Kate Graves

“Kate Graves writes little songs.. Sometimes they are sparse…sometimes filled with lots of little words.  Often they are written about things like tasting sweet orange  on your lips and wanting to kiss someone so that they might experience tasting sweet orange on their lips.

Kate Graves likes kissing. And singing.  She hopes you will listen in and sing along.”

Kate joins us in the studio with Colorado’s own Jami Lunde & Jamie Mitchell.

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Elyse Miller

“Colorado songwriter Elyse Miller has performed at numerous music festivals alongside world class artists such as nine-time Grammy Award winner, Asleep at the Wheel. She has made multiple appearances on radio and television stations like KRFC, KCSU, Fox 31, and Channel 2 News. A seasoned entertainer, with over 15 years of stage experience, Elyse Miller has built a diverse performing career in theatre, music, and dance. Her unorthodox songwriting exhibits a hint of musical theatre and a variety of influences from Etta James to John Mayer. Her voice has been described as “soulful, rich, warm,” “beautifully haunting,” and “like butter.” With “whip-smart lyrics” and “a playful sense of humor,” Elyse Miller is powerfully provocative, mischievous, and irreverent, as she candidly questions society’s norms and challenges her audience to find their own answers. Unconstrained by traditional song-form, her striking melodies stay with you well past the last listen.”

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WhiteWater Ramble is:  Patrick Sites – Mandolin/Vocals,  Patrick Latella – Acoustic Guitar/Vocals, Howard Montgomery – Upright Bass/Vocals, Zubulon Bowles – Fiddle/Vocals, Paul Kemp – Drums

“Described as High-Octane Rocky Mountain DanceGrass, Whitewater Ramble (WWR) uses a simple recipe to craft its sound: start with bluegrass instrumentation, add drums, and finish with a boundary-less approach to grassing-up everything from disco house grooves to roots to Americana.

The Colorado-bred quintet combines the elements of mandolin, fiddle, acoustic guitar, upright bass, drums and vocals to explore the musical boundaries of multiple genres and to fuel their own mixture of original music and innovative cover song interpretations. Whether playing an intimate encore, acoustic and unplugged in the crowd, or surfing on top of the upright bass, Whitewater Ramble delivers a powerful and memorable live performance.Based in Fort Collins, CO, WWR has performed and headlined on every major stage across the Rocky Mountain Region. With over 900+ performances under their belt, the group has truly established themselves as one of the hardest working groups in the jam scene today. “

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“Singer. Songwriter. Folk and Rock musician. Michael Kirkpatrick is a modern day minstrel. He sings about nature, dreams and sensuality. The original music comes to you straight from Michael’s soul–unfiltered, passionate and true. Michael often covers other artists material, but only after finding that special character that makes the song his own.

Michael’s main instruments of choice to accompany his rich bass voice include the acoustic guitar and mandolin–although he has been seen with electric guitars, lap steel guitar, the sitar, hammered dulcimer and electric mandolin. Aside from performing as a solo artist, you can catch Michael on stage with his Folkadelic Rock band The Holler!”

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Happy Holidays from Fierce Bad Rabbit
Photos courtesy of Darren Mahuron

“Fresh, energetic and intelligent, Fierce Bad Rabbit takes you on a journey so interesting that you don’t want it to ever end. From the opening notes of “Everything Is Alright”, the first track on their eponymous debut EP, through the infectious melody and lyrics of “YOU!” off of their 2012 EP, “Live and Learn,” you know you’re in for something new and captivating. Tightly woven tapestries of notes and well-crafted lyrics delivered with disciplined passion by frontman Chris Anderson, who also plays guitar and keyboards, combined with the powerful yet perfectly nuanced viola and supporting vocals of Alana Rolfe, the rock-solid rhythmic backbone of Dayton Hicks on bass and Max Barcelow on drums create a constantly changing yet consistently fulfilling musical experience for the listener.

