Profile of New Concert Director at Denver Music Venue/School

David Weingarden's favorite Colorado bands run the gamut from indie pop collective Young Coyotes and funk-rap troupe U.S. Pipe to the harmonious jazz-bluegrass sirens in Paperbird and the blues traditionalist John-Alex Mason. These eclectic tastes can only help the local music scene, as Weingarden recently became the director of concerts and talent buyer for Swallow Hill Music Association. He will help book more than 200 concerts this year on Swallow Hill's three stages and various other venues around the Denver area. The organization will maintain its focus on folk and roots music, but Weingarden will likely expand the definitions of each genre by constantly finding new artists to cultivate at Swallow Hill.

"It's research, research, and more research," he said. "I listen to and go see a ton of music. I ask the staff, board, artists and fans who they are listening to, and constantly pore over music blogs, magazines, radio playlists, and industry websites." In turn, when he finds and books these artists, he expects them to bring their own fans, who may become regulars at Swallow Hill. "My hope is to bring in compelling artists, which help cultivate audiences who have never been to the venue," Weingarden said. "... We want the artist and audience to walk away from the venue thinking 'That was terrific. I can't wait to go back' and then obviously spread the gospel."

Weingarden has long worked a variety of jobs in a variety of genres, most recently as CEO of the Midavo Entertainment booking agency. He also helped manage the large, legendary Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, and is a former tour and merchandise manager for classical vocal ensemble Chanticleer and major-label rock bands Tonic and the Verve Pipe (best remembered for the No. 1 hit "Freshmen" and not to be confused with the Verve, of stolen Stones riff fame). Nonetheless, he traces a passion for folk and roots music back to shows at the Ark in his native Michigan. The club opened in 1965 and stages the famous Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

Weingarden lived in Durango for four years, and has lived in Denver since September 2007. He's not exactly a Colorado native, but he's already well-informed on the local music scene. "Bands like The Fray, Yonder Mountain, Devotchka, Flobots, and 3oh!3 are doing incredibly well and bringing everyone up with them," he said. "Local bands receiving national notoriety has definitely helped. The high profile festivals that happen in Colorado bring fans and publicity from all over."

Still, he said local fans seeing local bands at area venues is the key to building and maintaining a thriving local music scene. "That's the starting point right there," Weingarden said. "It is about as grassroots as it gets and one of the most important aspects." Of course, he hopes many of those fans visit Swallow Hill's venues at Broadway and Yale Avenue.

This story was originally published in Colorado Music Buzz Magazine