Rocktober in Durango
Hopping month includes Calexico, BoomBox and African beats
Greetings, dear readers! Happy fall to you all! May the amber and iridescent leaves flow gently on your path. Here’s a list of 10 must-see shows for October. The Animas City Theatre is packed with an incredible lineup, while iAM Music, Stillwater and the Community Concert Hall continue to bring high-profile international, national and local acts into the mix. Be sure to check their calendars online, and keep an eye on the Union Social House, 11th St. Station and the Diamond Belle for your dose of local musicians. Be a baddie, and go buy a ticket for yourself and a friend to help keep our music scene alive and thriving! See you on the dance floor!
• Ezra Bell, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 3, 7 p.m. - Calling all Americana enthusiasts! Ezra Bell stops in Durango for a night of intricate harmonies, dynamic instrumentation and beautiful melodies that create an indie rock-leaning yet timeless sound. Joining them is Chicago’s very own LowDown Brass Band. If you dig the sounds of New Orleans-style jazz bands like Galactic and Rebirth, this band is surely already on your radar, having opened for both multiple times.
• Space Travelers Union, Indigo Room at iAM Music, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. - Space Travelers Union blurs the line between space rock and jazz – the perfect band for you to blast off with at the intimate Indigo Room. Expect tight grooves, extended jams and psychedelic space sounds.
• Showman and Coole, Jimmy’s Music, Oct. 9, 6 p.m. - Jimmy’s continues to offer intimate shows. Showman and Coole, the Canadian duo of John Showman (fiddle) and Chris Coole (banjo), blend old-time, bluegrass and folk. The duo has played together for more than 20 years. Their unique roots-driven style draws heavily from influences like John Hartford, Hank Williams and The Band, alongside traditional fiddle by legends like Eck Robertson and Ed Haley.
• Desiderata and Yope, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 11, 8 p.m. - Durango’s hottest indie rock band, Desiderata, is slated for their first headlining show at the Animas City Theatre with direct support from local prog-rockers Yope. If you haven’t heard Desiderata’s chanteuse Autumn Ford strut her stuff, this is the time to buy tickets and prepare to be amazed!
• OTT, Bloomurian, DJ I-Gene, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 13, 8 p.m. - Psychedelic dub, downtempo and ambient mastermind OTT returns to the Animas City Theatre for what will surely be a sold-out night of heady, bass-laden vibes. Get ready for a night of ethereal, spiritual and psychedelic sounds. Of special note is local DJ I-Gene opening the show with two turntables and a stack of vinyl sure to set the mood.
• BoomBox, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 16-17, 8 p.m. - One of my greatest musical joys in 2023 was seeing BoomBox at the ACT, and they are back for a two-night run. While some might call their sound “jamtronica,” the duo is better described as combining electronic and organic rock elements. You might hear a few special Grateful Dead remixes, or maybe not. One thing is for sure: these guys bring a party-ready vibe from the moment they hit the stage. Don’t sleep on this – it will sell out both nights!
• Bongeziwe Mabandla Trio, Blessing Bled Chimanga, Durango Arts Center, Oct. 19, 7 p.m. - I love music from the African diaspora, so this is my must-see show of the month. Big shout out to iAM Music for bringing high quality music from around the world. This opportunity is just too good to miss. Expect a night of intimate, soulful folk sounds with touches of electronic music production via synthesizers and drum loops, with lyrics sung in Xhosa.
• Calexico, Community Concert Hall at FLC, Oct. 24, 7 p.m. - It’s officially desert season, and what better way to kick off all things dusty and mystical than with a performance by indie rock darlings Calexico at our most high-profile venue? Calexico’s sound incorporates a myriad of desert-inspired rhythms and melodies, creating a vast, cinematic landscape of high-lonesome sounds.
• Stillhouse Junkies, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 25-26, 7 p.m. - Durango’s beloved Stillhouse Junkies return to the Animas City Theatre for their annual two-night run. The Junkies have added two new players to the lineup and are looking to kick things into high gear with their unique blend of bluegrass-inspired, roots-driven sound. Fresh off a stop at the IBMA in Raleigh, N.C., the Junkies are well overdue for what will surely be a sold-out homecoming featuring Pretend Friend on night one and Mamma’s Marmalade on night two!
• BabyDel & Red, Animas City Theatre, Oct. 31, 8 p.m. - Looking for a proper Halloween dance party? BabyDel has officially taken the reins from beloved artists like Posh Josh and Soul Atomic as the de facto Animas City Theatre dance party programmer, turning the ACT into the place to be whenever she performs. This time, she invites upcoming underground favorites Red to join her for what will surely be a night of big bass, house and techno. Where are the afters gonna be? ?
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