DENVER, COLO. (5/6/08) -- Swallow Hill is pleased to present the Shady Grove Picnic Series, presented in memory of Carol Gossard, back at Four Mile Historic Park, every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. from June 4 to August 27 (except July 2). As always, this series presents the best of local folk and roots artists, with this year's lineup filled with a variety of young, up-and-coming acts that run the gamut of what Colorado's blossoming music scene has to offer. The Series is also a great way to enjoy a nice summer evening with your family as it is all-ages friendly, where you can sit on the grass in the park with your picnic dinner and enjoy great music together.

The Shady Grove Picnic Series is presented in memory of Carol Gossard, who, along with her husband, Bill, were ardent supporters of the arts (including the Colorado Symphony and Central City Opera), the humanities (including the University of Colorado's Center of Bioethics and the Humanities), health and human service organizations (including the American Red Cross), and civic organizations (including Historic Denver, the Denver Botanic Gardens and Four Mile Historic Park). In April 2007 Carol received the Heart of Volunteerism Award from Metro Denver Volunteers and in 2001, she received the Dana Crawford Award from Colorado Preservation Inc. She has been honored by the Girl Scouts Mile High Council as a Woman of Distinction and was also a recipient of the Bonfils-Stanton Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service.

The Shady Grove Picnic Series is also made possible in part thanks to the support of The Butler Family Fund of the Denver Foundation.

Melanie Susuras Band & A Melodic Daydream - Wednesday, June 4
Kicking off the series are two bands who deliver high-energy pop/rock acoustic music coupled with remarkable songwriting. The Melanie Susuras Band delivers equal parts of acoustic folk, rock, funk, and blues to create a uniquely listenable and extremely danceable sound. A Melodic Daydream is an acoustic duo comprised of LnZ Schilling on vocals and Chris Newton on guitar who have earned two national awards for best songwriting and best band in the pop/rock category, as well as High Music Album of the Year for their first release.

Xiren & Wendy Woo - Wednesday, June 11
With a style fusing classic with modern rock, Xiren delivers the answer to, "What if Sting joined Led Zeppelin?" Honors and awards for Xiren include Best Rock/Pop Band at Westword's Music Showcase, the Denver Post's Top 10 Best Underground Bands and Best Album by RIFF magazine. Multicultural in both heritage and outlook, Wendy Woo displays a blend of soul, vibrancy, and wild child attitude. A five-time winner of Westword's Best Singer/Songwriter, she's been lauded both at home in Colorado and on a national level.

WadiRum with Medina - Wednesday, June 18
WadiRum plays their own brand of folk acoustic-electric tunes that expertly blend jazz, folk and funk, showcasing fine instrumental skill and powerful vocals, creating a unique sound all their own. RIFF magazine says, "These guys can really play. They have a true sense of improvisation, not just in the jazz sense, but within the folk genre they are playing in as well." Indie Acoustic Project chose WadiRum's debut CD as a finalist for Best CDs of 2005 and Boulder's Daily Camera calls WadiRum, "A rarity among Boulder musicians." Medina, fronted by Denver favorite Tony Medina, will open for WadiRum.

Rob Drabkin & Nicole Torres - Wednesday, June 25
With a unique voice, incredible guitar stylings and a handful of original tunes, Rob Drabkin stormed onto Denver's local music scene, and within six months' time, was sharing the stage with local celebrities Wendy Woo and Nina Storey. He soon began playing to sold-out crowds all his own, and has opened for myriad national acts, including the John Butler Trio at the Boulder's esteemed Fox Theatre. Songstress Nicole Torres has been described as "bold, passionate and poetic," and is turning heads across the country both solo and with her band, The Affiliates, incorporating flavors of jazz, reggae, pop, alternative and spoken word.

Songwriters in the Round - Wednesday, July 9
With Scott Von, Danny Schmidt, Jessica Sonner and Carrie Elkin
Scott Von's Americana folk-roots songwriting and performance career began in 2006. That same year he placed in the Top 20 at the Lyons Folk Festival and has been gaining buzz ever since. Danny Schmidt is the 2007 winner of the prestigious Kerrville New Folk award and that same year, Sing Out! magazine tagged him "the best new songwriter we’ve heard in 15 years." Jessica Sonner has established herself as an emerging solo artist with a bright future ahead, wooing audiences with her down-to-earth manner and soulful music with a girly edge. Influenced by deep rooted folk and Appalachian music from the likes of Jorma Kaukonen, Carrie Elkin has appeared at the Albuquerque Lillith Fair alongside the Indigo Girls and Sara McLachlan, and Folkwax calls her voice "simply revelatory."

