Alyssa Medina and Ben Rafferty have been playing together for years now, but it was only about a year ago that they decided to come together and form the duo Violet Breeze. They wanted to be able to play whatever they decided, along with travel to various venues across Colorado and beyond, so they formed a duo.

Their name started as an inside joke – after trying to get away with a name that incorporated nicknames they use for each other (“Hairdo” and “Barf,” respectively), they settled on the name Violet Breeze, referencing the breaking wind of Medina’s dog. They play songs from many different influences, from straight songs by Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, and Linda Rondstadt to mashups of Keller Williams and Madonna, along with Boyz II Men, Rancid, and Soundgarden.

They also work in Rafferty’s original songs every now and again, as he’s been writing songs for over 20 years now. His first spark in music came after seeing Def Leppard’s classic “Pour Some Sugar on Me” on MTV, and while he initially focused on drums, he eventually shifted to the piano.

Meanwhile, Medina grew up singing in the church choir and sang all through middle and high school, eventually studying music at Virginia Commonwealth University and deciding to join bands when she moved to Colorado in 2016.

The two both value music immensely, with Rafferty primarily describing his songs as “sappy love songs” and “breakup songs.” They focus on giving a great performance, and are willing to poke fun at themselves in order to give the audience a good time.

Mostly, though, they’re looking for an engaged connection with their audience. They’ll laugh at themselves and possibly even make fun of someone in the crowd to hook everyone into their performance, and once the audience is completely connected, they drop into a more professional attitude and can primarily focus on the performance. Connecting to the audience with their experiences and their voices is incredibly important to both of them, but in the end, they hope if anything, their audience takes away the belief that they spent their time at the show well and that the audience understands them more as musicians and individuals by the time the show is over.

If you want to see Violet Breeze performing soon, you can check them out at the Jamestown Mercantile, 108 Main Street in Jamestown, on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 7 p.m.

Music Events

Busey Brews
Sunday, May 12 at 2 p.m. - The Matt Katters
Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. - Pineytops Trio
Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m. - i.O. Underground

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BuseyBrews/
Website: https://buseybrews.com/
Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland. Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Canyon Tavern
Saturday, May 11 at 6 p.m. - Kyle O’Brien
Saturday, May 18 at 6 p.m. - Will Whalen
Saturday, May 25 at 6 p.m. - Howard Dlugasch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coalcreekcanyontavern
Website: https://canyontavern.com/
Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon
Phone: 303-642-3180

Diner Bar Ned
Wednesdays at 8 p.m. - Karaoke

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dinerbarned/
Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Gold Hill Inn
Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m. - Whiskey Mash Band
Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. - Luke Callen Band
Sunday, May 12 at 7 p.m. - The Cody Sisters
Wednesday, May 15 at 6 p.m. - Tall Poppy String Band
Friday, May 17 at 8 p.m. - The River Arkansas
Sunday, May 19 at 6 p.m. - Fly in the Ointment
Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. - Meadow Mountain
Friday, May 24 at 8 p.m. - Magoo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoldHillInn/
Website: goldhillinn.com
Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.
Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Store
Thursday, May 9 at 7 p.m. - Derek Vanderhorst
Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. - Esoteric Earth
Saturday, May 18 at 7 p.m. - Lauren King

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Hill-General-Store/
Website: https://www.goldhillstore.com/
Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Howlin Wind Brewing
Saturday, May 11 at 4 p.m. - Windy Pines
Saturday, May 18 at 5 p.m. - Fastfloyd
Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. - Stellar Jays

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/howlinwindbrewing
Website: https://www.howlinwindbrewing.com/
Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville.
Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile
Friday, May 10 at 5 p.m. - Rachie Fillmore
Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. - Aaron Mitchell
Sunday, May 12 at 12:15 p.m. - Elle Martini Band
Wednesday, May 15 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic
Thursday, May 16 at 7 p.m. - Violet Breeze
Friday, May 17 at 7 p.m. - Jeremy Mohney Band
Sunday, May 19 at 12:15 p.m. - John Shepherd and the Front Porch Posse
Thursday, May 23 at noon - Dead- Phish Duo
Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m. - Tyron Benoit
Sunday, May 26 at 12:15 p.m. - Circus Mutt
Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. - Jay Stott
Friday, May 31 at 7 p.m. - The Alcapones

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/knottedrootbrewing/
Website: https://www.knottedrootbrewing.com/home
Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland.
Phone: 720-248-7129

Nederland Farmers Market
Sunday, May 12 at 10:30 a.m. - Stone-Hall
Sunday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m. - TBD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NederlandFarmersMarket/
Website: https://www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org/
Email: nederlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com
Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Old Gallery at Allenspark
Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. - Open Mic with Tim Merkle
Friday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. - Brad Fitch

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAPOldGallery
Website: https://www.theoldgallery.org/
Location: 14863 Highway 7, Allenspark.
Phone: 303-747-2906

The Caribou Room
Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. - Stanley
Jordan with Steve Mullins & Sandra Wong

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thecaribouroom/
Website: https://www.thecaribouroom.com/
Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.
Phone: 303-258-3637

The Train Cars
Friday, May 10 at 8 p.m. - Bulas and Beats feat. Datura, Rico Suave, Amanita, and B. Random
Saturday, May 11 at 7 p.m. - Gratefully Acoustic
Thursday, May 16 at 4 p.m. - Train Jam
Thursday, May 30 at 5 p.m. - Train Jam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Thetraincars
Website: https://www.traincarscoffeeandkava.com/
Location: 101 Peak to Peak Highway, Nederland
Phone: 303-258-0440

Very Nice Brewing Co.
Friday, May 10 at 6 p.m. - One Drum
Saturday, May 11 at 5 p.m. - David Tilmon
Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. - Blue Moose Jazz
Saturday, May 18 at 5 p.m. - Windy Pines
Thursday, May 23 at 6 p.m. - The Gael (Farewell Party)
Friday, May 24 at 6 p.m. - Reservoir Fog
Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb
Sunday, May 26 at 4 p.m. - The CBDs
Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. - Paul Dyer

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