It’s time to kick off your shoes and do some dancing, Colorado. The Greeley Blues Jam runs Friday, June 8 through Saturday, June 9, 2012, and is an all-ages festival celebrating blues music and the folks who love it. The event is brought to you by the City of Greeley and the Greeley Chamber of Commerce, and every year the lineup entices blues lovers from across the state to converge on Island Grove.
Island Grove Regional Park is the perfect location for this event, with trees dating back to 1869 and gorgeous lawns, this multi-use events complex is located on 145 acres in northeast Greeley on the banks of the Poudre River. My friend Karen calls the 45,000 square feet of fresh sod that is laid down for Greeley Blues Jam, “the best dance floor in the world.”
The party gets started in downtown Greeley on Friday, June 8 with music beginning at 3 p.m. Friday Fest is the official kick off and features the Johnny O Band at 9th Street Plaza. This is a FREE event running from 5 to 8 pm. More FREE music from 8 to midnight is scheduled at various venues around Greeley, including The Clarion Hotel Greeley, Kress Cinema Lounge , Dutch’s, Sky Night Club, Rio Grande Mexican , The Jager , The Penalty Box, Patrick’s Irish Pub, Roasty’s, and Batter Up Cakes.
The ticketed portion of the event gets underway on Saturday, June 9. The Greeley Blues Jam always presents top-blues acts and this year is no exception with two stages and 11 hours of non-stop music by national and regional artists.
The Main Stage lineup includes Jimmie Vaughan & the Tilt-a-whirl Band, Lou Anne Barton, The SoulRebels, Otis Taylor Band, Kelly Hunt and Eddie Turner.
This is a family-friendly event that includes a Blues 101 Stage on June 9, where kids of all ages can learn about blues music and meet some of the most talented young blues performers in the country. The Blues 101 Stage lineup includes Rex Peoples, Al Chessis and harmonica lessons, the All Star Youth Jam hosted by Bad Brad & the Fat Cats, and Dan Treanor with a history lesson on slide guitars and harmonica lessons.
Whether you are a lifelong lover of the blues, or just getting to know this musical style, the Greeley Blues Jam is the place to be and now here is your chance to win FOUR tickets to this event.
When I ran this contest in 2011, I asked you to share your best live music memory and there were some wonderful responses. This year, I am asking that you tell me your favorite concert of all time. This past winter I saw Paul Simon at the Broomfield Events Center, and I think that might be one of my favorites – probably tied with Sting at The Gorge in Washington State in the late nineties.
Leave your comment below and the winner of FOUR tickets to the Greeley Blues Jam will be chosen using Random.org on Monday, May 28 at 3 p.m.
To learn more about the Greeley Blues Jam visit them online at GreeleyBluesJam.com. General admission tickets are $25 prior to June 9, and $30 at the door on June 9.
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My fave concert was Pearl Jam, 1995, Southpark Meadows in Austin. The Ramones opened. It was greatness.
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Back in the Day, back in My Day, the 1980’s, I went to concerts that featured the likes of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Def Leppard & Motley Crue. The volume was ear-splitting. The music was a manic-paced Metal. Man o’ Man. Hair-bands and mullets. And dodging a few bullets.
To survive these Heavy Metal escapades, it paid to make like a quack, and DUCK! or you were bound to take a punch by some rabid crazy drunken fan. Good Times for a guy in his teens / early 20’s. Bad times if you have any common sense.
Now @ 42 yrs old, I’m practically mature and all growed up. (it’s a process) My definition of a Good Time, my definition of a Great Concert, has changed significantly. No longer interested in the UFC/MMA style of concert going experience, to me the ideal concert is the Greeley Blues Jam. Pick One? Impossible! Every year has been outstanding. Even when it rained, the concerts were good when moved in doors. Each and every year the talent on stage Sings to the Soul and puts a Smile on your face. Yes sir, These days I prefer music that bridges a Mind-Body connection, compared to the old days when I preferred a mint-vodka concoction.
Everything about the Greeley Blues Jam is Music-Fan Friendly. The Facility is Fantastic. The horse-shoe shaped arena ensures that every person has a good seat for sight and sound. The green grass on the arena floor is cool and comfy. While jamming to Blues that brighten your day, a person can enjoy any one of many different cold beers offered at concessions. If you are not a “Blues & Brews” type of person like me, the experience is every bit as good for folks who prefer the non-alcoholic drinks too.
Every person in attendence is there to have a good time. Every person there is a music lover. Every musician featured is talented and puts on a great show.
And now I’m supposed to pick my ONE favorite all time concert? One!? Over the years of the Greeley Blues Jam I’ve seen the likes of Buddy Guy, Delta Sonic Blues Band, Walter Trout, Sonny Landreth, Robert Randolph, the North Mississippi All Stars and so much more. And I’m supposed to choose One!? No sirreee, my One Choice of favorite concert is:
the Greeley Blues Jam.
