Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday

Ongoing Upcoming


Brian Ess returns to the Abbey

Jeff Strahan Band heading to Memphis

Submit items for On the Town to: 534 Main Ave., Durango, CO, 81301; fax: ( 970) 259-0448; e-mail: telegraph@durangotelegraph.com ; or fill out this form

Thursday29

The Jeff Strahan Band brings its blues and rock to Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort starting at 3 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

The Patio Restaurant, 475 Wolverine Dr., presents Open Mic Night in Bayfield from 7-9 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6: 30 p.m. 946-8765 for details.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents College Night, including mechanical bull riding, at 8 p.m. 375-2568 for details.

The Jeff Strahan Band plays rock and blues at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Durango Joe’s, 732 E. College, presents Open Mic

Night from 8:30-11 p.m. Sign-ups for music and poetry begin at 8:30 p.m. 375-2121 for details.

A guest DJ spins retro and funk for ’80s Night at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

DJ Tim House spins music for Pint Night at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Friday30

Civitas plays Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort beginning at 3 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

Singer songwriter Doug Phillips plays at the Berliner in Oxford at 6 p.m. 884-2098 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts Blue Friday with mellow music from Santa Fe’s BLU 102.9 and beginning with a keg giveaway at 6 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

The 8th Ave Trio plays old-school rock at the 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., at 7 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

A guest DJ spins a contemporary club mix at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

Saturday31

New Year’s Eve

Civitas returns to Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort for the New Year’s festivities at 3 p.m. The annual Torchlight Parade which will be followed by fireworks begins at dusk. 247-9000 for details.

Die Alten Kameraden plays traditional German music for New Year’s Eve at the Berliner in Oxford beginning at 6 p.m. 884-2098 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays New Year’s at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

The Wayword Sons, featuring Benny Galloway and former members of Broke Mountain and Umphree’s McGee, and The Colorado Playboys, featuring

members of Hit and Run Bluegrass, Broke Mountain and the String Dusters, ring in the New Year at the Diamond Circle Theatre, 699 Main Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. 375-7260 for details.

Ralph Dinosaur returns to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., to ring in the New Year at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

The 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., hosts a karaoke/dress up party for New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

Aftergrass plays its mountain boogie and Dialogue performs its hip hop for New Year’s Eve at The Pride Of The West in Silverton beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The Hot Strings bring their high-energy newgrass to the Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave.., for New Year’s Eve at 9 p.m. 259-2545 for details.

The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., hosts an Invitation Only New Year’s Bash beginning at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

The Freemens Social Club, Gina Go Faster and The Virginia Sisters bring punk and hardcore to the Olde Schoolhouse in Needles at 9 p.m. 259-2257 for details.

The Badly Bent performs its high energy, traditional bluegrass for New Year’s at the Hamilton Chop House at Tamarron from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. 259-2000 for details.

Nashville’s John Bennett plays rock, blues and jazz and The Shoes play classic rock at the Explorer’s Club: Southwest in Silverton from 9 p.m.-close. 387-5006 for details.

Denver-based Kinetix plays high energy rock, pop and funk for New Year’s at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

DJs  Abell, Bigfoot Bridges, D. Jade, Spark Madden, Lobbi Lob and special guests spin in the New Year at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., beginning at 9:30 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Stellar Interlock plays New Year’s Eve at Hoody’s Base Camp at Durango Mountain Resort beginning at 10 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Sunday1

New Year’s Day

Steve and Amy Vanbuskirk play folk and rock from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort. 247-9000 for details. 4

Thursday29

The Jeff Strahan Band brings its blues and rock to Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort starting at 3 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

The Patio Restaurant, 475 Wolverine Dr., presents Open Mic Night in Bayfield from 7-9 p.m. Sign-ups begin at 6: 30 p.m. 946-8765 for details.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., presents College Night, including mechanical bull riding, at 8 p.m. 375-2568 for details.

The Jeff Strahan Band plays rock and blues at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

Durango Joe’s, 732 E. College, presents Open Mic Night from 8: 30-11 p.m. Sign-ups for music and poetry begin at 8:30 p.m. 375-2121 for details.

A guest DJ spins retro and funk for ’80s Night at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

DJ Tim House spins music for Pint Night at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., at 10 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Friday30

Civitas plays Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort beginning at 3 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

Singer songwriter Doug Phillips plays at the Berliner in Oxford at 6 p.m. 884-2098 for details.

Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., hosts Blue Friday with mellow music from Santa Fe’s BLU 102.9 and beginning with a keg giveaway at 6 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

The 8th Ave Trio plays old-school rock at the 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., at 7 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

A guest DJ spins a contemporary club mix at the Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

Saturday31

New Year’s Eve

Civitas returns to Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort for the New Year’s festivities at 3 p.m. The annual Torchlight Parade which will be followed by fireworks begins at dusk. 247-9000 for details.

