Today’s Rhythms on the Rio opened up with heavy cloud cover, promising rain. That’s not a good sign with an outdoor festival, but these Coloradoans are a hardy lot and will dance to music no matter the condition. For Blake Himert and his sound crew, though, it’s a lot of extra tarping and strategic towel placement, which they already did a bit Friday night. Luckily, what rain we did have was light that came mid-afternoon.

Rhythms on the Rio is celebrating its tenth year, bringing music to the San Luis Valley of Colorado. And the South Fork Music Association (SFMA) pulled out all the stops!

You still have time to make plans (and get tickets) for Colorado’s best kept musical secret, Aug 7-9, 2105. Tucked against the beautiful Rio Grande River, Rhythms on the Rio hosts top-shelf local and touring bands that guarantee getting your boogie on!

TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS WITH BILL NERSHI, NEW ORLEANS SUSPECTS and HOT BUTTERED RUM will headline the 10th ANNUAL RHYTHMS ON THE RIO, an intimate music festival in South Fork, Colorado, from Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th.  The event is hosted by the South Fork Music Association, a non-profit entity; it raises money for organization’s Children’s Music Program.

TRAVELIN’ MCCOURYS WITH BILL NERSHI, NEW ORLEANS SUSPECTS and HOT BUTTERED RUM will headline the 10th ANNUAL RHYTHMS ON THE RIO, an intimate music festival in South Fork, Colorado, from Friday, August 7th through Sunday, August 9th.  The event is hosted by the South Fork Music Association, a non-profit entity; it raises money for organization’s Children’s Music Program.

South Fork CO, a tiny town tucked away at 8200 feet in the San Juan Mountains, has always been a stop on the way to somewhere else. Starting life as a stage coach station in the 1880s, the town only grew slowly in the aftermath of the silver strike in nearby Creede and the extension of the railroad. Finally in 1992, it was officially incorporated as a town, the youngest in Colorado. But South Fork and Creede have always drawn musicians and others who sought the tranquility of these rugged mountains and the swift moving waters of the Rio Grande, which begins a few miles from Creede.

The last day of this year’s 2014 Rhythms on the Rio was a mix of rain and sun. Actually, for year’s past, this was a dry festival for the most part.

This year’s Rhythms on the Rio opened with a bang. It’s hard to judge numbers but the campground seemed fuller and the dance area most certainly was as packed as last year’s Saturday night, with some folks who had never been to this little festival appearing by the recommendation of friends. That’s always good to see.

What a glorious day yesterday was! The second day of Rhythms on the Rio 2014 was jam-packed with musical goodness in the rarified air of the southern Colorado Rockies.

Starting of the yesterday’s slate of artists was Ashley Raines, the winner of this summer’s singer/songwriter contest. Raines offered originals that ranged from bluesy tunes to more Americana fare, warming up the audience for what was to come.

After the intense rains of the night before, everyone’s spirits were lifted as the second day of the 2013 Rhythms on the Rio Riverbank Fest dawned bright and clear. It helped having the Mojones from Creede, CO, cook up some intense blues first thing.