Artists
Cornmeal
With a name as unique as its sound, Cornmeal continues to forge a path all their own, pushing the boundaries of bluegrass, Americana and folk for a whole new generation of music lovers.
Steeped in the tradition of musical acts such as Old and in the Way, John Hartford, and New Grass Revival, Cornmeal has proven to be an influential presence in the world of roots music. Cornmeal has consistently evolved its sound and stage performance using bluegrass as a springboard for long improvisational work and songs ranging from country, rock and blues to jazz, funk and disco.
With the release of their debut album "In The Kitchen" (2001 Livin' Live records), Cornmeal secured its place as one of the top bands in its genre. 2003’s “Tales from Magic Stone Mountain” (Livin’ Live records) garnered much critical attention and became a staple on College and AAA top 10 lists throughout the country.
Cornmeal’s third album, “Feet First”, is poised to set the country on fire with its dynamic songwriting and solid musicianship. By far their best effort, Feet First is proof positive that Cornmeal’s tenure on the road has brought an honesty to their sound and maturity to their songwriting.
After six years together at over 160 shows a year, Cornmeal has gained valuable exposure and attracted a faithful following from Colorado to the Carolinas. While playing a blend of high profile venues, jam-band and bluegrass festivals to thousands throughout the region, the band has shared the stage with such highly acclaimed national acts as THE DAVID GRISMAN QUINTET, JOHN HARTFORD, THE DEL McCOURY BAND, LITTLE FEAT, LEFTOVER SALMON, TONI RICE, YONDER MOUNTAIN STRING BAND, DARK STAR ORCHESTRA, moe, SAM BUSH and UMPHREY'S McGEE.
In addition, Cornmeal has employed a vigorous college, AAA and internet radio campaign, including their recent addition to the Home Grown Music Network, helping to broaden their reach to listeners from coast to coast.
(Select Radio Station Listing and Press)
Heavily influenced by American roots and folk music, Cornmeal was started as a side project over six years ago only to watch it grow into a Chicago institution. . Performing tirelessly, Cornmeal prides itself on the energy it puts forth each night creating a live performance that continues to shape itself into a truly unique experience.
Dan Craig
Nine out of ten average Joes would tell Dan Craig he’s nuts. After all, who the hell puts medical school on hold to pursue a career in music? Who would trade all that delicious Gray’s Anatomy scandal and future financial security to live on cereal and dream of a used van to take on the road? “It’s the best thing I know how to do,” he says, quite simply.
A native of Denver, Colorado, Dan began playing the guitar in sixth grade, put his first band together before his voice changed, and continued collaborating and forming bands all the way through high school. While earning a degree in Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Dan kept busy writing songs and gigging at local Philly hot spots like, The Point, Grape Street Pub, and Doc Watson’s. After graduation, he recorded his debut album, New Every Morning, and wandered the East Coast, getting the feel for the road, and playing every chance he got.
Dan returned to his Denver roots and landed a job doing cancer research, which eventually lead him to the University of Colorado Medical School. He spent the last year in scrubs, honing his sound and writing songs for his next album. The working title, The Confidence Interval, is proof of a magical coexistence between art and science—a proof that leaks subconsciously into his lyrics. “… A billion years of DNA won’t keep her warm at night, it’s just so irreducibly complex…” (Anything Less)
Listening to Dan Craig is like standing at the crossroads of coming-of-age and ageless wisdom. His voice is a sweet lullaby touched with sandpaper. His lyrics move seamlessly from innocent cries of honest introspection, “I am so insecure…” (Would You Tell Me I’m Wrong) to confident statements of universal truth, “…it’s the hurt that makes the healer feel like home.” (Afterglow) When it’s all said and done, you’re not sure where you’ve been, but you know that you’ve been moved.
Dan will be headed back to a studio outside of Boston this summer, reuniting with the disjointed members of his band to record these new songs and more. The album is expected by August/September and will be available through his website, Amazon, and anywhere else he can sell it. Dan’s gorgeous; rock-star/nerd act has the ladies swooning and the gentleman adding him to the mental soundtrack of their lives. Stay tuned for the schedule of upcoming shows in Denver and beyond. See him live, and you’ll realize he wasn’t joking. This is the best thing he knows how to do.
