Wildflower Pavilion

• 8pm show; 7pm doors
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages / General admission
• Tickets: $15 advance [ Purchase now ]

With recent recognitions like 3rd place in the Denver Post Underground Music Poll and Best Roots/Americana Band in the Westword Music Showcase, Paper Bird is one of the hottest bands in Colorado. And for good reason: the beautifully arranged 3-part vocal harmonies backed by the acoustic quartet of banjo, guitar, trombone, and upright bass, is unlike anything we've heard. With a large repertoire of original music - a thoroughly joyous hybrid of old-timey Americana, 1920s jazz, and contemporary folk-pop sensibilities - this is a band to get very excited about. Syntax Magazine describes: "For their sound is the song of a million middle century charms playing as one grand symphony. Their sound is black and white twentieth century America at its best. It is the world smiling. It is the world singing." (Go ahead, click this myspace link, one song was all it took to win us over...) After spending this past summer touring the country as one of the headliners on New Belgium Brewing's Tour de Fat, we're thrilled to introduce them to the Festivarian family. And lo, what an introduction it will be... For people aren't just introduced to this band, they listen and sway and glow and dance then spend the next week telling everyone they know about them. Be there for this bold Planet Bluegrass debut, we have a hunch we'll be hearing a lot, lot more from them in the future.

• 8pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages / General admission
• Tickets: $30 advance [ Purchase now ]
• Camping $10 per person (tents only; no campers/RVs) [ Purchase now ]

We call it MAY'-bahn. The Autumnal Equinox. Myrrh and Sage. Acorns, gourds, and pumpkins. One final celebration of song, dance, summer, and festivation to celebrate the magical time when the day and the night are divided equally. Once again we're thrilled to welcome two of our favorite musicians from one of the most vital bands in acoustic music, to help us prepare for the coming months of rest, relaxation, and reflection. Whether trading vocals on some of the most beloved songs in the YMSB catalog (including some not often heard these days), covering a broad swath of traditional music from Celtic to Americana, or trading leads on guitar, banjo, bouzouki, and mandolin thiws will be a show befitting the summer's delicate finale. Last year's show was the stuff of legend - including a final set of songs completely-acoustic (no mics, no plugs). Don't miss another magical chapter in the Mabon celebration. Camping ($10 per person) will be available, as well as a special Mabon dinner (menu TBA).

• 8pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages / General admission
• Tickets: $12 advance [ Purchase now ]

The five-piece Packway Handle Band is not a mission to preserve historical styles—it's just how they do what they do the best. And what they do best is rooted in thought provoking songwriting, clever choice and arrangement of bluegrass traditionals, and totally unexpected (even totally inappropriate) covers, all delivered with a crackling energy. “Packway Handle's strength is in its cohesiveness. Vocal Harmonies and string syncopations lock together like Legos…” (Aspen Daily News) If you get an idea of what Packway Handle is early in a show, you'll probably change your mind several times before they're done. But it's obvious their enthusiasm and sense of humor are honest, and that what they do appeals to broad audiences, even those who don't normally listen to bluegrass. Yes, they play bluegrass instruments, and hey, they even play them mostly in the bluegrass way; but you're not going to say you've heard this band before, unless you actually have.

• 8pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages / General admission
• Tickets: $25 advance [ Purchase now ]

Darrell Scott is a powerful musical spirit. A Grammy-nominated artist, an award-winning songwriter, and a first-call session musician, living and working (literally and figuratively) on the fringes of Nashville’s Music Row, Scott occupies his own unique half-acre in this city’s crowded musical landscape. In a town that’s got pigeonholing down to an art, Darrell Scott stands out as a refreshingly mischievous artist. Equally gifted (and we do really mean "gifted" - the man is a bona fide genius) as a singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist Darrell's music channels something very pure and deep. He has performed as a bandmember with Sam Bush, Steve Earle, Tim O'Brien, and many others; meanwhile his songs have been performed by Travis Tritt, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, and many many others. The Dixie Chicks, who have recorded several of his songs, describe Darrell: "He is one of the great writers of our time." Here on Planet Bluegrass, Darrell was the unanimous choice for an artist to kick-off our musical year - opening the Telluride Bluegrass Festival with his stirring anthem "Colorado, I need healing." It seems only natural that Darrell play one of our final shows of the year. At the Wildflower Pavilion he'll be performing in the same stunning configuration: as a solo artist.

• 8pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages / General admission
• Tickets: $20 advance [ Purchase now ]

Six years ago, a green card was an immigration document — now The Greencards are an acoustic music phenomenon that has played around the world, including Telluride Bluegrass and RockyGrass, been nominated for a Grammy, and toured with Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. The Greencards have an ability to go out on stage in front of 20,000 strangers, and magically turn them into friends and fans. Their love of American roots music is evident, but they also bend their music to include more modern influences such as New Grass Revival, Patty Griffin and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, meaning you're just as likely to find them filed under 'Americana' as anything else. In case you haven't met, Carol Young (AUSTRALIA) plays bass and sings most of the songs; Kym Warner (AUSTRALIA) picks the mandolin and bouzouki, while Eamon McLoughlin (U.K.) plays fiddle and viola. All three grew up in households full of American music, honed their talents at jam sessions and gigs in their homelands and eventually took the bold step of moving to the States to find their musical home. Together they remain vibrantly independent, mingling discipline and daring, tradition and innovation in exquisite balance.

• Thursday, July 17, 2008
• 7pm doors / 8pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages
• Tickets: $10 advance [ Tickets will be available at the door ]

A very special evening with three-time Grammy nominee William Eaton, joined by virtuoso flutist Claudia Tulip, incomparable violinist Allen Ames, and fresh new talent: singer-songwriter Ty. As a performer and recording artist, William Eaton has worked with Native American Flutist R. Carlos Nakai, percussionist Will Clipman, Tibetan flutist Nawang Khechog with the Nouveau West Chamber Orchestra, the Nebraska Chamber Orchestra, and with ensembles he has formed.

• Friday, May 2, 2008
• 6:30pm doors / 7:30pm show
• Wildflower Pavilion @ Planet Bluegrass, Lyons, CO
• All-Ages
• Tickets: $22 advance [ Sold-Out! ]

Bringing together 45 creative Colorado women in bluegrass, folk, Celtic and Old Time music to benefit the Lyons Community Foundation and its mission of improving the quality of life, building a culture of giving, and encouraging positive change for the Greater Lyons Area. In 2005 High Street Concerts held the historic first "More Pretty Girls Than One" show - over 30 performers performing in different collaborations all packed into Rogers Hall in Lyons. Three years later, we invite you to join us at the Wildflower Pavilion on Planet Bluegrass for an unforgettable night of music - including a cash bar, silent auction, bonfire, and a festival's worth of music in a single night.