KRFC Around Town

Poudre Valley Playboys, a collaboration of Colorado guitar phenomenon Josh Long and upright bass aficionado Mark Verschoor, is high-octane classic country-rockabilly-surf music that gets any crowd jumping and hollering within the first few bars. 

 Josh and Mark dig deep into the archives to pull out some overlooked gems of yesteryear in addition to cult classics from the rockabilly, country, and surf music scenes. A typical mixing-it-up medley they’ll do is “Ghost Riders in the Sky” mixed with “El Cumbanchero.” With Mark Vershoor’s powerhouse bass licks and Josh Long’s riveting electric guitar riffs, this duo sounds like a full band on fire.

Looking for a party? Look no further; Frogboat has you covered. Weaving an eclectic mix of stylings from funk, rock, and jazz, the band ties their sonic landscape together with undeniably dancey grooves and explosive energy. Hailing from Northern Colorado, Frogboat is ready and waiting to hit the stage and bring their fans to the dance floor. 

Michael Kirkpatrick, Rocky Mountain-based vocalist and songwriter blends elements of acoustic fingerstyle and folk rock to cradle lush songscapes in a fuzzy paradoxical blanket of sunshine and fog. Obsessed by mandolin, guitar and groomed by bluegrass festival culture, Michael has carved a unique presence in the Colorado singer-songwriter, string band and rock scene. With a voice that ranges from a quiet rumble to powerful mountain-top exclamation, Michael's passionate vocals bring to life lyrics about dreams, sensuality, and reverence for nature.

Fresh Fruit! is a Denver based group engaging listeners in their “smooth soul butter”. After two years of having stirred their groovy spoon in the bowl of fruity loops, the cereal was long past soggy. Through the first two years, each of the boys had experienced enough transformative life experience bullshit to inspire them to completely scrap their first EP attempt, revolutionary. Feeling that their few years of late teen angst, horniness, and poor decision making were better left behind, a new project was born from the ash of the dumpster fire. Now having refreshed the bowl with the far superior crispy fruity pebble beats and a hip splash of almond milk freshness , they have revived the standard of breakfast dining that gets the day moving. No longer living in a world of dorm room smog, cliche catching of feelz, or juvenile dick following behavior, they feel their new material pays homage to their past selves. Better suited to exploring themselves as hip and somewhat educated new musicians, their dad sandals are ready to walk all over god's green earth to groove with whoever will listen. Whether you take your sugary bowl of cereal in the morning to kick start your day, as an afterschool snack to put off the homework, or a midnight delicacy to ensure the sugar nightmares, Fresh Fruit! invigorates the senses to orgasmic release.

Gora Gora Orkestar brings the sounds of the Old World to the Rocky Mountains performing high-energy Balkan and Klezmer music. Formed in 2009, this 11-piece brass band is dedicated to making the audience dance with driving rhythms and innovative approaches to the traditional music of Eastern Europe. Since its formation, Gora Gora has focused on learning this music with attention and authenticity, and its members have had the chance to learn from experts in the field at events such as Balkan Camp and KlezKanada.

Garden District is a Funk and Neo-Soul band from northern Colorado fusing multiple influences of old and new sounds. Great music to nod your head and shake your hips to!

Since 2021 Libélula has captivated audiences across Colorado's Front Range. Their music is both exciting and soulful, blending Funk and Groove with R&B and Jazz.

With powerful, soaring vocals and enthralling improvisations, Libélula's exhilarating sound brings audiences to their feet and dancers to the dance floor!

Violet Pilot’s musical adventure is just beginning, and will continue to evolve. We’re excited for the future and the incredible music we will make. 

With Love, 

Jo, Sean and Michael & Daenk

Born in 2017 from the Fort Collins’ Irish scene at Mulligan’s Pub, Once Upon a Tune is a lively, traditional, Celtic group featuring the inspired, creative fiddle musings of Janel Vanderwarf, expressive guitar rhythms of Scott Steidley, and primal bodhran accompaniment of Mary Ellen Watterson.

Janel Vanderwarf picked up the fiddle at the age of sixteen and never looked back. Self-taught, Janel “found the soul” of her instrument at Alasdair Fraser’s famous fiddle camp, Valley of the Moon. A consummate musician and beautiful vocalist, Janel is delightful to watch and will “dance her way” into your heart. 

Scott Steidley brings incredible talent to the group with his driving, rhythmic guitar and melodic, syncopated whistle. Scott’s stylistic playing is reminiscent of some of the biggest names in Irish music today. 

Mary Ellen Watterson is a classically trained percussionist and has been playing percussion since she was a little girl. From kit to cajon, or djembe to bodhran, Mary rounds out the group with her contemporary take on voicing the bodhran. 

Dusty-altcountry-americana is at the heart of Colorado born and raised singer-songwriter, Taylor Shae’s sound. Having rocked stages at festivals and venues across Colorado since 2016, Taylor brings stories of outlaws & dreamers to life in her songs, with velvety-toned, powerhouse vocals. 

At 24, the songwriter has independently released 4 albums, a handful of singles, and has earned awards for her craft such as Sustain’s Backyard Songscape Competition in 2020, eTown’s Handmade Songs in 2017, and more. Taylor was also selected as an alternate for the 2024 Planet Bluegrass Telluride Troubadour Songwriting Competition.

Currently calling Fort Collins, CO home, you’ll catch Taylor performing as a duo or recently with a full band, amplifying the alt-country/rock energy that many of her songs lean into. Taylor’s opened for Eli Young Band, Caitlyn Smith, AJ Lee & Blues Summit, The Patti Fiasco, & more across venues like Washington’s, Aggie Theatre, and festivals like the WHAT Festival, FoCoMX, the UMS, Bohemian Nights, and many more.

Taylor’s latest single “Smoke & Lead” released May 3, an alt-country anthem telling the tale of scorned lovers in small towns where secrets are left to lie in the dirt. The outlaw guitars are a driving force of the shadows while the vocals bleed of country-rock harmonies. This song is best suited for driving down an unmarked road – the story on the rugged edge of truth untold.

Learn more and follow Taylor Shae at taylorshaemusic.com, or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as @taylorshaemusic.