DENVER, COLO. (4/30/09) – Swallow Hill Music and the Honorary Russian Consulate are pleased to present Denis Mazhukov on Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall stage on Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.

Mazhukov previously entertained the Denver audience during the Democratic National Convention last summer. “Rock and roll is my life and I live to play anywhere, anytime, especially in the motherland of roots rock and roll, the USA!” he says. This concert is a rare opportunity to see him live and witness his ability to increase understanding through the cultural bridge of rock and roll music.

Mazhukov started playing at age six. In 1994, he and his band, the Off Beat, began playing and soon appeared in the best nightclubs and most prestigious venues in Moscow. In 1997, Denis played with Chuck Berry at the International Film Festival in Moscow. He also opened for Jerry Lee Lewis. Lewis was quoted as saying, “Denis, you played just like I did when I was young.”

His music takes timeless American classics from the ’50s and ’60s and adds a Russian flare for entertainment. He is a master at Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry songs, and audiences find themselves dancing and singing along. Mazhukov’s piano skills are mesmerizing, his voice is electrifying and his entertainment value is unrivaled.

DENVER, COLO. (4/30/09) – Swallow Hill Music and the Honorary Russian Consulate are pleased to present Denis Mazhukov on Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall stage on Friday, June 5 at 8 p.m.

Mazhukov previously entertained the Denver audience during the Democratic National Convention last summer. “Rock and roll is my life and I live to play anywhere, anytime, especially in the motherland of roots rock and roll, the USA!” he says. This concert is a rare opportunity to see him live and witness his ability to increase understanding through the cultural bridge of rock and roll music.

Mazhukov started playing at age six. In 1994, he and his band, the Off Beat, began playing and soon appeared in the best nightclubs and most prestigious venues in Moscow. In 1997, Denis played with Chuck Berry at the International Film Festival in Moscow. He also opened for Jerry Lee Lewis. Lewis was quoted as saying, “Denis, you played just like I did when I was young.”

His music takes timeless American classics from the ’50s and ’60s and adds a Russian flare for entertainment. He is a master at Jerry Lee Lewis and Chuck Berry songs, and audiences find themselves dancing and singing along. Mazhukov’s piano skills are mesmerizing, his voice is electrifying and his entertainment value is unrivaled.

DENVER, COLO. (4/29/09) – Swallow Hill is thrilled to present Missy Raines with her latest project, The New Hip, for a special Thursday evening performance on June 4 at 8 p.m.

A beloved figure in bluegrass and a pioneering force in acoustic music, Missy Raines’ adventurous musical spirit has always been her compass. Launching her career with experimental bluegrass outfit Cloud Valley, Raines next toured the country with Eddie and Martha Adcock. Soon she was lending her bass skills to the masters (Adcock, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Jesse McReynolds).

Raines joined Claire Lynch’s popular Front Porch Band and developed a successful duo with band mate, Jim Hurst. Their CDs and live performances pushed the envelope on how much music two people with acoustic instruments could make. A stint with the Brother Boys opened Raines’ eyes to the value of spontaneity and immediacy in her musical approach. Raines is now stepping out to make a longtime dream come true, creating a fusing of bluegrass virtuosity, jazz-tinged groove and a song-driven sensibility with her hot new band, The New Hip, featuring Ethan Ballinger, Michael Witcher and Dillon Hodges.

Acclaim for Raines and her band is spreading with the release of their debut album on the Compass Records label, Inside Out. The Prog Files writes, “With her incredible bass playing aside, Missy’s steamy vocals are also unique for the genre. She has the voice of a jazz singer mixed with country and pop influences,” while Bluegrass Blog says, “Missy Raines is one of those musicians who seems to defy all the laws of both nature and logic. How can someone be that small, and that good on such a large instrument? Why would a bass player front a band? She is exemplary at both these tasks. ”

The Boston Boys, featuring Sam Grisman (David Grisman’s son), will open the show. Their sound is contemporary roots rock, blending reverence for the Beatles and the energy of the Avett Brothers with hints of Appalachian string band music.

