The Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College will bring the world to Durango, featuring an eclectic mix of performers from the far reaches of the globe as well as from across the United States during its up-coming 2015-2016 performing arts series. Tickets for confirmed shows are on sale at www.durangoconcerts.com, by phone at 247- 7657, or in person at the Ticket Office inside the Durango Welcome Center at Eighth Street and Main Avenue.
The line-up of confirmed shows for 2015-2016, including brief show descriptions, follows below. This line-up is subject to change.
Tinariwen, with Special Guest Insects vs. Robots
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22 $44/$34
For members of the North African Saharan blues band Tinariwen, the desert is their home, and the complex realities of this homeland are reflected in the band's hypnotic and electrifying guitar rock. Tinariwen's band members are Tuareg, descended from nomadic people who have wandered the dunes for millennia. Tinariwen's inaugural album, recorded in the Algerian desert, won a Grammy for best world music. Special guest Insects vs. Robots is a self-proclaimed psychotropicturesque quasi-nomadic music tribe roaming the jungles of Los Angeles. The dance floor will be open.
Hard Working Americans
7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30 $25
Hard Working Americans is a quintet formed by singer-songwriter Todd Snider, featuring Dave Schools (of Widespread Panic), Neal Casal, Duane Trucks, Chad Staehly and Jesse Aycock. The sound is a canny fusion of folk, rock and a remembrance of jam bands at their best. Hard Working Americans is a mission as much as a band, sporting a bold rallying cry for true American individualism, freedom and community. As the band notes, "The deepest thing music does is make people dance, and Hard Working Americans is here to make folks move." The dance floor will be open.
Jazz on the Hill, featuring Joyce Lyons and Friends
A fundraiser for the Russ & Bette Serzen Endowment Fund for Concert Hall operations
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 $100
Jazz on the Hill features an evening of fine food and music in support of the Community Concert Hall. Guests dine on the Concert Hall stage and are treated to a performance from Joyce Lyons. Lyons' rich alto has been compared to Dianne Reeves and Oleta Adams as she digs into the lyrics and meaning of a song, whether it's classic Broadway, the Great American Songbook or hard-swinging Jazz. Elaine Stritch, Bobby Short and Jonathan Schwartz all have highly praised Lyons' talent, and according to Tony Award-winning composer Stephen Flaherty, "Joyce Lyons makes each and every song truly her own. Her performances are both timeless and timely. Joyce is a true original." Lyons will be backed by Graydon Peterson (bass), Jay Epstein (drums) and Phil Aaron (keyboards). Seating is limited.
Matuto, Brazil Meets Appalachia
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 23 $24/$19
Matuto's rocking combination of Brazilian forro and American bluegrass music creates an infectious and engaging rhythm, earning the group the well-deserved reputation as one of the most innovative groups in world music today. The songs sway hips and spark insights, and on stage, the instruments (accordion, guitar, bass, drums, cavaquinho, zabumba and triangle) whirl around the core of Matuto's sound - an unlikely combination on paper, but on the dance floor, it feels just right. The dance floor will be open.
The Lone Bellow, with Special Guest Anderson East
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1 $30/$24
A band described by NPR as one "that's climbed the Van Morrison family tree straight to its highest branch," The Lone Bellow mixes folk sincerity, gospel fervor, and heavy metal thunder. The heart of the band is harmony: three voices united in a lone bellow. Special Guest Anderson East is a new American artist, known for his songwriting and unique vocal ability, as well as collar-grabbing performances that are both nuanced and passionate. The dance floor will be open.
Dustbowl Revival
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8 $19/$15
Based in Venice, Calif., Dustbowl Revival brings together a variety of American music styles - from old school bluegrass and gospel, to pre-war blues and the hot swing of New Orleans. Known for roaring live sets, Dustbowl Revival was named "Best Live Band in L.A." by The L.A. Weekly. No matter what venue the band plays, it's an old-time dance party made fresh by some of the best musicians in the business. The dance floor will be open.
Las Cafeteras
7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 $24/$19
Born in the streets of Los Angeles, Las Cafeteras formed as a band in 2008 with the purpose of documenting the histories of their neighborhoods through music. The musicians were students when they launched their mission at the Eastside Café, a Zapatista-inspired community space in East Los Angeles. There, the band members were influenced by the culture, storytelling and poetic music of Son Jarocho, a traditional music from Veracruz, Mexico. Las Cafeteras has taken the music scene by storm with its infectious live performances, crossing genres and musical borders. The dance floor will be open.
