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.

Colorado Jam Band The Buzz has been making quite the buzz (you knew I had to) over the past few years in the scene! I was lucky enough to see these guys play with Profetic Calaveras at Moe’s BBQ in Englewood for their Halloween show this year. Seeing The Buzz live is quite an exprience, with many highs and lows to their music that draw you in and keep you captivated for their entire set. I’m so excited that I got to ask these guys a few questions and Tom and Methiah gave me some great answers with insight into what drives their music, what their biggest dreams are, and what we can look forward to in 2022 from The Buzz. These guys have hearts of gold and they’re incredibly gifted musicians - so it’s easy to see why they’re on the upward trajectory. Enjoy their interview below, and don’t forget to check out their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify for upcoming show dates and announcements!

Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays - and it is so often overlooked. It’s one of the only days of the year when everything is closed and there are no distractions to take our attention away from family, friends, and all of the things that we are the most grateful for. Last year, we had to look hard to find the silver lining after being dealt a hard hand over 2020. Last year, in many ways, was one of the most beautiful Thanksgivings yet, because, after losing many things, we all truly got to see what we actually have. Not things, not plans, not new gadgets or clothes - but the people who stuck by us during the hardest of hard times, the simple beauties of every day life that we got to see once forced to slow down, the wonderful things that were born of forced creativity, and the hope that all we had lost over 2020 would return in a magnificent way. This year is a continuation of that, because on Thanksgiving Day 2021, though the future is still uncertain (isn’t it always?) and we’re not quite out of the woods yet, we have gotten back what we have lost - for me, live music - and that’s something to be incredibly thankful for.

I know I sound like a broken record sometimes, but I just feel so freakin’ lucky to be a part of the Colorado music scene and to have the opportunity to meet and get to know people like Michelle Flower Olson. It’s so incredible to watch my community members absolutely killing the game and self actualizing themselves through it - and it’s incredibly empowering to see that so many of them are badass females. I’ve been wanting to get to know Michelle, or Flower as she likes to be called, for quite a while. Luckily, after months of talking online and coordinating through the pandemic, we got to meet in person at Moe’s BBQ in Englewood at a show with The Buzz, Profetic Calaveras, and Matt Weiman Band last month. Flower is an inspiration to me, and she represents everything I strive for in the scene - to be a light guiding the way and elevating the entire community, to connect the human in each and every one of us, and to spill over with passion for the Colorado scene. Since then, I’ve been lucky to continue the conversation with Flower, and I’m beyond humbled to get to share this interview with her. Enjoy!

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:

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 is indisputable that Denver is one of the most rapidly growing cities in The United States. The rapid growth Denver has experienced has created a melting pot of cultures that have enhanced and expanded Denver in the areas of music, food, and entertainment. Being born in Colorado, I have been able to grow up and watch Denver’s music scene form into what it is today. This has given me the ability to form an appreciation for of a lot of different music styles.

On any given night in Denver (During the Pre-COVID era) you could walk down Colfax and see a Hip-Hop/Rap show going on at The Fillmore, an EDM show at The Ogden, and a rock show at The Bluebird. The variety of choices in the music that Denver provides can be overwhelming and intimidating to newcomers and visitors. Living in Colorado since I was born, I have been able to experience many parts of the vast variety the Denver music scene has to offer. I’ve come up with a list of 5 ways newcomers and visitors can explore and experience the music scene in Colorado to the fullest.

“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

I can remember the exact moment that Charla Harvey came into my life - and I’m so so so thankful she did! She is not only one of the best concert photographers in the state, but also a force of positivity and light. I’ve gotten to work with Charla on many shows - she’s always my number one pick when it comes to concert photography! Over the years, I’ve also had the privelege of coming to be friends with her. I wanted to highlight Charla’s amazing photography and magical personality, so I interviewed her so she could tell you about what she does in her own words. Like thousands and thousands of people, Charla has been harshly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, but remains positive and hopeful through it all. Please enjoy Charla’s incredible photography and reading her story, and be sure to support by purchasing one of her photo masks, following her on Facebook and Instagram, and visiting her website to book a shoot!

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.