Birds of Play in Concert

We’re thrilled to present Birds of Play in their first listening room concert in Salida. This fourtet of stellar musicians and songwriters continues to make huge strides after their 2023 release “Birdsongs of the American West” received high praise far and wide, from Americana UK to American Songwriter. As they begin to play much larger venues (Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Swallow Hill, Four Corners Folk Festival) we’re fortunate to experience their rich sound and stage show in the intimacy of A Church. Their exquisite arrangements and lush lyrics wash over an audience like a gentle garden rain, evidenced by songs such as “Breathe”, listen here.

All the members are accomplished songwriters and trade instruments back and forth with ease. When Anneke Dean (violin/gutar) joined Alex Paul (mandolin/guitar/bass), Eric Shedd (bass/mandolin/guitar) and Jack Tolan (mandolin/bass/guitar) in 2020, the quartet was complete. It’s very refreshing to witness a band who are close friends making music together, and that makes for a heartfelt audience experience. After two big shows at the Coaldale Schoolhouse we’re expecting to sell out their first listening room concert in Chaffee County; seating will be capped at 120.

“From their base in Southwestern Colorado, Birds of Play have concocted a fourth album that's as groovily distinctive and enticing as any music currently coming from either of America’s supposedly hipper coasts. Lovely fiddle-mandolin-fuelled songs, exuberant vocals and arrangements on superbly written songs. Once your eyebrows come back down from your hairline, you’ll enjoy the authenticity that abounds. Stirring song craft, rich, heartfelt vocals, a very stirring and strong storytelling effort as Birds Of Play forge their own brand of Americana.” — alancackett.com (former editor of Maverick magazine)

“I’m entranced by Alex Paul’s writing and co-writing with the rest of the band. He clearly has the Thoreau touch with metaphor, proven on past albums and rising up here on tracks like “Peace,” with playful time signature changes and turnarounds. The key here is playfulness. Birds of Play can bring contemplative lyrics and intense imagery, with a pepper grinder of ‘let’s just do a little gypsy jam here’, so you can dance it out if so moved.” — Ink19

Doors at 6:30PM