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Colorado Bluegrass

4 stories

Four women stand against a sage green wall holding a cello, violin, upright bass, and mandolin outdoors.

105.5 The Colorado Sound's Featured ArtistsBig Richard: 105.5 The Colorado Sound’s Featured Artist“It is SO FUN,” cellist Joy Adams says of Big Richard. “We’re always laughing until we cry, and there’s no competition. It’s just genuine, supportive fun.” Big Richard formed specifically to be the token all-female band at McAwesomefest in Colorado in May of 2021. Lucky for fans of bluegrass, authentic vocals and a little something different, what started as a token quickly alchemized into gold.Kevin Johnston · Mar 4, 2022

Photo for “Album Review: Heavy Beauty – Self-Titled EP”

ReviewsAlbum Review: Heavy Beauty – Self-Titled EPThe Golden-based “Desert Grass” quartet Heavy Beauty has a clean but unfiltered sound to their work. The three songs on the EP – “Dreams,” “Butterflies” and “Stars” – are simple but elegant. They possess a slow, even flow to their singing that never stutters or overpowers certain elements. Dobro player Mike Testagrossa, bassist Angel Edgemon and Willie Thomas on the mandolin provide vocals, with Dax Hunter Jordan on drums.Jay Wallace · Jul 1, 2018

Photo for “Trout Steak Revival – Play Us Some Mountain Music”

FeaturesTrout Steak Revival – Play Us Some Mountain MusicI attribute a lot of Trout Steak’s success to stamina. As we built the band, it felt like the steps of growth took much longer than we expected. We play about 120-150 shows each year. While we are on tour we travel in a van a lot, sleep in a different place every night. There are a lot of amazing moments on stage, there are also a lot of moments that cause you to ask yourself why you’re in a touring band. The thing that has held Trout Steak together over the years is communication. We treat each other fairly, we know each other very well and we know when to tread lightly and when to sit down and talk about it. It’s a family and we were friends first. My advice for a budding band would be to start a band with people you admire and trust: your friends!Rebecca LaPole · May 1, 2018

Photo for “Album Review: Chain Station – Where I Want To Be”

ReviewsAlbum Review: Chain Station – Where I Want To BeThis proud bluegrass band – consisting of Jarett Mason on the mandolin, Jon Pickett on bass, Alex Thoele on guitar, and James Weatherly on Banjo – is held together by the harmonizing voices of Mason, Pickett, and Thoele and the fast-paced picking of all four members. Where I Want To Be, released in 2016, is probably the most pure bluegrass album we’ve heard in some time.Jay Wallace · May 1, 2018