Rob Drabkin
Many people choose music, but for others music chooses them. Rob began playing the electric guitar at age 11, learning note-for-note solos of every Metallica and Guns N Roses tune he could find. His metal edge began to fade after enrolling in his schools jazz ensemble, where he was exposed to an array of new artists, rhythms, chords, and more importantly, the beauty of improvisation. Noticing his natural talent for the instrument, guitar virtuoso Ted Reece took Rob as a private student. Reece introduced him to the acoustic guitar while helping him develop his ear and strengthen his playing. Rob was annually awarded excellence for his performance in the high school band, and was offered a scholarship offer to join the jazz ensemble at Trinity University (TX).
Throughout college, Rob maintained music only as a hobby and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in biochemistry/molecular biology and Spanish. His academic aspirations suddenly halted one evening in New York City when it dawned on him he wanted to become a singer. Having never sung a note in his life, Rob began spending six to eight hours a day, developing his voice and songwriting skills. With a voice reminiscent of Dave Matthews and Damien Rice, his unique guitar stylings, and a handful of original tunes, Rob stormed onto Denvers local music scene leaving audiences impressed. Within a mere week of open stages, he was offered his first gig at Arvadas D-NOTE. Shortly thereafter, he played during the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and in six months he was sharing the stage with local celebrities, Wendy Woo and Nina Storey. He soon began playing to full crowds at Boulder's legendary Fox Theatre and opening for national acts such as The Wood Brothers, Raul Midon, Lucy Kaplansky and Tim Reynolds. Recently, he performed for former president Bill Clinton, senators Ken Salazar and Bob Hernandez and congressman John Salazar. Rob has been featured on KBCO's Studio C, 99.5 The Mountain, and 93.3 KTCL. His song "Sweet Things" is currently in rotation on Sirius Satellite Radio's Coffee House, Channel 30. Rob Drabkin's career seems to escalate daily as he gains fans and recognition wherever he plays.
The Ethereal Plane
The Ethereal Plane is a band from Boulder County, Colorado that brings together a diverse musical background to form a sound that is an ever expanding journey through fusion, funk and rock as well as improvisational exploration. Combining liquid rhythms and liberty bell-bottom bass with soaring guitars, synth, loops and soulful vocals, the goal of the music is to unify the positive collective energy of the crowd and the band...
...and to encourage its growth.
Grazgrove
Grazgrove initially started out in Manhattan, KS at Kansas State University… the evolution of a group of friends born in the late 90’s, this band is a project that has evolved and grown nearly 10 years. Very early on, these guys quickly realized that a common denominator in their friendships was a love for music.
In the early years, this group of musicians would often times set up shop with canned beer and acoustic guitars on an apartment deck after coming home from the bars late night. Jams would include a group of several “sing-along” friends, old country tunes, James Taylor hits, and cheesy 70’s rock. Sooner or later, these friends started meeting other friends who enjoyed jamming as well. Open mic nights were formed, new instruments and sound gear was slowly acquired, and the foundation for Grazgrove was being built.
Just like everything else, as time went by, the influences and musical interests grew and changed. So did the musicians that played together. Life experiences and maturation contributed strongly to the growth of each individual musician.
In early 2003, Grazgrove was officially formed. The “electric” style of Midwestern-infused rock began to work it’s way into the style, starting out by playing covers, mainly of the Grateful Dead. In early March ‘03, the very first gig as Grazgrove was performed at Pat’s Blue Rib’n in Aggieville… a staple venue for Grazgrove even to this day. The band kept on… practicing in basements, metal storage sheds, and living rooms. As shows were performed around the Manhattan area, friends, fans and followers began to develop.
Sometime between late ’03 and early ’04, the band members began finishing up school and migrating over to the Kansas City area. Performing in new venues became the goal, and Grazgrove started making new friends and fans in the KC area. The band continued writing new original music, and leaning more heavily on those original tunes as each new show was played. Much has happened since that time, and Grazgrove has had the opportunity of playing in various events and many different cities in this region such as Lawrence, Emporia, Lincoln, and Topeka.
Today, Grazgrove is a fully original 5-piece rock band... chock full of jam and ready to rock you into next week. Having just finished up the production of their first-ever studio album, Biotic, this band is on the verge of entering a new level of performance and musicianship. One that is exciting, not only to the fans of Grazgrove, but to the band itself.
