NEDERLAND - As our financial landscape, on a federal level, seemingly only serves to cause panic and anxiety, Nederland businesses and non-profit organizations hunker down and, from being used to receiving the short end of the stick on a statewide scale, begin to rely on what has always supported them through tough times: The Community. 

The Distinctly Mountains Jam is a definitive example of how one member of our community can take their excitement, their passion, and their business connections, and, from good old fashioned boots-to-the-ground outreach, can create something entirely new and purely Nederland. 

“What started as just a flicker of an idea, a flash inspired by a few words spoken to me one day as I was volunteering at the Nederland Food Pantry, has grown in a way that I never could have imagined at the time,” Dax Gleason, a local realtor with Distinct Real Estate LLC., wrote in a Facebook post to the Nederland community.

“It was just a small thought of happiness, of unity, of music, and support of one another.” 

But that small thought would soon blossom into a full-blown movement, as his excitement for the idea of creating a benefit concert for one of the Peak to Peak area’s essential services, Peak Abundance (the Nederland Food Pantry, Community Gardens, and Clothing Closet), became infectious. 

“I first voiced the idea to Debbie, my love and partner,” Gleason continued. “As always, she encouraged me to ‘run with it’ and gave me the initial support I needed to step out and do something about it.

“As these things can and often do, the spoken word grew of its own accord, with an immediate and positive response from every person I talked to. I could see their eyes light up sometimes. The fire was definitely getting stoked,” Gleason wrote. “I could feel it building with each conversation, the energy behind it. I knew I was onto something that was taking on a life of its own.” 

Gleason’s vision began to take shape as he met with Peter Fiori and Danny Shaffer, with Fiori graciously offering the Caribou Room as the perfect venue for the benefit concert.

Local realtor Dan Vollmer helped Gleason to bolster the financial aspect of the endeavor, and Peak Abundance Board Members Vollmer and Tom Mahowald, along with Executive Director Betty Abel, consulted with Gleason to guide him through the “unknown territory” of event-planning and fundraising.

“Setting dates and getting everyone on the same page is…challenging; like with what I do in real estate, but a different game,” Gleason confessed in his post, though all of the trials and tribulations only helped to make the end result that much better.

“On September 6, 2025, we are holding a benefit concert at the Caribou Room in Nederland for Peak Abundance, featuring Smooth Money Gesture, Poorfree and River Spell,” Gleason announced.

Gleason also stated that all proceeds from the ticket sales, as well as proceeds from an art auction by local artists, will go directly to Peak Abundance. A cereal drive for the pantry and a clothing drive for the closet will also be held during the concert. 

“Mountain artists, this is an open call for art!” Gleason wrote, announcing that Nederland-famous artist Heather Taylor-Lande will be creating the promotional materials for the Distinctly Mountains Jam. Gleason hopes that more artists will have their art featured in the live auction to raise funds for Peak Abundance. 

For those artists who wish to participate, please contact Debbie Brown of the Lefthand artist group at forgetmenot@lovable.com. 

Gleason also detailed the two tiers of sponsorship opportunities available for the event, which can be acquired through a tax-deductible donation to Peak Abundance.

“With your charitable donation your company name and/or logo will be included in all promotional materials used to promote the event on social media or otherwise.

“As well as promotional materials for your business that declare you a sponsor of this charity event, donors receive tickets to the show, t-shirts featuring a painting by Heather Taylor-Lande, and a swag bag!”

 For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please call Dax Gleason at 970-691-4564. 

Also, any community members interested in volunteering to help with the event can contact Gleason. The Distinctly Mountains Jam benefit concert also requires catering services for the bands and volunteers, and a digital artist to assist in creating marketing material for multiple formats, with Gleason being the point of contact for either of those opportunities. 

“As we all know, federal dollars will be extremely hard to come by in 2026 and the added support of this event is something we hope to do annually to bridge that gap,” Gleason concluded. 

“I know how this community can come together when it’s important; I would love to see us all fill that room on September 6. Let us all come together in support of a real pillar of this little town.

“Invite your friends, make it a family thing, make it a mountain thing, make a night of it, have a great time and make a difference. Please join us in giving back to an organization that has given so much to this community, and for so many years.”