by David Smith
The Blue Canyon Boys perform at Snowygrass Festival in Estes Park, Colorado - photo by Richard Johnson
Declaration: we, the Colorado bluegrass community, have taken the Blue Canyon Boys for granted. No Longer! Let’s take a stand and readily admit their presence. Their time in this day and age. They are today’s Colorado band that renders the throwback like no one else. From singing out “Matterhorn” to “THANKS!” on the backside of Jason Hicks’ guitar like a cry out of yesteryear’s promise.
In the modern day, Jason Hicks and Gary Dark are the bluegrass brother harmonies of Colorado. Like the traditions of the genre’s founding in the 1940’s and 50’s finding new life in the 60’s and 70’s, Hicks and Dark define Colorado’s “2 nd generation” when the Centennial State’s folk and bluegrass of the 70’s and 80’s moved into the successful festivals, national touring bands, and thriving local scenes of the 90’s and early 2000’s. And we haven’t even taken into account longtime bass play and trio singer, Drew Garrett on bass, who, along with Chris Roszell on banjo, creates an all-around bluegrass band as purposeful and driven as the greats who balance tradition and originality, honoring the past with a respectful and unchanged mission through a no-holds-barred approach to singing, playing, and writing.
And who more to represent Colorado bluegrass? There are those aged with time (no disrespect), there are newcomers with licks and antics to swoon upon on a late night with bar tab too far run, but then there are the believers – the truth of voice and history and catalog – the working road warriors who represent bluegrass music with integrity at every turn. The Blue Canyon Boys have made their mark as believers, but it often feels like a distant longing call; a sound from a far that needs to no longer echo through the valley, but instead be in our town, on the front porch, knocking at the front door. The sound of the Blue Canyon Boys should be in our pocket like a favorite pipe, their song one to sing with friends around a high-country fire when the wind blows cold to lean us in.
How about Colorado? There are city bands and rural bands. Rowdy bar bands and arranged concert hall bands. Bands that know where the backstage beer pours, the late-night picks falling to hidden ears lucky to find that place at that time, the sublime sobriety of a hushed venue under the spell of bluegrass harmony and note. The Blue Canyon Boys have lived all these lives and continue to dance the dance in a style unmatched with suit, tie, and purple paisley shoes that would have brought a jealous glint to Prince’s eye. They’ll throw down on the main stage. They’ll pick with the legends. They’ll be amongst the people in the corridors, the fields and dirt, no fear of “Wild Bill Jones,” no hesitation of “Live and Let Live.” Key of A. Key of B. And always with an original song at-ready (more so than covers within their sets today), to meld with the classics through lonesome themes and a bounce to the pick.
So let this declaration ring true: we, the Colorado bluegrass community, will no longer take the Blue Canyon Boys for granted. Here they come calling out the bluegrass truth up on the next festival stage. They’ll be at Midwinter and all will be pleased. But be more so. Be thankful the real deal thrives and yearns for your ear here in our mountain state.
Find The Blue Canyon Boys vast catalog of music and upcoming shows at
and see who they’ll join on the Midwinter Bluegrass Festival stage, February 14-16, at https://www.midwinterbluegrass.com.
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