Photo: Greg Carr | Reminder: Services for Greg Carr will be held this Saturday, December 6th at Swallow Hill Music, Broadway & East Yale in Denver. The celebration of Mr. Carr’s life will start at 2:00 p.m. Mr. Carr was well known for his art, videos, and festival posters for so many musicians and events. If you ever bought a Chris Daniels and the Kings album or CD from “Louie, Louie” to our newest “40:Blues with Horns Volume II” (10 albums ), you got to enjoy the art and design brilliance of Greg Carr. We’d love for you to be there. Big Hugs, CD
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Dec. 9th is Colorado Gives Day – We sure would appreciate it if you would consider giving to COMBO! Please re-up your membership dues – From $30 (ind.) to $95 (for a business). Go to https://www.coloradomusic.org, click on the “Join COMBO” button and follow the prompts.
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We heard of the passing of Lance Hambly, a true supporter of live, original music. Lance, of Castle Rock, was a regular at shows and we will really miss his enthusiasm. RIP, Lance.
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Just another reminder: The Durango Songwriters Expo in Ventura, CA will be held February 19-21st. Registration is open right now! Https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
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Bandcamp Friday is TOMORROW, December 5th! Support your local artist – buy their music! Full Royalties for Musicians Like Lisa Selle, Mad Dog Friedman, Laurie Dameron, Joy Iwancio & Marty Jones | Https://www.isitbandcampfriday.com
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Sorry to hear of the passing of Phil Upchurch, guitarist and composer for Michael Jackson and Curtis Mayfield. We’ll have more on his life next week.
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COMBO Member, Winning Songwriter Christopher Ryan Drops Video for his song “Swing For The Fences.” The video was created with Denver animator Jessie Rodriguez and is a hand made stop motion animation created with paper cut outs. https://youtu.be/1nl800v46hA
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Performance High has announced their Spring Classes Schedule for Jan-Apr 2026. We’ll have more next week but, in the meantime, you can check their schedule(s) out at:
Free events at https://performancehigh.opus1.io/w/free-events. RSVP required!
Fee classes at https://performancehigh.opus1.io/w/classes.
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Concert tour notes: Chicago and Styx are going on tour together for the first time! Shaw and the rest of the band will have ample opportunity to hear their fellow Midwestern-bred music legends when Styx joins Chicago for a 25-date summer co-headlining tour. The tour of amphitheaters and arenas kicks off July 13 in West Palm Beach, Florida, travels to cities including Denver. . .https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/chicago-and-styx-are-going-on-tour-together-for-the-first-time-exclusive-details/ar-AA1RuE72?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=692dbf1e635e48e8ae2da06e3ec096f6&ei=95
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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 former COMBO VP Andy Ard!)
Please “Like” us on Facebook! Helps our “standing” in the web world!
http://www.Facebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization
CALENDAR
TALENT NEEDED:
Durango Songwriters Extended deadline: https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
Innervision FM Launches Viral Video Song & Comedy Contest to Raise $1,000 for Blind/Disabled Media Training Programs | https://www.InnervisionRecords.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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The Denver Chapter of NSAI meets the second Monday of every month — either virtually or in person — at 7:00 p.m. MT. For more information, please go to https://nashvillesongwriters.com or email lauren@laurenbrombert.com or lawdanj@gmail.com.
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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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December 2025
TONIGHT! Th, 4th – 9:00 p.m. – SSM/SKM Nashville Recording artist Hugh Phillips at The Alibi, Telluride, CO | https://coloradocountry.com/
Fr, 5th – 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Dinner/Dance Show at El Gran Jardin, 595 South Clinton Street, Denver (Windsor Gardens) featuring Ann Penny, Greta Smith, and the Ladies of Country Music
Fr, 5th – 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. – String Kitchen Music/Hugh Phillips at The Blu Pig, Moab, UT https://coloradocountry.com/
Sa, 6th – 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. – Laurie D with the fabulous Jeff Fournier on bass at BonacQuisti Wine Company, 4640 North Pecos Street, Unit 1, Denver, CO | One of my all time favorite venues. Great wine, delicious tapas and jazz, blues, Bossa Nova and some jazzy holiday tunes!
Sa, 6th – 2:00 p.m. – Celebration of Greg Carr’s Life at Swallow Hill Music, 70 East Yale, Denver (East Yale and Broadway)
Sa, 6th – Doors: 4:00, Show: 5:00 – Big Signal album release party with Chella & the Charm and Gartener at the Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer Street, Denver | Tickets: MUST READ —
https://larimerlounge.com/event/big-signal-w-chella-the-charm-gartener/larimer-lounge/denver-colorado/
Sa, 6th – 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. – Hugh Phillips at Wild Horse Saloon, Durango, CO
https://coloradocountry.com/
Su, 7th – Doors 1:00 p.m., Show at 2:00 – Colorado Blues Society’s Road to Memphis Send-off Party at the Buffalo Rose, 1116 Washington Street, Golden, CO | Fund-raiser for Mark “Mad Dog” Friedman (solo; COMBO member, too!), Reckless and Blue (band), and Shack (Best Self-produced CD) | Members: $15; Non-members: $25; and Youth Under 18 – Free.
Su, 7th – 3:00 p.m. – Denver Mandolin Orchestra at Wheat Ridge Center for Music and Arts, 7530 West 38th Avenue, Wheat Ridge, CO (Wheat Ridge United Methodist Church)
We-Th, 10th & 11th – Colorado Music Hall of Fame inducts Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats live during the band’s 20th Anniversary Holiday Show & 10th Anniversary Album Release Concert at Mission Ballroom https://cmhof.org/events/nathaniel-rateliff-and-night-sweats-induction-2/
Th, 11th – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. – CCMHOF’s White Fence Farm Christmas Party & Grand Jam Reunion at the American Legion Hall, 1655 Simms Street, Lakewood.
Fr, 12th – 2:30 p.m. – Hugh Phillips at Snowmass Mall, Snowmass Village, CO
https://coloradocountry.com/
Fr, 12th – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at the Lakewood Elks, 1455 Newland Street, Lakewood, CO | $10 cover
Sa, 13th – 5:30 p.m. – COMBO’s Holiday Dinner at the Downtown Aquarium – RSVP Required to president@coloradomusic.org | Dinner is individual
We, 17th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora
Th, 18th – Doors 6:30, show 7:30 – Cass Clayton Band with Christmas of Soul at the Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl Street, Suite V3A, Boulder, CO |Tickets available at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cass-clayton-band-a-christmas-of-soul-tickets-1968264765899?
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Fr, 19th – Doors 6:30, Show 7:30 – Santa’s Guitar Show featuring Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts with Brian Hornbuckle and Dear Marsha at the Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 South Pikes Peak Drive, Parker, CO 80138 | Ages: 21 & under with parent or guardian
Sa, 20th – 7:00 p.m. – Chris Daniels & The Kings with friends Freddi Gowdy, Hazel Miller, Kenny Passarelli, Clay Kirkland, Robert Johnson, Mark Oblinger, Linda Lawson, Jake Opie Schroeder, Harry Tuft, and so many more at SWALLOW HILL, 90 East Yale, Denver, CO (just east of Broadway on Yale) Ya’ll come on over … gonna be a “ wham bam at the ashram!”
Su, 21st – 7:00 p.m. – Jinx Jones & The Poudre Valley Playboys at the Oriental Theatre, 44th & Tennyson, Denver | Tickets at:
https://theorientaltheater.holdmyticket.com/tickets/452752?_ga=2.88247071.562974166.1760909433-2022403640.1760909433