DENVER, COLO. (4/29/09) – Swallow Hill is thrilled to present Missy Raines with her latest project, The New Hip, for a special Thursday evening performance on June 4 at 8 p.m.

A beloved figure in bluegrass and a pioneering force in acoustic music, Missy Raines’ adventurous musical spirit has always been her compass. Launching her career with experimental bluegrass outfit Cloud Valley, Raines next toured the country with Eddie and Martha Adcock. Soon she was lending her bass skills to the masters (Adcock, Kenny Baker, Josh Graves and Jesse McReynolds).

Raines joined Claire Lynch’s popular Front Porch Band and developed a successful duo with band mate, Jim Hurst. Their CDs and live performances pushed the envelope on how much music two people with acoustic instruments could make. A stint with the Brother Boys opened Raines’ eyes to the value of spontaneity and immediacy in her musical approach. Raines is now stepping out to make a longtime dream come true, creating a fusing of bluegrass virtuosity, jazz-tinged groove and a song-driven sensibility with her hot new band, The New Hip, featuring Ethan Ballinger, Michael Witcher and Dillon Hodges.

Acclaim for Raines and her band is spreading with the release of their debut album on the Compass Records label, Inside Out. The Prog Files writes, “With her incredible bass playing aside, Missy’s steamy vocals are also unique for the genre. She has the voice of a jazz singer mixed with country and pop influences,” while Bluegrass Blog says, “Missy Raines is one of those musicians who seems to defy all the laws of both nature and logic. How can someone be that small, and that good on such a large instrument? Why would a bass player front a band? She is exemplary at both these tasks. ”

The Boston Boys, featuring Sam Grisman (David Grisman’s son), will open the show. Their sound is contemporary roots rock, blending reverence for the Beatles and the energy of the Avett Brothers with hints of Appalachian string band music.

DENVER, COLO. (4/28/09) – Swallow Hill is pleased to present the Shady Grove Picnic Series, back at Four Mile Historic Park every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from June 3 to August 26. As always, this series presents the best folk and roots artists. The Series is a great way to enjoy a nice summer evening with your family as it is all-ages friendly, where you can sit on the grass in the park with your picnic dinner and enjoy great music together. Four Mile Historic Park is located on 715 South Forest Street, Denver.

Finders and Youngberg with Martin Gilmore, June 3
Our Series kicks off with Finders and Youngberg, a newly formed folk/bluegrass/country music partnership between two talented couples whose paths have finally converged and begun to carve a distinct mark. Their debut release, Keep Your Suitcases Packed, has “well-crafted original material, excellent production execution and solid talent…” says Andrea Bradstreet of KRFC 88.9 FM’s Rocky Mountain Breakdown show. Swallow Hill faculty member and Long Road Home guitarist Martin Gilmore will open this show.

Danny Barnes with Jake Schepps Duo (featuring Greg Schochet), June 10
Bad Livers founding member Danny Barnes has been dubbed “one of the most wildly imaginative musicians on the planet” by the Austin American Statesman. He’s also recorded with or been on stage with artists who are just as eclectic as his style, from Béla Fleck to Sam Bush and Lyle Lovett. The Jake Schepps Duo, featuring Greg Schochet, will open this show. Schepps is a banjo player who has studied traditional and progressive bluegrass with banjoists Mark Vann of Leftover Salmon and Tony Trischka. Schochet is a full-time lead guitarist and mandolin player for the Hi-Beams, one of Denver’s most acclaimed honky-tonk and Western swing bands.

Moira Smiley & VOCO with Scott Von, June 17
Voted #1 a cappella band in the U.S. in 2007, VOCO is the energy of street singing and the elegance of a string quartet. Their ethereal and gritty four-part vocal harmonies combined with the delicious vaudevillian mixture of cello, accordion, and banjo delivers original, improvisation-built songs steeped in Appalachia and Eastern Europe. Acclaimed roots singer/songwriter Scott Von will open this show.

Shakedown Street with Raina Rose (Acoustic), June 24
The Front Range’s premier Grateful Dead tribute band goes unplugged for their Shady Grove Picnic Series appearance. Shakedown Street’s guitarist/vocalist, Paul Trunko, is a popular Swallow Hill faculty member in addition to working in this band, whose other members are also longtime professionals in the local scene. Opening for them is 2007 Kerrville New Folk Finalist, Raina Rose.

