Karaoke at the Mine Shaft Karaoke nights are held at Ned’s Cafe on Sundays at 7 p.m., The Mine Shaft on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and the Last Stand Tavern every other Friday at 6 p.m. PHOTO BY BARBARA HARDT[/caption]

The word karaoke is a portmanteau of the Japanese words for “empty” and “orchestra.” However, while creating recordings without lead vocals has been around since recording music began, it is heavily disputed where the concept of singing in a public space to tracks without vocals came from, and even how that concept was named.

In America, a TV show titled Sing Along With Mitch, which aired from 1961 to 1964, encouraged audiences at home to sing along with a male chorus to lyrics at the bottom of the screen. In the Philippines, Minus-One music was recorded on cassette tapes, becoming prevalent from the late 1960s to the late 1980s.

However, the concept of karaoke is most heavily associated with Japan. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known print appearance of the word occurred in The Japan Times in 1977, but the word itself probably existed before then.

Japanese musician Daisuke Inoue is widely credited as the inventor of the first karaoke machine. He saw the market potential for the product when frequent guests of the Utagoe Kissa, where he performed, asked him for recordings to sing along with. He created a tape recording that played songs for 100-yen coins. He never patented this invention.

In the 1980s, Filipino Roberto del Rosario patented a Minus-One machine that he developed in 1975. His patent, along with an additional patent as a “karaoke machine”, was not issued until the late 1980s due to a court battle with a Japanese company who claimed to have invented it first. In 1993, another patent dispute between Rosario and a Chinese company was filed. In 1996, the dispute was ruled in Rosario’s favor.

In the 1990s, karaoke as we know it today spread throughout Asia, Canada, the United States, Australia, and other Western countries, but karaoke lacked a strong market in the US and Canada. Because of this, karaoke machines were ultimately utilized instead for “home theater systems” as a side feature.

As more music became available on karaoke machines, people saw the potential for karaoke to be successful in entertainment settings. Public spaces still often hold karaoke nights, and it all started from a human interest in singing along to a solo musical track.

Karaoke nights are held at Ned’s Cafe on Sundays at 7 p.m., The Mine Shaft on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and the Last Stand Tavern every other Friday at 6 p.m.

Live music is back! That’s right. And in support of all of our local musician friends and venues, here are our weekly music listings.

Blue Owl Books & Boutique

Blue Owl is hosting an acoustic jam/pick once in a while. Check their Facebook page for updates!

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

Location: 106 Highway 119, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3695

Busey Brews

Sunday, August 29 at 3 p.m. - Gratefully Acoustic in the Garden

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Email: contact@buseybrews.com

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Caribou Room

Saturday, September 11 at 9 p.m. - Malai Llama

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

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

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3637

Covered Wagon

Check Covered Wagon’s Facebook page for consistent updates on upcoming music!

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

Website: https://www.coveredwagonrestaurant.com/

Location: 15 East 1st Street Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-7578

Gold Dirt Distillery

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

Website: http://golddirtdistillery.com/

Email: cheers@golddirtdistillery.com

Location: 60 Main Street, Rollinsville.

Phone: 1-773-540-9800

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, August 27 at 5 p.m.- Andrew Duhon Trio

Sunday, August 29 at 5 p.m. - Ragged Union Trio

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Email: cfinn@goldhillinn.com; bfinn@goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Central Store & Pub

Open pick one Thursday per month. Check with the store for more information.

Website: goldhillstore.com

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-7724

Howlin Wind Brewing

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

Location: 51 A Main St, Rollinsville.

Phone: 1-309-825-5245

Knotted Root Brewing

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

Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland.

Phone: 720-248-7129

Last Stand Tavern

Friday, August 27 at 6 p.m. - Karaoke with Entertainment by Native Fire

Saturday, August 28 at 5 p.m. - Rick Lobato & Chuck

Sunday, August 29 at 4 p.m. - Jonathan Browning Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ laststandtavern/

Website: http://laststandtavern.com/

Email: laststandtavern@gmail.com

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon.

Phone: 303-642-3180

Levit Street Market

Every Sunday at 10 a.m. - Robby Wicks

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

Location: 300 Gregory Street, Central City.

Ned’s Cafe

Dam Jam on Thursdays at 10 p.m.

Karaoke on Sundays at 7 p.m.

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

Website: https://www.eatatneds.com/

Email: eatatneds@gmail.com

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-303-258-0614

Salto Coffee Works

Check the Salto website and Facebook page for upcoming events!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Salto-Coffee-Works

Website: https://saltocoffeeworks.com/

Email: info@saltocoffeeworks.com

Location: 112 E. 2nd Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3537

The Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, August 26 at 6:30 p.m. - Trickster Carousel

Friday, August 27 at 6:30 p.m. - Banthom House

Sunday, August 29 at 12 p.m. - Paul Cataldo

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown.

Phone: 303-442-5847

The Mine Shaft

Wednesdays at 7 p.m. - Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Sunday, August 29 at 3 p.m. - The Foggy Tops Bluegrass Band

Saturday, September 4 at 5 p.m. - The Acousticators

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

Website: https://themineshaftned.com/

Location: 35 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-0649

The Train Cars Coffee and Yogurt Company LLC

Saturday, August 28 at Noon - Rick and Rex

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

Website: http://www.thetraincarscoffee.com/

Location: 101 Peak to Peak Highway, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-2455

Very Nice Brewing Company

Thursday, August 26 at 6 p.m. - Jazz with Dan Williams

Friday, August 27 at 6 p.m. - Strangebyrds

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

Website: http://www.verynicebrewing.com/

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

Phone: 303-258-3770

Did we miss you?

Did we miss your music listing in the Peak to Peak area? Do you have updates to your business? Please call 303-810-5409 or email publisher1977@gmail.com to be included in the next edition.