Get the Led Out - the American Led Zeppelin
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14 $37/$29
From the bombastic and epic, to the folksy and mystical, Get the Led Out (GTLO) has captured the essence of the recorded music of the renowned Led Zeppelin, bringing it to the concert stage. The band's accomplished musicians recreate Zeppelin's songs in all their depth, including the studio overdubs that Zeppelin never performed live. Whether it's the passion and fury with which GTLO delivers the blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems, or the delicate nature of the band's intimate, sit-down acoustic set, GTLO's attention to detail and nuance makes a Get The Led Out performance a truly awe-inspiring experience. The dance floor will be open.
ENRA
7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22 7:30 p.m. $49/$39
"ENRA" is a one-of-a-kind stage presentation that combines elements of dance, performance art, graphics, light, music and more. Advancements in technology have allowed for this unique fusion of images and live performers. The troupe features some of Japan's most talented artists, masters in a variety of genres including Kung-fu, acrobatics, ballet, juggling, rhythmic gymnastics and animation dance.
Nagata Shachu
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28 $34/$28
Rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, Nagata Shachu's goal is to rejuvenate the ancient art form of taiko through innovative and exciting music. Under the direction of Kiyoshi Nagata, the ensemble has become renowned for its exciting, straightforward, yet physically demanding performances, as well as for its diverse repertoire. Nagata Shachu features a vast array of Japanese taiko (including the massive O-Daiko), gongs, bells, wooden clappers, shaker and bamboo flutes, ultimately producing a wide spectrum of sound.
Chris Cagle
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31 $49/$39/$29
Chris Cagle's self-proclaimed version of "redneck rock 'n' roll," has been firing up audiences for more than a decade. Raised in Houston, Cagle is said to be one of the hardest working performers in country music and known for giving his fans a memorable show. Whether it's a club or a much larger venue, Cagle knows what it takes to be an entertainer as he performs a non-stop mix of country, rock 'n' roll, and emotional ballads.
BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 $38/$28
For the past 40 years, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet has been creating potent and popular Cajun music. Born out of the rich Acadian ancestry of its members, and created and driven by bandleader Michael Doucet's spellbinding fiddle playing and soulful vocals, BeauSoleil is known for bringing even the most staid audience to its feet. BeauSoleil's distinctive sound derives from the spirit of New Orleans jazz, blues rock, folk, swamp pop, Zydeco, country and bluegrass.
David Sedaris
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10 $49/$39
NPR humorist and bestselling author of Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim and Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, David Sedaris has become one of America's pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. For Sedaris, laughter isn't just a facet of life - it's the quintessential lifeblood of it.
An Evening with Suzy Bogguss
7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 $35/$25
Walking the line between critical acclaim and commercial success, Suzy Bogguss remains one of the rare artists who has pleased fans and critics alike with her vocal style, musicianship and meaningful lyrics. One of the most acclaimed female country singers of the late '80s and '90s, she blends songs of substance and depth with mass-market appeal and balanced country tradition with a contemporary mainstream sensibility.
State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara's "Nutcracker," featuring the San Juan Symphony
7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015 $39/$29
As has become tradition at the Community Concert Hall, the magical holiday ballet, "Nutcracker," performed by the highly-acclaimed State Street Ballet of Santa Barbara, will usher in the holidays with two matinee and two evening performances. Artistic Director Rodney Gustafson holds true to the original classical ballet in this Tchaikovsky masterpiece, creating a traditional "Nutcracker" set in Victorian times and suited for all ages. For the first time at the Community Concert Hall, the ballet will feature a live orchestra, as the San Juan Symphony is set to perform.
Bar D Wranglers Christmas Jubilee 2015
7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17 $28/$18
Durango's much-beloved cowboy crooners come off the Bar D and return to the Community Concert Hall stage for their traditional cowboy Christmas show. Founded by Cy Scarborough in 1969, the Bar D Wranglers offer their own unique style of Western music, cowboy poetry and humor. The Christmas Jubilee is a warm-hearted and fun-filled show that inspires the entire family to remember the true meaning of the holidays.
The 2016 schedule will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Times.
