The Denver Botanic Gardens will be hosting a charming midweek musical treat this week. Elephant Revival, Nederland’s own captivating quintet, will be playing with the Grammy-winning Carolina Chocolate Drops. The trio, all with North Carolina roots, play a variety of instruments ranging from various banjos to the cello, quills, snare drums, and the jug, the bones, and let us not forget the kazoo. The Drop’s musical style interprets that of the Southern black music from the 1920s-30s while incorporating traditional elements of jazz, blues, and folk. Combined with Elephant Revival’s washboard, stomp box, upright bass, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and more banjo, we’re in for a night of raw roots-rock with a nurturing soul that we won’t soon forget. Elephant Revival’s new album, These Changing Skies, will be released in September.
This enchanting evening of folk music and picnics at the Denver Botanic Gardens takes place on Wednesday July 24. Doors open at the York Street venue at 6pm and the show begins at 7pm. Tickets range from $45-50, plus fees. Feel free to bring your own chair (as long as it’s shorter than 26″ when unfolded and set up) or rent one for $5/chair. All seating is general admission, so if you want a prime location arrive early. Personally, I will be totally chair-less and dancing throughout both sets of music provided by both bands. But I may just take advantage of the fact that you are also permitted to bring your own wine, beer, and food into the venue. In order to BYO, the Botanic Gardens charges an additional $5 to the ticket cost of non-members, which grants you a one-day membership and therefor permission to booze. Alcohol is not available for purchase at the event, however food is.
Elephant Revival’s website opens with a quote from New York Time’s Paul Krugman that states, “If Elephant Revival doesn’t make you smile, something is wrong with you.” I would go so far as to wager the same for the Carolina Chocolate Drops. So bring your friends, bring a blanket, and bring your smile to the show. See you there.
Allison Cohn loves gold spray paint and nonsense. She also has a very difficult time sitting still and keeping quiet. She can often be found dancing like a fool when she isn’t hiding out in her mountain lair or gallivanting around the globe.
Cover Photo Credit: Drew Pearson