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The Spring Creek Bluegrass Band kicked off our 2008 season with a packed house and a night of great bluegrass. Hailing from the home of Rockygrass in Lyons, CO, the band was coming off a celebrated and successful 2007 in which they won both the Telluride and Rockygrass band contests in the same year; a feat they are the first and only band ever to accomplish. The band has been touring constantly since, performing at venues and festivals all over the country. They recently appeared at this year's MeadowGrass festival in Black Forest.
The core of Spring Creek is Taylor Sims: guitar and vocals, Chris Elliott: banjo and vocals, and Alex Johnstone: mandolin, fiddle and vocals. Rounding out the group is recent addition, Dan Booth on bass and vocals. Taylor has studied under Joe Carr and Alan Munde at South Plains College where he received the Male Bluegrass Vocalist of the Year Award. His sentimental and poetic lyrics mixed with bluegrass instrumentation give Spring Creek their signature sound.
Chris Elliott comes from a long line of rural musicians and is also the grandson of a prominent Kentucky fiddle builder. With a sharp ear for arranging harmonies, his original instrumentals give Spring Creek a dynamic and unique edge. Chris studied banjo with Alan Munde for three years and now passes on the tradition by teaching banjo at the Olde Town Pickin' Parlor in Arvada. Chris Elliott is the 2007 RockyGrass Banjo Champion.
Hailing from Illinois where he grew up playing electric guitar, Alex Johnstone unplugged his guitar and found himself drawn to bluegrass mandolin and fiddle. His original songs–favorites among the fans– keep Spring Creek's repertoire fresh and excit- ing. Alex found his way into the Spring Creek family one day when Taylor picked him up hitchhiking near Crested Butte, CO, and he hasn't looked back since.
Spring Creek newcomer Dan Booth has been playing and singing bluegrass for over 16 years now. Born and raised in Alaska, he migrated to California not long ago and hooked up with several bluegrass bands in the San Francisco area that include 49 Special, the Kathy Kallick Band, and Homespun Rowdy. Dan was recently voted 2011 Best Bass Player in the Northern California Bluegrass Awards.
In 2009, Spring Creek joined the ranks of Ralph Stanley, Kenny & Amanda Smith and Steep Canyon Rangers as a Rebel Records recording artist. Their latest album Way Up On A Mountian was released on that label. Prior to that, the band released two other albums on their own; Rural & Cosmic Bluegrass, and the Sally Van Meter produced Lonesome Way To Go.
Please note that the Black Forest Community Center is being used for the annual Black Forest Festival on August 12 so our open stage event featuring Spring Creek will take place at Stargazers Theatre. This is good news for a couple of reasons. The last time we hosted Spring Creek, we had to turn people away but with over double the capacity at Stargazers, that shouldn't be a problem this time. Better yet, this show if FREE! Yes, that's right. We're doing this show in conjunction with Stargazers Summer Fun Free Friday Concert Series.
You won't want to miss this night of free bluegrass with Colorado favorites, Spring Creek.
Copy by Jeff Smith
Show Details
Showtime is Friday, August 12 at 8:00p.m. Doors open at 7:00p.m. Cost: FREE!
Stargazer's Theatre
10 S. Parkside Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80910
