Copper Country kicks into full gear

Don't call it a comeback

COPPER MOUNTAIN — Chris Hillman, member of the ‘80s group Desert Rose Band, stresses that his appearance with original bandmates Herb Pedersen, John Jorgenson, Jay Dee Maness, Bill Bryson and Steve Duncan at Copper Country this weekend is not comeback.

Hillman said they are coming together again, “just because everybody is healthy and able to do it. We had such a good time in the original lineup over 15 years ago. It was one of the few bands I was in that I parted company as friends.”

The Copper Mountain show is one of only four he has planned, the other three take place in California.

If all goes well, he said they might record a live album at Buck Owen’s Crystal Palace in Bakersfield, Calif.

The 63-year-old Hillman, who is also known as a member of the Byrds, described himself as “semi-retired.”

He tours with former Desert Rose Band member Pedersen as an acoustic duo on mandolin and guitar.

He said he left DRB after performing with them for eight years, and spending the last 30 years on the road.

“My daughter was about 13 and I had missed five of her birthdays,” he said. “Family is far more important than a career. It’s a big reason I stopped.”

Although Hillman didn’t go to college, he said he made sure his kids did.

He said new young bands often ask his advice.

“I always tell them, ‘Have a great time playing, don’t give up the music, but get a four-year degree in something you like, whatever you like.’”

Hillman said his more relaxed schedule nowadays has brought back the pure enjoyment of music.

“It’s just two guys, their suitcases and instruments, like it used to be when I was an 18-year-old kid coming up.”

Hillman said they — Desert Rose Band — will play “all the stuff we’re known for” along with other songs from their catalogue at the Copper show.

Of the band, which began in 1985, he said, “It was a special level of musicianship unequal to my past experiences. It was the perfect combination of people.”

Desert Rose Band plays at 3:55 p.m. on Sunday during Copper Country. Tickets can be purchased at the Copper/Frisco Information Center or at the ticket window at Copper. Festival passes are $39; single day tickets for Saturday are $29; and $20 for Sunday. See the full schedule on C5.

Leslie Brefeld can be reached at (970) 668-4626 or lbrefeld@summitdaily.com.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band continuesto record, perform

COPPER MOUNTAIN — A new Nitty Gritty Dirt Band album will be out soon and includes songs that sound, well, like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, according to keyboardist Bob Carpenter.

He described them as “story songs, three-part harmony, acoustic.”

Carpenter said they are also playing the same instruments as usual on the new record, including Jeff Hanna on mandolin and electric guitar, Jimmie Fadden singing and playing harmonica and drums and John McEuen playing banjo, mandolin and guitar.

“We just went in and did what we know how to do,” he said.

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band also has a new version of their ‘70s hit, “Mr Bojangles,” featuring Keith Urban and Dierks Bentley, which will be available on iTunes in October.

Carpenter said the band has been touring heavily this summer.

“If you put a map of the United States in front of you and throw a dart, we’ve been there,” he said.

The band has won Grammy awards in both bluegrass and country.

“We play a lot of different music because we have different influences.” He said their music, along with country and bluegrass, has been dubbed Americana, traditional country and Cajun.

“We let other people decide what they are going to call it.”

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band plays a ticketed show at 5 p.m. on Sunday at Copper Country.

Carpenter said at the local show they will be doing music from every period of their career, including all three “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” albums.

Leslie Brefeld can be reached at (970) 668-4626 or lbrefeld@summitdaily.com.

