Hazel Miller closes out Rock and Rails 2022 season

For years, beloved Colorado performer Hazel Miller has been part of the annual Rock & Rails lineup. Fans have packed her performances for a night of blues and boogie among friends and neighbors. We talked to Miller in advance of her Thursday, Aug. 25 performance to see what attendees can expect when she takes the stage this year.

Q: Welcome back to Niwot for Rock & Rails. How are you feeling about closing out the series this Thursday?

A: Well, we've been playing a gig for more than a decade and we really love the community. We've gotten to know quite a few people in the audience. We're excited about it. It's always a great night.

Q: You've played a lot of places. What makes Rock & Rails different?

A: To me, instead of just being a concert, it's more of a neighborhood vibe. The kids come dance and there are people that actually know my name because they've been coming for so long that I've watched some kids grow up.

Here, people know us, we hang out, we even have people who help us load up our fans. People come up and they've been doing it for years. And Nalani is opening for us this year. We've watched her grow up. She's living in Nashville now playing bass with some pretty famous people down there.

Q: Sounds like you feel connected to Niwot and the people here?

A: Absolutely. They treat us like family and we know that. I mean, we have had people standing out there even if it'll start raining. We're down to the last song and they won't leave. They get their umbrellas out. It's a hoot. It is truly a hoot.

Q: That's fantastic. So what can people expect this week?

A: Well, we've got some new supercharged blues songs that my guitar player is going to use to raise the roof off this night. Audiences love my guitar player, he is just an amazingly talented young man and only twenty-eight years old. Heck, I got shoes older than him. He's been with us eight years and audiences watched him grow up with us. Then there's some new medleys and a Steely Dan medley. Who doesn't love Steely Dan, right?

Q: Any Rock & Rails memories that stand out?

A: I remember our Aretha Franklin medley. It was like the same week that she passed away and we looked up in the sky, the rain clouds opened up and there was this huge ray of light coming down on the stage. And I said, ladies and gentlemen, Aretha is listening, they started cheering. I took pictures of the clouds. I had to have a picture of it.

Q: And last question, is there anything else you want the audience to know when they come on Thursday?

A: Sure. It'll be a good time. Everyone should bring their dancing shoes and bring the water. You're going to have to hydrate (laughing).