Photos courtesy of Darren Mahuron

The vocals themselves may occasionally make you think that you could be listening to a new project from Brandon Flowers of The Killers or Brian Fallon of The Gaslight Anthem. The band clearly shares the influences of such indie favorites as Arcade Fire and The Shins, and there is a certain kinship with other leading-edge artists like The National, Iron & Wine and Band of Horses. But the music this Ft. Collins, Colorado-based quartet makes is all their own, and the more you hear it the more it comes across as a brilliant amalgamation of many musical styles and structures. Alternately joyful and somber, forceful and laid back, playful and contemplative, their songs challenge you to decide whether you should stand and listen intently or grab the person next to you and dance the night away.

Formed in 2009, the band released two solid recordings in scarcely more than a year: the self-titled debut EP and a full-length, 15-song sophomore effort, “Spools of Thread”. After making an immediate impact on the increasingly sophisticated and crowded Colorado music scene, playing to packed houses at local hot spots in Ft. Collins, Denver and elsewhere and drawing large crowds at busy festivals like the Westword Music Showcase and UMS, the band is now touring extensively, including appearances at America’s preeminent independent music gathering, South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, the storied Viper Room in Los Angeles, California, and many, many more.

Listen once and you’ll be impressed. Listen again — and see them perform live — and you will be a fan. From that point on you’ll want to see them again and again, and you’ll join the growing ranks of people eager to see what happens next for this talented group called Fierce Bad Rabbit.”

Find FBR at www.facebook.com/fiercebadrabbitmusic  or www.reverbnation.com/fiercebadrabbit

Photos courtesy of Darren Mahuron

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While in Colorado, Judith Avers has consistently rocked the stage or appeared on albums with other great talents including The Fray, Born in The Flood, Yonder Mountain String Band, Hazel Miller, Gregory Alan Isakov, Holly Near, Glen Phillips, John Sebastian, Devotchka, John Magnie (Subdudes), Liz Barnez, Nina Storey, and songwriting legends Gary Harrison, Tia Sillers, Mark Selby, Randy Sharp, Mark D. Sanders, and Gary Chamberlain among others.

Now based in West Virginia, Judith continues to amaze everyone touring nationally with, not only her brilliant songwriting and angelic delivery, but her beauty and grace embodied by the incredible artist she has become. We are thrilled to have her back in the KRFC studio! www.JudithAvers.com

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“Roop Verma is an internationally respected sitarist, composer and accomplished teacher of Indian Classical and Sacred music. His training comes from two of the greatest masters of our time, Maestros Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. He has lectured and taught at major universities on three continents and has delivered celebrated concerts in some of the most prestigious concert halls they have to offer. Among his reputable outreach in music are the healing music and meditation seminars he conducts throughout the world. He has been an honored guest of the Belgian Government and was the featured artist and composer of Acceptance, a work written in commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. His memorable 1997 concert at Berwaldhallen, Stockholm was produced by Swedish National Television and Radio, and has been released as one of his many recordings. His Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra was received with warm appreciation at its premiere, Merkin Hall in New York during November 2006. For its European premiere, the Concerto was performed by the Linkoping Symphony Orchestra of Sweden in September 2007. He composed original music for the documentary film Dalai Lama Renaissance, which received 12 international awards and was also released as a soundtrack. www.dalailamafilm.com In addition to being a resident and visiting professor at the Eastman School of Music and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Roop Verma is the recipient of the National Endowment for the Humanities Award for 2006 as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Hartwick College. As director of the East-West School of Music in Monroe, New York, he teaches summer and winter courses on the application of science, principles and techniques of Indian classical music to primarily but not limited to Western students of both instrumental and vocal music. An all inclusive course, its participants range from beginner to professional. Roop Verma is considered one of the musical pioneers of neo-impressionism and has established his place in the world of music. The magic of his music is appreciated worldwide, with simplicity portrayed through the peace and healing experienced as a result of his music.”

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Jan Garrett and JD Martin are multi award-winning independent singer-songwriters who live and create their music in the heart of the Colorado Rockies near Aspen.  Their music is described as “Rich and intelligent…..a velvet-hammer wake-up call as satisfying to the soul as it is to the ear….. Brilliantly crafted songs to open the heart and refresh the spirit.”

Both Jan and JD are seasoned professional performers, keynote concert presenters, and wise teachers of “Authentic Voice,” “The Soul of Songwriting”, and “Tuning Your Life to the Heart of Harmony.”  Their recordings consistently receive wildly enthusiastic reviews.  In live performance Jan & JD are deeply inspiring, fiery and funny, a compelling blend of luscious vocals, good humor, and masterful lyrics inspired from a broad spiritual perspective. This is soulful feel-good music with depth and integrity, audience satisfaction guaranteed.

Both Garrett & Martin won New Thought Songwriter Tribute Awards in 2006 and 2007.  In 2008 they were awarded top honors in the Indie International Songwriting Competition (in the World category) and also won a Posi Songwriter Award from emPOWER Music & Arts.
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JD Martin is an acclaimed songwriter of 5 Number One and 10 Top Ten country and pop hit singles.  His songs have been recorded by such luminaries as Reba McEntire, Terri Clark, B.J. Thomas, Peter Cetera (from the band Chicago), and the Oak Ridge Boys.  A native of Virginia, JD is a deep heart who knows that the music IS the message.  He has won over 15 ASCAP awards for excellence in songwriting in Nashville and LA.

Jan Garrett is a jazz singer, master vocal coach, poet, wilderness vision quester, meditation student, and (yes) certified laughing instructor who has toured with John Denver, Steve Martin and the Dirt Band, and has appeared on the Tonight Show.  She is listed in the Rolling Stone Who’s Who in Rock & Roll.  A self-proclaimed Alchemedian and mother of identical twin daughters, she believes that “The chance of a lifetime is to be yourself.”

They are joined in the KRFC studio with Gayan Gregory Long on percussion (+storytelling) & Marcy Baruch singing harmony.

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Rock, Rhythm, Blues and a Whole Lotta Soul out of Fort Colins, Colorado. Mama Lenny & the Remedy vocals start off nice and soft, and then we finish nice and rough. With reviews like “The Soul! My God the Soul!” and “A sound unlike anyone else’s”; How can you go wrong! If you’re into kick ass vocals, soul stirring lyrics, face melting guitar solos, or pretty girls in sequins, we’ve got you covered. If you’ve got a fever, we’ve got the Remedy!

Laniece Micek-Schleicher “Mama Lenny” – Lead vocals
Ben Prytherch – Bass
Ken Monks – Guitar
Jeff Blayney – Drums
Thalia Stevenson- Keyboard / Vocals
Greta Cornett – Trumpet
Amanda Hofer-Ernst – Vocals
Kelly Keeler – Vocals

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Ben Taylor at KRFC | Photo :Angel Mountain Media

“The son of James Taylor and Carly Simon, Ben Taylor’s life was always centered on music, although he spent several years traveling the world, developing a deep appreciation for the earth and the outdoors. Taylor’s acclaimed previous releases include his debut album, Famous Among the Barns, and Another Run Around The Sun, which was hailed on BBC Radio 2 as “LP of the Week.” All have been released on Iris Records, owned and run by Taylor and industry veteran/musician, Larry Ciancia. It’s a place where the duo is able to control their artistic decisions and create opportunities for other like-minded artists. Ben has performed on such national television shows as Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The CBS Morning Show, Last Call with Carson Daly, and was featured on an A&E Biography profile as well as on the Howard Stern radio show. He also made his acting debut with a recurring role on NBC’s American Dreams as Cal, a struggling singer/songwriter. Taylor has been featured in countless magazines including People Magazine, Vogue and has even appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. He has toured extensively for

Larry Ciancia, Ben Taylor and David Saw at KRFC after their radio show. | Photo: Angel Mountain Media

years with artists such as Blues Traveler, Sheryl Crow, Ziggy Marley and Dar Williams. Taylor’s memorable melodies, immaculate acoustic guitar playing and insightful, honest lyrics have been captivating fans since the moment he embarked on this journey. Making music has become as natural as breathing to Taylor. Accordingly, this approach has colored his songwriting to create music that defies genre definitions. Taylor seamlessly merges the sounds and styles of rock, pop, folk and hip-hop. His albums often run the gamut from sonically spacious acoustic numbers to layered vocals, beats and unique samples. His honest music is led by what is often described as his tuneful and expressive voice, the kind of voice that makes its impact with the smallest turn of a whispered phrase.”

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