When Vince Herman was young (the youngest of seven children), he absorbed all of the music his elder siblings would listen to. One of his brothers made him a plywood guitar with rubber bands, and at around three years old, Herman was already entertaining his mother’s card club by playing this homemade instrument. He played in church as a kid and eventually started busking in downtown Pittsburgh.

Herman went to West Virginia University in Morgantown, where he started playing a lot of bluegrass and performing at bars. Some of his first real gigs involved singing union songs at labor history presentations, which occurred before he moved to Colorado in 1985. Within the next five years, he would join and start multiple bands, including the Left Hand String Band, The Salmon Heads, and eventually, Leftover Salmon.

Herman cites Doc Watson, David Bromberg, and Roland White as major influences on his style of music, and he says that when it comes to playing music, bluegrass is the style that caught his ear. He primarily plays with other people, and his solo band, the Vince Herman Band, is often the closest he will get to playing alone. While he does occasionally play by himself, he loves the moments when jam sessions flow together seamlessly and when people who don’t normally play together can find their groove. He says it’s almost as if the music is playing the musician instead of the other way around.

Herman feels lucky that he has been able to perform music for a living for as long as he has. He hopes that people who come to his shows, particularly his upcoming performances, leave feeling a sense of community around them, and he is excited to help people come together for the holidays.

If you want to see Vince Herman performing live, you can see him with a smattering of other musicians for A Very Hillbilly Caribou Christmas at The Caribou Room, 55 Indian Peaks Drive in Nederland, on Saturday, December 16, 2023. Doors open and dinner starts at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.

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Music Events

Busey Brews

Sunday, December 10 at 2 p.m. - Troy Yanel

Sunday, December 17 at 2 p.m. - Brittney Wagner

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Canyon Tavern

Saturday, December 9 at 6 p.m. - Rick Lobato

Saturday, December 16 at 6 p.m. - Neil Z

Saturday, December 23 at 6 p.m. - Chris Koltak

Saturday, December 30 at 6 p.m. - Jordan Yewey

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

Website: https://canyontavern.com/

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon

Phone: 303-642-3180

Diner Bar Ned

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. - Damn Jam (Open Jam Night)

Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. - Karaoke

Sundays at 6 p.m. - Open Mic Night (Starting December 10)

Friday, December 8 at 9 p.m. - Reggae Night with Well Chuned

Saturday, December 9 at 9 p.m. - Benjamin Sproul Trio

Friday, December 15 at 9 p.m. - Dj Max Kruse

Friday, December 29 at 9 p.m. - Facemelt Fridays with Godlazer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095276740341

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland

Eldora Mountain Resort

Friday, December 8 at 12 p.m. - CTRLZ

Saturday, December 9 at 9 a.m. - CTRLZ

Saturday, December 9 at 1 p.m. - Kylie Brock

Sunday, December 10 at 9 a.m. - Iris Berkeley

Sunday, December 10 at 1 p.m. - Otis Lande & Matt Flaherty Jazz Duo

Friday, December 15 at 12 p.m. - Warren Ji

Saturday, December 16 at 9 a.m. - DJ Garret

Saturday, December 16 at 1 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Sunday, December 17 at 9 a.m. - DJ Garret

Sunday, December 17 at 1 p.m. - Alex Thoele of Chain Station

Friday, December 22 at 12 p.m. - DJ Mista.Cal

Saturday, December 23 at 9 a.m. - GODLAZER

Saturday, December 23 at 1 p.m. - Ashlei Priest

Friday, December 29 at 12 p.m. - DJ Drake

Saturday, December 30 at 9 a.m. - Pistol Pete

Saturday, December 30 at 1 p.m. - Eric Richard Stone

Sunday, December 31 at 9 a.m. - Iris Berkeley

Sunday, December 31 at 1 p.m. - Al Laughlin and Will James of The Samples

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

Website: https://www.eldora.com/

Location: 2861 Eldora Ski Road, Nederland

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, December 8 at 8 p.m. - The Fretliners

