Howdy folks!
Our fifth-annual Cletusfest is right around the corner, and we are more than excited to have the best line-up of bands, sponsors and vendors in the history of “Denver’s Finest Hillbilly Party”. Not to mention our incredible venue, the Four Mile Historic Park. Check out the links to fully appreciate the scope of this titanic music event!12-1: The Lazy String Gang (we don’t need no stinkin’ website)
Our host band gets off their couches to once again “crack open” Cletusfest 5, providing us with enegetic renditions of traditional bluegrass tunes, plus a few suprises. Be sure to make it on time to catch our old friends!
1-2p: The Marty Jones Trio (www.martyjones.net)
Cletus Productions is thrilled to have a true Colorado legend gracing our stage this year. Marty Jones has been rockin’ & drinkin’ across Colorado since he first put together Marty Jones & the Pork Boilin’ Poor Boys in 1997. Due to “(a) vocal cord ulcer mess and three months of bronchitis”, Marty’s been sittin’ himself on the shelf for quite a while, but is finally back up to form, has put together a combo of quality musicians, and is ready to bring back his “blend of early country, hillbilly bop and backporch rock (turned) into a beer-soaked, hybrid wonder”.
2-3p: Acoustic Ranch Party (www.myspace.com/acousticranchparty)
These kids are hot! Coming out of the Boulder/Lyons bluegrass scene, Cletus Productions had them play a couple of tweeners last year at Cletus 4, lined them up for our Bluegrass on Broadway event this spring, and had no choice but to put them on the main stage this year. Sarah “voice of an angel” Gurganus fronts the band, accompanied by the sick pickin’ of her brother, Josh Langford on mandolin, banjoist Pierce Gresham, and the always whiskified Jeff Kaz on bass. Another must see.
3-4p: The Blue Canyon Boys (www.bluecanyonboys.com)
Once again, these serious picker’s have been kind enough to agree to play our humble festival. This is the fourth year in a row they’ve performed at Cletusfest, bringing their unique style of bluegrass infused with hints of jazz, rock, and blues. Truly a treat.
4-5p: Peter Wernick & Flexigrass (www.drbanjo.com)
“Pete Wernick & Flexigrass is a supercharged blend of bluegrass with classic jazz...the group blazes new trails every time they play, as young vibes master Greg Harris and hot clarinetist Bill Pontarelli trade licks with renowned banjoist Wernick, and the band's tight arrangements provide many surprises. Joan Wernick adds appealing vocals, ranging from soulful bluegrass to stylish jazz.” What more can be said? Cletus Productions is truly honored to have Dr. Banjo headlining our event.
5-6p: Hunker Down (www.hunkerdownbluegrass.com)
If you want to talk about one of the true up-and-comer’s in the high-country bluegrass scene, let’s talk about Hunker Down. These boys play a raucous mix of traditional tunes, born-again covers, and their own originals that “lift spirits and leave bodies sore from dancing”. Based out of Winter Park, CO, they blew us away with their tweener set last year, and we had to show them off for y’all this year on the main stage.
6-6:30: Burntgrass (www.burntgrass.com)
Coming all the way out from the fertile fields of Southwestern Ohio, Burntgrass brings it’s brand of disreligious bluegrass to the high-country for the second straight year. Their unique brand of old-school pickin’ and obnoxious lyrics will surely entertain . But you might want to cover your children’s ears.
6:30-7:30: The Stanleytones (www.stanleytonesbluegrass.com)
"A tantalizing offering--bluegrass that adheres to established values, but still seethes with creativeness. The music of the Stanleytones certainly has sterling credentials."-Bluegrass Unlimited.
We’re thrilled to have the Stanleytones back in this year’s line-up after a year hiatus. With well-crafted melodies and fine-tuned playin’, this band enforces our bluegrass beginnings.
7:30-8:30 Buckskin Stallion (www.buckskinstallionmusic.org)
Wait ‘til you catch these cats! Lead by Troy Schoenfelder, who claims: “We play our own brand of roots rock. It's part salt of the earth, part fire in the belly, and one hundred percent rousing-ruralism.” Buckskin Stallion is posted in the gates and ready for the race. Their honkytonk-amplified, old-time influenced music is sure to get you on your feet, with the aggresive slide-steel of John Macy, Todd Moore on drums, Brian Schey smiling always as he thumps his bass guitar, Dave Shapiro taking on the lead guitar & singing vocals, not to forget Troy. An accomplished singer/songwriter, Troy glues these artists together with his integrity, prowess on the acoustic, and an aura that feeds the crowd.
8:30-9:30p: Whitewater Ramble (www.whitewaterramble.com)
This quintet from Ft. Collns, CO, is making it’s Cleutsfest debut, but we’re not a bit worried. One of the hardest working bands in Colorado, WWR is playing over 100+ shows this year, including the Fox, Cervantes, the Aggie, and Mishawaka, plus a slew of festivals. Their “high-octane jamgrass is deeply rooted in bluegrass, funk, jazz, swing, techno, rock, reggae, country and blues while exploring the musical boundaries and fusion of these genres”. Seems like quite a combination, but these boys pull it off like no other.
9:30-10p The Cletusfest All-Stars To close our show, we’re inviting every picker’ left standing to get on stage and show what they got. Should be a heck of a ride!
