John Shepherd grew up listening to musicians like James Taylor and Cat Stevens, as well as Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, and wanted to play like them someday. He picked up a guitar in law school, playing as a creative outlet when he should have been studying. He moved to LA to pursue his career as a lawyer, hanging around in coffee shops and becoming more interested in playing. He came to Boulder in 1994, playing a few gigs around town before life got in the way.

Around lockdown time, Shepherd saw a Boulder band called The Samples, and he started talking to Wrenn Van, a backup vocalist for the group. She told him he should open for her, and when he said he hadn’t played out for 28 years, she told him to go home and practice. So he did, and he’s been gigging around the Front Range since. Over these last few years, he’s formed an ever-changing group of guitarists, vocalists, and percussionists in the area whom he admires, calling them the Front Porch Posse.

For Shepherd, it’s all about live performances. He doesn’t care about making it financially as a musician, and he’s not necessarily focused on making an album. Rather, he cares more about the moments when entire families will come up and sing songs like “Puff The Magic Dragon” with him and his group, bringing joy to everyone involved. He wants the audience to be moved by his performances and let him know when a certain verse of any of the songs he sings sticks out to them. To him, the community that forms from the music they play is the most important part of their performances.

Charles Gallant, who has been performing with Shepherd for at least the last year and a half, found himself playing gigs almost every weekend once the two met. While Shepherd usually chooses the set-list before each show, reading what the crowd would most like, Gallant feels like he has the opportunity to tell him what he wants to play and work improvisations into his shows. He loves being able to work with so many talented musicians to create something that feels unique to each room they play, and he hopes that the audience loves the vibe that John and the rest of the group give off in their shows.

You can see John Shepherd and the Front Porch Posse perform at the Jamestown Mercantile, 108 Main Street in Jamestown, on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 10 a.m.

Music Events

Busey Brews

Sunday, March 3 at 2 p.m. - Shawn Cunnane

Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. - Lost Penny Duo

Sunday, March 17 at 2 p.m. - Nick of Time and Steph Jay

Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. - Sarah Banker

Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m. - Shakina Ma

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. First Street, Nederland

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Diner Bar Ned

Tuesdays at 9 p.m. - DAMN Jam: Open Jam Night

Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m. - Karaoke

Fridays at 9 p.m. - DJ Friday

Sundays at 6 p.m. - Open Mic Night

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

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland

Eldora Mountain Resort

Friday, March 1 at 11 a.m. - Friday Timbers Taphouse: PJ Moon

Friday, March 1 at noon - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: Sundragon

Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m. - Subaru WinterFest Day 1

Sunday, March 3 at 9 a.m. - Subaru WinterFest Day 2

Friday, March 8 at 11 a.m. - Friday Timbers Taphouse: PJ Moon

Friday, March 8 at noon - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: J J

Saturday, March 9 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: khU

Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Family Dog Duo

Sunday, March 10 at 9 a.m. - Level 1 Women’s Rail Jam with DJ Mista.Cal

Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Daniel Jones

Friday, March 15 at 11 a.m. - Friday Timbers Taphouse: PJ Moon

Friday, March 15 at noon - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: Erin Stereo

Saturday, March 16 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: Well Chuned

Saturday, March 16 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Andrew McConathy Trio featuring Dan Andree and Silas Herman

Sunday, March 17 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: 3R$T

Saturday, March 17 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Pineytops

Friday, March 22 at 11 a.m. - Friday Timbers Taphouse: PJ Moon

Friday, March 22 at noon - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: The Vibrarian

Saturday, March 23 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: DJ Blue

Saturday, March 23 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Grateful Holler

Sunday, March 24 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: Guaro

Sunday, March 24 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: WHUMPF

Friday, March 29 at 11 a.m. - Friday Timbers Taphouse: PJ Moon

Friday, March 29 at noon - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: Deeprawk Dave

Saturday, March 30 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: DJ B-Times

Saturday, March 30 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Dylan and Declan

Sunday, March 31 at 9 a.m. - DJs in the Woodward Boombox: DJ Blue

Sunday, March 31 at 1 p.m. - Fireside in Timbers Lodge: Melt Family Band

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

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

Location: 2861 Eldora Ski Road, Nederland

Gold Dirt Distillery

Wednesday, March 27 at 7 p.m. - Open Mic Night with the Rollinsvillains

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

Website: https://www.golddirtdistillery.com/

Location: 41 Main Street, Rollinsville

Gold Hill Store

Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. - The Halbrooks Family Band

Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. - Avasso

Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. - Goldie and The Grindstones

Saturday, March 16 at 7 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m. - Noah Fowler

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Hill-General-Store/

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

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, February 29 at 7 p.m. - Grant Livingston

Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. - Better Hallway Vision

Wednesday, March 6 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. - Charlie Scott and Emma - Bread and Roses

Friday, March 8 at 7 p.m. - Joe Guy Duo

Sunday, March 10 at 10 a.m. - John Shepherd and the Front Porch Posse

Thursday, March 14 at 7 p.m. - Starlight and Pine

Friday, March 15 at 7 p.m. - Clay Rose

Wednesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, March 21 at 7 p.m. - Many Mountains

Friday, March 22 at 7 p.m. - Hundred Pound Housecat

Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. - Out & About

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown

Phone: 303-442-5847

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

The Caribou Room

Saturday, March 9 at 7 p.m. - Flash Mountain Flood with River Spell

Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. - Magic Beans

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

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

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-3637

Very Nice Brewing Co.

Friday, March 1 at 6 p.m. - David Tilman

Saturday, March 2 at 5 p.m. - Reservoir Fog

Friday, March 8 at 6 p.m. - Jeanne Em & Patrick Keenan

Saturday, March 9 at 5 p.m. - Eric Stone

Friday, March 15 at 6 p.m. - Aaron Mitchell

Saturday, March 16 at 5 p.m. - Paul Dyer

Sunday, March 17 at 5 p.m. - The Gael

Saturday, March 23 at 5 p.m. - Windy Pines

Friday, March 29 at 6 p.m. - Strangebyrds Saturday, March 30 at 5 p.m. - Andreas Boehmer

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.