Gregory Alan Isakov
Gregory Alan Isakov has been described by Boulder Weekly, "Strong, subtle, a lyrical genious" and has been compared to his influences, Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Joe Phelps, Iron & Wine and Gillian Welch. Gregory's humble presence and his overwhelming voice and guitar style has been treasured by an ever-growing and captivated fan base.
Originally Born In Johannesburg, South Africa, Gregory Alan Isakov immigrated to the States with his family and grew up in the Philadelphia area. He started touring at the age of 16 with his first band. In 1999 he sought out his solo acoustic roots and moved to Colorado where he now resides. He has been taking on the folk music scene with his 2003 release "Rust Colored Stones" LP. and his 2005 release "Songs For October". Gregory Alan Isakov's song-craft lends to the deepest lyrical masterpieces, and his live performance has been known to quiet and shake the biggest rooms.
This year, Gregory has shared the stage with numerous touring artists such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, Alexi Murdoch, and Fiona Apple. Gregory has performed throughout the United States; and has played numerous music festivals such as Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Rocky Mountain Folks Fest and Southpark Music Festival. Gregory has toured solo and with his band "The Freight", and is currently recording a new album in Colorado, scheduled for release in early 2007. "Rust Colored Stones" and "Songs for October" are available here.
The Kinetix
Kinetix is a Denver-based sensation performing original rock, pop, and funk. Kinetix have completed successful tours throughout the North East including NYC, Boston, Burlington. Featuring former members of Cardoza (Boston) and The Lucky Ned Peppers (Chicago), this 5-piece is guaranteed to fill the dance floor. Kinetix's instrumentation consists of two vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, keys, bass, and drums. When not performing, all members are in pursuit of mastering their instruments as students at The Lamont School of Music; noted teachers include Eric Gunnison, Kenny Walker, and Alan Joseph. Since its formation in late 2004, the band has already had the opportunity to share the stage with national acts such as The Slip, Umelt and Aesop of Living Legends. Book Kinetix and find out why people are calling this band energy in motion.
Angie Stevens
Angie Stevens delivers a time-warped trip through America's backroads, a melange of rhythms and sounds that tap into populist (as opposed to "pop") music past and present.
For anyone who grew up listening to music in the 50s and 60s, there will be a sense of familiarity. It echoes a time when elemental music was defining the essence of rock and country. Shades of slow swing ballads playing in 3/4 time on the jukebox at the local dive bar; Grand Ole Opry broadcasts crackling on the radio on a humid summer night; storytelling songs being shared on a porch in Appalachia; stripped down rhythms whomping against black-painted basement walls.
For listeners whose musical references are primarily contemporary, Stevens will take them away from heavily produced MTV fare and into a world of exposed emotions delivered with unadorned impact. Stevens's recorded work keeps it simple. Her live shows pack a visceral wallop.
"Life is my biggest influence. I write for the confused young girls who sit in their rooms and cry. I know what it's like to rise above the ashes and what it's like to endure the worst of life. The best part is that I've also endured the best. I take nothing for granted, and live each day with passion pouring into everything I do."
Stevens grew up in South Dakota. "I picked up a guitar when I was ten, fascinated by how something made of wood could understand my depressed brother more than any person I knew. I was drawn to it, but after he committed suicide the next year at age 21, I didn't go back to it until I was sixteen. I had his Fender Stratocaster (my mom gave away his acoustic, and we still kick ourselves for that) and I began to play to accompany my poetry. The words I wrote for the hard life I had lived. The words I wrote for him."
She headed to Minnesota for college, but didn't stay. "I was on my way to California to pursue my dreams, got sidetracked by a love affair, and there I was in Colorado."
She's done her turn as a solo artist playing the coffee house circuit, but I really wanted to expand my sound so it could completely engulf all who listened. She formed her three-piece band in January 2005. They spent February in the studio. In March they released I'm Okay. By April, invitations to play at high visibility events were rolling in and people were recommending her to industry reps locally and nationally.
In December 2005 she was the featured artist on Noise Floor, a monthly music series on Comcast and Coors became a sponsor of her band.
In January 2006, Hapi Skratch Entertainment named her Emerging Artist of 2005. In March, Westword proclaimed her Denver's Best Singer/Songwriter.
