at is consistently one of the best weekends in Colorado. And as the Bohemian Foundation announces the 2013 national headliners for its Fort Collins music festival this morning, itap clear that tradition will continue.
We spoke with artist relations manager Liz Barnez about the 2013 national headliners – and the local acts that are lucky enough to play directly before them.
“Our main goal is to focus on the Colorado bands, the new ones and the established ones who are role models in the community,” said Barnez. “We think about the music community, the community of music listeners and music lovers.”
Aug. 16, 2013 (Friday): The Samples/Fierce Bad Rabbit:
“We’re keeping it local and paying homage to the music scene with headlining Friday night,” Barnez said. “They’re a big part of the Colorado music scene from the late-’80s to early-’90s. They went against the grain. Record labels were still king then, and the Samples were one of the first Colorado bands who signed to a major and held onto their artistic integrity and left the label. They’re working on a new record now, hoping to have it released before the festival. They did really great things. Remember, Hootie and the Blowfish and Dave Matthews Band used to open for them.
“Wٳ , pairing them with the Samples, I felt like I was a matchmaker. They’re going to be great.”
Aug. 17, 2013 (Saturday): Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite/Born in the Flood:
“Part of what the Bohemian Foundation likes to do is tie in our beliefs and value systems with what musicians are doing with their own activism,” Barnez said. “ does a lot of good for marginalized groups, so he fits in with our value system. We look at that when looking at our headliners. And a long time ago Charlie Musselwhite played at Linden’s, which is one of the early clubs in the Fort Collins music scene. Itap no longer around. But we think about all of those things.
“And with , they’re Nathaniel Rateliff’s band, and they’re just now reuniting. They also have a member of Churchill playing with them and some other talented players.”
Aug. 18, 2013 (Sunday): Leon Russell/Chris Daniels & the Better Days Band:
“Over the years, each night has developed its own personality,” Barnez said. “Friday is local. We have the bigger headliners on Saturday. And Sunday has grown into a diverse night. Keeping in that theme, one of my favorite singer-songwriters ever, , is playing that night. He’s such a musician’s-musician. With the Elton John record, and the documentary Cameron Crowe did on the making of that album, itap exciting that he’s seeing a resurgence. For a guy to have played with Bing Crosby, Sonny and Cher, Joe Cocker and others, itap pretty cool.
“And Chris Daniels has been such a strength in the music community. I like that he’ll be back performing before Leon, and he’s big fan of Leon’s. He referred to (Leon) as ‘America’s version of Elton John.’ ”
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and executive editor of , the co-founder of and an award-winning critic and editor at The Denver Post.
