The beat goes on
Honoring DJ Dan & a month packed with festivals, dance and good vibes

Greetings, dear readers. Last week, the DJ world said goodbye to one of its legends, L.A.’s DJ Dan. Known as a pioneer of West Coast rave culture, he leaves behind an undeniable fingerprint on the dance music world. Thanks to local promoter Eugene Salaz, we had the chance to catch him at his finest right here in Durango back in 2016. Rest easy, DJ Dan. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks to the local promoters keeping it all moving. We see you.

Some of the shows on this month’s list you’ll recognize, and some you won’t, but that’s part of the deal. Our venues continue to do the work of bringing world-class talent through our corner of the universe, and this month is no exception, especially with two major festivals on tap. As always, see you on the dance floor!

• Durango Bluegrass Meltdown, Fri.–Sun., April 10–12 - Thirty years on, the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown is hitting a major milestone. Huzzah! In an era where festivals are dropping left and right under the weight of touring costs, this one feels especially worth showing up for. You might not recognize every name on the bill, but don’t let that fool you. The Tray Wellington Band, Songs From the Road Band and Caroline Owens are just a few of the national acts gauranteed to turn heads. And don’t sleep on the Saturday night barn dance, featuring Six Dollar String Band and Lonesome Ace String Band. Tickets for that one are available at the door as well as for all passholders.

• Doomscroll, Mommy Milkers, Wavelengths, Mon., April 13, 7 p.m., The Swarm at The Hive - The stoke level is rising for this Monday night facemelter featuring international touring act Doomscroll with direct support from Mommy Milkers and Wavelengths. Local music lord Alex Vick of the Swarm notes that Doomscroll has been making serious waves in the folk punk scene, even touring Australia recently. As always, expect Mommy Milkers to chug milk and expand your mind around the Native woman experience, while Wavelengths round out the night with their brand of Four Corners indigenous pop punk.

• Bad Goat Cumbia Club, Fri. April 17, 8 p.m., Black Heron Lounge – Calling all salsa, cumbia, zouk and fusion dancers! Taking place on one of Durango’s most intimate (and best-sounding) dance floors, this party is all about digging into a different lane of dance music and pulling together a wide, diverse crowd across ages and backgrounds. Connect with like-minded dancers and tap into some of the most vibrant rhythms in the world, spun mostly on vinyl by a longtime local selector who, as it turns out, also writes this very column. Ahem.

• Afrobeatniks, Earth Day Durango, Sat., April 18, 11 a.m., Buckley Park – As has become custom, Earth Day is set to pop off at our crown jewel, Buckley Park. Ride a bike, walk or rollerblade to the festivities! Do anything but drive, because parking is, as always in Durango, tight. Fortunately, Durango Transit is offering free rides all day, so consider taking the scenic route and leaning into it. Or…have each member of your family drive separately in their own Teslas. Or better yet, consult your nearest youth for tips on joining your first e-bike gang. Soundtrack for the party will be courtesy of Afrobeat legends the Afrobeatniks, joined by Etienne Tolno for a springtime set that should have the whole park vibing.

• Lawn Chair Kings 25th Anniversary Show, Sat., April 18, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 28 – A quarter-century of Lawn Chair Kings deserves a proper celebration, and I can’t think of a better venue for the occasion. The Legion has been stepping up its game majorly with some great bookings lately – this is perhaps their best yet. Let’s pack it for the Nord and crew.

• Felix Cartal w/ Baby Del & Spark Madden, Sat., April 25, 7 p.m., Animas City Theatre – My guess is you’ve probably not heard of Felix Cartal, but his fourth-ever DJ set was opening for a sold-out Justice crowd, which ought to tell you something. With a career spanning two decades, Cartal has made a name through polished, high-energy productions and remixes for artists like Selena Gomez and Kaskade. Whenever a major DJ rolls through the ACT, you can usually count on Spark Madden somewhere on the bill, and this time we get an added bonus with BabyDel.

• iAM Music Fest, Thurs., April 30-May 3, downtown – With by far its best booking yet, featuring Sunsquabi, Jeremy Garrett Bluegrass Band w/ Kyle Tuttle, Taylor Scott Band, Desiderata and more, the iAM Fest pulls together a wide slice of the regional and touring circuit. From funk and electronic to bluegrass and rock, it’s a sampler platter of where things are right now. Some you’ll know, some you won’t, and that’s the point! Bounce between stages, catch something new, and lean into the chaos a bit. Well done, iAM family!