GOLD HILL
Lickskillet Studios, owned by local musican Kort McCumber and his artist wife Amy Fortunato, is once again presenting a monthly concert series for the community of Gold Hill “during the long, cold nights of winter.” The events are hosted in the intimate setting of the Gold Hill General Store and curated for lovers of acoustic music.

KC Groves Duo – NEW DATE! January 14
A multi-faceted musician, spirited band leader and inspiring mentor, Lyons-based KC is an accomplished instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter who has been at the heart of many celebrated projects. As the creative center and bandleader of Uncle Earl for over a decade, she helped bring old time music to a wider audience. She is the winner of the Detroit Music Award for Best Bluegrass Artist and regularly performs with Jeff Scroggins and Colorado.

Tommy and Saundra O’Sullivan – February 11
Irish music is coming to Gold Hill all the way from County Kerry, Ireland.Tommy O’Sullivan is acclaimed as “one of the great contemporary folk voices of Ireland.” and a “stellar guitarist.” Saundra O’Sullivan is from Houston with Native American roots. She has now become a welcomed addition to the vibrant local music scene in Dingle, Ireland, where the couple live.

Cosy Sheridan –March 4
Cosy Sheridan has been called “one of the era’s finest and most thoughtful singer-songwriters.” She first caught the attention of national folk audiences in 1992 when she won both the Kerrville Folk Festival’s NewFolk Award and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Contest, then released her critically-acclaimed debut CD “Quietly Led” on Waterbug Records.

Don Conoscenti –March 18
Once a die-hard rocker, Don Conoscenti is now a respected acoustic musician and acclaimed songwriter. His live performances are a soulful fusion of styles blended from his experience playing rock, jazz, blues, folk, funk and country. His primary love, however, is the “landscape of storytelling.” His recordings have been in the top 20 albums played by folk and acoustic DJ’s worldwide. He’s performed in many of the top venues and festivals in the U.S including Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons.

Matt Turk – April 1
A seasoned recording artist, multi-instrumentalist, eternal idealist and compassionate peace loving realist, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York-based Matt Turk is a veteran performer who has engaged audiences around the world, both as a rocking bandleader and an acoustic folk troubadour. He has shared the stage with Pete Seeger and opened for Judy Collins, The Doobie Brothers, Fiona Apple, The Grateful Dead’s Mickey Hart and more.

Greg Schochet & Katie Glassman – April 29
According to local musician Danny Shafer, “Wherever there is a mandolin, a country guitar and people hearing music from Colorado, you are hearing the influence of Greg Schochet. A gentleman, a teacher and the finest picker I’ve ever known.” Combine that with Katie Glassman’s extraordinary talent on fiddle, and we’ve got a great night of music! Inspired by old-time Texas music, Katie began playing by ear, and was soon winning numerous honors throughout the West. 2013 was Katie’s biggest year yet for competing, as she took top honors in two of the country’s most prestigious contests: Walnut Valley in Winfield, Kansas and Rockygrass in Lyons.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m and music begins at 7 p.m. for all concerts. Admission is $10 and space is very limited. It is recommended to e-mail kortmccumber@gmail.com in advance to reserve general admission seats. The only way to confirm seats, however, is to pay in advance at the Gold Hill General Store, in person or by calling 303-443-7724. There is a $2 service fee for credit card payments. Visit lickskilletstudios.com or find them on Facebook for more information.

Originally published in the January 2015 issue of the MMAC Monthly