For the second year in a row, headliner Hurricane Creek was forced to bow out. Last year, it
didn't get here as a result of weather. This year it was American Airlines canceling 900 flights last Thursday. No
worries. The Infamous Stringdusters filled the void by adding a set to open things at the Henry Strater Theatre,
which at that point resembled a sardine can. Packed.
The Stringdusters feature former resident Travis Book on bass, who also serves comfortably as
the band's emcee. Fort Collins Bluegrass Patriots filled in for Hurricane Creek on Friday night at the Durango Arts
Center. The Patriots have been a band going on 27 years. Its set featured traditional bluegrass, as well as a
show-stopping gospel acappella number. There was no lack of music.
The newly renovated Durango Arts Center may step up to be one of the nicer venues in town,
and it was christened properly by sharp dresser Jim Lauderdale when he kicked things off Friday night. Always decked
out in the classiest pseudo nudie-western suits this side of Nashville, Lauderdale led a top notch backing band for
four different sets of music through the weekend. He played many tracks off his two Grammy-winning records, as well
as much more from his long list of original material. Between songs he was funny and flat-out charming.
Saturday afternoon's highlights came from another band put together to fill in for Hurricane
Creek. Local guitar wiz Robin Davis stepped up with the Robin Davis Quartet, featuring Davis on guitar, Infamous
Stringdusters Book on bass, Chris Pandolfi on banjo and Jon Frazier on mandolin. As of Saturday morning a set-list
hadn't been made.
The quartet pulled out some familiar bluegrass numbers, some orginals and the knockout
traditional - by way of Clancy Brothers, Thin Lizzy, Metallica - "Whiskey in the Jar." Their set whipped the now
overflowing crowd at the DAC into a cheering frenzy, which was even more overflowing and frenzied for the two sets
that followed by Lauderdale and the Stringdusters. The only place left for people to stand was on the rafters
.
Paonia's Sweet Sunny South played three sets throughout the day, which will be the last sets
they play until January. Their brand of bluegrass, swing and honky tonk was best experienced in the only venue that
had space to dance, the old fashioned barn dance at the Elks Lodge.
Sunday featured gospel sets by Howard Cattle Company, Down the Road, the Bar D Wranglers and
the Bluegrass Patriots. This is the sixth year locals Down the Road have done a Sunday morning gospel set, which was
a fine substitute for church. The tearjerker of the morning was its cover of Carter Stanley's "Angel Band," which it
dedicated to the late Linda Paulmeno, a friend of the bands' and Meltdown board member who passed away last
month.
As always, music was played everywhere and beer was drunk everywhere. You couldn't get
through the Strater lobby without walking past two or three groups of pickers and thirsty revelers playing and
listening from sunup to sundown, and back to sunup.
Liggettb@fortlewis.eduBryant Liggett is
a freelance writer and program director of KDUR.
