Mathew “Matty” Graziano has been slowly building a band for a long time, with a consistent lineup cementing around 2017/2018. Currently, the band consists of Graziano as the lead singer and songwriter, Josh Wexler as the flute player, Pat Keenan on the acoustic guitar, DJ Jenkins on the bass, and Roots Music Project General Manager Matt Cottle on the drums. Anywhere from one to five members of the band can play at any time.

Even though Wexler also plays in Bear Hat and Keenan used to play in a Beatles cover band called Pine Beatles, Poorfree is the group’s primary musical project. The band has also occasionally brought on special guests, including cello player Bethany Joyce and vocalist Melissa McGinley Stube (with the latter featured on the band’s 2023 self-titled album).

Graziano grew up in West Virginia surrounded by country and bluegrass music. His parents were music fans, and his dear friend Harold Liller (who passed away in 2018) inspired him to play the guitar around 2000. Graziano started putting the poetry he had been writing to music, and though it took a long time for him to consider himself a musician, he’s been writing music that entire time. As the band developed, he felt the most personal name to give it would be after the Porphyry Mountain Prospect, just behind the Jamestown Mercantile (where the band first started playing), especially since many of the band members live or have lived in Jamestown.

Graziano says that currently, the setlist for the band primarily consists of 75% of his own songs and 25% covers, including quite a few that are more obscure. He originally performed as a solo or duo act, and the original percussionist for the band, Alex “Big Al” Schuldt, who also recently passed away (although he is featured on the album), first exposed Graziano to the possibilities of a full-band sound. Graziano loves the energy of the band that has been able to form over many years, and he hopes that if nothing else, the audience can take away a good time from going to their shows and keep a lyric or two in their heads once they leave.

You can see Poorfree performing in a few places in the Peak to Peak area over the next couple of weeks. They have a gig with the full band on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Gold Hill Inn, 401 Main Street in Gold Hill. Graziano, Wexler, and Keenan will perform on Sunday, June 30 at 5 p.m. at Very Nice Brewing Company, 20 Lakeview Drive #112 in Nederland. They have a final gig with the full band for the 4th of July in Jamestown’s Elysian Park, specific details yet to be confirmed. Check out Poorfree on social media and wherever you stream your music.

Article Corrected: Saturday, June 22, 2024

Music Events

Busey Brews

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 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, 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

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 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 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 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 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

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 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.