A Golden way to celebrate the Fourth

The music at this year’s Fourth of July celebration in Golden will be as booming as the fireworks.

“It’s going to be the best lineup yet,” said Golden Lion Matt Byrne. “All of them are going to be a lot of fun.”

The bands, he said, are the forefront of the event this year.

The celebration will kick off at about noon on July 4 at Lions Park, 1300 10th St., in Golden.

Bands will begin at about that time, beginning with blues music from The Johnny O. Band, followed by Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts performing modern outlaw country and rock-and-roll headliners. Something Underground will play until “the first boom” of the fireworks display, Byrne said. And “so far, there’s no hold up for fireworks” this year.

Winners for the Golden Lions’ prize drawings will be announced during breaks among each band’s three-hour sets. Winners do not need to be present to win or claim prizes.

Tickets for the drawings are sold at various locations in Golden, including local businesses and the Golden Farmers Market. To find locations, visit www.goldenlionsclub.org/4thofjuly.

Proceeds benefit the event, and any remainder goes back into the community, Byrne said.

All the family-friendly activities will be offered again this year, including free face painting and rides for children. People may bring picnic lunches and non-alcoholic beverages to the park, and Golden’s American Legion Post 21 will have food and soda for purchase. A beer garden is offered for attendees of legal drinking age, and for the first time this year, sangria will be available.

As a former bar owner, Byrne has experience booking bands to please a crowd. For the past four years, he has focused on bringing a variety of music to each Fourth of July celebration.

“There will be something fun to do for all ages,” Byrne said. “Let’s … have some fun.”

Meet the bands

Blues

12:15-3 p.m.

The Johnny O. Band will be delivering some “high energy blues” to Golden’s Fourth of July celebration, said guitar and vocalist Johnny Ohnmacht.

“We’re trying to keep the blues alive,” he said. The band has “been working hard” and hopes to show the crowd how the band has developed. “We hope to make some new blues fans.”

The set will be a mix of original and cover songs, Ohnmacht said. People will hear some New Orleans funk sounds, and influences from the musical styles of Albert King and the Neville Brothers.

Current band members are Ohnmacht, Marion Edwards on drums and bassist Andy Irvine.

Based in Louisville, the band has been performing live since 1997 –; and is no stranger to Golden. The Johnny O. Band has played the Golden Lions’ Fourth of July celebration about five times in the past, Ohnmacht said.

The band was unable to perform at last year’s celebration because of a conflicting show, so Ohnmacht is happy to return this year.

“It’s a fun show for us,” he said. “It’s always fun to get in front of people and a big crowd.”

www.johnnyoband.com

Modern outlaw country

3:30-6 p.m.

Ryan Chrys hopes people will be “cuttin’ loose, dancin’ and havin’ fun” to Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts’ set of modern outlaw country at the Fourth of July celebration in Golden.

Band members include Ryan Chrys on vocals and guitar, Bradley Weaver on steel and vocals, Paul Lanier on bass and vocals and drummer Vic Stauffenberg.

Outlaw country can be described as the original country greats –; “Waylon, Willie and Johnny Cash” influences, Chrys said –; with a modern twist.

Some classic country cover songs will be performed, plus “crowd favorites and the band’s favorite originals,” Chrys said. And, he added, the band is releasing its fourth album this fall, so people will definitely get to hear some new songs.

Chrys is looking forward to “some connection, some inspiration and a whole bunch of fun.”

The Denver-based band has been performing live for four years, and has played Golden’s Buffalo Rose Saloon before.

“Golden is a beautiful and awesome town,” Chrys said.

www.roughcutsband.com

Rock

6:30 – 9:15 p.m.

Members of Denver-based rock band Something Underground love Golden and are excited to connect with the community at this year’s Lions’ Fourth of July celebration, said guitar and vocalist Seth Larson.

“We get to co-create energy with every single person who shows up,” he said. “It’s what fills our proverbial cup.”

Something Underground consists of Seth and his brother Joshua Larson on bass and vocals, and Trevor Mariotti on drums. The trio formed 16 years ago and has been performing live since.

Larson describes Something Underground as “high-energy dance” rock-and-roll.

Some cover songs people may hear include those of The Beatles, Depeche Mode, John Denver, Muse and Bob Marley.

Original songs will also be performed, Larson said, and added that all of the band’s original songs have a positive message. The message, he said, “reflects who we are on and off the stage.”

It’s a “sense of gratitude for being alive, playing music and people showing up,” he said, “that inspires us to be positive in the world.”

www.somethingunderground.com

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