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I would have to say the Frank Zappa band at the Turn Of The Century in Denver in 1984. Frank’s band had the classic lineup that night:
Zappa guitar, vocals
Chad Wackerman drums
Robert Martin keyboards, tenor saxophone, French horn, vocals
Scott Thunes bass
Ray White guitar, vocals
Ike Willis guitar, vocals
Allan Zavod keyboards
Napoleon Murphy Brock tenor saxophone, vocals
The Turn Of The Century was an old dinner club that featured big band music. The ticket stub has “1 drink minimum” printed on it and I still have the ticket. The eighties were hard on technically proficient bands so Frank was booking wherever he could. Chad Wackerman was just a kid at the time but the dude could play drums like no other! Ike Willis was hysterical and the whole band was amazing. I remember Frank coming out on stage wearing a sequined kitchen mitt (i.e. the Michael Jackson one glove thing).
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You’ve won the four tickets to Blues Jam!!! I’ve sent you an email. Thanks for entering and have a GREAT time at the Jam!
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Well im not old so my back in the day is right now and my favorite concert was kottonmouth kings—FIRE IT UP!
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Most amazing concert for me was Roger Waters The Wall last year. I’ve been a fan since my teens and never imagined I get to see a show like that. The building of the Wall throughout the show and the end of tearing down the Wall was amazing. Only concert that has brought me tears. For something that was written in a different time and era to still have so much relevance today. BEST SHOW EVER!!!
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The Friday night downtown event may take advantage of the new festival law that allows beer to be taken in and out of bars ala New Orleans and Las Vegas. Downtown Greeley has been working to become the first venue in the state to take advantage of this new legislation.
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Tha goes into effect June 1, so it will be good to go that night.
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Ok this is hard, because I went to the first 6 years of Bonnaroo… but if I’m honest, it was seeing a secret moe. show at The Aggie in Fort Collins. I’ve been a moe. fan for years, and have seen them dozens of times in different parts of the country. It was during the slow part of the afternoon when a coworker of mine suddenly burst into my office with an awesome mesage: moe. was playing a secret show at the Aggie under the pseudonym “Monkeys On Ecstasy.” Despite only being announced hours before the doors opened, the Aggie was packed. It was hands down the best moe. show I’ve ever seen. They didn’t way a word during the show. They just rocked out every crazy, face-melting song that any true moe. fan would love to see. It was truly a night to remember!
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Roger waters would definitely be the best but I didn’t go to that. I did however go see Creed and at the time thought that was an awesome concert. Any outside concert is awesome. Fresh air and good music
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Favorite concert? Hmmm…apparently either I haven’t been to many or they weren’t that memorable because I’m drawing a blank. Maybe THIS could be my favorite!
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1972, I went to see Chuck Berry open for Jerry Lee Lewis @ University of Maryland Cole Field House. When we got there, there was an opening act..some kid from Jersey! SPRINGSTEEN, who I had never heard. I became an instant fan….after Berry and Lewis played, Bruce and Chuck Berry jammed for 1/2 on stage. Greatness! I called off work the next morning to go by Greetings from Asbury Park! Phenomenal show….
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Truthfully, I can’t pick one best concert of all time because I have seen many fabulous events. But I can single out Stevie Ray Vaughn as the most amazing single performance I have ever seen. His appearance at Red Rocks (mid-80’s?) was truly breathtaking and electric. His talent was so palpable and inspiring! Never seen anyone play like that before or since.
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my favorite concert was my very first one. the rolling stones first american tour. it was in a venue in cleveland that held 10k, but they could only get 3k people there. after all, they were the “rolling uglies”……..bad boys. got tickets for free from a local supermarket. they were trying to fill the place up. imagine not being able to fill a place like that, with the stones, for free! it was a GREAT show!
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Never been and looks like fun! Look forward to winning and showin all on facebook what great thing you did!
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I took lots of teens to lots of concerts when my daughter was in high school. I believe my favorite was David Bowie’s Glass Spider Tour in Denver! Peter Frampton, Toni Basil, Duran Duran . . . it was a fun night! We stayed all night on the street to get tickets in the 13th row. Lots of fun!
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From my youth….Procol Harum and Jethro Tull w/Mad Dogs at Mammoth Gardens in Denver. (Now the Fillmore)
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Grateful Dead at the Fillmore in SF. Summer of Love. Pretty amazing experience!
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Styx at the Chicago Theatre a long long time ago. Only could afford the nose bleed section!
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Pearl Jam, with Bad Religion opening, in Casper, WY, in the mid-90s (1996?) as one of the first dates for that summer’s tour.
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Thank you to everyone who entered this contest.
The winner is STEVEN MORRIS and he has been contacted via email.
I enjoyed reading all your concert stories! Wow, some of you had some pretty good ones!
Please remember that you can purchase your tickets at http://www.GreeleyBluesJam.com and kids under 12 are FREE!!!
Prices:
$25 general admission (before June 9th)
$30 at the door (June 9th)
$50 preferred seating (You get a tented area with table & chairs)
Note: I used Random.org to choose HeidiTown winners.
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Steven Morris won!? The Legendary guitar aficianado Steven Morris, who’s band ‘the Mixers’, jams up and down the front range!? Some guys have all the Luck
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Well Brian, I don’t know about all that! But according to Random.org a guy named Steven Morris has won. I did love your response tho’ – the JAM is lucky to have fans like you!!!
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Too bad the contest is over!