I went to see the stage musical “Some Like It Hot” at the Buell Theater. What a show! The writers did a really good job of adapting the movie to a stage play. The costumes were cool, the actors/singers were (almost!) believable. Lots of belly laughs! The songs were all new (none from the movie) but they did advance the story of the show. And the tap dancing!!! My mom, an inveterate tap dancer, would have absolutely loved the tap dancing and the fabulous choreography! I do want to give kudos to the Colorado musicians who rounded-out the traveling orchestra, under the direction of Mark Binns. They did such a good job! Reeds: Art Bouton, Jared Cathey, Alex Burse and Allison Young; Trumpet & flugelhorn: Jake Boldman and Dawn Kramer; Trombone & bass trombone: Zach Rich and Jim Gray; Acoustic bass: Erik Hitt; Keyboards: Boko Suzuki; and Music Contractor: Jim Harvey. Congratulations to all on such a fabulous MUSICAL!!! (And to our Colorado songwriters who hope someday to have their musical staged on Broadway – or even at the Buell Theater – Keep your writing up!)
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I am so saddened by the passing of Ozzy Osbourne. He was one of my favorite singers and songwriters. I bought No More Tears and played the heck out of it until I bought a new car that didn’t have a CD player. Sing on, Ozzy. And may you and Randy (Rhoads) continue to be an inspiration to thousands of future musicians.
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BREAKING: Trumpeter Chuck Mangione died this morning. More about his life next week.
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COMBO is about the LOVE of Music and the musicians who create and play songs. We do our best to educate and offer an exchange of information, guidance and advice to help musicians advance their careers no matter what genre they play. Our articles and programs represent some phase of the music business that could affect musicians – all musicians, all genres – everywhere. Our motto: Elevate Your Musical State! (Courtesy of Andy Ard!)
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CALENDAR
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED: We won’t list all of their shows here but here are their websites if you want to go:
Botanic Gardens (two locations): https://www.botanicgardens.org
Castle Rock Concerts: https://www.meadowscastlerock.com/blog/summer-concert-series/
Central City Opera: https://www.centralcityopera.org
City Park Jazz: https://www.cityparkjazz.org
Denver Arts Complex events: https://www.artscomplex.com
Downtown Denver Concerts:
https://www.denver.org/events/concerts-live-music/bands-musicians-and-artists/
First Friday Jazz Hop in Five Points: https://www.milehighfestivals.com
Film on the Rocks: https://www.axs.com/events … film-on-the-rocks
Levitt Pavillion: https://www.levittpavillion.com
Old Town Arvada fests – Third Saturdays of the Month
Red Rocks: https://www.redrocksonline.com
Sofar Sounds (“house” / small venue concerts): https://www.sofarsounds.com
The Tank’s Summer Fests (Rangely, Colorado): https://www.tanksounds.org
Events That Repeat Each Month:
First Friday Jazz Hops: Honor the roots and enjoy the fruits! Our partners at the Five Points Business Improvement District are hosting First Friday Jazz Hops! Enjoy a night of live jazz featuring local musicians and artists performing at venues along Welton Street in Denver’s historic jazz district. Check out their schedule at https://www.milehighfestivals.com
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Denver’s NSAI Chapter: 2nd Monday of the month. Contact Lauren Brombert for details on the next meeting! Some are held “live” and others are held via Zoom. If you’d like to present a song to the group for feedback, please click on the link to the Denver NSAI submission page below, and follow the instructions BEFORE the meeting:
https://www.nashvillesongwriters.com/form/song-submission-consent-denver-co
Please make sure to upload both the mp3 and the lyric sheet!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/denvernsai/
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Black Rose Arts Society sponsors an Open Mic on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month in CO Springs. Check it out at https://www.blackroseacoustic.org/openmic!
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The TBRAS (The Black Rose Arts Society) offers twice-monthly shows on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month at the Black Forest Community Center, 12530 Black Forest Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80908. Doors at 6:15; All ages. Tickets at https://www.tbras.org
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Front Range Songwriters – Colorado Springs: 1st Wednesday of the month. 7:00 p.m. John Nelson, contact. Location: Covenant Church, 4965 Barnes Road. This is at the SW corner of Barnes Rd. and Iron Horse Trail – one block East of Barnes Rd and Oro Blanco.
