In 2001, Chris Elliott signed up for a banjo class at South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, which happened to be taught by legendary banjo player Alan Munde, and he hasn’t looked back since.

After playing in various string bands over the years, such as Spring Creek, Chain Station, and Ragged Union, he had an idea to put the banjo in a specific configuration – a trio that included banjo, percussion, and electric bass. Elliott now has a trio including a banjo, played by himself; a banjo bass, played by Kyle Ussery; and a banjo drum kit, played by Chris Sheldon.

Elliott’s family has been musical for a long time. His great-grandfather built fiddles, and his dad was involved in a country band. He has even heard records of his family playing together, so he has always been connected to old-time and bluegrass music. Before picking up the banjo, he was inspired to dabble in the guitar by 90s rock, including Nirvana, learning songs by ear for years.

Meanwhile, Ussery has played guitar and bass since high school, as has Sheldon with drums. Sheldon started playing drums because they seemed exciting and dangerous to him at the time, and he got his first taste of national touring in the early 2000s. Since then, he’s toured with groups such as Great American Taxi, Deadphish Orchestra, and Steely Dead, and during his time with Taxi, he invented an instrument he called the Banjotron Acoustikit 2000, which he uses to play with this new trio.

Before the trio developed, Elliott wrote a tune called “Foggy Mountain Spaceship,” a name similar to that of a song by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, “Foggy Mountain Special.” While at a performance, Elliott heard the older song introduced by someone with a particular Southern accent, and he couldn’t help but register “special” as “spaceship.” In response, Elliott wrote his own tune, and during a jam session, Ussery suggested they use that tune’s title as a band name. Ultimately, the name “Foggy Mountain Spaceship” stuck, and Elliott now reflects on it as “the greatest choice we could have come up with for what we’re doing.”

The band primarily performs banjo-led instrumentals, as Elliott has mostly stuck to writing instrumentals over lyrical songs since graduating from high school. In particular, Elliott loves connecting with the audience during live shows, as it feels gratifying when they relate to the material the band has worked so hard on. The band hopes that the sonic and visual experience they create as a group is unique to them and, ultimately, memorable. The band is currently working on a banjo rock opera, and plenty of new songs and music videos are planned for the near future.

You can see Foggy Mountain Spaceship performing live at the Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main Street in Gold Hill, on Sunday, June 16 (Father’s Day), 2024, starting at 5:30 p.m. You can learn more about them at foggymountainspaceship.com and stream five of their singles now wherever you get your music.

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Music Events

Busey Brews

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 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

Chipeta Park (Nederland Summer Concert Series)

Saturday, June 15 at 4 p.m. - Wirewood Station with Bear Hat

Website: https://www.timeservedproductiongroup.com/

Location: 254-306 Lakeview Drive, Nederland.

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, 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

Saturday, June 29 at 5:30 p.m. - Poorfree

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 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, 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, 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, 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

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, 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.