Meltdown celebrates 16 years
Kicking off spring with three days of bluegrass

Chris Jones and The Night Drivers

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown celebrates its 16th 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 16-18, the Meltdown returns to Durango and will fill the Henry Strater Theatre, the Durango Arts Center and the Wildhorse Saloon with local, regional and national talent.

The festival opens with a free concert in the Durango & Silverton Railroad Museum on the afternoon of April 16, and dozens of performances follow through the festival-closer on the evening of April 18. In addition to shows in intimate venues, the Meltdown presents a 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 all around town. The Meltdown schedule follows:

Friday, April 16:

The Durango Bluegrass Meltdown launches with a free bluegrass roots show from Wild Mountain and the Blue Canyon Boys at 5 p.m. at the D&SNG Railroad Museum

Chris Jones and The Night Drivers, play a 6 p.m. show at the Durango Arts Center and again at 9 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Audie Blaylock plays the Henry Strater Theatre at 7 p.m. and the Durango Arts Center at 9 p.m.

Waiting on Trial plays a 7 p.m. show at the Durango Arts Center.

Antero Junction goes on at 8 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center.

Saturday, April 17

Blue Canyon Boys play at 10 a.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre and 4 p.m. at the Wildhorse Saloon.

Finders and Youngberg play the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m. and the Wildhorse Saloon at 3 p.m.

Chris Jones & The Night Drivers play the Henry Strater Theatre at 11 a.m. and the Durango Arts Center at 5 p.m.

The San Juan String Band plays the Durango Arts Center at 11 a.m.

Whistle Stop goes on at the Wildhorse Saloon at 11 a.m.

Under the Radar plays a noon show at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Wild Mountain takes the Wildhorse Saloon stage at noon.

Jack Ten High plays at noon at the Durango Arts Center.

The Scrugglers go on at the Durango Arts Center at 1 p.m.

Bar-D Wranglers bring their popular show to the Henry Strater Theatre at 1 p.m.

Audie Blaylock and Redline plays at the Wildhorse Saloon at 1 p.m. and the Henry Strater Theatre at 5 p.m.

The Duke City Swampcoolers go on stage at 2 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Gold Heart

The Duke City Swampcoolers go on stage at 2 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Durango’s Badly Bent plays the Durango Arts Center, 2 p.m

Town Mountain goes on stage at the Durango Arts Center at 3 p.m. and at the Wildhorse Saloon at 5 p.m.

The Blue Moon Ramblers perform at 3 p.m. at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Gold Heart plays at the Durango Arts Center at 4 p.m.

Riley Baugus and the Stuart Brothers perform at the Henry Strater Theatre at 4 p.m.

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

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

An Old Time Barn Dance with Riley Baugus’ group starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Durango Elk’s Club.

A Celtic Jam Session starts at Irish Embassy beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 18

The Duke City Swampcoolers play gospel the Durango Arts Center at 10 a.m. and a 3 p.m. show at the Henry Strater Theatre.

The Colorado College Bluegrass Ensemble plays at the Henry Strater Theatre at 10 a.m.

The Blue Canyon Boys bring gospel to the Durango Arts Center at 11 a.m.

Riley Baugus and the Stuart Brothers play at the Henry Strater Theatre at 11 a.m. and at the Durango Arts Center at 3 p.m.

The Bar-D Wrangers play a gospel set at the Durango Arts Center at noon.

Waiting on Trial plays at noon at the Henry Strater Theatre.

Antero Junction plays the Durango Arts Center at 1 p.m.

Finders and Youngberg goes on at the Henry Strater Theatre at 1 p.m.

Town Mountain plays at the Henry Strater Theatre at 2 p.m. and at the Durango Arts Center at 4 p.m.

Gold Heart plays at the Durango Arts Center at 2 p.m. and at the Henry Strater Theatre at 4 p.m. •

Town Mountain