Saturday, December 9 at 7 p.m. - Half Pelican

Sunday, December 10 at 7:30 p.m. - Moors and McCumber

Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. - New Family Dog with Brittney Wager

Saturday, December 16 at 7 p.m. - Montana Sand

Sunday, December 17 at 6:30 p.m. - Fly in the Ointment

Friday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. - Holiday Mountain Music Party

Saturday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m. - Daniel Rodriguez

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill General Store

Sunday, December 17 at 3 p.m. - Foggy Tops Bluegrass Band

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

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-7724

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, December 16 at 6 p.m. - Joy (Big Richard) and Mark (Rapid Grass)

Sunday, December 17 at 12 p.m. - Holiday Market

Sunday, December 31 at 6 p.m. - Steepland String band

Sunday, December 31 at 10 p.m. - Riverspell

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

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

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m. - Jeremy Mohney

Friday, December 8 at 7 p.m. - Chuck Sitero (of High Lonesome) and Friends

Thursday, December 14 at 7 p.m. - Danny Shafer

Wednesday, December 20 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic Night

Thursday, December 21 at 7 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Thursday, December 28 at 7 p.m. - D’Lovelies

Friday, December 29 at 7 p.m. - Lewis Turner Trio

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown Phone: 303-442-5847

JKQ BBQ

Friday, December 8 at 6 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Saturday, December 9 at 5 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Friday, December 15 at 6 p.m. - Duey

Saturday, December 16 at 5 p.m - Duey

Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Saturday, December 23 at 5 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Friday, December 29 at 6 p.m. - Jimmy Lewis

Saturday, December 30 at 5 p.m. - Jimmy Lewis

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

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk

Phone: 720-316-1361

Kathmandu

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

Thursday, December 7 at 3 p.m. - Aprés Thursdays with Zubnotic

Friday, December 8 at 5 p.m. - Alphatones Saturday, December 9 at 5 p.m. - Daft Phish

Sunday, December 10 at 5 p.m. - Sunday Jazz with Saber

Thursday, December 14 at 3 p.m. - Aprés Thursdays with PJ Moon

Friday, December 15 at 5 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Saturday, December 16 at 6 p.m. - WHUMPF!

Sunday, December 17 at 5 p.m. - Sunday Jazz with Saber

Thursday, December 21 at 3 p.m. - Aprés Thursdays with Riverspell

Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. - The Pineytops

Saturday, December 23 at 5 p.m. - Dead Phish Duo

Sunday, December 24 at 5 p.m. - Sunday Jazz with Saber

Thursday, December 28 at 3 p.m. - Aprés Thursdays with Mickey Lenny

Friday, December 29 at 5 p.m. - Andrew McConathy

Saturday, December 30 at 4 p.m. - Mark Kuban

Sunday, December 31 at 5 p.m. - Sunday Jazz with Saber

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

Friday, December 8 at 6 p.m. - Foggy Tops Bluegrass Band

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

Saturday, December 16 at 7 p.m. - A Very Hillbilly Caribou Christmas with Vince Herman & Friends

Sunday, December 31 at 7 p.m. - NYE Show- Pimps of Joytime with David Lawrence & The Spoonful

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

Saturday, December 9 at 9 p.m. - Bulas and Beats featuring Some Lucky Dust, Glipish, Worm, Iris and Jelli

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

Location: 101 Highway 119, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-0440

Very Nice Brewing Co.

Friday, December 8 at 6 p.m. - Reservoir Fog

Saturday, December 9 at 5 p.m. - Paul Dyer

Friday, December 15 at 6 p.m. - Jay Stott

Saturday, December 16 at 5 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

Sunday, December 17 at 4 p.m. - Holiday Music with the Brassaholics

Thursday, December 21 at 6 p.m. - The Gael

Friday, December 22 at 6 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Saturday, December 23 at 5 p.m. - Stone-Hall

Friday, December 29 at 6 p.m. - Windy Pines

Saturday, December 30 at 5 p.m. - Concrete Feedback

Facebook: www.facebook.com/verynicebeer Website: www.verynicebrewing.com/

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

Phone: 303-258-3770

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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.