At around the age of eight years old, Will Whalen started playing around on his grandma’s upright organ and found that he really enjoyed it. Eventually, his family got him a plastic keyboard, which he would play on for hours. He learned how to play some of his favorite songs by ear, including music from video game soundtracks and contemporary radio-play songs.

Whalen moved to Grand Junction in 2009, where he picked up an acoustic guitar for the first time. From there, he started doing open mics and eventually getting longer gigs. He finished getting his bachelor’s degree in writing in college and then continued pursuing a music career.

Often, the songwriting process for Whalen starts with a melody or line that sticks in his head, which he then writes down to save for later. Oftentimes, he will leave it alone for a while and see how it sticks with him in a couple of weeks or even years. In the end, this creates songs that demonstrate a combination of who he was and who he is now. Around 2014, Whalen also started using a loop station, where he learned how to harmonize with himself, lay down a bass line, and other tricks.

Whalen loves being able to play for a crowd, especially when they are able to find common ground in the music he plays, whether it be his original songs or songs by other artists. When asked what he hopes people will take away from his shows, Whalen responded with a song lyric from Todd Snider’s “Ballad of the Devil’s Backbone Tavern” that goes, “Life’s too short to worry, life’s too long to wait, too short not to love everybody, life’s too long to hate.”

Will Whalen will be performing at Canyon Tavern, located at 32138 Highway 72 in Coal Creek Canyon, on Friday, August 18, 2023, at 7 p.m.

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Busey Brews

Sunday, July 30 at 2 p.m. - Kylie Brock

Sunday, August 6 at 2 p.m. - Hunter Lepi

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Canyon Tavern

Saturday, August 5 at 6 p.m. - Neil Z

Friday, August 11 at 7 p.m. - Karaoke

Saturday, August 12 at 6 p.m. - Jordan Yewey

Sunday, August 13 at 3 p.m. - Scrapyard Izzy

Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. - Will Whelan

Saturday, August 19 at 6 p.m. - Derek Hall

Friday, August 25 at 7 p.m. - Karaoke

Saturday, August 26 at 6 p.m. - Chris Koltak

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

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon.

Phone: 303-642-3180

Caribou Room

Saturday, August 26 at 8 p.m. - Fruition

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

Website: https://www.thecaribou room.com/

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3637

Gold Hill General Store

Friday, August 11 at 8 p.m. - Charlie White

Sunday, August 20 at 3 p.m. - Sun V Set

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

Location: 531 Main Street, Gold Hill

Phone: 303-443-7724

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, August 4 at 8 p.m. - Liver Down the River

Sunday, August 6 at 5:30 p.m. - Dan Hochman

Friday, August 11 at 8 p.m. - Bear Hat

Saturday, August 12 at 5:30 - Clay Rose and Donnie Ambory

Sunday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m. - Fly in the Ointment

Friday, August 18 at 8 p.m. - The Dirty Grass Players

Sunday, August 20 at 5:30 p.m. - Covenhoven

Wednesday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m. - Many Mountains

Friday, August 25 at 8 p.m. - Stomp Street Heist

Sunday, August 27 at 7 p.m. - Session Americana

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-6461

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, August 5 at 5 p.m.- Riverspell

Saturday, August 12 at 5 p.m.- Poorfree

Saturday, August 19 at 5 p.m. - Gratefully Acoustic

Saturday, August 26 at 4 p.m. - New Family Dog Duo

Every Monday at 5 p.m. - Open Bluegrass Jam

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 3 at 7 p.m. - High Lonesome

Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m. - Seeing Stars Band

Sunday, August 6 at 12:15 p.m. - David Tilmon

Thursday, August 10 at 7 p.m. - Many Mountains

Friday, August 11 at 7 p.m. - Rocket Parade

Sunday, August 13 at 12:15 p.m. - J.K. Halvorson

Wednesday, August 16 at 5 p.m. - Open Mic

Thursday, August 17 at 7 p.m. - Bob Barrick

Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. - Blue Krewe

Sunday, August 20 at 12:15 p.m. - Matthew McDaniel

Thursday, August 24 at 7 p.m. - Good Music Medicine

Friday, August 25 at 7 p.m. - Cody Sisters

Sunday, August 27 at 7 p.m. - David Tiller

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 4 at 6 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Saturday, August 5 at 6 p.m. - Robby Wicks

