Rock & Rails Preview

Rock & Rails, Niwot's signature summer concert series, kicks off the 2022 season on June 2 with popular local guitarist Kevin Dooley opening for Funkiphino at Whistle Stop Park, located at the intersection of 1st Avenue and Murray Street. Satir DeMarco, who has booked the bands for Niwot's summer concert series since its start in 2006, announced the lineup.

Funkiphino is a 13-member band, based out of Longmont, which performed in Washington, D.C. for the 55th Presidential Inaugural Ball in 2005. Their website states, "The 13 members of the high-energy funk band infuse explosive horn lines, old-school Hammond organ sounds, and pumpin' bass with intoxicating vocal harmonies."

Dooley has performed all over Niwot in the past, including most recently at the Niwot Wheel Works.

New to the lineup of headliners this year will be Atomga, a fusion afrobeat dance party group, on June 9. Singer-songwriter Danny Shafer, who also performs in Niwot frequently, will open.

Mojomama, featuring many local musicians, returns to take the stage on June 16, with the popular Wendy Woo opening.

The Motown cover group, One on One, returns on June 23 with sounds of the Temptations, the Supremes, the Four Tops, and many others. The Strangebyrds, Cari Minor and Ray Smith, are back in town to open for One on One.

On June 30, singer-songwriter Taylor Shae, backed by RD, opens for the Tierro Band with Bridget Law, also back for a return engagement. The Tierro Band consists of founding members of Elephant Revival, and describes its music as "Gypsy Grass." According to the website, "This supergroup has been winning over audiences of all kinds with its unique Gypsy Grass style. A wide-open bluegrass fiddle backed by thumping gypsy guitars and a mix of world percussion gets the blood pumping and the feet moving."

One of Colorado's most well-known bands, Chris Daniels and the Kings with Freddi Gowdy, is back on July 7. Daniels and his band have been around since 1984 when they made their debut at The Blue Note in Boulder. Since then, they have been inducted into the Colorado Music Hall Of Fame, and have performed with Garth Brooks, BB King, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Joe Walsh, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Oates, The Lumineers, Uncle Kracker, Blues Traveler, The Neville Brothers and many more.

Singer-songwriter Mark Oblinger will open July 7. Oblinger is a man of many talents, from touring nationally (Pure Prairie League, Firefall), to composing for TV (Oprah), to winning Emmy Awards (The Big Green Rabbit ) and co-writing/producing a Grammy Nominated Children's Jazz Symphony (JumpinJazz Kids – "A Swinging Jungle Tale").

The Sammy Mayfield Blues Band performs July 14, with Longmont's Tim Ostdiek and Jenny opening. Mayfield has been playing the blues since the 1960s, while Ostdiek is a veteran of Rock & Rails, and has performed at many other venues in Niwot.

July 21 brings the Eagles tribute band, The Long Run, back to Niwot for another popular show. Niwot's most celebrated musician, Pete Wernick, also known as Dr. Banjo, opens with his wife Joan Wernick. Pete Wernick was a founding member of Hot Rize, a renowned bluegrass band which toured with its alter ego, Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers. The Emmy-nominated artist is also known for performing on The Letterman Show with Steve Martin and Earl Scruggs, among others, in a group called, "Men with Banjos Who Know How to Use Them."

July 28 brings the country and southern rock band Twenty Hands High to Niwot. Dean Himes of Gunbarrel, a popular performer around Niwot, will open.

Last Men on Earth, featuring Niwot resident Mike Holubec and Niwot High grads Lawrence Jenkins and Mark Tripensee, returns on Aug. 4, with Good Music Medicine and Thomas Dow opening.

On Aug. 11, Face, an all-vocal band, returns to Niwot, performing for fans who have followed them for years. Face has performed at Red Rocks, and opened for such nationally-known bands as Jon Bon Jovi, Manhattan Transfer, Culture Club & Boy George, and the Barenaked Ladies. Opening for Face is All About the Brass, based out of Longmont, and featuring Niwot High grad Katie Warren and Mike Pierce, both members of the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band as well.

The following week, Aug. 18, the popular salsa band, Quemando, makes a return appearance in Niwot. Quemando also performs at the Niwot Jazz Festival on June 25. Opening for Quemando is the Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange Band, fresh off of its performance of the National Anthem at the July 29 Colorado Rockies game.

The summer concerts series closes Aug. 25 with perennial favorite Hazel Miller & the Collective. Nalani (Clisset), another Niwot High grad, will return to her hometown from Nashville to open for her longtime friend, Hazel Miller.

Craig Cutcliff, who has handled sound for every concert since 2006, returns to mix the concerts again this season.

The Rock & Rails summer concert series is co-managed by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Business Association. The event won the Governor's Award for Best Downtown Event in 2006 when it was managed by Boulder Creek Events under the sponsorship of the Niwot Business Association.

Every concert features one or more non-profit organizations as tip jar recipients. Last summer the proceeds from tip jars raised over $30,000 for 18 different causes. This year, the first concert will benefit the Niwot Business Association's Small Town, Big Heart Marshall Fire Fund, which has now grown to over $70,000 toward the $100,000 fund-raising goal.

Those attending the concerts are urged to consider walking or riding bikes as parking is limited. The Niwot High School Girls Volleyball team will once again provide free bike valet service. Pedicabs will also be available at no cost, other than tips.

The Boulder County Sheriff's office will provide security for the event, which is free and open to the public. Pets are not allowed, and patrons are not allowed to bring alcohol to the event. Bootstrap Brewing will again provide the majority of the beer available for purchase at The Depot building, with Niwot's Fritz Family Brewing beer also on tap. Wine and margaritas are also available for purchase on a cash-only basis.

The event is sponsored by many local businesses, as well as the Niwot Local Improvement District. Opening acts start at 5:00 p.m., with headliners taking the stage at 6:30 until 9:00 p.m.