Die Alten Kameraden plays traditional German music for New Year’s Eve at the Berliner in Oxford beginning at 6 p.m. 884-2098 for details.

Singer songwriter Greg Ryder plays New Year’s at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

The Wayword Sons, featuring Benny Galloway and former members of Broke Mountain and Umphree’s McGee, and The Colorado Playboys, featuring members of Hit and Run Bluegrass, Broke Mountain and the String Dusters, ring in the New Year at the Diamond Circle Theatre, 699 Main Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. 375-7260 for details.

Ralph Dinosaur returns to Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., to ring in the New Year at 8 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

The 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., hosts a karaoke/dress up party for New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

Aftergrass plays its mountain boogie and Dialogue performs its hip hop for New Year’s Eve at The Pride Of The West in Silverton beginning at 8:30 p.m.

The Hot Strings bring their high-energy newgrass to the Carver Brewing Co., 1022 Main Ave.., for New Year’s Eve at 9 p.m. 259-2545 for details.

The Lost Dog, 1150 Main Ave., hosts an Invitation Only New Year’s Bash beginning at 9 p.m. 259-0430 for details.

The Freemens Social Club, Gina Go Faster and The Virginia Sisters bring punk and hardcore to the Olde Schoolhouse in Needles at 9 p.m. 259-2257 for details.

The Badly Bent performs its high energy, traditional bluegrass for New Year’s at the Hamilton Chop House at Tamarron from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. 259-2000 for details.

Nashville’s John Bennett plays rock, blues and jazz and The Shoes play classic rock at the Explorer’s Club: Southwest in Silverton from 9 p.m.-close. 387-5006 for details.

Denver-based Kinetix plays high energy rock, pop and funk for New Year’s at the Summit, 600 Main Ave., at 9:30 p.m. 247-2324 for details.

DJs  Abell, Bigfoot Bridges, D. Jade, Spark Madden, Lobbi Lob and special guests spin in the New Year at Steamworks, 801 E. Second Ave., beginning at 9:30 p.m. 259-9200 for details.

Stellar Interlock plays New Year’s Eve at Hoody’s Base Camp at Durango Mountain Resort beginning at 10 p.m. 247-9000 for details.

Sunday1

New Year’s Day

Steve and Amy Vanbuskirk play folk and rock from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Purgy’s at Durango Mountain Resort. 247-9000 for details. 4

A free presentation on managing the emotional demands of everyday life and expanding personal growth takes place from 1-3 p.m. in the Smiley Building’s Wild Sage Studio, 1309 E. Third Ave.

Pongas hosts free pool after 6 p.m. at 121 W. 8th St. 382-8554 for details.

The Blue Moon Ramblers play free bluegrass at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 7 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

The 8th Ave. Tavern, 509 E. 8th Ave., hosts a Karaoke Party at 8 p.m. 259-8801 for details.

Monday2

Anders Beck of Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band fame plays a free show at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

Pongas, 121 E. Eighth St., hosts a 9-ball pool tournament at 7 p.m. 382-8554 for details.

J.Bo’s, 1301 Florida Rd., hosts Gentlemen’s Night featuring music and dancing from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. 259-0010 for details.

Tuesday3

Wichita plays a free show of acoustic music at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave., at 5:30 p.m. 375-7150 for details.

Jeff Sweet performs at the Sidecar Jazz Lounge at Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave., at 6 p.m. 259-1400 for details.

A grassroots project to interview residents about the future of Durango and La Plata County hosts training for interviewers. The training takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Durango Recreation Center, 2700 Main Ave. and interviews will be conducted in Jan. Surveys are also available on-line at www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp ?u=94351611068. 247-1181 for details.

The Summit, 600 Main Ave., presents open mic night from 7 p.m.-midnight. 247-2324 for details.

Tuesday Trivia takes place at Lady Falconburgh’s, 640 Main Ave., at 8 p.m. 382-9664.

Wednesday4

Lions Den Unlimited Soundz, featuring DJs  Zen Ken and I-Gene, spins roots reggae at  J. Bo’s on Tap, 1301 Florida Rd., at 4:20 p.m. 259-0010 for details.

Chess champion Halvard Hagesaether returns to Three Rivers Brewing in Farmington at 5 p.m. Hagesaether will play up to 20 players simultaneously and there will be doors prizes. 505-325-6605 for details.

Greg Ryder performs on acoustic guitar at 5:30 p.m. at the Diamond Belle Saloon, 699 Main Ave. 375-7150 for details.

The Wild Horse Saloon, 601 E. Second Ave., offers a music mix for Ladies Night beginning at 8 p.m. 375-2568 for details.

Joel’s, 119 W. 8th St., hosts “Underground Lounge” with DJ Claytanik spinning music for Ladies Night. 385-0430 for details.

