Vocalist Chris Fogler moved to Colorado when the COVID-19 pandemic started, and he had many friends in the area. One of these friend’s partners lived with guitarist Dan Thurnhoffer, and Thurnhoffer, Fogler, and their mutual friend made a point to get together and play music every week. Ultimately, they formed the group Sycamore Porch Pickers, with the mutual friend eventually dropping out and being replaced by bass player Dave Keller. Fogler also played guitar and mandolin, and Thurnhoffer also contributed to vocals.

The group felt like their name didn’t fit with their sound, which covers the gambit of rock-and-roll, blues, and jazz, but not bluegrass, which they felt their name was reminiscent of. They took the first part of their new name from their guitarist’s truck Goldie, and they took their second name from feeling ground down from life and music, and thus, Goldie and the Grindstones was born.

Ultimately, Thurnhoffer’s wife got the opportunity to work in Costa Rica, and it was harder for Keller and Fogler to play their music as a duo, so they brought in saxophone player Quin Jackson, drummer (and Thurnhoffer’s brother-in-law) Sam Krause, and vocalist Chelsea Hackett. Thurnhoffer will be returning to play upcoming summer shows as well.

The band members come from various backgrounds. Fogler played jazz and listened to cowboy country growing up, Keller played in a polka band with his mom, Jackson was a jazz instrumentalist from Kansas State, Krause played rock-and-roll, and Hackett has been able to help train her and Fogler’s voices with her musical theater background, also bringing more of a pop sensibility to the group.

Fogler says that generally, in the songwriting process, one person brings in half to three-quarters of a finished song and the band finishes the structure and/or the words of the song together. The band also throws in many covers, and Fogler says the split of covers and originals is currently 50/50.

Fogler grew up playing band in high school, but he never truly planned on being in his own band. Now that he’s in one, it’s fun to be able to inspire interactions between the band and the audience and to let the audience have fun in their shows.

To Fogler, playing music is not about getting the performance right, it’s about expressing their music in a certain way and expressing themselves as a band. Hackett loves it when people who have come to various shows can sing the lyrics of certain songs back and when the band is able to connect with each other and with the audience, and ultimately, both of them hope that the audience enjoys hearing the music as much as the band enjoys making it.

You can see Goldie and the Grindstones performing at Howlin Wind Brewing, located at 51 A Main Street in Rollinsville, on Saturday, July 20, 2024, starting at 5 p.m. Be sure to check them out on Instagram @ goldieandthegrindstones, and if you miss this show, you can also check them out at the Gold Hill General Store, 531 Main Street in Gold Hill, on Saturday, August 10 at 8 p.m.

Music Events

Busey Brews

Sunday, July 14 at 2 p.m. - S’moreGrass Duo

Sunday, July 21 at 2 p.m. - Mike Lamitola

Sunday, July 28 at 2 p.m. - Mina Reya

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Canyon Tavern

Saturday, July 13 at 6 p.m. - Howard Dlugasch

Sunday, July 21 at 3 p.m. - Will Whalen

Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m. - Ibby Cline & Michael Walters

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

Website: https://canyontavern.com/

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon

Phone: 303-642-3180

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. - Bear Hat

Sunday, July 14 at 5:30 p.m. - Damn Tall Buildings

Wednesday, July 17 at 5 p.m. - Moors and McCumber

Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m. - Brandywine and the Mighty Fines

Sunday, July 21 at noon - KGNU Charles Sawtelle Memorial Mountain Jam 2024

Sunday, July 21 at 5:30 p.m. - Laurie Dameron Duo

Wednesday, July 24 at 6 p.m. - Off the Rails

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Store

Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. - Bobby Coe

Saturday, July 13 at 3 p.m. - Andres Santana

Saturday, July 13 at 7 p.m. - Something Slight

Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. - Ashlei Priest

Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. - Queso Ra

Saturday, July 27 at noon - Queso Ra

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gold-Hill-General-Store/

Website: https://www.goldhillstore.com/

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Gregory Plaza

Saturday, July 13 at 5 p.m. - Nicholas Fennel of The HUCKLeBEARerS

Saturday, July 27 at 5 p.m. - Duey Weibel

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

Website: https://blackhawkharddistrict.com/

Location: 317 Gregory Street, Black Hawk (Mountain Poppy Boutique)

Phone: 720-669-0665 (Mountain Poppy Boutique)

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, July 13 at 5 p.m. - Riverspell

Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. - Goldie and the Grindstones

Saturday, July 27 at 5 p.m. - Strangebyrds

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

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

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, July 11 at 7 p.m. - Derek Dames Ohl

Friday, July 12 at 7 p.m. - Zimbira

Sunday, July 14 at 12:15 p.m. - Steven Hoffman

Wednesday, July 17 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, July 18 at 7 p.m. - Hunter James and the Titanic

Friday, July 19 at 7 p.m. - Chuck Sitero (of High Lonesome) and Friends

Sunday, July 21 at 12:15 p.m. - Annie and the Bang Bang

Wednesday, July 24 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, July 25 at 7 p.m. - Heavy Diamond Ring

Friday, July 26 at 7 p.m. - Janestown

Thursday, July 28 at 12:15 p.m. - Danny Shafer

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown

Phone: 303-442-5847

Knotted Root Brewing

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, July 21 at 10:30 a.m. - Built to Last/Al Capones

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, July 10 at 2 p.m. - Summer Porch Series

Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. - Open Mic with Tim Merkle

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

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

Location: 14863 Highway 7, Allenspark

Phone: 303-747-2906

United Center

Sunday, July 14 at 6 p.m. - The Wildwoods

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. (Gilpin County)

Friday, July 12 at 6 p.m. - Nicholas Fennel of The HUCKLeBEARerS

Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. - Eric Stone

Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. - Tony Crank

Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. - Windy Pines

Saturday, July 27 at 2 p.m. - The Tater Spliffs

Saturday, July 27 at 6 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

Sunday, July 28 at 4 p.m. - Blue Moose Jazz

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

Website: https://www.verynicebrewing.com/

Location: 180 Jankowski Drive, Black Hawk

Phone: 303-582-2015

Very Nice Brewing Co. (Nederland)

Thursday, July 11 at 6 p.m. - John Meerts

Friday, July 12 at 6 p.m. - Magnum Mike

Saturday, July 13 at 5 p.m. - David Tilmon

Friday, July 19 at 6 p.m. - Johnny Blueheart

Saturday, July 20 at 5 p.m. - Stone-Hall

Friday, July 26 at 6 p.m. - Daniel C. Jones

Saturday, July 27 at 5 p.m. - Andreas Boehmer

Sunday, July 28 at 4 p.m. - The CBDs

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.