Hazel Miller headlines the final 2024 Rock & Rails concert Aug. 29

Hazel Miller and The Collective will wrap up the 2024 Rock and Rails (R&R) series this Thursday evening, Aug. 29, at Whistle Stop Park. Inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2023, Miller and her band will perform their mix of jazz, blues, soul and popular music.

Miller is one of the most sought-after performers in Colorado and has also performed elsewhere in North America, as well as in Europe, the Far East, Middle East and Central America.

R&R booking manager Satir DeMarco said that Miller has performed at R&R all but one year since the series began in 2006. DeMarco is now booking the in-demand band a year in advance.

The Rocky Mountain News said, "Hazel Miller is not just a great singer - She is a force of nature!" Her voice itself is forceful-deep, full, moving and powerful. Always intent on getting a crowd dancing, Miller has said, "If they don't dance, I get nervous," and, "when in doubt (about the crowd's energy), bring out the Aretha." The outstanding band stays right with her.

Miller's determination is legendary. More than 40 years ago she was in the process of relocating from Kentucky to California to promote her music career when her van broke down in Colorado. Traveling with her two young children and short on funds, she was unable to continue her trip. Without other obvious options, she settled in Colorado, undeterred and optimistic. She thrived, succeeded over time and grew to love her new home because, Miller said, "Colorado has a vibe that exists nowhere else...and people come together here."

For Miller, forcefulness and encouragement go hand in hand. She inspires others to recognize the talent that she sees in them. She has helped launch the music careers of performers by introducing them to others in the industry, and by remaining in their lives for ongoing coaching and friendship. Chad Wooten, whose band, CW and Twenty Hands High, performed at R&R earlier this season, is one who credits Miller for his growing success.

Nalani will be the opener at 5 p.m. with a solo program featuring her vocals and upright bass. She will also join Hazel Miller and the Collective on vocals for the main event beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Collections from the evening's tip jars will provide support for the Niwot Community Association (NCA) and the Niwot Historical Society (NHS). Among other things, the NCA sponsors the community's July 4th festivities and maintains the Niwot Road underpass murals. The NHS sponsors a Now & Then lecture series four to five times a year and maintains Niwot historical archives, as well as the historic Fire House Museum.