Dan England · May 3, 2021

Photo for “A Change is Gonna Come: Robert Randolph Spreads the Message of Unity”

FeaturesA Change is Gonna Come: Robert Randolph Spreads the Message of UnityIf you ask Robert Randolph what his 2006 hit “Ain’t Nothing Wrong with That” is about, his answer would be: “It’s about what’s going on today.Valerie Vampola · Jul 22, 2020

A giant coronavirus model hovers above a microphone on an empty stage lit by blue and red spotlights and haze.

FeaturesNoCo Music NoGo: COVID-19’s Massive Impact On Colorado’s Music Industry“It’s pretty easy to see how unprepared everyone was,” said Brian Claxton – a touring drummer and music educator based in Greeley, Colorado. Music venues, restaurants and bars across the globe and in Colorado have been ordered to close due to coronavirus precautions, essentially cutting off the lifeblood of the music industry. But the ramifications go deeper, from the 50th anniversary of the huge UNC Jazz Festival delaying one year to smaller bands such as Float Like A Buffalo cancelling their shoestring budget tours. “I think it will take a year to recover, not just in the economy but in the entertainment industry here,” Moxi Theater Ely Corliss said, “and that’s if we resume in April. If this goes until May 11 or so, it’ll be catastrophic for the Moxi and (his restaurant) Luna’s both.”Dan England and Valerie Vampola · Mar 25, 2020

Photo for “Greeley Blues Jam 2019 @ Island Grove Regional Park – Greeley”

Concert PhotosGreeley Blues Jam 2019 @ Island Grove Regional Park – GreeleyPeary Schroeder · Jun 8, 2019

Photo for “Keeping It Fresh: Friday Fest Kicks Off Greeley Outdoor Concert Season”

FeaturesKeeping It Fresh: Friday Fest Kicks Off Greeley Outdoor Concert SeasonYou’ll see more variety at this year’s Friday Fest series in downtown Greeley. You also won’t see many bands that you saw last year. But one thing is for sure: You’ll want to dance once they play. “It has to be danceable,” said Alison Hamling, of the Downtown Development Authority. You’ll notice some changes in this year’s lineup too, starting Friday, June 7 at the Greeley Blues Jam kickoff.Dan England · Jun 5, 2019

Photo for “Shemekia Copeland Says What She Wants: Blues Jam Headliner Speaks Her Mind Through Her Music”

FeaturesShemekia Copeland Says What She Wants: Blues Jam Headliner Speaks Her Mind Through Her MusicShemekia Copeland was pissed off on a Tuesday morning. It was something she heard from one of Trump’s “offspring,” as she calls him, about how if poor people want more in life, they just have to work harder. Recognized by many as the finest blues singer of her generation, Copeland headlines the Greeley Blues Jam June 8. She also draws attention for being outspoken in a world that tends to be surprisingly silent about social issues.Dan England · May 27, 2019

Photo for “Cha Wa: Mardi Gras Indian Funk Stirs Greeley Like Gumbo At The Blues Jam”

FeaturesCha Wa: Mardi Gras Indian Funk Stirs Greeley Like Gumbo At The Blues JamCha Wa, the New Orleans funk band incorporates the tradition of Mardi Gras Indian music and the feel of a New Orleans brass band with all the attitude of a proper funk ensemble. “It was a perfect pot of gumbo,” said J’Wan Boudreaux. Cha Wa performs Saturday, June 8 at The Greeley Blues jam at Island Grove Park.Dan England · May 22, 2019

Photo for “Southern Avenue: Keep On”

FeaturesSouthern Avenue: Keep OnOri Naftaly grappled with his record label, Concord Records, over Southern Avenue’s upcoming album, Keep On, out May 10. Fortunately for us, they both came out on top. “I want people to listen to this in 2040 and think we sound as relevant honoring the music that we love from back in the day,” Ori says.Dan England · May 9, 2019

Photo for “Greeley Blues Jam @ Island Grove – Greeley”