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Southern Colorado NSAI – Castle Rock: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. – Meeting via Zoom | Call
Wayne Hanson to be added to the Zoom call and for more info: 720-989-5185
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Western Colorado Songwriter Alliance Facebook Group – Grand Junction area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122384432992979/
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July 2025
Fr, 25th – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at Rendevouz Restaurant, 2888 South Heather Gardens Way, Denver | We’ll be celebrating Mark’s birthday!
Fr & Sa, 25th & 26th – Get Loud Music Summit, ages 16-24 | more info and tickets at:
https://events.humanitix.com/get-loud-music-summit-2025
Sa, 26th – 9:30 a.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Cheesman Art Festival, Cheesman Park, Denver (13th & Gilpin)
Sa, 26th – Laurie D. at Taste the Rainbow Variety Show, Butterscotch Studios, 620 Kimbark Street, Longmont, CO 80501 | More details to be announced!
Sa, 26th – 8:00 to Midnight – Revenant Band at Bar@Plaza 38, 3550 West 38th Avenue, Denver. Bring your dancing shoes! Going to be a blast!
August 2025
Fr, 1st – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Laurie Dameron at Ironwood Bar & Grille, 5706 Arapahoe Avenue FR (Flatiron Golf Course), Boulder, CO | Featuring light jazz, blues, and requested music!
Fr, 1st – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Downtown Denver Artist on the Rise Concert, Dairy Block Alley, 16th Street | Artist TBA | Free; Seating first-come, first served or RSVP https://www.denver.org/events/concerts-live-music/bands-musicians-and-artists/
Sa 2nd – 7:30 p.m. – Revenant at Takoda Tavern, 12365 Pine Bluffs Parkway, Parker, CO
We, 6th – (no time) – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Avenue, Aurora
Fr, 8th – 6:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at New Belgium Brewery
Fr, 8th – 7:00 p.m. – Rachel Alena Band at Oskar Blues, Longmont | https://www.rachelalenaband.com
Mo, 11th – 2:00 p.m. – Elvis Week – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at EAP Society Summer Festival, Memphis, TN | $20 tickets at the door | Enjoy a great show and help preserve Elvis History
Tu-Sa, 12th – 16th – Various times – The 2025 SPAH Convention, San Antonio. TX at the Hilton Palacio del Rio | Celebrating 62 years of harmonicas, music and friends. | https://spah.org/
SPAH: Society for the Preservation and Advancement of the Harmonica —is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
We, 13th – 6:00 p.m. – Elvis Week – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at EAP Society Summer Festival, Memphis, TN | $20 tickets at the door | Enjoy a great show and help preserve Elvis History
Su, 17th – 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. – Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame Annual Awards Show at the Wild Goose Saloon, Parker, CO | $10
We, 20th – Doors at 7:00: Show starts at 8:00 – Metalachi: The World’s First and Only Heavy Metal Mariachi Band at HQ Broadway, 60 South Broadway Street, Denver 80209 with honeybunches Of DEATH + Worth The Weight | Tickets: https://tickets.holdmyticket.com/tickets/447005
Sa, 23rd – 8:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at The Vic (Victorian Tavern),
Su, 24th – 2:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at Veterans Fundraising Festival,
September 2025
Fr, 5th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Laurie Dameron at Ironwood Bar & Grille, 5706 Arapahoe Avenue (Flatiron Golf Course), Boulder, CO | Featuring light jazz, blues, and requested music!
Sa & Su, 6th & 7th – Colorado Dragon Boat Festival at Sloan’s Lake, Denver. Schedule at:
https://www.denver.org/things-to-do/festivals-events/colorado-dragon-boat-festival/
Fr, 19th – 7:00 p.m. – Rachel Alena Band at Oskar Blues, Longmont | https://www.rachelalenamusic.com/
Th-Sa, 25th to 27th – Colorado Elvis Festival at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, Denver Tech Center – more details TBA | We’ll be celebrating the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll in style!
Sa, 27th – 10:30 a.m. Until 6:30 p.m. – Blues on the Mesa, Colorado Springs, CO | https://www.bluesonthemesa.com
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TALENT NEEDED:
Durango Songwriters Expo Early Bird Registration until August 1st! Go here for more information:
https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
The 2025 American Songwriter Road Ready Talent Contest is Open Now https://bit.ly/41f1JHv | Deadline: August 25, 2025
Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic | Read more at https://BosqueArtsCenter.org
Deadline to enter is August 21st!
Howard Rosen Talent Contest Open until Nov. 20th. E-mail contests@howiewood.com for more info.
Photo: https://www.thecarnationfestival.com