Meltdown celebrates 15 years
Kicking off spring with three days of bluegrass

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown celebrates its 15th 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 17-19, the Meltdown returns to Durango and will fill the Henry Strater Theatre, Durango Arts Center and 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 Fri., April 17. Dozens of performances will follow through the weekend to the festival-closer on the evening of Sun., April 19. In addition to shows in small venues, the Meltdown presents the Celtic Jam, the ever-popular Super Jam and Gospel Shows on Sunday morning along with a variety of workshops throughout the weekend.

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:

Friday 17:

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown launches with a free bluegrass roots show from Sourmash and Waiting on Trial at 5 p.m. at the D&SNG Railroad Museum.

The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band, IBMA emerging artist of the year, plays a 6 p.m. show at the Durango Arts Center and at 9 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice, a top traditional bluegrass band, plays the Henry Strater Theatre at

Dehlia Low plays a 7 p.m. show at the Durango Arts Center. The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band goes on at 8 p.m.

Saturday18

Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band play at 10 a.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre and at 1 p.m. at the Abbey Theatre.

The Colorado College Bluegrass Ensemble plays the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m.

The Kenny and Amanda Smith Band plays the Henry Strater Theatre at 11 a.m. and the Abbey Theatre at 5 p.m.

Junior Sisk and Rambler’s Choice plays the Abbey Theatre at 11 a.m. and the Henry Strater Theatre at 5 p.m.

Sawmill Road, a national act that mixes bluegrass styles, plays the Durango Arts Center at 11 a.m. and the Abbey Theater at 4 p.m.

Dehlia Low plays a noon show at the Henry Strater Theatre and play the Abbey Theatre at 5 p.m.

The Silver Mountain String Band plays the Abbey Theatre at noon.

The Badly Bent, local bluegrass favorites, play at noon at the Durango Arts Center.

The Coal Porters play the alt-country-grass at the Durango Arts Center at 1 p.m.

Sourmash brings their local bluegrass to the Henry Strater Theatre at 1 p.m.

Waiting on Trial plays Durango bluegrass at the Abbey Theatre at 2 p.m.

Steve Smith and Hard Road go on stage at 2 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre and at the Durango Arts

Durango’s Blue Moon Ramblers play the Durango Arts Center at 2 p.m.

The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band plays the Abbey Theatre at 3 p.m.

The Knockabouts go on stage at the Durango Arts Center at 3 p.m.

Finders and Youngberg perform at 3 p.m. at . at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Wild Mountains plays at the Durango Arts Center at 4 p.m.

Rock ‘n Rye, a local group, performs at the Henry Strater Theatre at 4 p.m.

Celtdown takes the stage at the Durango Arts Center starting at 7 p.m.

Superjam begins at 7 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre

An Old Time Barn Dance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Elk’s Club.

Celtic Jam plays the Irish Embassy beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday19

Steve Smith and Hard Road play gospel the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m. and a 3 p.m. show at the Henry Strater Theatre.

The Burnett Family Bluegrass Band brings gospel to the Henry Strater Theatre at 10 a.m.

Down the Road plays gospel at the Durango Arts Center at 11 a.m. and a 1 p.m. show at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Wild Mountain plays at the Henry Strater Theatre at 11 a.m.

The Bar-D Wrangers bring gospel to the Durango Arts Center at noon and a 2 p.m. show at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Finders and Youngberg play at noon at the Henry Strater Theatre and 2 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center.

Sawmill plays the Durango Arts Center at 1 p.m. and again at 4 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Chance McCoy and the Appalachian String Band go on at the Durango Arts Center at 3 p.m.

The Coal Porters close out the festival at the Durango Arts Center at 4 p.m. •