Friday, August 11 at 6 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Saturday, August 12 at 6 p.m. - Jon Ridnell

Friday, August 18 at 6 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Saturday, August 19 at 6 p.m. - Boys of the Town

Friday, August 25 at 6 p.m. - Lougheed

Saturday, August 26 at 6 p.m. - Lougheed

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

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk

Phone: 720-316-1361

Knotted Root Brewing

Every Sunday at 4 p.m. - Jazz Sundays with Black Dog & Friends

Website: https://www.knottedrootbrewing.com/home

Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland.

Phone: 720-248-7129

Millsite Inn

Most Sundays at 4 p.m. - Open Jam

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millsiteinn.moyer

Website: https://millsiteinn.wixsite.com/millsiteinn

Location: 44365 Highway 72, Ward

Phone: 720-547-9438

Nederland Farmers Market

Sunday, August 6 at 10:30 a.m. - Robby Wicks

Sunday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. - Kylie Brock

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

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

Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

The Old Gallery

Friday, August 4 at 6:30 p.m. - Antonio Lopez Trio

Friday, August 25 at 6:15 p.m. - Open Mic Night

Saturday, August 26 at 5 p.m. - 8/26 Hogabluesa, Blues, BBQ, & Brews

Saturday, September 2 at 6:30 p.m. - Robert Harding Concert

Friday, September 15 at 6:15 p.m. - Open Mic Night

Saturday, September 16 at 5 p.m. - Takác String Quartet

Saturday, October 28 at 6:30 p.m. - Halloween Costume Contest & Open Mic Night

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

Website: www.theoldgallery.org

location: 14863 Hwy 7, Allenspark

Phone: 303-747-2906

Train Cars Coffee & Kava

Thursday, August 3 at 8 p.m. - Kava Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Friday, August 4 at 7 p.m. - Black Dog Plus

Saturday, August 5 at 8 p.m. - Brittany Wagner

Sunday, August 6 at 11 a.m. - Black Dog

Thursday, August 10 at 8 p.m. - Kava Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Friday, August 11 at 8 p.m. - Sarah Banker

Saturday, August 12 at 5 p.m. - Dub Daze with DJ £.Z€R°

Thursday, August 17 at 8 p.m. - Kava Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m. - Rhythms on the Rails Open Drum Circle

Saturday, August 19 at 9 p.m. - Bulas and Beats Electronic Music Party feat. Dr. Bent, Jelli, Tristan Walter, Iris and B. Random

Sunday, August 20 at 11 a.m. - Black Dog

Thursday, August 24 at 8 p.m. - Kava Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

Friday, August 25 at 5 p.m. - Dub Daze with DJ £.Z€R°

Saturday, August 26 at 7:30 p.m. - Otis Lande (Classical Piano)

Thursday, August 31 at 8 p.m. - Kava Karaoke with Phil the Jukebox

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

Location: 101 Peak to Peak Highway, Nederland

Phone: 303-258-0440

United Center

Sunday, August 6 at 6 p.m. - The Burney Sisters

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, August 4 at 6 p.m. - Chris Smith

Saturday, August 5 at 5 p.m. - Reeder John Goldman

Sunday, August 6 at 5 p.m. - Jackson Maloney

Friday, August 11 at 6 p.m. - Dr. Jim’s One Man Band

Saturday, August 12 at 5 p.m. - Magnum Mike

Thursday, August 17 at 6 p.m. - The Gael

Friday, August 18 at 6 p.m. - Zizania Music

Saturday, August 19 at 5 p.m. - Windy Pines

Friday, August 25 at 6 p.m. - Dan Williams

Saturday, August 26 at 5 p.m. - Stone- Hall

Facebook: www.facebook.com/verynicebeer

Website: www.verynicebrewing.com/

Location: 20 E. Lakeview Drive, #112, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3770

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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.