The weather was so perfect for our Schmoozer at Illegal Pete’s on Colfax & Race last Monday. We grabbed another customer and had him take a photo of most of us! We had a really nice time just talking COMBO and music and what each of us does in regard to the music business: Singers, songwriters, publishers, management, booking, DJ, lawyers, musicians, sound engineers, and more!
.
Besides Pride Month, June also sees the remembrance of “Juneteenth” (June 19th) when Black slaves in Galveston, Texas were notified that slavery had ended, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Of course, some slave owners didn’t let their slaves know so it took months to free them. The date has now been established as a Federal Holiday since 2021 but really, please, remember why you get the day off from work.
.
Our sincerest condolences to the family of Chad Aman. We received notice that he passed but we were not able to find more information except on Facebook. Look under Notable Deaths to read more.
.
Former Denver resident singer/songwriter/musician Julie Geller (Setting the Stage) continues to write about her (mis)adventures in Israel. Unfortunately, they’ve been spending a lot of time in their bomb shelter, along with their neighbors. They sing so the time goes by until its safe for them to leave. We’re wishing them the best and pray that these conflicts will end soon.
Our Songwriting Contest has ended and we’re waiting for the judges to settle on their top songs. We’ll get those out to you soon as well as the winner of the entry into the Durango Songwriters Expo!
Thinking about Brian Wilson and Sly Stone passing away last week – Can you imagine if they get together “up there” and the new style of music they’ll make? What a thought!
.
Is the Fyre Festival back on?? No, Fyre Festival 2 is not back on. It has been officially canceled by Fyre Festival’s founder, Billy McFarland. McFarland has put the Fyre brand up for sale, effectively ending plans for the event. The festival was previously postponed multiple times and faced significant challenges regarding its location and credibility.
.
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!)
Please “Like” us on Facebook! Helps our “standing” in the web world!
http://www.Facebook.com/ColoradoMusicBusinessOrganization
.
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 Summer Concerts: https://visitcastlerock.org/events
City Park Jazz: https://www.cityparkjazz.org
Denver Arts Complex events: https://www.artscomplex.com
Downtown Denver Artist on the Rise Concerts:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/schedule-released-for-free-downtown-denver-concert-series-artist-on-the-rise/
First Friday Jazz Hop in Five Points: https://www.milehighfestivals.com
Film on the Rocks: https://www.axs.com/events
Five Points Jazz Fest: https://www.artsandvenuesdenver.com
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
Underground Music Showcases: July 25-27: https://www.undergroundmusicshowcases.com
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
# # # # #
Denver’s NSAI Chapter: 2nd Monday of the month. Contact Lauren Brombert for details on the next meeting – LIVE this month! https://www.facebook.com/groups/denvernsai/ | 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!
# # # # #
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!
# # # # #
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
# # # # #
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.
# # # # #
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
# # # # #
Western Colorado Songwriter Alliance Facebook Group – Grand Junction area: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122384432992979/
# # # # #
June 2025
Th, 19th – 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Joe Willy’s on Broadway, 1310 South Broadway Denver, CO 80210 | We are excited to kick off new Thursday Ladies Night at Joe Willy’s on Broadway! Your corner bar with a clean, urban vibe and a new twist on your American bar favorites! | https://www.facebook.com/share/1AcT4r7SEK/
Fr, 20th – 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at the Aurora Eagles
Sa, 21st – 2:00 p.m. – Michelle Castillo’s EP Release Party! At the Goosetown Station, 514 9th Street, Golden, CO | Featuring all the incredible artists on the album! (See Events)
Sa, 21st – 5:15 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at The Highlands Live Music Fest, 32nd Street, from Irving to Perry, Denver | Free Family Fest!
Sa, 21st – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Beau Jo’s Pizza, 7525 West 53rd Avenue, Arvada, CO 80002 | https://www.facebook.com/share/16HcP53h8T/
Sa, 21st – 8:00 p.m. – Raven Chacon & Friends at The Tank, Rangely, Colorado (See Events)
Fr, 27th – Su, 29th – Various Times – Blues from the Top Music Festival at Rendezvous Event Center (78821 US Hwy 40, Winter Park, CO 80482) in downtown Winter Park | Check out their great lineup! —tickets on sale at https://www.bluesfromthetop.org
Fr, 27th – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at the Lakewood Elks Club | $10
Sa, 28th – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. – Laurie D. at the Lavender Festival, Maison La Belle Vie, 3575 “G” Road, Palisade, CO 81526
Su, 29th – 9:00 a.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Highlands Square Market, West 32nd Ave & Lowell Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
Su, 29th – 5:00 p.m. – Celebrity Sidekick finale at the Platte
Su, 29th – 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main St., Gold Hill 80302 (Gold Hill is up Sunshine Canyon or 4 Mile Canyon, in the mountains above Boulder) https://www.facebook.com/share/1CSriruSw2/
Mo, 30th – 6:30 – ‘Hazelpalooza’ with Hazel Miller & the Collective, Josh Blackburn, Chris Daniels, Jack Hadley, and Alice & Dave of Soda Blue at the Arvada Elks Lodge, 5700 Yukon St., Arvada. Hazel’s birthday party is raising money for Inner City Health!
July 2025
Fr, 4th – 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at Thornton Fest, Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Avenue & Colorado Blvd., Thornton (Northglenn).
Fr, 4th – 10:00 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band (double-duty today!) at The Woodcellar, 1552 Bergen Parkway, Evergreen, CO | Post fireworks show! Free Show. Family Friendly.
Fr, 5th – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Downtown Denver Artist on the Rise Concert, Dairy Block Alley, 16th Street | Artist Wrenn Van | Free; Seating first-come, first served or RSVP (above)
Su, 6th – 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at Cherry Creeks Arts Festival, 2 Steele Street, Denver, CO | Come and plan on checking out all the art work at the fest, too.
Fr, 11th – 6:30 p.m. – Cass Clayton Band at Arts Night Out, Festival Place, 311 South Public Road, Lafayette, CO. With Lit Society + special guest Datrian Johnson
Fr, 11th – 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at the Aurora Eagles
Sa, 12th – All day! Black Arts Festival: The Adam Hawley Unstoppable 2025 Tour is bringing him to the festival Saturday, July 12 at 7 p.m. in Denver City Park!! Grab your lawn chairs, blankets, family, and friends and come enjoy this free concert in the park with us! Denver, let’s show Adam a great time!
Check out https://www.adamhawley.com/ to learn more!
We, 16th – 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at Rendezvous Restaurant’s patio
Fr, 18th – 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. – Revenant at Sovereign Bar, 5425 Landmark Place, Unit 101, Greenwood Villiage | We’re a Veteran & Woman Owned Bar & Our Specialty is Music & Dancing on our 500 Square Foot Dance floor | Hosted by COMBO member Steve Pavey
Sa, 19th – 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at Windsor Gardens Aud | $10
August 2025
Fr, 2nd – 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 (above)
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.
* * * * *
TALENT NEEDED:
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!
Photo: The gang at the COMBO Schmoozer on June 16, 2025!