Music in the Mountains

So many bands, only four weekends in June!  Fortunately, you can also find at least one concert every Thursday night this month in the Grand Valley.

Better yet, June boasts two major music events on two weekends in the Grand Valley, the Palisade Bluegrass Festival and Country Jam. Telluride ponies up both its annual jazz celebration and bluegrass festival, so there’s no excuse this month to find just the music you crave.

On June 4 head to Fruita’s Civic Center Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. to catch Hit Squad, whose performance opens up the 2009 Thursday Night Summer Concert Series. An eight-piece rock band, Hit Squad provides plenty of nostalgia for Baby Boomers with hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

The Telluride Jazz Celebration swings into action on June 5 and runs through June 7. Catch Bill Frisell, Kenny Walker, Lizz Wright, Ozomatli and others in Town Park.

The following Thursday, June 11, Flat Top Reed, a rockin’ blues/alternative country band, takes over Fruita’s pavilion. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., the time for all pavilion concerts in June.

Or, if you’ve scored some tickets, step lively that night to The Young Dubliners, Celtic rockers who are kicking off the Colorado Riverfront Concert Series at the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Shift into classical mode the next night, June 12, by taking in an evening of ballet and chamber music performed at the Avalon by the Southwest Ballet Theater and the Western Slope Chamber Music Series. Dancers from the acclaimed Eugene Ballet Company will perform, and chamber music will include the Brahms Sextet in B-flat and “Souvenir de Florence” by Tchaikovsky.

Tyme and Kathryn Mientka will be featured on cello and piano, along with harpist Janet Harriman. This show also starts at 7:30 p.m. Purchase tickets at Roper Music in Grand Junction or Over the Edge Sports in Fruita..

Or, sit back and enjoy some bluegrass at the Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival Friday, June 12, through Sunday, June 14, at Riverbend Park. The festival, which was previously held in Hotchkiss, reels out three days of top-notch bluegrass. Bands include Cadillac Sky, Kane, Welch & Kaplin, The April Verch Band, The Kruger Brothers, The Dixie Bee-Liners, Mollie O’Brien, Danny Barnes, Moira Smiley & VOCO, Catfish Keith, Dakota Blonde, Cartharsis and Way Down Yonder.

Can’t make it to Palisade?  Indulge your musical appetite by taking in the Influx jazz concert from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, June 13 at the Botanical Gardens.

On Tuesday, June 16, the Two Rivers Winery provides the backdrop for Alternate Route, a band that promises bluegrass, newgrass, gospel, country and more. All proceeds benefit the Western Colorado Center for the Arts. The band will play from 7 p.m. to dusk.

Just two days later the third Thursday concert at the Fruita Pavilion features Russ Chapman. Chapman plays early swing, pre-war blues and New Orleans swamp music.

With tunes from the Palisade Bluegrass Festival still fresh in your memory, buzz up to the mountains for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival June 18-21. For more information, try www.bluegrass.com.telluride.

Grande River Vineyards hosts King n’ Trio at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 20. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. This concert will benefit the Red Cross. Tickets are $15 at Roper Music, Fisher’s Liquor Barn and The Muse in Fruita, or $20 at the door. Kids 12 and under are free. Families are welcome.

Singing for another good cause is Peter Kartsounes  at 6:30 p.m. June 23. His special cause is the Hike for Cancer. Reservations are required and tickets are $15. Kartsounes will play in the tranquil backyard of Willow Pond Bed and Breakfast.

The Dead Cowboyz  perform at the Fruita Pavilion on June 25, offering classic rock dance tunes, with a special performance by Fruita’s own Liberty Cheer Program.

At 7 p.m. that night the Centennial Band will treat music lovers at the Atrium to a wide variety of classics, modern composers, traditional marches, patriotic songs and new sounds.

June’s final musical hurrah is the Grand Valley Hyundai Country Jam June 25-28. On Thursday Pat Green takes the stage at 7:15 p.m., followed by Sawyer Brown at 9:30 p.m. Brown is sure to live up to his song “Step That Step” by leaving Country Jam fans “sittin’ on the edge of their seat.”

Jason Aldean fires up the crowd at 7:15 p.m. Friday and at 9:30 p.m. Big & Rich finish off the night.

Saturday, Clay Walker is on at 7:15 p.m., leading up to Randy Owen at 9:30 p.m. Owen, the former singer of the country music group Alabama, will undoubtedly reward the crowd with some of Alabama’s award-winning hits, along with his own songs, such as “One by One,” “Holding Everything” and “Barbados.”

Sunday’s sure to satisfy fans with performances by Blake Shelton at 6:30 p.m. and Montgomery Gentry at 8:30 p.m.

To get the lowdown on the full line-up of Country Jam, check out:

http://countryjamgjco.countryjam.com.