Zizania -- a kind of wild rice grown in early communities of humanity, when music began to flourish as an art form. It’s from this plant that a music group from Colorado takes its name. Joshua Schnabel and Erin Gael Friedman first met in April 2022, writing songs together by sending audio files back and forth through Bandlab.

Schnabel had already been a part of the music scene in Colorado, and Friedman appreciated the experience that he brought to the table. Since then, they’ve performed together as an acoustic duo or with various other musicians backing them up, including Todd Vanselus, Tobin Munsat, Bill Pontarelli, Jon Parsons, Erique Johnson, Jon Gray, Steve Balgooyen, Fenton Crackshell, and Eric Thorin.

The group has focused on performing music from across different genres, from jazz to blues to early RnB. For upcoming shows, they plan to expand their repertoire to music from artists that they admire, including Colorado local Gregory Alan Isakov and classic artists such as Nina Simone.

Simone was one of Friedman’s biggest influences as a singer, who changed her perspective on what a singer could do with their performances, and Friedman also performed in various musicals growing up. She also cites Peggy Lee and The Andrews Sisters as influences. Meanwhile, Schnabel started venturing into jazz and blues during his high school years, saying he found himself attracted to the playing of Louis Armstrong.

For Friedman, “the performance and sharing of music that we love is my purpose for being on this planet.” Especially after being separated from other musicians during the pandemic, being able to share musical ideas with an audience is something that really sticks out to Friedman. Schnabel feels that as musicians, they want to be able to create an experience live “that touches people on a level that’s deeper than what we can experience in the conscious world.” They hope that they can bring a fun energy to their shows, and they feel that if at least one person enjoys the tunes they create, that’s enough for them.

If you want to see Zizania perform live as an acoustic duo, you can catch them at Very Nice Brewing Company, 20 Lakeview Drive #112 in Nederland, on Friday, September 16, 2022, at 6 p.m.

Here are the listings of live music! Check it out and support your local musicians.

Busey Brews

Sunday, September 11 at 2 p.m. - JW Schuller

Sunday, September 18 at 2 p.m. - Benny Trio

Sunday, September 25 at 2 p.m. - Troy Yanel (Colorado Junction)

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

Website: https://buseybrews.com/

Email: contact@buseybrews.com

Location: 70 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 1-855-633-2739

Caribou Room

Saturday, September 10 at 8 p.m. - Rocket Parade w/ Dreem Machine

Friday, September 16 at 8 p.m. - Hempress Sativa

Friday, September 23 at 8 p.m. - Dead Floyd

Friday, September 30 at 8 p.m. - Joslyn and The Sweet Compression

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

Website: https://www.thecaribouroom.com/

Location: 55 Indian Peaks Drive, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-3637

Covered Wagon

Friday, September 9 at 9 p.m. - Ashley’s Different Animal

Friday, September 30 at 8 p.m. - Sounds of RnR

Every Thursday at 7 p.m. - Karaoke

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

Website: https://www.coveredwagonrestaurant.com/

Location: 15 East 1st Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-7578

Gold Dirt Distillery/ Stage Stop Backyard

Saturday, September 10 at 3 p.m. - Rolling Harvest

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

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

Website: https://www. golddirtdistillery.com/

Location: 60 Main Street, Rollinsville.

303-258-3034

Gold Hill Inn

Friday, September 9 at 8:30 p.m. - Martin Gilmore Band

Sunday, September 11 at 5 p.m. - Greg Schochet Trio

Friday, September 16 at 8:30 p.m. - Stomp Street Heist

Sunday, September 18 at 7 p.m. - Son of Town Hall

Wednesday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. - Tim O’Brien w/ Jan Fabricius

Friday, September 23 at 8:30 p.m. - Rolling Harvest

Sunday, September 25 at 7:30 p.m. - Strangebyrds

Friday, September 30 at 8:30 p.m. - Deer Creek Sharpshooters

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

Website: goldhillinn.com

Email: cfinn@goldhillinn.com; bfinn@goldhillinn.com

Location: 401 Main Street, Gold Hill.

Phone: 303-443-6461

Howlin Wind Brewing

Saturday, September 10 at 6 p.m. - Melt Music Showcase

Saturday, September 17 at 4 p.m. - Bear Hat

Sunday, September 18 at 5 p.m. - Open Bluegrass Jam

Saturday, September 24 at 4 p.m. - Copper Children

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

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

Location: 51 A Main Street, Rollinsville.

Phone: 309-825-5245

Jamestown Mercantile

Thursday, September 8 at 7 p.m. - All Through the Night

Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m. - Rampart Street Stompers

Sunday, September 11 at 12 p.m. - Pat Willis

Thursday, September 15 at 7 p.m. - Rodney Rice

Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. - Janestown

Sunday, September 18 at 12 p.m. - Matty G

Thursday, September 22 at 7 p.m. - Paul Cataldo

Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m. - Free Range Marmot

Sunday, September 25 at 12 p.m. - George Nelson Band

Thursday, September 29 at 7 p.m. - Anna P.S.

Friday, September 30 at 7 p.m. - Poorfree

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

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

Location: 108 Main Street, Jamestown.

Phone: 303-442-5847

JKQ BBQ

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

Website: https://blackhawkhard district.com/drinks/jkq-bbq-grill/

Location: 200 Gregory Street, Black Hawk

Phone: 720-316-1361

Knotted Root Brewing

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

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

Location: 250 N. Caribou Street, Nederland.

Phone: 720-248-7129

Last Stand Tavern

Friday, September 9 at 7 p.m. - Karaoke with PJ the DJ

Saturday, September 10 at 4 p.m. - Jordan Yewey

Friday, September 16 at 7 p.m. - Karaoke with Phile the Jukebox

Saturday, September 17 at 4 p.m. - Cole Decker

Friday, September 23 at 7 p.m. - Karaoke with PJ the DJ

Saturday, September 24 at 4 p.m. - David Booker

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

Website: http://laststandtavern.com/

Email: laststandtavern@gmail.com

Location: 32138 Highway 72, Coal Creek Canyon.

Phone: 303-642-3180

Millsite Inn

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, September 11 at 10 a.m. - Mark Vossler (Gratefully Acoustic)

Sunday, September 25 at 10 a.m. - Kutandara Studios

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

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

Location: 85 E. 1st Street, Nederland.

Ned’s Cafe

Every Thursday at 10 p.m. - Dam Jam

Every Sunday at 7 p.m. - Karaoke

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

Website: https://www.eatatneds.com/

Location: 121 N. Jefferson Street, Nederland.

Phone: 303-258-0614

The Train Cars

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

Website: http://www.thetraincarscoffee.com/

Location: 101 Peak To Peak Hwy Nederland, CO 80466

Phone: (303) 258-2455

Very Nice Brewing Company

Thursday, September 15 at 6 p.m. - The Gael

Friday, September 16 at 6 p.m. - Zizania

Saturday, September 17 at 5 p.m. - Rick Lobato

Sunday, September 18 at 5 p.m. - Grant Livingston

Friday, September 23 at 6 p.m. - Dan Williams

Saturday, September 24 at 5 p.m. - Mountain ReVerb

Sunday, September 25 at 5 p.m. - Reservoir Fog

Friday, September 30 at 6 p.m. - Adam Hunt

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ verynicebeer

Website: 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.