Concert PhotosGreeley Blues Jam @ Island Grove – Greeley[vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1531346328024-45e017a1-f293-7″ include=”19080,19081,19082,19083,19084,19085,19086,19087,19088,19089,19090,19091,19092,19093,19094,19095,19096,19097,19098,19099,19100,19101,19102,19103,19104,19105,19106,19107,19108,19109,19110,19111,19112,19113,19114,19115,19116,19117,19118,19119,19120,19121,19122,19123,19124,19125,19126,19127,19128,19129,19130,19131,19132,19133,19134,19135,19136,19137,19138,19139,19140,19141,19142,19143,19144,19145,19146,19147,19148,19149,19150,19151,19152,19153,19154,19155,19156,19157,19158,19159,19160,19161,19162,19163,19164,19165,19166,19167″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_text]Greeley Blues Jam in Island Grove Park on Wednesday, June 6th.[/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]Peary Schroeder · Jun 6, 2018

Photo for “Devon Allman – Fathers, Sons and a Band of Brothers”

FeaturesDevon Allman – Fathers, Sons and a Band of BrothersDevon Allman is a hard-working dad. Raised by his mother and growing up in the distant shadow of his father, Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers, Devon didn’t have much of a…Kevin Johnston · Jun 1, 2018

Photo for “Greeley Blues Jam @ Island Grove – Greeley”

Concert PhotosGreeley Blues Jam @ Island Grove – Greeley[vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1508536358572-bb8282b2-003e-2″ include=”17951,17952,17953,17954,17955,17956,17957,17958,17959,17960,17961,17962,17963,17964,17965,17966,17967,17968,17969,17970,17971,17972,17973,17974,17975,17976,17977,17978,17979,17980,17981,17982,17983,17984,17985,17986,17987,17988,17989,17990,17991,17992,17993,17994,17995,17996,17997,17998,17999,18000,18001,18002,18003,18004,18005,18006,18007,18008,18009,18010,18011,18012,18013,18014,18015,18016,18017″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_text]Greeley Blues Jam held at Island Grove in Greeley[/vc_wp_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]Caitlyn Williams · Jun 10, 2017

Photo for “Blues Jam 2017 Spotlight: Southern Avenue, Samantha Fish, and more”

FeaturesBlues Jam 2017 Spotlight: Southern Avenue, Samantha Fish, and more2017 Greeley Blues Jam Spotlight featuring Southern Avenue Band, Samantha Fish, My Blue Sky and Walter Trout.Jed Murphy · Jun 1, 2017

A long-haired guitarist in a black shirt plays a cream electric guitar with one arm raised on a dark stage.

Concert PhotosSouthern Avenue, The Burroughs, Walter Trout, Samantha Fish @ Greeley Blues Jam 2017[vc_row][vc_column][vc_wp_text]Southern Avenue, The Burroughs, Walter Trout, Samantha Fish ~ Live in concert @ Greeley Blues Jam 6/13/17. Photographer by Peary Schroeder for BandWagon Magazine[/vc_wp_text][vc_masonry_media_grid grid_id=”vc_gid:1497653951227-974ade89-8b13-1″ include=”16982,16981,16980,16979,16978,16977,16976,16975,16974,16973,16972,16971,16970,16969,16968,16967,16966,16965,16964,16963,16962,16961,16960,16959,16958,16957,16956,16955,16954,16953,16952,16951,16950,16949,16948,16947,16946,16945,16944,16943,16942,16941,16940,16939,16938,16937,16936,16935,16934″][/vc_column][/vc_row]Peary Schroeder · Jun 1, 2017

Five musicians perform on a dimly lit stage under blue and purple lights, with bass, guitar, keyboard, and drums.

MusicAlbum Review: Johnny & The Mongrels – You Ain’t ReadySinger Johnny Ryan, Bassist Jeff Bostic and Guitarist Jeff Mere are the trio behind the Fort Collins blues outfit Johnny & The Mongrels.Jay Wallace · Sep 3, 2016

Singer with dark curly hair performing into a microphone on a dim stage, wearing a dark denim jacket.

FeaturesBlues Jam Spotlight: Davy KnowlesGrowing up in the Isle of Man, 29-year-old blues musician Davy Knowles learned to play guitar by listening to records he’d find in his father’s collection, which included artists…Kyle Eustice · Jun 6, 2016