ROLLINSVILLE — Gospel music has the power to bring people together, no matter where they’re from or what they believe. The emerging lineup Chapel Mountain Rounders embrace the style for that exact reason.
Longmont resident Elijah Donovan, Nederland resident Matt Thomas, Rollinsville resident Courtlyn Bills, and Steamboat resident Kay McKenzie have consistently drawn hope from gospel music.
While Christian messages build the foundation of the style, the bluegrass musicians emphasize the joy that gospel brings outside of its religious themes.
“As an audience member," says Thomas, the group’s bassist, "whenever I go see a bluegrass gospel set somewhere, you walk out of there, and you feel like you’re walking on air."
The four play in other traditional and contemporary bluegrass groups: mandolinist Bills performs with progressive Denver-based quartet Magoo, Thomas and banjo player Donovan play with Tonewood String Band, and fiddle player McKenzie rounds out the cast of Deer Creek Sharp Shooters and The Little Moon Travelers.
In this new supergroup, which came spontaneously from conversations in a group chat, the members hope to bring bluegrass gospel to the Peak to Peak mountain community.
“The messages of hope and acceptance and being saved that all these songs provide are ultimately because we’re here to worship our creator,” Donovan says. “I’d be hard-pressed to find a more pure reason to play music than that.”
Christian messaging is important to the group, but they say the hope in these songs is what most resonates with audiences.
“Experiencing gospel music, you just feel the power of being good to your neighbor and being good to each other and feeling lighter through music,” says McKenzie, who considers herself spiritual but not religious.
The group hopes to connect with everyone who comes to their shows, not just people of faith. They say they’ve all seen the power of gospel music to bring people together.
Bills has experienced it himself in Magoo, especially when they play the overtly religious song “I’m Ready To Go” by Ricky Skaggs.
“Every time we start that song, the whole crowd lights up heavier than they do for most of the rest of the show,” he says. “No matter who they are.”
Chapel Mountain Rounders will perform their debut show at Howlin' Wind Brewing and Blending, located at 51 A Main Street in Rollinsville, on Sunday, December 21, 2025, starting at 1 p.m.
