Tim “ Timothy” Merkel[/caption]

Tim Merkel only performs under the name “Timothy” because when he initially set up his website, the domain timmerkel.com had already been taken (as of this writing, that URL now pulls up a 404 Not Found error). Outside of his performances, though, everyone who knows him personally calls him Tim.

Merkel started playing guitar and writing songs around twelve or thirteen years old while living in Chicago. He performed at local open mics in Old Town where various folk heroes of his also performed. Coming out of college, he became a professional salesperson but would always take his guitar on work trips to find open mics across the United States, including Oregon, Washington, Ohio, Wisconsin, California, and New Jersey. To this day, he still plays wherever he can in venues ranging from breweries to coffee shops.

Merkel remembers bringing his guitar to family reunions every year in Rochester, New York, where he wrote many songs. One of these songs, titled after that city, is included in his 2022 album All Boats Rise. He was primarily influenced by the music of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, and James Taylor, but he also loves artists like Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Initially studying as a guitar major at Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College (which would merge with the Theater Program to become the Chicago College of Performing Arts in 1997), he learned many jazz chords and much theory from jazz guitarist Robert Becker. His early songwriting started by creating a chord progression, but more recent songs of his start with the lyrics. His favorite parts of songwriting are those miraculous moments where a song flows out from him as if he is a “cosmic conduit” for that song. When this happens, he feels part of something bigger than himself.

Merkel agrees with the sentiment that there’s a certain brightness in somebody’s eyes when they’re truly connecting with his performances. When they tell him directly after the show that they connected to his performance, or when they sing or harmonize with him during his shows, it reinforces to him that the connection was serious. He also loves the specific connection of an older person subtly communicating that they enjoy the music, especially if they’re typically quiet to others.

He tries not to be preachy in his songwriting, but he does weave serious statements about his love for the environment throughout his work. He also hopes that people recognize how much joy he gets out of playing and singing.

The Old Gallery in Allenspark started open mics in 2023 after Merkel suggested the idea during a marketing brainstorm. The Old Gallery loved the idea and suggested he host the events, and once he jumped in, he didn’t look back. He has hosted many open mics across the country throughout his career, including another he currently hosts in Lafayette.

He has always loved seeing the wide range of experience of those who go on stage, whether they’ve been playing for years or he can sense a spark of talent in a newcomer. He wants to encourage newcomers that ability is not judged and that the open mic is simply meant for everyone to enjoy themselves. He loves giving new performers the chance to come out of their shells, and he hopes to continue inspiring and championing new songwriters for years to come.

Tim Merkel will host the open mic again at The Old Gallery, 14863 Highway 7 in Allenspark, on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 6:30 a.m. It will be his final Allenspark open mic in 2024, so be sure to come and you might see him perform a short set! If you’re curious about Merkel’s musicianship, you can go to his website at timothymerkel.com and stream his albums Orion’s Expedition and All Boats Rise wherever you get your music.

Music Events

Busey Brews

Sunday, August 11 at 2 p.m. - Brandywine Duo

Sunday, August 18 at 2 p.m. - Chris Myth

Sunday, August 25 at 2 p.m. - Melt Family’s Darin and Ryan

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, August 9 at 8 p.m. - Jake Leg

Sunday, August 11 at 5:30 p.m. - Thunder and Rain

Friday, August 16 at 8 p.m. - Blue Canyon Boys

Saturday, August 17 at 6 p.m. - Johnny Blueheart Band

Sunday, August 18 at 5:30 p.m. - Benjamin Sproul Duo

Wednesday, August 21 at 5:30 p.m. - David Miner Trio

Sunday, August 25 at 5:30 p.m. - Ojo de Luna

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-6461

Gold Hill Store

Saturday, August 10 at 7 p.m. - Goldie and the Grindstones

Saturday, August 17 at 6:30 p.m. - Hundred Pound Housecat

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

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

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Gregory Plaza

Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m. - The Kind Mountain Band

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

Website: https://blackhawkharddistrict.com/

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

Phone: 720-669-0665

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, August 10 at 5 p.m. - Violet Breeze

Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m. - Moonstone Quill

Saturday, August 24 at 5 p.m. - Solvera

Saturday, August 31 at 5 p.m. - Stone-Hall

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

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

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, August 8 at 7 p.m. - Wind-Up Birds

Friday, August 9 at 7 p.m. - Poorfree

Sunday, August 11 at 12:15 p.m. - Eli Lev

Thursday, August 15 at 7 p.m. - Ryan Dart

Friday, August 16 at 7 p.m. - Sturtz

Sunday, August 18 at 12:15 p.m. - David Tilmon

Thursday, August 22 at 7 p.m. - Mighty Holler

Friday, August 23 at 7 p.m. - Gas Pops Duo

Sunday, August 25 at 12:15 p.m. - Lost Penny

Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m. - Lost Bobcat

Wednesday’s at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown

Phone: 303-442-5847

JKQ BBQ

Friday, August 9 at 6 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Saturday, August 10 at 5 p.m. - Boys of the Town

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

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk

Phone: 720-316-1361

Knotted Root Brewing

Saturday, August 17 at 1 p.m. - Melt and the Family Band

Saturday, August 31 at 2 p.m. - Tober and the Sound Ideal

Fridays at 7 p.m. - DJ Night

Every Second Friday at 7:30 p.m. - Reggae DJ Night

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, August 18 at 10:30 a.m. - Robby Wicks

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

Website: https://www.nederlandfarmersmarket.org/

Email: nederlandfarmersmarket@gmail.com

Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland and 80 E. 2nd Street, Nederland

Nederland Summer Concert Series

Saturday, August 17 at 4 p.m. - Atomga and Selassee/Fafa Family

Saturday, August 31 at 4 p.m. - The River Arkansas/Silas Herman and Jack Cloonan (both at Chipeta Park)

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

Old Gallery at Allenspark

Saturday, August 10 at 6 p.m. - Shanna in a Dress

Friday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. - Open Mic with Tim Merkel

Saturday, August 24 at 6 p.m. - Beth Gadbaw 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. (Gilpin County)

Friday, August 9 at 6 p.m. - Ravin’ Wolf

Saturday, August 10 at 5 p.m. - Blue Moose Jazz

Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m. - Aaron Mitchell

Friday, August 23 at 6 p.m. - Eric Stone

Saturday, August 24 at 5 p.m. - Reservoir Fog

Friday, August 30 at 5 p.m. - Andreas Boehmer

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)

Friday, August 9 at 6 p.m. - Windy Pines

Saturday, August 10 at 5 p.m. - FastFloyd

Friday, August 16 at 6 p.m. - Ravin’ Wolf

Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m. - Steepland String Band

Saturday, August 24 at 5 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Sunday, August 25 at 5 p.m. - Ella Wren

Friday, August 30 at 6 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

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.