Snowdown sampler, Lion Vibes and festivaria

by Chris Aaland

Ye Olde Snowdown has arrived. This is the week that nothing gets done. Pick a business, and you’re sure to see lots of bloodshot eyes, five o’clock shadows and employees giving undivided attention to their radios in hopes of hearing clues in the search for the Silver Bullet.

Believe me, Durango, we need a week of unadulterated stupidity. At last Saturday’s Steep Canyon Rangers show, the rift between dancers and sit-down listeners widened. Class warfare at a bluegrass show? Maybe the sight of college-aged kids getting high on bluegrass was too much for older traditionalists to handle. It kind of reminded me of “Footloose” – only in this 2008 Durango version, Kevin Bacon wears Carhartts and a Western dress shirt.

Ire also reared its ugly head earlier in the week while I drove to work on snow-packed roads. I witnessed countless pickup truck drivers who decided that, safety be damned, they were going to invent their own passing lanes. The gestures that some of these folks were giving slower drivers led to the obvious conclusion that these weren’t the happiest serfs in the shire.

So hoist your chalices, my wenches and knaves, and toast fun. Brochures with a complete schedule and list of activities are available everywhere. With more than 60 official events, there’s something for everyone: broomball, chicken wing eating contests, drag fashion shows, snow softball and beer. Lots of beer.

Here’s a tip for newcomers: Friday provides a great Snowdown sampler. Work through lunch so you can leave your job early to sample good eats, ales and wines at the Winter Taste of Durango from 4 - 6 p.m. at the Main Mall. At 6 p.m. sharp, the single Snowdown Firework touches off the Light Parade. After it’s over, you can catch the Follies (if you were lucky enough to obtain a ticket) or get a seat at a bar.

While most of the live music venues shut down during Snowdown, the Summit rose to the occasion to book a diverse group of acts. Thursday finds Warsaw at the Summit at 9 p.m. They’ve been here quite a bit lately, but Warsaw’s energetic, ska-based sound is the life of the party. Why not enlist them to perform during the biggest party of the year?

On Friday, Aftergrass will play a free set at the Summit at 7 p.m. following the Light Parade and another show with a minimal cover charge at 9 p.m. Aftergrass’ self-titled CD was released earlier this month and is getting a significant amount of spin on KDUR, thanks in no small part to their mixture of psychedelic rock, hip hop, bluegrass and funk.

Lion Vibes bring their “raffafunk” – a blend of reggae, dub, dancehall, world beat, blues and funk – to the Summit at 9 p.m. on Saturday. The mental image that I’m getting of a nine-piece ensemble with full horn section and dancehall MC stuffed onto the tiny Summit stage is enough to get me through the door.

The acclaimed Andreas Kapsalis Trio performs at 9 p.m. on Wednesday at the Summit. Kapsalis is a virtuoso jazz guitarist who has received high praise from Dave Brubeck, among others.

The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet performs at the Community Concert Hall for the first time in four years on Wednesday night. The troupe boasts a dozen young dancers whose collective energy and passionate enthusiasm infuse a mixed repertoire with warmth, humor and athletic abandon.

All of these activities – Snowdown or not – remind us that fun can be found in this fiefdom on a daily basis.

While you’re still enjoying the best winter celebration around, it’s not too early to start thinking about warmer days and the upcoming festival season – especially since most offer early bird discounts. Here are Top Shelf’s 10 favorite spring and summer music festivals, all within a day’s drive:

Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, April 11-13, various locations in downtown Durango, www.durangomeltdown.com. This year’s national headliners are the Jim Lauderdale Bluegrass Band, Infamous Stringdusters, Chris Stuart & Backcountry, and Hurricane Creek; regional acts include Sweet Sunny South, Spring Creek Bluegrass Band and the Bluegrass Patriots, among others.

Telluride Jazz Celebration, June 5-8, Telluride Town Park, www.telluridejazz.org. A new weekend for Telluride Jazz, and a lineup that features the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Bettye LaVette and more.

Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass, June 6-8, Reservoir Hill, www.folkwest.com. FolkWest replaced Indiefest with this traditional bluegrass and folk event. The lineup features the Waybacks, Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton, Cadillac Sky, Martha Scanlan, the Biscuit Burners and more.

Silverton Jamboree, June 13-15, Kendall Mountain Recreation Area, www.silvertonjamboree.com. Highlights include the Motet, Robert Bradley, Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, Papa Grows Funk and others. Jugglers, kids’ events, late night juke joints and Sunday, Bloody Sunday featuring bloody Marys made with Goat Vodka are also part of the festival.

North Fork Valley Bluegrass Festival, June 13-15, Hotchkiss, www.northfolkbluegrass.com. Acts include the Kruger Brothers, Halden Wofford & the Hi Beams, Carrie Hassler & Hard Rain, Hickory Project, Kane, Welch & Kaplin, and a set by Durango’s own Rock & Rye.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival, June 19-22, Telluride Town Park, www.bluegrass.com. The usual favorites — Sam Bush, Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas, Bèla Fleck, Peter Rowan, John Cowan and the Yonder Mountain String Band — are joined by Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby, the Punch Brothers and dozens of others.

Rockygrass, July 25-27, Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, www.bluegrass.com. Most of the regulars return, augmented by J.D. Crowe & the New South, Psychograss, Chatham County Line, and more.

Folks Fest, Aug. 15-17, Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, www.bluegrass.com. Greg Brown, Todd Snider, a Tim O’Brien solo set, and the Waifs are all on the bill.

Four Corners Folk Festival, Aug. 29-31, Reservoir Hill, Pagosa Springs, www.folkwest.com. The lineup includes Earl Scruggs, Infamous Stringdusters, Crooked Still, the Greencards and more.

Telluride Blues & Brews, Sept. 12-14, Telluride Town Park, www.tellurideblues.com. The 2008 lineup is still TBA, but more than 50 microbreweries will be on hand for the Saturday tasting! •

Does the snow drive back the foot that’s slow? E-mail me at chrisa@gobrainstorm .net.