Festival frenzy, Day Wrecker and Belcher’s best

by Chris Aaland

Festival season kicks off in earnest this weekend, with no fewer than five music and river-sport fiestas across the region. Seriously, somebody should coordinate these. If you’d like to attend all five, you probably need a private plane or a helicopter. The good news, though: Your banjo can double as an oar.

The biggest is Pagosa Folk’n Bluegrass, which takes place Friday through Sunday on Reservoir Hill. This is probably my favorite camping festival of them all. It’s not nearly as crowded as FolkWest’s sister event, the Four Corners Folk Festival, meaning seats under the tent, grassy real estate for tarps and festival chairs and camp sites are readily available. The lineup is stellar, with bluegrass royalty Claire Lynch and Peter Rowan headlining Saturday and Sunday nights, respectively. John Jorgenson is a top-flight guitarist whose work spans jazz, bluegrass, folk, country and rock and who has recorded and toured with the likes of Elton John, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Luciano Pavarotti. The Deadly Gentlemen are up-and-comers in the mold of Nickel Creek and Mumford & Sons whose individual members played in such outfits as the David Grisman Quintet, Crooked Still and Bruce Springsteen’s Seeger Sessions band. Deeper on the bill are such local favorites as Finnders & Youngberg, the Railsplitters, Cahalen Morrison & Eli West and the Jon Stickley Trio — groups that have played Durango countless times at past Meltdowns and in various other venues.

If you can’t make it over to Pee Town, tune in to KSUT (89.3 and 90.1 FM in La Plata County) at noon Saturday to hear a live stream of sets by the Railsplitters and MilkDrive. The Stickley Trio will also appear live in KSUT’s studios at 11 a.m. Friday.

Closer to home, Animas River Days runs tonight (Thurs., June 5) through Sunday. Santa Rita’s Whitewater Park host events all day long Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s party slate includes the river parade from the 33rd Street put-in at 5:30 p.m.; an afterparty featuring the Great Funktier at 7:30 at Ska Brewing; and a late night party with DJ Soul Atomic at El Rancho at 10:30. Durango Massive presents Elder Grown and Deer People at 9 p.m. Friday. Tonight’s movie night in the Smiley Building appeals to boaters and nonpaddlers alike, with films celebrating local wild rivers. Doors open at 5:30 with food and beverages from Zia Taqueria, Zuberfizz and Ska available for purchase.

Saturday marks the Dolores River Festival at Joe Rowell Park in Dolores. The music ranges from funk (Rowdy Shadehouse) to Hopi reggae (Casper & the Mighty 602 Band) to jazz and African pop (Paa Kow) to new acoustic (Jaden Carlson Band). Tickets are cheap ($15) and camping cheaper (a soggy sawbuck) and it’s fun for the entire family, including Fido … a festival rarity. Events include free raft rides from 11 a.m. ‘til 3 p.m., a river dog contest, costumed river parade, kayak demos, kids’ activities and more.

Following the festival, head down to the Dolores River Brewery for the rootsy rock of the Moetones. Originally, Wayne “The Train” Hancock was supposed to headline this show, but a horrific motorcycle accident left Hancock with a collapsed lung and a fractured elbow. Hancock is still hospitalized more than a month later.

Folkies can head south for the Albuquerque Folk Festival, which presents such luminaries as Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Tim O’Brien & Darrell Scott and rising acts like the Birds of Chicago, Canote Brothers and the Porter Draw on four stages at the Albuquerque Balloon Museum on Saturday.

And, finally, the Sedona Bluegrass Festival in Sedona, Ariz., brings Darol Anger, Peter Rowan, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, Ben Sollee and others to the Los Abrigados Resort & Spa creekside on Saturday and Sunday.

With a nod to Durango’s budding marijuana culture, Steamworks rolls the potent Day Wrecker at 3 p.m. this Firkin Friday. Director of Brewing Operations Ken Martin calls it a “very powerful rendition of our bourbon barrel-aged 50/50 imperial IPA” – with equal parts Conductor and Elephant Rider imperial IPAs. In other words, it smells like well-used bongwater and probably hits twice as hard as a good pull. That’s the kind of sugar papa likes!

This week’s Top Shelf list is provided by Sky Pilot (and countless other bands through the years) bassist and KSUT DJ Jim Belcher, one of the most versatile guys in the local music scene. Belcher hosts KSUT’s “Strange Brew” (8-9 p.m. Saturdays) and two weekly music blend shifts (1-4 p.m. Wednesdays and 9 a.m. -noon Fridays). Here are the 10 albums that make him tick, in no particular order:

1. Yes, “Tales from Topographic Oceans,” 1973. A double album on vinyl. Four songs! One on each side!! Prog rock hog heaven!!! Choose your substance and strap on the headphones.
2. Tears for Fears, “Elemental,” 1993. Basically a Roland Orzabal solo album, as Curt Smith had split by this time. Great songs, lush production and “Goodnight Song” can still bring tears to my eyes.
3. Thomas Dolby, “Aliens Ate My Buick,” 1988. Listen to the epic “Budapest by Blimp” to realize that Dolby is the real deal. Another standout, the George Clinton-penned “Hot Sauce” for some British whiteboy funk!
4. Phish, “A Live One,” 1995. My introduction to the magic that can happen at a Phish show.
5. Rush, “2112,” 1976. Blew my little mind away back in the day! And Geddy Lee’s bass playing led to many hours of woodshedding.
6. Led Zeppelin, “Presence,” 1976. Their most overlooked/underrated offering.  Every song kills, from the proto-prog of “Achilles Last Stand” to the slow blues, “Tea for One.”
7. Pink Floyd, “Animals,” 1977. A high point in David Gilmour’s playing and arranging. Listen to the multiple guitars in “Dogs.” Every note works.
8. U2, “The Joshua Tree,” 1987. Their benchmark and with good reason. The first five songs still do it for me after all these years.
9. Queen, “A Night at the Opera,” 1975. Their secret weapon was bassist John Deacon, who wrote some of their biggest hits. Check out his crucial lines.
10. Eagles, “One of These Nights,” 1975. Henley and Frey may be gold-plated a-holes, but the classic lineup was on fire on this one. Every song a well-crafted gem, with the exception of Bernie Leadon’s treacly “I Wish You Peace.”

The mighty arms of Atlas? Email me at chrisa@gobrainstorm.net.