Copper Country offers music, rodeo

Saturday events, open to the public

• 7–10 a.m. — Copper Mountain Fire Dept (CMFD) Community Pancake Breakfast in Jack’s Slopeside Grill

• 8–11 a.m. — CMFD accepting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the entrance to Copper on Copper Road

• 9-10 a.m. — Copper Kid’s Rodeo Entries in the Beeler parking lot

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Exhibitor Village and Fine Artist Pavilion Open

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Copper Country Mechanical Bull Rides ($5) in Burning Stones Plaza

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Copper Kid’s Corral in the Beeler parking lot, free

• 10 a.m. to noon — Copper Kid’s Rodeo, free

• 1-4 p.m. — Copper Country Rodeo Championships in the Beeler Lot, free

• 6-8 p.m. — Boot Scoot Street Party with free live music by The Railbenders on the West Lake overlook



Saturday’s Copper Country Music Main Stage Lineup (ticketed)

• 11 a.m. — Concert gates open

• Noon — The Railbenders

• 12:50 p.m. — Mark Selby

• 2 p.m. — Tony Joe White

• 3:40 p.m. — Headliner John Fogerty



Sunday free stuff

• 8-11 a.m. — CMFD accepting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association at the entrance to Copper on Copper Road

• 9-10 a.m. — Copper Kids’ Rodeo Entries in the Beeler parking lot

• 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Copper Kid’s Corral in the Beeler parking lot, free

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Exhibitor Village and Fine Artist Pavilion Open, free

• 10 a.m. to noon — Copper Kid’s Rodeo

• 1-4 p.m. — Copper Country Rodeo Championships in the Beeler Lot, free

• 6-8 p.m. — Boot Scoot Street Party with free live music by Savannah Jack on the West Lake overlook



Sunday’s Copper Country Music Main Stage Lineup (ticketed)

• 11 a.m. — Concert gates open

• Noon — Savannah Jack

• 12:55 p.m. — Firefall

• 1:50 p.m. — Pure Prairie League

• 2:50 p.m. — Poco

• 3:55 p.m. — Desert Rose Band

• 5 p.m. — Headliner Nitty Gritty Dirt Band



Tickets for Copper Country can be purchased at the Copper/Frisco Information Center on Main Street in Frisco until (and including) the day of the show for the pre-purchase prices and also day-of at Copper at the ticket windows below Jack’s.

Pre-purchased, two-day festival passes are: $39 for adults, $14 for kids (6-12 years old) and free for children 5-and-under. Single-day tickets are also available. Restrictions may apply and prices do not include tax or surcharge.

Families can enjoy many free activities for kids during Copper Country, from everything at the Copper Corral, including pony rides, a petting zoo, roping activities and face painting to the Just-for-kids Rodeo activities. Parents can sign-up children from 9-10 a.m. for the Kids Rodeo and then watch them compete in Mutton Bustin (ages 4-7 only; 50 pounds max), the Chicken Scramble (for ages 4-7 years), roping and clown acts from 10 a.m. to noon all weekend.

Copper Country’s Vendor Village has many exhibitors showing both traditional and contemporary Country & Western items in addition to the indoor Fine Art Exhibition.

The art exhibit showcases fine art and fine craft, will take place within Copper’s 18,000 sq. ft. indoor pavilion located adjacent to the concert arena between the base of the American Eagle and Flyer lifts, with all forms of media represented. Admission to the Vendor Village and the Fine Art Pavilion is free.

C.B. Grille and Frog’s Leap Winery will offer a five-course wine and food pairing dinner Friday at 6:30 p.m. Executive Chef Adam Jess will prepare a creative and savory menu that will be paired appropriately with wines from Frog’s Leap by Executive Sommelier, Michell Kane. Space is limited, reservations are required, $95 per person. Call (970) 968-3113 for more information.

The Copper Mountain Professional Firefighters Association IAFF Local 4528 is proud to co-sponsor its second annual MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) “Fill the Boot” fund drive on Saturday and Sunday morning from 8-11 a.m. at the entrance to Copper Mountain on Copper Road. Local firefighters will be collecting spare change and monetary donations to benefit those afflicted with neuromuscular diseases.

Firefighters from around the world partner with MDA to raise money to send kids to MDA summer camp, clinics, provide wheelchairs & communications devices, and fund research to find a cure.

For more information, visit www.coppercountryfest.com.