Any artist would consider a headlining gig at the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre a singular thrill.
But for bands who grew up with the venue, there’s perhaps no bigger stage, or surer mark of success.
Three years ago, Nederland-based Elephant Revival made a goal to headline the venue by the end of 2016. On Sunday, 10 years into the band’s career, they will meet that goal.
To make the evening even more surreal, noted singer-songwriter Josh Ritter will act as the band’s opener. Ritter, who brought the band along to open the East Coast leg of his latest tour, would earn top bill in any other state. “He’s an idol for some of our members,” said Elephant Revival fiddler Bridget Law of Ritter, who will also make his Red Rocks debut on Sunday.
Besides Ritter, the band will bring an extended family’s worth of complimentary acts along for the ride. The band will be joined by live electronic composer/producer the Human Experience, world music sister duo Rising Appalachia and Boulder collective Fractal Tribe who will, among other feats of aerial dexterity, dangle and swing from a massive dream-catcher during their show.
Along with old favorites like “Ring Around The Moon,” Elephant Revival will offer up a new album at the venue. On April 1, the band released “Petals,” the latest chapter in their folkloric songbook.
We talked with Law about Elephant Revival’s new album, and the subplots undercutting the band’s debut performance at Red Rocks.
Q: Your longtime songwriter Sage Cook left the band early last year. How did his absence affect “Petals,” and are you still on good terms?
A: When Sage left to start (his new band) We Dreamed Dawn, Charlie Rose, a multi-instrumentalist, stepped in. He is such an amazing texture (musician). He helped write, too. He wrote “Sea Monster.” And I actually manage and book Sage’s band, so he’s still a part of the family. We’re allowing everyone to follow their dreams.
Q: “Petals” contains a lot of references to death, albeit often in reverence rather than grief. Is your view of death in line with the album’s?
A: There are people who grieve death, who feel it in a really sad way. I am not necessarily one of those people. The most inevitable part of life is death. I’m somewhat Buddhist, and find the time of someone’s passing as a heightened spiritual moment. It brings about a depth and awareness to our lives.
Q: What is responsible for that sense of loss on “Petals”?
A: Elephant Revival lost our matriarch in January 2015. She’s definitely present in “Petals.” “Bonnie’s Song,” “Peace Tonight,” “When I Fall” are all written about her. She was a group councillor for us, almost a shaman. She was there the first time we played Red Rocks. She had cancer at that point and was in a wheelchair, but still was sitting in the front row, beaming. It’s a really beautiful memory for all of us.
Q: You’re a Colorado native and have played Red Rocks as an opener before. What is it about the venue that makes it such a hallowed place for performers?
A: The energetic experience of being on that stage is unlike any other venue. I have some theories as to why. Energy flows like water, and with the shape of the venue, it slopes downhill (from the crowd). So if you’re performing, you’re absorbing energy on a whole new level. It’s a really powerful thing.
Q: Was there an energetic moment during your last performance at Red Rocks that you’d like to match on Sunday?
A: We played “The Raven Song” last time, which is an a capella song. It’s just Bonnie singing and we come in behind her. All of Red Rocks was quiet. To be with 9,000 people and have everybody all focused on and listening to the song and these words is so … the word “paranormal” comes to mind. It brought out this part of us that’s connected to everything. In that environment, it’s especially unifying.
Dylan Owens: 303-954-1785, dowens@denverpost.com
“Elephant Revival”
Nederland folk five-piece makes debut Red Rocks-headlining performance. Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band, Rising Appalachia and the Human Experience open. Sunday, Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Sold out. Go to .
