‘Love for the Locals Series’ returns to Beaver Creek Sept. 9 – Oct. 6
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If you go …
What: Underground Sound Series, also known as the “Love for the Locals Series”
When: Six performances, Sept. 9 – Oct. 6
Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center, Beaver Creek
Cost: $125 for the Underground Sound Pass that includes tickets to all six shows and one complimentary drink at each; $250 for the VIP Access Pass
More information: Visit vilarpac.org/underground-sound
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Beaver Creek, Colo., July 25, 2022 – Known as the “Love for the Locals Series,” the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s Underground Sound Series returns to Beaver Creek this fall with six exceptional shows Sept. 9-Oct. 6.
“Each fall, music lovers of the Vail Valley congregate at the Vilar Performing Arts Center to discover exceptional emerging talent,” said VPAC Executive Director Owen Hutchinson. “Underground Sound enters its 12th season in 2022 but maintains its original intent as a love letter to the Vail Valley’s community members, providing spectacular offseason entertainment at an affordable price. Join us this fall as we once again discover the Underground Sound.”
The Underground Sound Pass is $125 and includes a ticket to all six shows as well as one free drink at each performance, while the VIP Access Pass is $250 and includes access to the May Gallery Patrons Lounge pre-show and through intermission, early entrance to the theater for priority seating, one drink, complimentary appetizers and non-alcoholic beverages (espresso, soft drinks, etc.) and warm cookies. Passes are transferable and ideal for friends and co-workers to divvy up – or enjoy every show yourself. Passes went on sale July 20 at vilarpac.org/underground-sound.
This year’s lineup features a diverse lineup of impressive artists, including TikTok famous The Main Squeeze; rock ‘n’ roll royalty Duane Betts; bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien; powerhouse singer Judith Hill; indie rock band SUSTO; and Orquesta Akokan out of Cuba.
The Main Squeeze (Sept. 9)
Funk band The Main Squeeze is a five-piece out of Los Angeles with a cult following across the United States – performing over 1,000 shows together over the past nine years. Their beautiful rendition of “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson captures their unique take on covers while also releasing six albums themselves along the way.
The band recently wrote a song for Dua Lipa, “Make It Right,” but when the artist didn’t end up taking it, they put it out as their own. “Her loss! This is (fire emoji)” one of their 219,000 followers on TikTok commented on their post about the song – which has over 500,000 views. In addition to social media fame, The Main Squeeze have gained praise from NPR, Rolling Stone, Relix and other publications.
Upbeat, smooth, highly entertaining and made for dance parties, The Main Squeeze will kick off the Underground Sound Series in a performance that will pair perfectly with the intimate venue in Beaver Creek.
This show is for you if you also like: Tower of Power, Karl Denson, Soulive, Michael Jackson, Turkuaz, Dopapod, The Motet, Galactic
Duane Betts feat. Johnny Stachela & Barry Duane Oakley (Sept. 15)
When your father is Dickey Betts – the iconic voice behind “Ramblin’ Man” and a founding member of the Allman Brothers Band – life can either lead you into a rock ‘n’ roll career or easily another path. Lucky for music fans, Duane Betts cut his teeth as a teen sitting in regularly with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members and has built his own following as a guitarist and singer-songwriter.
Duane Betts performed at the VPAC in 2021 with The Allman Betts Band after spending some time with supergroup Jamtown, featuring G. Love, Donovan Frankenreiter and Cisco Adler. In 2018, he released his debut album, “Sketches of American Music” and toured as a guest of the Devon Allman Band.
As part of the 2022 Underground Sound Series lineup, Duane Betts will perform with Johnny Stachela and Barry Duane Oakley.
This show if for you if you also like: The Allman Brothers Band, The Allman Betts Band, Gov’t Mule, North Mississippi Allstars, Chris Robinson, The Black Crows
Tim O’Brien Band (Sept. 22)
Grammy winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tim O’Brien is a lifelong devotee of old time and bluegrass music. Starting his touring career nationally in 1978, his songs have been covered by the likes of Garth Brooks, The Dixie Chicks and Nickel Creek.
Living in Nashville since 1996, O’Brien’s skills on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo make him an in-demand session player. He tours throughout the U.S. and abroad. The International Bluegrass Music Association awarded him Song of the Year in 2006 and named him best male vocalist in 1993 and 2006. He’s also been inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame in 2013.
Notable O’Brien recordings include the bluegrass Dylan covers of “Red On Blonde,” the Celtic-Appalachian fusion of “The Crossing” and the Grammy winning folk of “Fiddler’s Green.”
This show is for you if you also like: Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Del McCoury, Chris Thile, The Infamous Stringdusters, David Grisman, Yonder Mountain String Band
Judith Hill (Sept. 28)
Performing alongside the likes of Michael Jackson, Prince and John Legend, Judith Hill is a sensational artist known around the globe for her powerhouse vocals.
Hailing from Los Angeles and coming from a Japanese/African-American bi-racial family, Hill was selected to duet with the King of Pop’s “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” during his This Is It concerts in London. She also sand lead on a number at Jackson’s memorial service, putting her on the worldwide map in an instant.
Hill was wildly popular on the fourth season of “The Voice,” has worked with filmmaker Spike Lee and sang on the official soundtrack of “Dr. Suess’ The Lorax,” among other notable performances. On her latest LP “Baby, I’m Hollywood” released in 2021, Hill unveils 13 tracks rich in throwback soul, stunning piano balladry and swaggering psychedelic funk. Her mother, Michiko, and father, Robert (aka Pee Wee) met in a 1970s funk band and continue to perform in her backing ensemble.
This show is for you if you like: Jill Scott, Emily King, Joss Stone, Alicia Keys, Esperanza Spalding, Adele, Whitney Houston, John Legend, Macy Gray
SUSTO (Oct. 2)
South Carolina-based indie band SUSTO features a rock-rooted sound that doesn’t shy away from the radio-ready hooks that keeps listeners engaged by refusing to occupy an easily defined space. Rolling Stone touts their “songs that range from hook-oriented roots pop to heavy grunge.”
SUSTO has opened for bands including The Lumineers, Band of Horses and The Head and The Heart in addition to gracing the bills of festivals such as Hangout, Stagecoach and Austin City Limits, among others. Their performances are known for being both bold and bright with a rock ‘n’ roll spirit.
This show is for you if you also like: Jason Isbell, The Wood Brothers, Shakey Graves, Trampled by Turtles, The Ghost of Paul Revere, Caamp, Mt. Joy
Orquesta Akokan (Oct. 6)
Straight out of Havana, Orquesta Akokan is a blazing Latin jazz ensemble of deeply soulful mambo formed by musicians from Cuba and New York. The Grammy nominated group is led by dynamic singer Jose “Pepito” Gomez and fuses the “island’s greatest instrumentalists” (The New York Times).
Forged by several years of international touring, including stops at Lincoln Center, WOMAD Australia and New Zealand, North Sea Jazz Festival and Kennedy Center, among others, Orquesta Akokan imbues legendary Cuban grooves with a renewed vitality and powerful sense of akokan – the Yoruba word used by Cubans to mean “from the heart” or “soul.”
This show is for you if you also like: Marc Anthony, Ricky Martin, Las Cafeteras, Todo Mundo, Flor de Toloache, Jarabe Mexicano
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About VPAC
Located in the heart of Colorado’s Beaver Creek Resort, the Vilar Performing Arts Center is a 535-seat theatre, operated by the Vail Valley Foundation, which presents a variety of year-round performances including Broadway musicals, concerts, family entertainment, comedy, dance, classical music and more. Visit vilarpac.org for more.