Over 20 years ago, Dustin Arbuckle and Tom Page met through mutual friends in the Kansas music scene. Around 2005, they started performing bluegrass music as a duo. Page was well-versed in that music, but Arbuckle had grown up in a blues-oriented environment, so the bluegrass style was new to him. The two played together on and off for several years, primarily in Kansas, but around 2012, they wanted to take their musical style further.

They called Dr. Mark Foley to play upright bass and Ted Farha to play mandolin, with Page bringing his guitar and Arbuckle his harmonica to the table. Thus, the original lineup of Haymakers was cemented. Multi-instrumentalist Dennis Hardin joined in 2016, but he, Foley, and Farha have since left the group. The group now consists of Arbuckle, Page, upright bassist Caleb Drummond (who initially played when Foley had prior commitments), and mandolin player Anthony Trupia. All members provide vocals, with Arbuckle providing lead vocals.

Arbuckle’s father was a musician in his younger years but stopped playing in his adulthood. As a kid, Arbuckle was always drawn to music, and in his mid-teens, he became interested in traditional blues music, which inspired him to play. He joined bands and learned the harmonica around that time, and throughout his career, he’s been inspired by blues to delve into country, folk, and bluegrass.

Meanwhile, Page grew up in an artsy family, and music was always played around his house when he was a kid. When he was only two, his parents became involved in a local Kansas nonprofit organization. Throughout his childhood into his teen years, he was exposed to various forms of acoustic music, inspiring him to pursue music as a livelihood.

Page also serves as the group’s primary songwriter, though Arbuckle has also been a co-writer occasionally. The group performs originals as well as covers, both well-known and obscure. They love exploring music in periods before recorded music became standard, particularly from the Civil War to World War I, and they love learning where certain songs originated, whether they’re standards or not. Page has recently loved exploring writing songs in other characters’ voices, but has always loved the process of songwriting.

All of the group’s current and past members either have played or currently play in other groups (Arbuckle in Moreland and Arbuckle, Page in Grandpa’s .38, Foley in the Wichita Symphony, Farha in the Riverside Mandolin Quartet, Hardin in Stringhounds, Drummond in Spirit of the Stairs, and Trupia in Cow Skin Creek, just to name only a few). Both Arbuckle and Page say they love the experience of being able to play with others and connect with everyone. Ultimately, the group hopes that the audience will be able to sense the sincerity behind their performances and that they will end up having a good time.

You can see Haymakers performing live at the United Center, 1440 Colorado Boulevard in Idaho Springs, on Saturday, June 8, 2024, starting at 6 p.m.

You can also visit their website at haymakersstringband.com to learn more about the group and purchase merchandise like clothing and their albums – 2017’s Haymakers, 2021’s Live at Art Church, and 2023’s Waconda Flyer and 100 Years of Hank. You can also stream their music anywhere.

Article Corrected: Friday, May 31, 2024

"The band mentioned a period of music from the Civil War to World War I, not World War II."

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Music Events

Busey Brews

Sunday, June 2 at 2 p.m. - Elzeard Stallings (Zea)

Friday, June 7 at 4 p.m. - New Family Dog

Sunday, June 9 at 2 p.m. - Joshua James Johnson

Sunday, June 16 at 2 p.m. - Intergalactic Peace Jelly Duo

Sunday, June 23 at 2 p.m. - Tip of the Spear

Sunday, June 30 at 2 p.m. - Troy Yanel

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Canyon Tavern

Saturday, June 1 at 6 p.m. - Adrian Pountey

Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. - Will Whalen

Saturday, June 22 at 6 p.m. - Robert Brannick

Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. - Scrapyard Izzy

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

Website: https://canyontavern.com

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon.

Phone: 303-642-3180

Casa Colorado

Thursday, June 20 at 6 p.m. - Sarah Banker Band/Sage and Aera

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Casa.Colorado.BandB/

Location: 196 Bear Crossing Road, Black Hawk.

Phone: 303-642-1983

Diner Bar Ned

Wednesdays at 8 p.m. - Karaoke

Sundays at 6 p.m. - Open Mic

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

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. - High Lonesome

Saturday, June 1 at 6 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Sunday, June 2 at 5:30 p.m. - Martin Gilmore Duo

Wednesday, June 5 at 5:30 p.m. - Brothers and the Hayes

Friday, June 7 at 8 p.m. - David Lawrence and the Spoonful

Sunday, June 9 at 5:30 p.m. - Foggy Memory Boys

Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. - Andy Thorn and Friends

Friday, June 14 at 8 p.m. - Hundred Pound Housecat

Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. - Rebecca Frazier Band

Sunday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. - Foggy Mountain Spaceship

