This is Denver Arts Week! Do something artsy to support your local artists. Like go out to support a local band or two. Go on the First Friday Art Walk on Santa Fe. Attend a ballet or an opera. How about a Broadway show? You don’t even have to go to Broadway. Or how about the First Friday Jazz Hop in Five Points? The Chamber Music Society of Greater Denver concert? Rocky Mountain Brassworks? Country Music Dinner Show and Dance by long-time Denver favorite Rudy Grant and the Buffalo Riders? Or the Ladies of Country Music at the Wild Goose Saloon? Lots to do to support your favorite “art”. Do it! Information listed in the Calendar below.
- I posted a request on Facebook asking for clubs in the Denver area that booked original bands.
Our member and friend Sam Golgoon reminded us of his Indie Music Alliance. You can find a complete up-to-date list of all Colorado venues and much more at https://indiemusicalliance.net
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Chris K responded with information on his directory. He’s also puts a lot of time and effort into it. Check it out at https://coloradoplaylist.com/concert-calendar-2022/live-music-venues/
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I went to see Man on the Run, a documentary about Paul McCartney after he left the Beatles and eventually formed “Wings”. Awesome movie. Don’t miss it when it comes out officially. The showing at the MCA Holiday Theatre was part of the Denver Film Festival.
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Fifty years ago Bohemian Rhapsody was released by Queen. For fifty years we’ve been singing along to that non-sensical song. And we still launch into it when it comes on the radio! What a gift to us! Bless Freddie Mercury. Bless Queen. Bless Brian May and Roger Taylor. Bless all those who produced it so well. (And bless Adam Lambert who took over the reins of singing it in live concert performances).
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“You can’t silence the truth just because it’s inconvenient,” [Steven] Colbert said.
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Who is this? School wasn’t just hard—it was humiliating. She had undiagnosed dyslexia and dyscalculia. Letters scrambled. Numbers made no sense. Teachers labeled her slow. Classmates mocked her openly. But here’s the paradox: while she couldn’t read a paragraph, she could hear a song once and memorize every word instantly. Her brain worked differently. Not broken. Different.
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Congratulations to “Kelsey of Denver” who won $103,000 on Name that Tune! She completed almost a perfect game, missing only 3 answers (passing on 2 songs). Kelsey said she sang in a band but no more info was given on her. We are so glad for her accomplishment! If you know who she is, please let us know so we can give her proper plaudits!
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Also congratulations to COMBO Member Nevan Castaneda who has been invited to headline David Lee’s Clambake Getaway on Mother’s Day Weekend, May 10th -12th , 2026. Nevan, a Denver resident, is an award-winning Elvis Impersonator. We’ll have more on this event later.
I was reading an article on Sonny & Cher. Do you know that Sonny really ripped Cher off? He wrote their contracts so that she was an “employee” of Sonny’s and that he could pay her whatever he wanted. They were not “partners” so no 50/50 split. It finally dawned on her that she was getting a mere pittance from their shows. Read your contracts carefully. If you think you can’t do it, hire an entertainment attorney. The money Cher lost on just one show probably would have paid for her own attorney. If you can find a copy, buy the out-of-print book “Money For Nothing” – it’s full of stories about artists whose managers totally ripped them off.
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Barb (don’t you love the Third Party mention?) is thinking about running a Management Class for Artists via Zoom. Would you be interested? Cost would be about $30 and would include a membership to COMBO. Let her know at info@coloradomusic.org All new and renewing memberships would be eligible for the class.
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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.
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CALENDAR
TALENT NEEDED:
Deadline to enter the Howard Rosen Talent Contest is Thursday, November 20th!
E-mail contests@howiewood.com for more info.
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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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November 2025
Fr, 7th – Bandcamp Friday Tomorrow – Full Royalties for Musicians Like Lisa Selle, Mad Dog Friedman, Laurie Dameron, Joy Iwancio & Marty Jones
Sa, 8th – 1:00 p.m. – Sing Me a Song of Your People, Chamber Music Society of Greater Denver, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3990 West 74th Avenue, Westminster, CO | Tickets at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sing-me-a-song-of-your-people-bethany-tickets-922661775207
Sa, 8th – 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. – Rocky Mountain Brassworks at the Lakewood Cultural Center | Tickets here https://lakewood.showare.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=992
An inspiring evening of patriotic music honoring the courage and sacrifice of our veterans. Featuring classics such as the Armed Forces Medley, Hail to the Spirit of Liberty, Battle Cry of Freedom and Summon the Heroes. This concert celebrates the spirit of service and remembrance.
Sa, 8th – 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. – Country Music Dinner Show and Dance – Rudy Grant and the Buffalo Riders at Heroes Pizzeria, 16070 East Dartmouth Ave., Aurora
Su, 9th – 2:00 p.m. – Ladies of Country Music at the Wild Goose Saloon, 11160 South Pikes Peak Drive, Parker, CO | $10 | Hosted by DeeJ and Meghan Clarisse Cave for CCMHOF
We, 12th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora
Sa, 15th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – COMBO’s Songwriters Showcase featuring the TOP 20 of our recent Songwriting Contest plus at Dub’s Pub, South Broadway, Littleton! Free! All ages!
Sa, 15th – 7:30 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 South Allison Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80226 (in the middle of the shopping center)
Su, 23rd – 4:00 p.m. – Sage Singers in concert at First Universalist Church, 401 East Hampden Ave., Denver | Children: $10; Adults: $20 | Tickets at https://www.sagesingers.org
Mo, 24th – “Speed Dating for Bands” at Dog House Studios in Lafayette – More details later
December 2025
Tu, 2nd – 6:30 p.m. – Chamber Music Society of Greater Denver at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Littleton 80130 |
Sa, 13th – 5:30 p.m. – COMBO’s Holiday Dinner at the Downtown Aquarium – RSVP Required: send your “I’m In” to president@coloradomusic.org
We, 17th – 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. – Nevan Castaneda as Elvis at Waldo’s Chicken, 24153 East Prospect Ave., Aurora