Meltdown celebrates 13 years
Kicking off spring with three days of bluegrass

John Reischmann & the Jaybirds

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown celebrates its 13th year this weekend. Since 1994, the festival has quietly attained a reputation as a small and well organized festival and become a favorite for many performers. This weekend, April 13-15, the Meltdown returns to Durango and will fill the Diamond Circle Theatre, the Durango Arts Center and the Abbey Theatre with local, regional and national talent.

The festival opens with a free concert in the Durango & Silverton Railroad Museum on the afternoon of Friday, April 13, and dozens of performances follow through the festival-closer on the evening of Sunday, April 15. In addition to shows in small venues, the Meltdown presents a Band Showcase, a Band Scramble, a Celtic Jam and the ever-popular Super Jam. There will also be a Gospel Show on Sunday morning along with a variety of workshops throughout the weekend, and an acoustic instrument show and sale.

Many of Durango’s restaurants and bars will also present bluegrass concerts and look for impromptu jams to spring up in coffee shops, restaurants, street corners and all around town.

The Meltdown schedule follows:

Friday13

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown launches with a free bluegrass roots show from the Lonesome Traveler Bluegrass Band at 5 p.m. at the D&SNG Railroad Museum

The Stairwell Sisters bring their energetic sound from San Francisco to the Diamond Circle Theatre at 7 p.m. and the Durango Arts Center at 9 p.m.

Lou Reid and Carolina, a top national act, plays a 7 p.m. show at the Durango Arts Center and at 9 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre.

The Bluegrass Patriots, one of the longest-running acts in bluegrass, returns to the Diamond Circle Theatre at 8 p.m.

The Badly Bent, local winners of the 2005 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition, perform at 8 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

The Foxfire Bluegrass Band, a young, progressive band from New Mexico, returns to play the Durango Arts Center at 7 p.m.

Saturday14

Cold Creek plays their high energy mix of tradi

tional and modern bluegrass at 10 a.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre and later at 1 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center

The Outta Hand String Band, formed during a jam session at the Four Corners Folk Festival, plays the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m..

Lou Reid and Carolina play an 11 a.m. show at the Diamond Circle Theatre and play the Abbey Theatre at 5 p.m.

The Stairwell Sisters play at 11 a.m. at the Durango Arts Center and at 2 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

Deep Blue Creek kicks off their fifth year at the Bluegrass Meltdown at 11 a.m. at the Abbey Theatre

Rock ‘n’ Rye brings their local bluegrass to the Durango Arts Center at noon

Down the Road, a seasoned local bluegrass quartet, plays the Diamond Circle Theatre at noon

John Reischmann and the Jaybirds belt out their bluesy and ballad-like bluegrass at the Abbey Theatre at noon and the Diamond Circle Theatre at 5 p.m.

Hurricane Creek, bluegrass straight out of Alabama, goes on stage at 1 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre and at the Durango Arts Center at 5 p.m.

Credibility Gap plays bluegrass “the way it should be” at 1 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre and 3 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

Rick Ranger and the Swamp Things play at 1 p.m. at the Elks Club

The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band, an up-and-coming family affair from Northern Arizona, plays at 2 p.m. at the Arts Center and at 4 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

The  Stairwell Sisters

The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band, an up-and-coming family affair from Northern Arizona, plays at 2 p.m. at the Arts Center and at 4 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

The Cronin Valley Crooks bring their youthful, original sound to the Abbey Theatre at 2 p.m.

Tom Klema Family and Friends play at the Elk’s Club at 2 p.m.

The Abbey Rogues will perform their Celtic blue

grass medley at 3 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center

Galloping Gooses, neighbors from Montezuma County, play at 3 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre

Carut Roma Gypsy Wagon lives up to its name at 3 p.m. at the Elk’s Club

The Lonesome Traveler Bluegrass Band plays at the Durango Art’s Center at 4 p.m.

Tim Sullivan and Narrow Gauge, a highly decorated local group, comes to the Abbey Theatre at 4 p.m.

Celtdown and Celtic Jam take the stage at the Diamond Circle Theatre starting at 7 p.m.

Superjam begins at 7 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center

An Old Time Barn Dance with the Stairwell Sisters starts at 7 p.m. at the Elk’s Club

Sunday15

Down the Road plays gospel the Durango Arts Center at 11 a.m.

The Foxfire Bluegrass Band brings gospel to the Diamond Circle Theatre at 11 a.m.

The Lonesome Traveler Bluegrass Band plays at the Diamond Circle Theatre at 10 a.m.

The Howard Cattle Company brings gospel to the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m.

John Reischmann and The Jaybirds play at noon. at the Diamond Circle Theatre and 4 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center

Credibility Gap plays gospel at the Durango Arts Center at noon.

The Blue Moon Ramblers play the Diamond Circle Theatre at 1 p.m.

Hurricane Creek plays the Durango Arts Center at 1 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. at the Diamond Circle Theatre

The Badly Bent gets warped at the Durango Arts Center at 2 p.m.

The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band plays at the Diamond Circle Theatre at 2 p.m.

Rock ’n’ Rye returns to the Diamond Circle Theatre at 3 p.m.

Cold Creek heats things up and closes out the festival at the Durango Arts Center at 3 p.m. •

Hurricane Creek