Wednesday, June 19 at 5:30 p.m. - Wanderin’ Pine

Friday, June 21 at 6:30 p.m. - Sturtz

Sunday, June 23 at 5:30 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Wednesday, June 26 at 5:30 p.m. - Anya Hinkle feat. Billy Cardine

Friday, June 28 at 8 p.m. - Bottlerocket Hurricane

Sunday, June 30 at 6 p.m. - Daniel Rodriguez and His Band

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Store

Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. - Jason Walsmith

Saturday, June 8 at noon - Bobcat One-Man Band

Saturday, June 8 at 3 p.m. - Taylor Minto Sparks

Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. - Abby Brown

Saturday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. - skiv

Saturday, June 22 at 7 p.m. - Avasso

Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m. - Dwayne Haggins

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, June 1 at 4 p.m. - Tumble Down Shack

Saturday, June 8 at 5 p.m. - Solvera

Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. - Melt and the Family Band

Saturday, June 22 at 5 p.m. - Benjamin Sproul Trio

Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. - 3rd Anniversary Party with Magoo

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

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

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville.

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, May 30 at 7 p.m. - Jay Stott

Friday, May 31 at 7 p.m. - The Alcapones

Sunday, June 2 at 12:15 p.m. - Earth to Aaron

Wednesday, June 5 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. - Covenhoven

Friday, June 7 at 7 p.m. - Seeing Stars Band

Sunday, June 9 at 12:15 p.m. - Laurie Dameron

Wednesday, June 12 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, June 13 at 7 p.m. - Andres Santana

Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m. - George Nelson Band

Sunday, June 16 at 12:15 p.m. - Jen Howard

Wednesday, June 19 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, June 20 at 7 p.m. - Mountain Duo

Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m. - Dechen Hawk Band

Saturday, June 22 at 4 p.m. - River on the Mountain Festival

Wednesday, June 26 at 5 p.m. - Keenan O’Meara

Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. - Dwayne Haggins

Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m. - Wrenn Van Band

Sunday, June 30 at 12:15 p.m. - Davey and the Midnights

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown.

Phone: 303-442-5847

JKQ BBQ

Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. - Nick Ward from Kind Mountain Band

Saturday, June 1 at 5 p.m. - Nick Ward from Kind Mountain Band

Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. - Boys on the Town

Saturday, June 8 at 5 p.m. - Boys on the Town

Friday, June 14 at 6 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Saturday, June 15 at 5 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. - Duey

Saturday, June 22 at 5 p.m. - Duey

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

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk.

Phone: 720-316-1361

Knotted Root Brewing

Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. - d’Lovelies

Saturday, June 1 at 5:30 p.m. - New Family Dog

Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. - TAKAT

Saturday, June 8 at 5 p.m. - Melt and the Family Band

Friday, June 14 at 6 p.m. - Reggae DJ

Saturday, June 15 at 5 p.m. - Pineytops

Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. - Guaro

Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m. - DJ

Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. - Danny Shafer

Wednesdays at 6 p.m. - Open Mic

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, June 9 at 10:30 a.m. - Alphatones

Sunday, June 23 at 10:30 a.m. - Kylie and Friends

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

Wednesday, June 12 at 2 p.m. - Summer Porch Series

Saturday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. - Tim Merkel

Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. - Open Mic with Tim Merkel

Wednesday, June 26 at 2 p.m. - Summer Porch Series

Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. - Hogabluesa Blues with Blues-Based Trio

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

Website: https://www.theoldgallery.org/

Location: 14863 Highway 7, Allenspark.

Phone: 303-747-2906

The Caribou Room

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

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

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3637

The Train Cars

Thursday, May 30 at 5 p.m. - Train Jam

Saturday, June 8 at 6 p.m. - Iron Roots

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

Website: https://www.traincarscoffeeandkava.com/

Location: 101 Peak to Peak Highway, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-0440

United Center

Saturday, June 8 at 6 p.m. - Haymakers

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

Website: http://www.unitedcenterinc.com/

Location: 1440 Colorado Boulevard, Idaho Springs.

Phone: 303-900-8689

Very Nice Brewing Co.

Friday, May 31 at 6 p.m. - Rick Lobato

Sunday, June 2 at 5 p.m. - HuCKLE BEAReRS

Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m. - Andreas Boehmer

Saturday, June 8 at 5 p.m. - Tony Crank

Sunday, June 9 at 5 p.m. - Carter Combs

Friday, June 14 at 6 p.m. - David Tilmon

Saturday, June 15 at 5 p.m. - Reservoir Fog

Friday, June 21 at 6 p.m. - Blue Moose Jazz

Friday, June 28 at 6 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

Saturday, June 29 at 5 p.m. - Steepland String Band

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

Website: https://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.