Ongoing

The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College, continues to screen “The Squid and the Whale” The film earned the 2005 Best Dramatic Directing Award as well as the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and follows a family splintered by divorce. Anchored by an uncompromising performance by Jeff Daniels as the family patriarch, “The Squid and the Whale” also stars Laura Linney, Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline. “The Squid and the Whale” shows most nights at 4:30, 6:30 & 8:30 p.m. 385-1711 for details.

The Children’s Museum, 802 E. Second Ave., hosts the dinosaur exhibit, “Now You’re in Their World.” There will be many hands-on activities, fine motor and gross motor fun, “Dinosaur Ridge” and extinction dioramas. Workshops are available anytime during museum hours and include dinosaur stuffed animals, dinosaur face masks and alphabet coloring dinosaurs. 259-9234 for details.

The REACH (Resource, Enrichment, & Academic Choices) Program for independent learners in Bayfield offers enrichment classes to any K-12 students in the area. For the month of December, REACH classes include: Drumming & Rhythm, Group Guitar, Papier Mache Ornament Creations and Local History of the Pine River Valley. 884-3259 for details.

Upcoming

The 2006 Southwest Business Forum takes place on Jan. 5 at Fort Lewis College. The event is the 14th annual Focus on Our Future: Business & Economics.

The Albuquerque folk band Hands Five plays the Jan. 7 Contra Dance and a Jan. 6 show at the Rocky Mountain Retreat.

KDUR presents its Elvis Cover Night on Jan. 7, the King’s birthday, at the Abbey Theatre.

Music Together of La Plata County’s Winter Session (The Bells Collection) begins Jan. 9 and runs through March 16. 799-0960 for details.

The Hot Strings will play progressive bluegrass at the Fort Lewis College Concert Hall on Jan. 13.

The “Introduction to ZERI” workshop will show innovative ways to convert waste into value on Jan. 14. oakhavenpc.org for details.

Oakhaven Permaculture Center and the Fort Lewis College Environmental Center will co-host an “Introduction to Cheese Making” workshop on Jan. 14.

The 13th annual Trails 2000 Dinner & Auction Fund-raiser is on Jan. 17 at Olde Tymer’s. n

Dr. David Schlim, who recently co-authored Medicine & Compassion with a Tibetan monk named Chokyi Nyima Rimpoche, will speak Jan. 19 at the Animas Surgical Hospital.

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Brian Ess returns to the Abbey
What: A New Year’s Eve installment of Ess’ new effort, PLUG
Where: The Abbey Theatre, 128 E. College
When: Saturday, Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. 

DJ Brian Ess is returning to the Abbey Theatre this Saturday for New Year’s Eve. Charged with support from Penumbra, Ess will spin in the New Year with a new project dubbed, “PLUG”

Ess is synonymous with DOWN, the Abbey’s former monthly club night. With the event, Ess transformed the Abbey into a club and shared the big city fix with many a local. However, DOWN went the way of the dodo in May. But now Ess, along with Penumbra’s Alex Oliszewski and Stacy Sotosky, is back with a new effort — PLUG.

Ess explained the source of the name, saying, “You know, like, plug in, and see what you can make memories of.” The theme of Saturday’s New Year’s party is “live on, no evil” and wiping the 2005 slate clean and doing better in the new year. In line with that theme, the PLUG team plans to surround the Abbey Theatre in white light, and the video, lights, dancers, DJs and audience will all come together to make the visual as well as audio spectacle. All attendees are encouraged to wear white, and the PLUG crew will be playing light tricks off of the audience.

The first installment of PLUG kicks off this Sat., Dec. 31 at 10 p.m. DJ Niko will open the evening with music and then Ess and Penumbra will take the Abbey into 2006. For more information, call 385-1711.

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Jeff Strahan Band heading to Memphis
What: A fund-raiser to get the local band to the International Blues Challenge
Where: Scoot ‘n Blues, 900 Main Ave.
When: Friday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. 

A familiar name in the local music scene is looking for a little help en route to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. The Jeff Strahan Band will perform a fund-raiser this Friday at Scoot ‘n Blues in an effort to raise funds to get to the Memphis stage.

Strahan started performing Texas-flavored blues at the age of 12, had a band by the age of 20 and released an acclaimed album at 23. Then, he quit the road, went to college and earned a law degree. However, in the year 2000, he went back to his roots bringing his rock and blues into venues throughout the Four Corners area.

Strahan recently released a new CD, “Along for the Ride,” and he and his band have been tapped to take the stage in the International Blues Challenge in late January. As it enters its 22nd year, the IBC has evolved into the nation’s biggest and most respected showcase for blues musicians ready to take their act to the national stage. The IBC is a judged “Battle of the Bands” in which competitors take the stage and play a short set for a panel of judges.

This Friday, Durangoans have an opportunity to prime the New Year’s pump and help the Jeff Strahan Band get on the road to Memphis. The fund-raiser gets under way at 8 p.m. Call 259-1400 for details.

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In this week's issue...

January 25, 2024
Bagging it

State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies

January 26, 2024
Paper chase

The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.

January 11, 2024
High and dry

New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows