Aera Fox may not have initially wanted to go into music professionally, but she started playing and taking lessons in piano as a kid. Compare this to Sage Cook, who didn’t grow up in a musical family, as his parents were ranch hands who moved frequently. Cook got into dancing at a young age, and after his parents split, his stepfather passed down his high school guitar. Eventually, Cook started playing with a honky-tonk band, but it wasn’t until he started traveling and hitchhiking with a banjo after high school that music truly became a part of his identity.

During Cook’s travels, he would meet three people who, along with him, would become the original lineup of Elephant Revival. After touring for many years with the group, he left, wanting to widen his circle outside of music. Enter Fox, primarily interested in other pursuits: yoga, farming, and living close to the land. Cook, also interested in these pursuits, gravitated towards her. By the time they connected, he knew he didn’t want to drag her into the music world, especially not the commercial aspect. He wanted to have his own life with her.

The two have been together for eleven years. Even currently, the two have chosen to settle down and farm over touring frequently, with Cook estimating that music takes up only 20% of their average time budget now. Relatively soon after meeting, though, the band WE DREAM DAWN came together purely by chance. When a friend of Cook’s booked him and other friends for a benefit, Cook asked Fox to learn the material on the bass. After performing with drummer Weston Hill, they all formed the three-piece group. Ultimately, Sage and Aera is a spin-off of WE DREAM DAWN, allowing the two to emphasize a quieter, more intimate sound.

Fox arranges and comes up with additional lyric ideas, as well as playing bass and singing harmonies, but Cook writes most of the material himself. While they sing their original material, they also keep WE DREAM DAWN and Elephant Revival material up their sleeve, allowing Cook to embrace his musical roots. Through this process, Fox has found a new appreciation for music. The way she learned music was structured, and the way Cook learned was instinctual (unlike Fox, Cook cannot read music).

Through Cook, Fox feels she has learned how to truly listen to music, hear harmony, and feel freer in the musical process. Meanwhile, through Fox, Cook has found a new appreciation for the purity of the art form that he lost when exposed to the music industry. The two love the conversations they get to inspire between themselves and the audience, and they hope that, if anything, the audience is able to find whatever they need most from their shows.

You can see Sage and Aera performing at Casa Colorado, 196 Bear Crossing Road in Black Hawk, on Thursday, June 20, 2024. Doors open at 6 p.m., with snacks served, and bringing your own nourishment is encouraged. The Sarah Banker Band with Scott Messersmith and Dave Solzburg performs first, then Sage and Aera perform, adding up to a total of three hours of live music. $25 tickets are available at https://checkout.eventcreate.com/casa-co-concert/select-buy.

Music Events

Busey Brews

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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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

Very Nice Brewing Co.

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

Saturday, June 22 at 5 p.m. - Stone-Hall

Sunday, June 23 at 5 p.m. - Daniel C. Jones

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

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

Sunday, June 30 at 5 p.m. - Poorfree

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.