Kort McCumber and McCumberland Gap with Jim Gilmour - Wednesday, July 16
For the last ten years Kort McCumber has honed his skills as a working musician, playing more than 1,000 live shows throughout the U.S. and Europe. He writes, plays and sings Americana: equal parts folk, country, blues and bluegrass with a healthy dose of something fresh. He is currently putting the finishing touches on his sixth project, Lickskillet Road, which features appearances from Vince Gill, Sally Van Meter, Don Conoscenti and more. Multi-talented bassist, guitarist, songwriter, producer and engineer Jim Gilmour will open this show.

Cowgirl Show featuring Liz Masterson - Wednesday, July 23
Join our favorite cowgirl, Liz Masterson, as she takes us to the feelings of the old West with poetry, song and more. From the Western Stock Show to the Discovery Channel's popular Myth Busters show, she tours nationwide with her special performances and expertise. Named Western Music Association’s Female Performer of the Year in 1998, Masterson's performances deliver a foot-stompin' good time in addition to being historically and culturally educational. She'll also be performing some of the tunes from her latest CD, Roads to Colorado.

Danny Shafer & Friends - Wednesday, July 30
With more than 100 shows a year, Danny Shafer's performances vary from troubadour finger style to country blues, to his full Americana band, The Red Glory Ramblers. A finalist in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival's Troubadour contest in 2004, he's shared the stage with notable artists from Joan Baez to Jefferson Airplane, from the Reverend Horton Heat to Leftover Salmon, and many more. Shafer will be joined at Shady Grove with many friends for a spectacularly fun time for the whole family.

The Mitguards & Third Road Home - Wednesday, August 6
Powerful folk duos take the stage on August 6. With a musical hybrid of American roots music that includes traditional folk, country, swing and bluegrass, The Mitguards have a powerful and distinct sound. Chris and Deb Mitguard are dynamic performers whose spirited banter and engaging humor creates an endearing and intimate atmosphere. Tom and Trinity Demask make up the folk duo Third Road Home, and have a history at Swallow Hill of putting on highly entertaining and engaging shows. Their music offers a soul-stirring blend of earthy Americana that is as evocative, compelling and ethereal as it is warm and accessible. They are currently working on their second CD, due for release later this year.

Angie Stevens & John Common - Wednesday, August 13
Melding the influences of alt-country, indie-rock, contemporary folk, pop and honky-tonk, Angie Stevens has settled comfortably into the shoes of an Americana artist with soul-bearing, live performances that have captured audiences all over the map. This year she performed at both South by Southwest and the Sundance Film Festival. Holding the titles of Best Singer/Songwriter (Westword) and Emerging Artist of the Year (Hapi Skratch Entertainment) are sturdy examples of her talent, drive and ability. John Common is constantly writing songs that range from raucous and snarly to beautiful and introspective. Both The Onion and Westword named his Good To Be Born album as one of the bests records of 2006, with Westword writing, "With supple vocals that glide from intoxicating purrs to forceful croons, Common weaves his way through intelligent, cinematic material that's thoughtfully augmented by well-placed samples, subtle brass accompaniment and murmuring keys."

Tickets are available at the door only: $10/$7 members; $2 for children 12 & under. No glass or pets, please. This press release is available as a RSS Feed at www.swallowhillmusic.org/xml/newsroom/rss/SwallowHillNews.xml.

About Swallow Hill Music Association
Helping people make and enjoy music since 1979, Swallow Hill Music Association is one of the largest nonprofit institutions of its kind in the United States as a source for folk, roots and acoustic music. With more than 2,300 members, Swallow Hill provides a place to celebrate music that is rarely heard elsewhere in the Rocky Mountain Region. Three concert venues house more than 200 performances a year, featuring some of the world's great artists as well as up-and-coming new talent. Swallow Hill’s Julie Davis School of Music offers classes for every interest, skill level and member of the family. Each year, a faculty of 60 instructors provides training to more than 4,000 students. A Tier II member of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD), Swallow Hill has won both the Mayor's and Governor's Awards for Excellence in the Arts, countless "Best of Denver" awards, has been recognized by the the North American Folk Alliance, and is one of the most sought-after venues by folk and roots performers in the country.