Bruce Hayes & Danny Shafer, July 1
Bruce Hayes’ collaboration with The String Cheese Incident and Acoustic Junction in the mid-’90s helped define the acoustic jam band sound for which Colorado is known. “A born troubadour” (Aspen Times), Danny Shafer’s performances vary from troubadour fingerstyle to country blues, to his full Americana band, The Red Glory Ramblers.

John Common with Aaron Espe, July 8
John Common had a run-in with his brother’s record collection at an impressionable age, ending up with a bad case of the rock and an obsession for making music. He’s built a reputation for writing gritty, honest songs and has established himself among Colorado’s brightest talents. Opening the show is Aaron Espe, winner of the 2008 Emerging Artist Contest at the Four Corners Folk Festival.

Shalom Feivel and Rocky Mountain Jewgrass with Julie Geller, July 15
Shalom Feivel and Rocky Mountain Jewgrass provide an energetic and entertaining show, blending traditional bluegrass style playing with contemporary and classic Jewish themes and music. Great stage presence and a heavy dose of humor combine with beautiful harmonies and skilled musicianship that delights audiences of all ages. Denver songwriter Julie Geller, who has been praised for her insightful lyrics, gorgeous melodies and engaging stage presence, will open the show.

Stray Dog & Colin O’Brien, July 22
Stray Dog is a Denver-based band that plays a unique blend of Irish, folk, blues and bluegrass with fiddle, accordion, mandolin and banjo. Three-time Wisconsin Area Music Industry award winner Colin O’Brien’s style draws influence from John Hartford. His show features his dazzling dancing foot percussion as he plays fiddle, banjo and guitar.

Wendy Woo & Rob Drabkin, July 29
Wendy Woo and Rob Drabkin have taken their Boulder roots to a national level. Woo toured with the popular Lilith Fair and will be joined by her band mate, viola/violin player, Robin Hoch, for this performance. Drabkin’s most recent exploits include touring across the U.S. as support for long-time Dave Matthews collaborator, Tim Reynolds.

Steve Poltz with Pete Kartsounes, August 5
Named San Diego’s Most Influential Artist of the Decade, Poltz is one of the most engaging, twisted and prolific songwriters of our time. He co-wrote “You Were Meant for Me” alongside Jewell, the longest-running song on the Billboard Top 100. He appears at our Picnic Series hot off the road from a tour with Madeleine Peyroux. Opening the show is Boulder-based modern acoustic songwriter Pete Kartsounes, whose latest album, Out of Nowhere, is gaining critical acclaim and features special guests Sally Van Meter, Jeff Austin (Yonder Mountain String Band), Drew Emmitt (Leftover Salmon) and Travis Book (The Infamous Stringdusters).

Danny Schmidt & Chuck E. Costa, August 12
2007 Kerrville winner Danny Schmidt draws comparisons to Townes Van Zandt and Leonard Cohen, and Sing Out! tagged him “the best new songwriter we’ve heard in 15 years.” 2008 Folks Fest winner Chuck E. Costa’s music has been deemed by The New York Times as “…sensitive, introspective…inspired.”

John-Alex Mason, August 19
Telluride Acoustic Blues winner and International Blues Challenge finalist John-Alex Mason is an accomplished performer and instructor who’s opened for everyone from BB King to The Yardbirds. His album, Town and Country, debuted at #1 on the Roots Music Report Blues Chart after its January, 2008 release.

Olde Town Swing Band, August 26
The Olde Town Swing Band (Liz Masterson, Kit Simon, Drew Horton and Dave Dale) brings a sound that is reminiscent of the music played in hotel ballrooms, clubs and parties in the 1930s and 1940s. Enjoy slow, heart-wrenching ballads or snap your fingers and dance to the time-honored swingin’ standards from the Big Band Era.

The Shady Grove Picnic Series is made possible in part thanks to the support of The Butler Family Fund of the Denver Foundation.

DENVER, COLO. (4/23/09) – Ex-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jimmy Ibbotson returns to Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall stage with the incomparable Jim Ratts and Butch Hause of Runaway Express (and much more) on Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m.

Today Ibbotson makes his home in the mountains in Woody Creek, Colo., a neighbor and close friend of the late Hunter S. Thompson. His home houses his studio, Unami, where he recorded his latest solo album, Canyon, filled with hearty, country folk that calls to mind the mountains that surround his home. His live performances are peppered with stories and unpredictable anecdotes from his 30 years as a renowned road performer.

DENVER, COLO. (4/23/09) – Ex-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band member Jimmy Ibbotson returns to Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall stage with the incomparable Jim Ratts and Butch Hause of Runaway Express (and much more) on Saturday, May 30 at 8 p.m.

Today Ibbotson makes his home in the mountains in Woody Creek, Colo., a neighbor and close friend of the late Hunter S. Thompson. His home houses his studio, Unami, where he recorded his latest solo album, Canyon, filled with hearty, country folk that calls to mind the mountains that surround his home. His live performances are peppered with stories and unpredictable anecdotes from his 30 years as a renowned road performer.

DENVER, COLO. (4/22/09) — Since 1979, Swallow Hill Music Association has hosted the best acoustic, folk and roots music performers in the Rocky Mountain Region. Our June/July summer calendar has some recent additions. We’ll host Bad Weather California as they deliver a rare acoustic performance with singer/songwriter, Rachael Pollard. We’ll also have world sounds from the internationally acclaimed masters Rahim AlHaj & Amjad Ali Khan in June, and Colorado’s own Kailin Yong in July. One of the most influential British guitar players of modern times, Bert Jansch, will bring his mastery to the intimacy of our stage. In addition, eclectic songstress Nellie McKay will be making her Swallow Hill debut, as will Four Bitchin’ Babes: Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Nancy Moran and Deirdre Flint.

Tickets go on sale on line at www.swallowhillmusic.org on Friday, May 1 and will be available by phone at (303) 777-1003 x2 or at our box office at 71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, Colo., 80210, beginning Wednesday, May 6.

HIGHLIGHTS

Bad Weather California: A rare acoustic performance with Rachael Pollard
Saturday, June 6 at 8 p.m.
Drawing on The Velvet Underground and post-Beatles-era John Lennon, Bad Weather California is joined by rising singer/songwriter Rachael Pollard for a very special unplugged show.Westword states: “At this moment Bad Weather California are probably one of the best bands playing in Denver, and worth seeing any chance you get.”

Nellie McKay
Friday, June 19 at 8 p.m.
Elle magazine writes: “Nellie McKay is so original, she’s practically invented her own genre: neo-retro-mellow-fury pop…” while the Chicago Sun-Times describes: “With a spirit and honesty that positively bewitch, McKay sizzles like Lena Horne, coos like Doris Day, scats like Ella… a refreshing change of pace from much of what’s being cranked out these days in the name of pop.” McKay’s voice, paired with everything from her tinkling on the piano to picking an electric uke, is not to be missed. This marks her Swallow Hill debut.

Rahim AlHaj & Amjad Ali Khan
Saturday, June 20 at 8 p.m.
Two of the world’s renowned masters of ancient stringed instruments, multi-Grammy nominee Iraqi virtuoso oud musician and composer, Rahim AlHaj, and the acclaimed Indian sarod maestro, Amjad Ali Khan, come together for Ancient Sounds. This remarkable collaboration brings together the musical heritage of their respective ancient cultures in a contemporary way, resulting in a mesmerizing and harmonious dialogue. Their duets, accompanied by percussion, are sublime, powerful, passionate and extraordinarily beautiful.

The Four Bitchin’ Babes presents Hormonal Imbalance…A Mood Swinging Musical Revue
Friday, June 26 at 8 p.m.
Spend an evening with outrageously funny and multi-talented musicians, Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Nancy Moran and Deirdre Flint, as they examine and ultimately celebrate the lives of today’s women. After seven recordings and 18 years, these indestructible divas are hotter than ever. Literally!

