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Taste of Fort Colllins for serious eaters |
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Written by Erin Frustaci
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Wednesday, 07 June 2006 |
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Page 4 of 4
TASTE THE MUSIC
BoDeans, Better Than Ezra headline two days and nights of music at the Taste of Fort Collins
Now in its 10th year, the Taste of Fort Collins will feature two nationally known bands and a few regional acts to round out the mix of music patrons can hear on the main stage throughout the weekend in Civic Center Park.
DURING THE DAYS
The Lindsey O’Brien Band opens the performances on Saturday. Described as a melding of jazzy folk rock flavor, the Lindsey O’Brien band is billed to either get you groovin’ or reminiscing about lost love.
That group is followed by Christopher Jak, a singer-songwriter based in Colorado who is known for his hook-filled melodies and powerful voice.
12 Cents for Marvin, a band formed at Colorado State University nearly a decade ago has ska/reggae/rock sound.
Savage Henry combines the feel-good song-writing of Jack Johnson with lyrical styling more akin to G-Love and musical influences stretching from Maroon 5 to 311.
Rachael’s Playpen starts off the performances on Sunday. The group plays straight-forward pop songs and experiments with chords to create a diverse sound combination.
Something Underground is a distinctive band from Boulder, described as playing everything from hip-hop to classical.
Brethren Fast is referred to as a ‘hillbilly funk,’ band, taking elements from Johnny Cash, Elvis and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
NEXTnc staff reports
BETTER THAN EZRA
 On Saturday, rock veterans Better Than Ezra take the main stage at 7 p.m.
This is a return trip to northern Colorado for the group that played a concert at the University of Northern Colorado in late March.
The band — guitarist and lead singer Kevin Griffin, bass player Tom Drummond and drummer Travis McNabb — formed in 1987 in New Orleans when Griffin and other original members were attending Louisiana State University. More than 10 years and nine albums later, the band still has a major following, and hardcore fans known as the Ezralites follow the band while it tours.
Possibly best known for its 1995 single, “Good,” the group has maintained popularity for more than a decade. Its musical influences include funk, rock, country, folk and pop.
Their newest single “Juicy,” was used as background music in 2005 for advertisements for the TV show “Desperate Housewives.”
The band has eight CDs under the belt, two of which were released in 2005, “Greatest Hits” and “Before the Robots.”
NEXTnc staff reports
THE BODEANS
 The BoDeans wrap up the Taste of Fort Collins at 5 p.m. Sunday night on the main stage and might just send you home humming the “Party of Five” song, “Closer to Free.”
Arguably one of their best-known songs, “Closer to Free” is featured in the opening credits of the television show.
This Wisconsin-based band began in 1983 with Kurt Neumann on electric guitar and vocals and Sam Llanas playing acoustic guitar. The two then became four when Gut Hoffman joined on drums in 1984 and bassist Bob Griffin was also folded into the mix.
In January of 1987, the BoDeans won the Rolling Stone reader poll for Best New American Band.
Since then, the band has gone through various lineups, but the staple of Neumann and Llanas have remained to create a roots rock sound.
The group has released 10 CDs, the latest is a compilation of previously released songs, called “Homebrewed: Live at the Pabst,” which was released in August 2005.
NEXTnc staff reports
THE LINEUP
All acts perform on the main stage in Civic Center Park at the Taste of Fort Collins:
SATURDAY
- 11:30 a.m. — Lindsey O’Brien Band
- 12:45 p.m. — Christopher Jak
- 2 p.m. — 12 Cents for Marvin
- 4 p.m. — Savage Henry
- 7 p.m. — Better Than Ezra
SUNDAY
- 11:30 a.m. — Rachel’s Playpen
- 1 p.m. — Something
- Underground
- 2:30 p.m. — Brethren Fast
- 5 p.m. — BoDeans
For tickets and details, go to www.tasteoffortcollins.com
EXTRAS
Taste of Fort Collins continues wine garden, beefs up Kidz Zone
CUP RUNNETH OVER
What is fine cuisine without wine?
It’s not the Taste of Fort Collins, that’s for sure. Thanks to Pringle’s Fine Wine & Spirits, the Pringle’s World Wine Pavilion will return for its second year.
“It was such a great success last year,” Cat Loyd, event manager said. “People really seem to enjoy it, so we are bringing it back.”
Last year, the pavilion ran out of wine, so Pringle’s Fine Wine & Spirits owner Phil Pringle is doubling the supply. He expects to go through more than 400 bottles of wine before the weekend is finished.
For $10, wine tasters get a souvenir glass and either six small tastings or two glasses of wine.
Pringle, who has been selling wine for 32 years, said 20 different types of wine will be served in the course of two days and the pavilion will be open from 1-5 p.m. both days.
“I decided to participate to get in the spirit of downtown Fort Collins and to turn people on to good wines,” he said. “You can get a glass of wine with food instead of beer. Not to knock beer or anything, but wine is a little better than beer with food.”
And if wine isn’t your thing, the Coors Beer Garden will come to the rescue to make sure you eat, drink and are Marry, or Bob, or whoever you are.
KIDZ ZONE
This year, the Kidz Zone is beefed up with amusement park rides.
Kids will fly in circles on the swings and whirl around in the sit and spin, which is similar to spinning tea cups at Disney World.
“We want to encourage families to come and bring their kids. We really want to cater to them too,” said Cat Loyd, Taste of Fort Collins event manager.
Though the rides will cost a few dollars, the Kidz Zone will also have some free activities, like the noodle art booth sponsored by Noodles and Company.
Kids will also have the chance to paint and decorate a Volkswagen Beetle. The really little ones can be train conductors, riding a train around the tracks. And of course, the event wouldn’t be complete without inflatable bouncing castles and trampolines. The Kidz Zone will be open for the duration of the festival.
Erin Frustaci
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