Music in the snow

In the summertime, it’s easy to find music festivals in Colorado. The weather makes everyone want to be outside, and live music makes it that much better.

It’s a little trickier in the winter.

The organizers of the first annual UllrGrass Festival –; named for the Norse god of winter –; are bringing some of the top names in the local bluegrass scene and brewers from Golden together to defy the elements and launch a winter music festival.

Coal Creek Music is hosting UllrGrass at multiple stages in Golden Jan. 30 through Feb. 1.

“We have great music here in Golden and Coal Creek Music has been looking to work with new festivals,” said Chris Thompson, executive director of UllrGrass & Coral Creek Music. “I’ve always lamented leaving town to see live music, and so we got involved with summer music. Not much happens when it snows but we want to pull people out of their igloos.”

The headliner of the show is legendary bluegrass performer Peter Rowan playing with members of Leftover Salmon and The Infamous Stringdusters. Other performers include Head for the Hills, Coral Creek, The Grant Farm, The Drunken Hearts, Rapidgrass Quintet, Thunder & Rain, Ragged Union, Caribou Mountain Collective, The Sweet Lillies and more.

Musicians will play at Parfet Park in the afternoon, the Golden Hotel, Mountain Toad Brewery during happy hour and Buffalo Rose for the evening sets.

Thompson said the beer festival will feature more than a dozen Colorado craft breweries, including Mountain Toad, Golden City and Coda. The beer festival will be 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Parfet Park.

Golden’s nearness to the mountain means the city is home to a lot of outdoor sports enthusiasts and Thompson is planning events for them as well throughout the festival.

“We’ going to have mountain climbing clubs doing activities and organized bike rides and walks,” he said.

Adam Kinghorn, guitarist for Head for the Hills, grew up in Golden and said he’s glad to see Thompson and Coal Creek bring more attention to the city’s live music scene. He has been a longtime advocate of the scene and is even featured in the Golden History Museum speaking about the music.

“Chris and I have been playing with each other’s bands for years now and he’s responsible in a lot of ways for the thriving music scene here,” Kinghorn said. “He knew we would want to be part of this festival and we’re so happy to be part of it.”

All the members of Head for the Hills write and sing and Kinghorn said they each bring their own influences, whether it’s jazz or punk, into the bluegrass they make.

“It’s a great time to be part of Colorado’s music scene –; I think people here are more open to new ideas,” he said. “Being able to listen to music outside is part of our culture out here, especially when you have the views we do.”

For tickets and more information visit .

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