Burning Spear
Wednesday Jun 5, 2024 7:30 pm
With multi-day residencies in Rocky Mountain resort town, the Vilar Performing Arts Center [VPAC] is taking a unique approach to concerts in the time of COVID-19
The impact of COVID-19 on performing arts venues has created a dynamic range of reactions, with some venues closing down indefinitely while others get by with smaller shows and smaller audiences.
The VPAC, located in the Rocky Mountains is taking a unique approach, capitalizing on its location in the Colorado resort town of Beaver Creek. The nonprofit Vilar Performing Arts Center is launching a new program that will bring major artists from around the world to the venue for a residency.
The idea involves premiering a signature pandemic-time series of unique collaborations between artists who can rehearse during the day at the facility in Beaver Creek, Colorado – safely in the mountains and away from crowded cities. This residency would culminate in a series of small, socially-distanced performances (and public health protocols would be strictly followed throughout the residency). A select number of premium tickets will be sold to the intimate performances and, for those who are not ready for the in-person experience yet, we will offer other ways to enjoy these through livestreams and other video offerings.
“We’re looking for artists with a proven track record, particularly if they have been successful streaming, and we are also looking for artists who are open to working with us to innovate and adapt to how we can enjoy entertainment today,” said Duncan Horner, Executive Director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center.
The phones are ringing and the calendar is starting to fill again for this winter. Outreach has already been successful, with several renowned artists on-board for the residency program including:
UPCOMING SHOWS IN SERIES:
Artist: Martin Sexton with shows Sat. Feb. 20 and Sun. Feb. 21. No stranger to the VPAC stage, Martin Sexton started his singing career on the street corners and subway platforms of Boston close to three decades ago. Now he’s touring in support of his ninth studio album.
Artist: The Infamous Trio Feat. Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall and Jeremy Garrett with shows Thurs. Feb. 25, Fri. Feb. 26 & Sat. Feb. 27. All members of The Infamous Stringdusters, the GRAMMY® Award-winning quintet, Chris Pandolfi [banjo], Andy Hall [dobro] and Jeremy Garrett [fiddle] partner in this intimate trio arrangement.
Artist: Citizen Cope with shows Thurs. March 4, Fri. March 5 & Sat. March 6. A grassroots musician at the core. Citizen Cope aka Clarence Greenwood is a songwriter / producer who has released six studio LP’s and over 1 million records in the U.S.
Artist: Oteil Burbridge Trio and Special Guests with evening shows Thurs. March 18, Fri. March 19 & Sat. March 20. Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award Winner and two-time Grammy-winning bassist, Oteil Burbridge has been touring and recording for over three decades. He was a founding member of the Aquarium Rescue Unit featuring Col. Bruce Hampton and a member of the classic rock group the Allman Brothers Band. Over the years, Oteil has shared the stage with rock and blues legends including Dead & Company, Gov’t Mule, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Vida Blue, Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, Levon Helm, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, Pinetop Perkins, Billy Gibbons, Chuck Leavell, Bob Weir and Trey Anastasio.
Artist: An Evening with Chris Thile with evening shows Sun. March 21 & Mon. March 22. Multiple Grammy Award-winner and MacArthur Fellow Chris Thile, a member of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, and former host of the radio program, Live from Here, is a mandolin virtuoso, composer and vocalist.
PAST SHOWS:
Artist: Micaela Taylor’s All Star Band Featuring: DJ Logic, MonoNeon, Daru Jones and Vernon Reid with evening shows Thurs. January 7, Fri. January 8 & Sat. January 9. An innovative and timely ensemble not to be missed! This is sure to be a collaboration like you’ve never experienced before. Avant-garde, contemporary dance meets Grammy Award-winning musicians. This performance will feature dance, choreography and music transcending genre and styles seen or heard anywhere else.
Artist: Robert Randolph feat. G. Love, Michael Kang & Special Guests with evening shows on Thurs. January 14, Fri. January 15, Sat. January 16 at 4:30pm & Sat. January 16 at 8pm. Renowned pedal steel guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Robert Randolph is today an inspiration to the likes of Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Derek Trucks, all of whom have played with him and studied his technique. G. Love, Garret Dutton, who is originally from Philadelphia, is an American alternative hip hop artist best known for his unique “sloppy,” and “laid back” blues sound that encompasses classic R&B. Michael Kang, is a multi-instrumentalist for the jam band The String Cheese Incident.
Artist: Leftover Salmon with shows on Thurs. January 21 at 7pm, Fri. January 22 at 4:30pm & 8pm & Sat. January 23 at 4:30pm & 8pm. Since their earliest days as a forward thinking, progressive bluegrass band who had the guts to add drums to the mix into their ever evolving sound, to their role as a pioneer of the modern jamband scene, to their current status as elder-statesmen of the scene, Leftover Salmon has been a crucial link in keeping alive the traditional music of the past while at the same time pushing that sound forward with their own unique style.
Artist: Keller Williams brings 3 unique nights of music in a solo, duo + trio format with shows Thurs. January 28 (solo) at 4:30 & 8pm, Fri. January 29 (duo with Greg Garrison of Leftover Salmon) at 4:30 & 8pm & Sat. January 30 (trio with Garrett Sayers of Motet and Jeremy Salken of Big Gigantic) at 4:30 & 8pm. Unbeholden to conventionalism, Keller Williams seamlessly crosses genre boundaries. The end product is astounding and novel music that encompasses rock, jazz, funk and bluegrass, and always keeps the audience on their feet.
Artist: An Intimate Evening with John Popper and Ben Wilson of Blues Traveler with shows Fri. Feb. 12, Sat. Feb. 13 & Sun. 14. John will be playing harmonica with Ben on keys. The duo will bring the music and all the hits from Blues Traveler – but perhaps even better, they will bring the laughs! They’ll be sharing intimate stories from their decades of experience which are vast, revealing and quite funny.
“We’re excited not only for what this will bring in terms of connecting us during divisive times through quality performances, but also what it will do to keep the vitality of our industry alive,” Horner said. “We’ve long been a favorite stop on tour for many artists – now we can be a center not just for the finished performance product, but as a place to safely isolate and create new ideas during this exceptionally difficult time.”
Artists or managers interested in the opportunity can contact Owen Hutchinson at ohutchinson@vvf.org.
