In recent conversations with our Board Member/Resident Sound Engineer Clark Hagan, we started discussing “Home Recording vs. Studio”. We both agreed that “home recordings” are valuable – as “teaching tools” so that when you do go into a studio, you have a better idea of what they are talking about. Also why you need to bring that singer’s vocals up! Another reason to use a professional studio is, quite frankly, sound quality. I was reminded of a dancer on So You Think You Can Dance who wanted to use a friend’s nicely-recorded song. However, when the song was played “over the radio (and tv) sound system”, WOW, could you hear the snaps, crackles, pops and glitches! So the sound crew said the dancer could use the song but only if it was recorded in a professional quality. They did a demo on a news show years later and it was amazing to hear the difference in the sound between the original recording and the “ready for tv/radio” recording. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jar_of_Hearts
“Listening to” a CBS Saturday morning show when the feature was on how important [structural] engineers are to Broadway shows and concerts. That never occurred to me! What has this got to do with music? Look at how Beyonce and Katy Perry almost took spills from their major flying machines in their recent concerts. Which made me think of the outlandish engineering involved in Tommy Lee’s drum rides in Motley Crue’s concerts! So if any of you musicians out there also have an engineering degree, here’s another day-job area you might want to take a look at!
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues will keep you looking out for the superstar cameos. It’s rumored that Sirs Elton John and Paul McCartney will offer some laughs! Can’t wait!
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A reminder: Band Camp Friday is TOMORROW, August 1st. Musicians on there get 100% of the money if you upload one of their songs. Some of COMBO’s members that need your help are Laurie Dameron, Marty Jones, Lisa Selle, Mad Dog Friedman, and Joy Iwancio. Go to https://www.bandcamp.com and search for their names. Support your local musicians!
Reminder: If you have a show you want promoted or listed in the Calendar, please make sure to send it to us by Tuesday evening to give us time to set it up in our word program. If you can send “copy” in a simple e-mail to info@coloradomusic.org that would be very helpful (NOT as an attachment). Posters or photos need to be in a jpg format to copy over. Thanks!
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
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CALENDAR
TALENT NEEDED:
TOMORROW! Durango Songwriters Expo Early Bird Registration until August 1st! Save money! Go here for more information: https://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com
Friday, August 15th – Deadline to enter Colorado Blues Society’s International Blues Challenge contest.
Go here to enter the contest; you must be a member to enter: https://www.coblues.org
Thursday, August 21st – Deadline to enter the Texas Troubadour Songwriter Classic | Read more at https://BosqueArtsCenter.org
Monday, August 25th – Deadline to enter the 2025 American Songwriter Road Ready Talent Contest
Go here to sign up: https://bit.ly/41f1JHv
Thursday, November 20th – Deadline to enter the Howard Rosen Talent Contest
E-mail contests@howiewood.com for more info.
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SUMMER CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED: We won’t list all of their shows here but here are their websites if you want to go (copy & paste the URLs):
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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August 2025
Fr, 1st – 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. – Young Heart Dance Band at El Gran Jardin Restaurant, Windsor Gardens
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 – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – The Mad Dog Blues Trio at Azul Fuego, 1006 Pine Street, Louisville 80027 Look for us on the outdoor patio! | What a great combination: Mexican food and RM Roots 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
Su, 3rd – 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Beau Jo’s Pizza, 7525 West 53rd Avenue, Arvada 80002
https://www.facebook.com/share/1C2Xknc4Ka/
We. 6th – 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. – Laurie D. at Carbondale Farmer’s Market, Carbondale, CO
https://www.facebook.com/share/15NjLRkCPc/
We, 6th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., 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.
Tu, 12th – 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. – Laurie D. at Arbol Paonia Market, 41679 “O” Road, Paonia, CO 81428
https://www.facebook.com/share/1EtDm4uskm/
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
Th, 14th – Noon to 1:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at Picnic on the Plaza, 311 South Public Road, Lafayette 80026 | https://www.facebook.com/share/1BkBMNVPXD/
Fr, 15th – 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. (Special price time slot) – Rudy Grant’s Birthday & Food Bash Party, Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 11090 East Mississippi, Aurora, CO | Live Music with Peggy Malone, Karen Osboun, Rocky Hoery, and the Windsor Ladies of Country Music!
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
Su, 17th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at The Old Mine, 500 Briggs Street, Erie, CO 80516
The Old Mine has homemade hard ciders, great appetizers, sandwiches, tacos, salads and pizza! Also Cider Donuts! The duo will be playing folk, blues and jazz originals and covers!
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BoaLar41C/
We, 20th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Laurie D. at Ironwood Bar & Grill, Flatirons Golf Course, 5706 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80303
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
Fr, 22nd – 4:30 p.m. – Laurie & Lorrie at 6th Annual Edwards Art Battle, 280 Main Street, Unit C-10, Edwards, CO 81632 | A fun and fabulous event where artists compete for best art work!
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/
We, 17th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora
Fr, 19th – 7:00 p.m. – Rachel Alena Band at Oskar Blues, Longmont | https://www.rachelalenamusic.com/
Su, 21st – (no time listed) – Colorado Blues Society’s International Blues Challenge at Nissi’s, Lafayette Deadline to enter is August 15th | https://www.coblues.org
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