Welcome to a brand new music news series from Sonder: The Sonder Spotlight Series! We’ve been keeping this one under wraps for quite a while - and we’re so excited to reveal it to you! In the Sonder Spotlight Series, we’ll be going in depth of our coverage of Colorado shows, previewing and reviewing a single show every month (for now). In this series, I’ll be interviewing musicians, managers, and other show-related individuals before the show to give us an idea of what to expect. Then, Alyssa Montaño of Rocky Montaño Photography (and Sonder’s Director of Logistics) and I will be attending, photographing, and reviewing the show to bring you full coverage of some of the most exciting events happening in the Colorado Music Scene. If you’d like your show to be considered for the Sonder Spotlight Series, please email sonder.music.management@gmail.com.

Sometimes, a person comes into your life unexpectedly, and you can just see their passion worn on their sleeve. I feel like meeting one of these people - a person that you can connect with immediately over shared interests and devotions - is such a gift from the universe, or whatever higher power it is that you may believe in. For me, meeting another human that’s incredibly passionate about the music industry makes me feel so lucky - to have someone who “gets it,” to buld our community just a little, and to be able to lift Colorado music up together. I felt all of this when I first met Allyce Carlson (virtually of course) in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Through a series of social media events, Allyce asked me to be a guest on her podcast, Women, Wine, and Song, where she encourages her guests to be 100% their authentic selves. We had an awesome conversation about all things music industry, the impact of the pandemic, and life in general in this crazy time we live in. I was so happy to get to know her better. Fast forward to Summer of 2021. An event that we were both looking forward to for 2 years was coming up fast - Summer Camp Music Festival. Allyce, because she’s the bees knees, became a Summer Camp Camp Counselor. She truly embraces the spirit of what it means to be a Camp Counselor in so many ways. Make sure you check out her SCamp journey and all of the beautiful moments she captured at the festival this year. One of the most important parts of Summer Camp is building community - and Allyce took that mission to heart, even once she’d come back home. Her first independent event as a Summer Camp Camp Counselor came to fruition last Thursday: The NoCo Open Jam benfitting Groovesafe at 830 North. The event was presented by Allyce and by Mishawaka.

I’ve had my eye on Latin-Funk-Fusion-Soul band Profectic Calaveras for quite some time - and I am so excited that I got to talk with them about the things they’re moost passionate about. The four-piece band, based out of Durango, has a multitude of musical influences that they blend seamlessly into their signature sound - and I promise you, do not want to sleep on these guys. Luckily, you can check out their newest single, The Road Ahead, RIGHT NOW, and see them live on Oct. 23rd at Moe’s BBQ Englewood with The Buzz. Grab those tickets now and I will see you there!

Not only are the members of Profetic Calaveras incredibly talented musicians, they’re also humble and amazing humans who make Colorado’s music scene much richer for their presence. Make sure you check them out on social media! Please enjoy my conversation with the band below.

The past year has been a wild ride - that’s for sure. Along the way, I’ve gotten to meet, interact with, and work with so many wonderful musicians and artists who are committed to honing their craft and bringing their creativity to the people. In a year like the last one, that has been such a saving grace. One of the incredible musicians that I got to meet over the last year through a variety of avenues is Mark Cooley of Shuj Roswell and Shuj Roswell Live Band. Now, I have the extreme honor of announcing that Mark will be joining us here at Sonder Music Management.

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately getting to know Mark and his passion for his music and the local scene. I’m so excited that I got to interview him to introduce him as Sonder’s newest artist! Please enjoy learning all about Mark in this article - and don’t forget to pre-save his newest single, “Jus Because,” which is dropping THIS FRIDAY! It’s one for the fans and you won’t want to miss it. Please also check out Shuj Roswell on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud, Spotify, YouTube, Bandcamp, and Super Best Records, and keep up with his shows and tours on his website! Without further ado, please meet Mark Cooley:

The Colorado music scene is one of the most magical places for collaborations, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. It was amazing to see all of the artists who adapted and found creative ways to keep music alive during a time when live music was nearly nonexistant. The individuals who make up Oomah (Jake Hall) and Forrest Pump (Jeff Barlow, Rich Allison) exemplify that creativity, continuing to fuel the creative process by thinking outside of the box with their various projects, and increasing their digital footprint, leveraging technology to make new music possible. Today, these two projects released a new single, HAHAHA, available on all streaming platforms now. Of this new single, Jake Hall says, it’s “A grand orchestra of bass wobbles and arps conjured in a way that will blast you right out of your mask into outer space, it’s a weapon on the dance floor."

Once you’ve given HAHAHA a listen, I guarantee you’ll want to keep dancing. Luckily, Forrest Pump has two live shows tonight at Moe’s BBQ Englewood with Melody Lines so that you can do just that. Grab your tickets now - they’re going fast. Then, make sure to follow both Oohmah on Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud, and Forrest Pump on Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, Spotify, and wherever else you stream music.

I am so excited that I got to take a peek behind the curtain of the creative process and talk with Jake, Jeff, and Rich about their newest release, what they’ve learned from the pandemic, and what’s to come in 2021. Please enjoy these interviews with Oomah and Forrest Pump.

One of the most beautiful things about music is that it can mean anything to anyone. So many great songs are great because they are open for interpretation, and can mean different things to different people based on when they hear it, what’s going on their life, where they first hear the song, and so much more. Elise Lieberth’s approach to music as a tool and vehicle for healing and self-love serves that mission very well, ensuring that no matter who hears it, when they hear it, where they hear it, or what they’re going through, they’ll be able to relate and to take a very special, personal meaning from the song. As luck would have it, Elise realeased a brand new original, Live in Peace, TODAY - and it’s got a beautiful message paired with a Nashville sound. I had the extreme pleasure of talking with Elise about this new release, how her musical career has developed, what music means to her, and what’s in store for her in 2021. I hope you enjoy this interview with powerhouse singer-songwriter Elise Lieberth. Make sure to listen to her new single, Live in Peace, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.