Bert Jansch
Sunday, June 28 at 7 p.m.
Since the mid-1960s, generation after generation has been held spellbound by Bert Jansch’s extraordinary ground-breaking guitar playing and classic emotive songs, including Jimmy Page, Neil Young and Nick Drake. Jimmy Page says, “At one point, I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that LP [1965], I couldn’t believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that.” His live performances are a rare opportunity to see one of the British music scene’s true legends play.Kailin Yong Peace Concert
Friday, July 3 at 8 p.m.
Yong returns to Swallow Hill with a fantastic evening of original music featuring many talented artists sharing their experiences, art, dance and poetry toward a musical mission of peace. We’re celebrating Independence Day with the universal language of music to spread a message of hope across cultural divides, inspiring a sense of unity and purpose.

The Wiyos w/Zebra Junction
Saturday, July 18 at 8 p.m.
Drawing from a vast spectrum of traditional American rural and urban roots music, the internationally acclaimed, Brooklyn-based quartet, The Wiyos, craft a startlingly fresh yet strangely familiar sound. Their shows are just as visually exciting as they are sonically evocative, and their song repertoire combines original compositions with covers from Tin Pan Alley to Texas. Zebra Junction will open the show.Additions to the Swallow Hill summer concert calendar:

DENVER, COLO. (4/21/09) — The annual CBMS Jam ‘n Jamboree (formerly known as the Pie Social), presented in cooperation with the Colorado Bluegrass Music Society, will take place on Saturday, May 16. The evening show features WestGrass pioneers, Sons and Brothers, performing in Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall at 8 p.m., following a special pre-show jam in our Café at 6:15 p.m.

Sons and Brothers blend gospel, bluegrass, old time and Western into a spectacular sound unlike any other. They have traveled with great acclaim to concerts and festivals throughout the U.S. over the past eight years, as well as to Scotland, England and Wales. According to Dave Higgs, columnist for Bluegrass Now magazine, “It’s not only Sons and Brothers’ powerful paint-peeling vocals that make them one of the most strikingly original bands in bluegrass, but it’s their sound…an arresting brand of bluegrass, flavored by the wide open spaces, grandeur and panoramic majesty of the West.” Their latest release, Measure of a Man, brings 12 selections by 12 wonderfully diverse songwriters.

There will be a pre-show bluegrass jam in the Cafe starting at 6:15 p.m., led by Swallow Hill faculty member and performer, Martin Gilmore. Gilmore is an accomplished professional musician, who is a co-founder of the Boulder-based bluegrass band, Long Road Home. Long Road Home features some of the finest bluegrass talent in the Front Range, including Jordan Ramsey on mandolin, Pete Wernick on banjo and two-time Grammy winner, Gene Libbea, on bass. In December of 2008, Gilmore recorded his self-titled album which will be released in May, 2009. All people of all playing levels are welcome to join this no-pressure jam, as are spectators. The Café will be serving an array of drinks and food as always.

DENVER, COLO. (4/15/09) — Swallow Hill Music is proud to present the first WineFest 2009. A fundraising event, WineFest showcases five Colorado wineries, as well as local cheese and appetizers made with Colorado-grown ingredients. Musical guests FOMA* and Kantankerous Bluegrass Band will round up the appropriate environment for a relaxed Sunday afternoon.

Attendees will have the opportunity to unlimited sampling of the best wines made from Colorado grapes by wineries such as Alfred Eames Cellars, Augustina’s Winery, Settembre Cellars, Turquoise Mesa Winery and Snowy Peaks Winery. The Georgio Loews Tuscany restaurant will provide delicious appetizers and MuoCo Cheese Company will bring their best products. Proceeds from ticket sales will support Swallow Hill’s mission to keep roots and folk music alive in our community.

Local band FOMA*‘s sonic palette combines a blend of rock-alternative, funk, blues, and is lightly peppered with a pinch of country twang. Winners of Alice 105.3 FM’s Almost Famous contest, FOMA* “finds a way to take you to sonic places you haven’t been yet, but yet make your memory bank feel like you’ve been there before.” (Colorado Music Buzz). Kantankerous Bluegrass Band is Eric Grace, Warren Roberts, Marte Meyer, Joel Denman and Kenny Pabst.