Mountain Music

Having just moved to Colorado from Texas, I can make a few observations about the Lone Star and Square states: Both have a thing for bovines; both like drilling for oil; both have a lot of open spaces. There are differences, too: Y’all don’t use Velveeta in your cheese enchiladas, and you put green chile where red sauce should be. And people are so friendly here, it’s freaky. Just give me my damn coffee; don’t talk to me! Plus, wearing a “Countdown to Bush’s Last Day” T-shirt in Colorado gets you treated more like a rock star than an outcast.

Steamboat’s Music Fest, with its emphasis on Texas music, combines the best of two cultures, with thirty bands playing in a big tent up in the mountains. Robert Earl Keen Jr. of Houston will be crossing both states’ open spaces to headline. The Austin-based Dickson productions will release Undone: The Music Fest Tribute to Robert Earl Keen, Jr.,which was taped live at last year’s fest and includes Keen songs performed by Christ Knight, Reckless Kelly, Randy Rogers and Cody Canada as well as five tracks from Keen himself. The festival kicks off today and runs through January 10 in Steamboat Springs; packages start at $199 (plus fees) to see all thirty bands. For ticket, lodging and scheduling information, visit www.themusicfest.com or call 1-888-754-8447.
Jan. 5-10, 2009