“It’s funny how some people don’t come into the foreground of your life until the exact right moment - that moment when you need them to the most, and may not even realize it. That’s how I met Katie Mikesell, the newest contributor to the Sonder Blog. Katie and I went to high school together at Holy Family High School (which seems to be becoming a theme here), but were separated by a year. We didn’t really talk then; We knew of each other, but ran in different circles with different interests. As time pased, I couldn’t help feeling a growing connection with this semi-stranger, one built on parallel lives separated by hundreds of miles. One day a few years ago, and thank goodness for this, Katie reached out to see if we could grab a drink. We met up at Union Station and the rest is history. Katie is a sister of my soul - who values self-love, the beauty and passion of music, and finding the human connection in everyone. I love going to shows with her and experiencing music with her - and I am so beyond thrilled to bring her on as a contributor to the Sonder Blog. Without further ado, please enjoy Katie’s first piece.” - Sarah Shuel, Owner, Sonder Music Management

Christmas may be over, but there’s still plenty of excitement to be had. Today, starting at 12:00 p.m. ET (1:00 p.m. MT), Georgia Comes Alive will launch a one-day virtual music festival promoting active votership”in the upcoming runoff elections by supporting local grassroots organizations Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda and CivicGeorgia. Coordinated by HeadCount, the event will be produced by the team behind Democracy Comes Alive, Quarantine Comes Alive, and Justice Comes Alive, which collectively raised close to $300,000 and garnered nearly 2 million views. GCA is also proud to partner with Participant, the producers of the new film John Lewis: Good Trouble.” The festival’s stellar lineup includes several Colorado artists - Andy Frasco, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Big Gigantic, and Nathaniel Rateliff. To support these local artists and the overall cause, Sonder Music Management and Rocky Mountain Virtual have partnered to donate and will give away 5 tickets to the event to the first people to claim them in the comments of the Facebook posts, Instagram posts, or on this blog post. One of these five tickets will be given away in Dog House Music Studios’ name, as they continue to be an incredible support for our local Colorado music community, offering a place for artists and musicians to be seen and heard while venues’ doors remain closed.

New Years Eve is going to look much different from normal this year - but there are forces at work on the quest to ring in 2021 with as much joy, excitement, and yes, music, as ever. One of those forces is ARISE Music Festival, who is throwing an online bash, complete with performances from Desert Dwellers, Magic Beans, Spectacle, and Melody Lines, live painting with Laura McGowan, poetry, interviews, and more. Meant as a global celebration of the things that bring us together as a community, the night will also serve as a means to raise money for the performers and for all artists affected by the Covid-19 pandemic through donations to Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. It has been such a gift to work with ARISE Music Festival as partners to Rocky Mountain Virtual during these past 9 months, and I can’t imagine a better way to end 2020 and look toward a brighter future. I had the extreme honor of interviewing ARISE’s Executive Producer, Luke Comer, and its Marketing Director, Shannon Bock - the two people responsible for creating the magic that is ARISE Music Festival.

I have had the extreme honor of managing Denver Funk Titans Float Like a Buffalo for three years now. In that time, the band has made 3 appearances on the main stage at Red Rocks, have sold out major Colorado venues like The Bluebird and The Gothic Theaters, have joined the bills for major festivals and played with iconic headliners. has received multiple awards, including Denver Westword’s Best Funk Band, and released their freshman full-length album, Back from Nowhere, three singles - Sunday Afternoon, So Damn Cold, and Gone By Morning - and their newest 4-song EP, Vertigo.

I have a lot to thank these guys for. If it weren’t for Float giving me a chance, I would never have discovered my love of the music industry, and I’d probably still be working in corporate America, wondering what I was doing with my life. I wouldn’t have met the countless amazing individuals who I’ve come across in the process. I wouldn’t have 7 people who 100% have my back and have become my family.

It’s no secret that Cory Pearman, Float Like a Buffalo’s vocalist and rhythm guitar player and I have been together that same amount of time. In fact, we just got engaged. On Wednesday, December 9, 2020, Cory surprised me by getting down on one knee at Red Rocks - the most sacred place on earth to us - with all of my family and friends secretly in the audience. Cory is an incredible musician and human (though I know I’m biased), and I have wanted to interview him for a very long time. It was the perfect chance to do just that this weekend, and we got to talk about the thing he is most passionate about - music. Please enjoy my interview with Cory Pearman below.

Yes, the holidays are very different this year. We can’t get together to drink spiked egg nog in our ugly sweaters. There won’t be any White Elephant games with family and friends. Holidays cheers will be made over Zoom instead of in-person. December live musc is next to non-existant. However, no matter how dull the approaching season may seem, there are still ways to get in the holiday spirit. The thing that does it for me is Christmas music, and I’m super happy to present the Local Colorado Christmas Spotify Playlist by Sonder Music Management.

Well… it happened. We’re here again - in the red. We can’t eat inside restaurants, enjoy the company of friends at bars, or be graced with the gift of in-person live music of any kind. So many people are hurting right now, and the music community is one of the top industries when it comes to lost income due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. The local scene and independent venues have been especially hard, as many don’t have a security fund to fall back on. Local venue owners, full-time musicians, stage hands, lighting designers, sound engineers, and others involved behind the scenes have likely put everything they’ve got into the role they love. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t support your friends who are musicians or who work behind the scenes in the industry. Here’s how: