DENVER, CO (October 21, 2021)— Colorado Music Hall of Fame is pleased to announce its 2021 induction class:The Flatirons Sessionshonoring The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Hot Rize and the Fox Theatre. In an abundance of caution for the bands, crews and concertgoers regarding Covid-19, the Hall is postponing the induction concert and ceremony, originally scheduled for December 6 at the Mission Ballroom, until Spring 2022. The rescheduled date will be announced after the new year.
The members of our 2021 class join almost fifty musicians, bands, music industry professionals, venues and organizations that have been inducted into Colorado Music Hall of Fame since its inception ten years ago.
The Inductees
The String Cheese Incident: Over the past decade, The String Cheese Incident has emerged as one of America’s most significant independent bands. Born in 1993 in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, The String Cheese Incident has since released ten albums, six DVDs and countless live recordings from its relentless tour schedule. The act’s twenty-year history is packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. Its members have been recognized for their commitment to musical creativity and integrity, their community spirit, their philanthropic endeavors and their innovative approach to the business of music.
Leftover Salmon: For three decades, Leftover Salmon has built an audience through exhilarating live shows, musicianship and an eclectic blend of musical genres. Providing a template for a new generation of string bands, such as fellow inductee Yonder Mountain String Band, Leftover Salmon has been one of Colorado’s most beloved musical exports with its own potent brew of bluegrass, rock and roll, folk, Cajun, soul, zydeco and jazz and blues. Leftover Salmon’s acclaimed new album,Brand New Good Old Days, marks its return to Nashville label Compass Records.
Yonder Mountain String Band: Looking at the scene now, it’s hard to imagine a time when it was unheard-of for bands armed only with acoustic instruments to play sold-out shows at iconic rock clubs and esteemed festivals. Yonder Mountain String Band cultivated a rock-and-roll-inspired bluegrass that would prove to be both inspirational and durable, with 22 appearances in 23 years at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, 18 New Year’s runs, 16 Red Rocks performances and too many shows to count across the state. Credited with inspiring the likes of Billy Strings, Greensky Bluegrass and The Infamous Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain is still as Colorado as it gets.
Hot Rize: Bursting onto the scene in 1978, Hot Rize quickly became the “godfathers" of Colorado’s modern progressive bluegrass movement, inspiring younger bands - including fellow inductees - along the way. The band played at most of the major festivals, produced eight studio albums and three live albums, did countless tours across four continents, and appeared many times on television and radio. Accolades include the International Bluegrass Music Association’s very first Entertainers of the Year award, a Grammy nomination and a four-star album review in Rolling Stone. Hot Rize was also known for incorporating its Western swing alter-ego band, Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers, into performances.
Fox Theatre: The Fox Theatre, an iconic music venue located on The Hill in Boulder, opened in March 1992 and quickly became a "must-play" venue for some of the best artists of our time. The Fox regularly showcased its fellow inductees early in their careers and still does today. Named byRolling Stoneas one of the top live music clubs in the nation. The Fox has hosted a broad spectrum of world-class artists such as Dave Matthews Band, Willie Nelson, Chance The Rapper, Tyler, The Creator plus Radiohead, Ween, Billy Strings, Phil Lesh Bonnie Raitt, Widespread Panic and Griz.
Karen M. Radman
Executive Director