Charlie White first realized he loved playing music (“caught the bug,” as he puts it) when he started playing alto saxophone with his middle school jazz band. Around sixth grade, he also got his first guitar. He fell in love with improvising on the sax and learning chords on the guitar. At about fifteen, he started writing songs and experimenting with singing for the first time. He started an indie band in high school, having loved Modest Mouse and similar bands.

He took jazz guitar lessons at Peabody Preparatory in Baltimore before applying to Berklee College of Music. The school accepted him, but after a few semesters, he dropped out. He felt like the structure of the classes wasn’t for him. After taking a step back from college and moving back to Baltimore, he started teaching for the first time. Once there, he started gigging steadily. He decided to go back to Berklee, graduating with a degree in professional music with a focus on jazz guitar.

Once he moved to Colorado, he felt it took him a few years to get his footing. He started to make it a mission to gig as much as possible, but once COVID hit, that was no longer an option. During the pandemic, he ended up recording an electric album, Fate, which was primarily meant to promote himself to book more shows. He eventually fell into the bluegrass crowd in Boulder, which gave him a new leg up when it came to shows.

He is now focusing on acoustic songs with his solo gigs and his band Bear Hat. While working with his band Old Toby he writes in the electric funk genre.

White says he writes songs, first and foremost, for himself. He says that his more successful songs are those he goes into with a question, like “How do I feel about this?” rather than a statement, like “I feel this way.” He loves being able to step into a place that can come together after he starts playing his music, along with the variety of venues that he has the opportunity to play at. He ultimately hopes that the audience will walk away having heard something original yet familiar.

You can see Charlie White performing at the Gold Hill General Store, 531 Main Street in Gold Hill, on Friday, November 10, 2023, at 8 p.m.

Canyon Tavern

Saturday, November 4 at 6 p.m. - Kyle O’Brien

Saturday, November 11 at 6 p.m. - JJ Fraser

Saturday, November 18 at 6 p.m. - Branden Sipes

Saturday, November 25 at 6 p.m. - Nikki Z

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coalcreekcanyontavern

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon

Phone: 303-642-3180

Diner Bar Ned

Every Wednesday at 9 p.m. - Karaoke

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland

Gold Dirt Distillery

Wednesday, November 29 at 7 p.m. - Open Mic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldDirtDistillery

Location: 41 Main Street, Rollinsville

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, November 3 at 8 p.m. - Gasoline Lollipops

Saturday, November 4 at 7 p.m. - Faux Paws

Sunday, November 5 at 7:30 p.m. - A Tribute to Lucinda Williams

Friday, November 10 at 8 p.m. - Brandywine and the Mighty Fines

Saturday, November 11 at 7 p.m. - Jason Hicks and Amy Finders

Sunday, November 12 at 7 p.m. - Greg Schochet Trio

Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m. - Thom LaFond Band

Saturday, November 18 at 7 p.m. - Johnsmith with Dan Sebranek

Sunday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. - Jeffrey Foucault

Friday, November 24 at 8 p.m. - Orchard Creek Band

Saturday, November 25 at 7 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Sunday, November 26 at 7 p.m. - Aaron McCloskey and Alex Johnstone

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldHillInn/

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill General Store

Friday, November 3 at 7 p.m. - Esoteric Earth

Saturday, November 4 at 6 p.m. - Carly King

Friday, November 10 at 8 p.m. - Charlie White

Website: https://www.goldhillstore.com/

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-7724

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday November 11 at 4 p.m. - Old & In The Way Tribute

Saturday November 18 at 5 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Saturday November 25 at 5 p.m. - NoGo Gilbillies

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlinwindbrewing

Website: https://www.howlinwindbrewing.com/

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, November 2 at 7 p.m. - Andy Mann and Eli West

Friday, November 3 at 7 p.m. - Josy Rosales Bluegrass Band

Wednesday, November 15 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestown.mercantile/

Website: https://www.jamestownmercantile.com/

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown

Phone: 303-442-5847

JKQ BBQ

Friday, November 3 at 6 p.m. - Duey

Saturday, November 4 at 5 p.m. - Duey

Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Saturday, November 11 at 5 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Friday, November 17 at 6 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Saturday, November 18 at 5 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Friday, November 24 at 6 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Saturday, November 25 at 5 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JkqBbq/

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk

Phone: 720-316-1361

Kathmandu

Friday, November 10 at 5 p.m. - Foggy Tops Bluegrass Band

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathmanduRestaurant/

Website: https://kathmandurestaurant.us/nederland/

Location: 110 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-1169

Knotted Root Brewing

Sundays at 5 p.m. - Jazz Sundays

Website: https://www.knottedrootbrewing.com/home

Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland

Phone: 720-248-7129

Millsite Inn

Most Sundays at 4 p.m. - Open Jam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millsiteinn.moyer

Website: https://millsiteinn.wixsite.com/millsiteinn

Location: 44365 Highway 72, Ward

Phone: 720-547-9438

The Caribou Room

Friday, November 3 at 8 p.m - The Brothers Comatose w/ Rainbow Girls

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaribouroom/

Website: https://www.thecaribouroom.com/

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3637

Train Cars Coffee & Kava

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thetraincars

Location: 101 Highway 119, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-0440

Very Nice Brewing Co.

Friday, November 3 at 6 p.m. - Dr. Jim’s One Man Band

Saturday, November 4 at 5 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. - Ceramic Llama

Saturday, November 11 at 5 p.m. - Concrete Feedback

Thursday, November 16 at 6 p.m. - The Gael

Saturday, November 18 at 5 p.m. - Windy Pines

Friday, November 24 at 6 p.m. - Mad Dog Blues

Saturday, November 25 at 5 p.m. - Stone-Hall

Facebook: www.facebook.com/verynicebeer

Website: www.verynicebrewing.com/

Location: 20 E. Lakeview Drive, #112, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-3770

Did we miss you? Want to submit your music listing in the Peak to Peak area? Do you have updates to your business? Please call 303-810-5409 or email info@themountainear.com to be included in the next edition.