YOUR AD HERE »

Frisco Colorado BBQ Challenge music lineup announced

Weekender staff reports
Rat Jr. mans the grill at Rat's Woodshack BBQ during the Colorado BBQ Challenge in Frisco Saturday June 18, 2016.
Louie Traub |

The town of Frisco has announced the music lineup for the 24th annual Colorado BBQ Challenge, kicking off on Thursday, June 15, and continuing through Father’s Day weekend.

Thursday, June 15

A Herbie Hancock tribute band featuring members of The Motet, a well-known funk group from Denver, will start things off with a set from 8 p.m. to 9:30.



The band will feature Joey Porter on keys, Dave Watts on drums, Garrett Sayers on bass, Drew Sayers on sax and Dan Schwindt on guitar. They will play the funkiest music from the 1970’s Herbie Hancock songbook with a lot of improvisation, deep grooves and extended solos.

Friday, June 16



The next day, solo artist Lipbone Redding will play from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the Futurebirds from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

In a town press release, Lipbone is described as “a singularly unique solo artist” that doesn’t use electronic effects. The Futurebirds are described as being “known for their high energy shows and country rock infused sound,” which features “reverb-soaked four-part harmonies supported by pedal steel guitar, rhythmic percussion, banjo, mandolin, and acoustic and electric guitars with heavy feedback, and has been described as ‘psychedelic country.’”

The New Orleans Suspects will finish off the day with a set from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The band is made up of “refugees” from other New Orleans bands including the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Neville Brothers an the Radiators. They are known for “their high-energy live shows” and “create music that is firmly rooted in the modern New Orleans sound with compelling originals and tasteful covers,” the release said.

Saturday, June 17

The Beau Thomas Band, a local favorite, will lead things off on Saturday, playing from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The 28-year-old acoustic singer-songwriter is a sixth generation Colorado native who plays an mix of original music and cover tunes.

The Nuns of Brixton, a Clash cover band from South London, will play from 12:30 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. They are said to “deliver crushing live renditions of the Clash catalogue with unmatched recklessness” and have been building a steady following since 2010.

Blues guitar legend Tinsley Ellis will provide the weekend’s closing act from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Ellis, a longtime fixture of the Atlanta blues scene, has performed for four decades and played sets with Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Otis Rush, the Allmans and many more.

In addition to barbecue and live music, the 2017 Frisco BBQ Challenge will also feature chef demos, a whiskey tour, a firefighter cook-off, kids’ activities, pig races and the Bacon Burner 6K run.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.