Archive for the ‘Live music’ Category
Streetmosphere is Just Around the Corner
Even though there is still snow on the ground, here at Beet Street, we’ve got Streetmosphere on our minds. This year’s season begins on Mother’s Day weekend, and May 10 will be here before we know it. We will be back in Old Town every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Labor Day weekend. We will also be back at Front Range Village in South Fort Collins July 5 – August 3, with Friday night performances and a NEW Saturday evening concert series!
We are very pleased to announce that we will bring over 90 acts to the streets of Fort Collins this season! That is a 48% increase from last year, allowing us to support more performers and provide a greater variety of entertainment. It was wonderful to see over 120 talented acts apply this year – thanks to all of you.
These increases say a lot about the program. First, that the word about Streetmosphere is spreading, not only in Fort Collins, but throughout Colorado. We are proud to see how far Streetmosphere has come in just three years, helping to put Fort Collins on the map as an arts and culture destination. There are also several cities that are interested in starting a similar program, and we are working with them to discover how they might bring Streetmosphere to their own communities.
You can keep up to date with with Streetmosphere by liking Beet Street and Streetmosphere on Facebook, and following Beet Street on Twitter. We’ll keep you posted!
Holidays of the Arts
The holiday season is upon us once again. The cold weather has finally come out of hiding, helping the transition into the winter months. Old Town is glimmering with a mass of glowing lights, familiar holiday drinks have returned to menus across town, and often, this cold time of the year brings warmth through traditions and the spirit of the season.
As many people are building our local economy by shopping at local stores, may we not forget about our wonderful arts scene, which can be a wonderful option to indulge in the spirit of the holidays. Many arts organizations feature holiday shows, including the CSU University Center for the Arts’ production A Christmas Story, Canyon Concert Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Bas Bleu Theatre’s Almost Maine, and Opera Fort Collins’ Gift of the Magi. The opportunity to enjoy and support the arts during this holiday season is invaluable.
Sharing time with friends and family is a large part of many people’s traditions and what better occasion to create memories than attending the multitude of fantastic, spirit boosting, arts events in Fort Collins.
What is a Virtuoso?
Virtuoso is an Italian based word meaning versed, or skilled. We use it today to describe someone who is particularly skilled in a given field, like music!
The Virtuoso Series Concerts, hosted by the University Center for the Arts, has consistently presented talented musical artists who demonstrate beautiful melodies that allure and entertain audiences. These concerts occur on a regular basis and make for a great opportunity to enjoy a night out as well as appreciate the many various musicians featured.
If a sitter for the children is unavailable, consider taking them as well! With ticket prices for youth (2-17) at $1 a-piece, it would be less expensive to bring them along, not to mention the benefits of exposing young children to the arts. Overall, Virtuoso Series Concerts are great events for families!
The next concert is Thursday, November 5th, featuring Duo Francois (a piano and violin duo). Make sure to check the UCA website regularly for these amazing concerts.
Spook-tacular Music
Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor is the ‘unofficial’ theme song of Halloween, and though the name might not be familiar, those few opening notes are unmistakable. The 7th annual Halloween Organ Extravaganza couldn’t offer anything less than an amazing night of spooky organ music for all to hear, not to mention costumed musicians. Joel Bacon, a CSU organ professor and performer at the event, sums it up by saying, “It’s a shame Halloween only comes once a year.”
The Extravaganza will be held appropriately in the Organ Recital Hall at CSU’s University Center of the Arts on Halloween night at seven, nine, and eleven o’clock.
It’s a great opportunity to bring your children or friends, or just to enjoy a night of ghoulish music to celebrate the holiday and the end of National Arts and Humanities Month. Visit the University Center for the Arts website for more information.
The Wild Goose
The feeling of dancing with a partner whose identity is sealed behind a mask could be described as mysterious and exhilarating. The chance to partake in such an experience is this coming Saturday, October 27th, at The Wild Goose Masquerade Ball! Inhibitions are lowered when we are in disguise, so what a perfect opportunity to waltz, swing, tango, and polka your way to a delightfully elegant and wonderful evening. Live music will be provided by the 50-piece Mostly Strauss Orchestra, which will not only help set the mood for the ball, but offer for a most memorable experience.
The ball will be filled with costumed participants from the most exotic to the tastefully sophisticated; it is up to you what “look” you may focus on. Attire is formal, semi-formal, or ethnic. Friends of Traditional Dance is hosting this elegant event in the CSU Lory Student Center Main Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. For more information, please visit the website.
Bach and Beer
Imagine, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Harpsichord Concertos saturating the background during an evening amongst friends; the sophisticated classics offering a more mature environment for those feeling a little under-cultured and overwhelmed with contemporary hits on the radio. What could be better?
How about if those attending had the opportunity to indulge in some of New Belgium’s finest locally crafted brews? Presenting, “Bach and Beer,” an event hosted by The Fort Collins Symphony and, you heard right, New Belgium Brewery.
Listen to Bach while sipping beer with friends, and enjoy “Bach and Beer” on Friday, October 19th, starting at 6:00 p.m. at New Belgium Brewery. Please visit this website for more information.
October is Arts and Humanities Month
October is National Arts and Humanities Month. The arts are a significant entity in our families, community, and hearts. Not only do the arts entertain us, they inspire us and make the world a brighter, more vibrant place. Art is a vast presence in our daily lives, and deserves the appreciation of its many supporters. Many of us are hobbyists, enthusiasts, or even artists, and we can agree that the arts play a unique role in shaping our community.
This month-long event gives us an excuse to add some extra events to our list of those to attend this month. However, celebrating doesn’t have to mean going to events. It can be as easy being a regular advocate by spreading general love of the arts to others, or even enjoying art related activities with your family, like listening to music, reading, dancing, or drawing. The degree and nature of our celebration is up to each individual, but regardless, let us take the time to commemorate and explore our arts culture in October.
The end is near…
Sometimes there’s nothing better than sitting in the grass, listening to music on a warm weekend afternoon. I had the opportunity to do this three times this past weekend—twice listening to the jazzy beats of the Steve Johnson Group and once enjoying the softer melodies of the Seers. I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.
The Steve Johnson Group is a Streetmosphere regular. They wedge themselves into the back corner of Oak Street Plaza, fitting at least five people and more than five instruments, plus a water cooler, amps and speakers, and all sorts of other equipment under a big, blue tent. They may be located way in the back, but their music can be heard from all around the plaza and beyond. They play old favorites, such as Steely Dan, as well as non-lyrical jazz tunes.
Community Members Join In
dAccordian plays with a community member Sunday at Front Range Village
This past weekend, New West Fest brought crowds into Downtown Fort Collins, spilling out over the festival area, enjoying music, art, and the wonderful atmosphere. There was a true sense of community this week, with people coming together to celebrate and enjoy the festivities together. But not just Downtown! At Front Range Village, Streetmosphere was building community as well, encouraging patrons of the shopping center to stop and have a listen. Read the rest of this entry »
Digital Con Brio
Despite construction closures and tremendous traffic jams, people came out to the streets Friday night to hear a variety of Streetmosphere musicians. This was the first weekend of the summer where the majority of performers have been musical, with Susan K. Dailey being the only visual artist on the lineup.
People loved the unique sounds of the four musical groups: MDT 3, the Steve Johnson Group, the Fort Collins Four Tuba Quartet, and the String Quartet Con Brio.
I’ve already written about the Fort Collins Four Tuba Quartet and the Steve Johnson Group, but MDT 3 and the String Quartet Con Brio deserve some attention.
