The Mishawaka embraces Colorado Spirit – Colorado Sound Music Awards

You voted the Mishawaka as your Colorado Spirit choice in 2023

By Adam Perry

Mishawaka Amphitheatre owner Dani Grant says her iconic, idyllic old-time venue along the Poudre River attracts so many fans and artists every year because it embodies the Colorado experience.

“I think people really crave that, and so that’s why it’s just a special spot. People love Red Rocks but it’s not the whole…they met their wife at the Mish, or the first time they ever heard bluegrass, or the moment that they had their first mushrooms.”

The Mish is over 100 years old, and the capacity is just 700 music lovers, but bands that could play larger venues – artists like Band of Horses and Murder By Death – discover the venue because of its reputation and then keep coming back.

“It’s always been a place for local musicians to grow up, and now artists that come across the country want to stop there because it’s a Colorado experience,” Grant says. “Band of Horses just played there again for, I think, the third time and Band of Horses could do five nights sold out at the Mish, right? [National artists] publicly and privately, they’re spouting off about how it is just the Colorado feeling, you know, like you’re there you’re on the river you’re in the canyon, the mountain air—there’s a bear there’s, a big horn sheep…It embodies the whole outdoor-recreation/music thing.”

Before Grant and her husband got involved, Grant says, the Mish was poorly managed but worthy of restoration and renovation because of its obvious charm and incredibly beautiful location not only in the canyon but with a stage that is just feet from the river. World-class bands play the Mish, of course, but concert-goers can also spend part of their day rafting, fishing, wading, etc. along with taking in a great concert.

Grant just opened a rock club in Los Angeles, but feels deeply connected to the Colorado music scene, and the living-history at the Mish that keeps fans, and artists, coming back and inspired Colorado Sound voters to give it this year’s Colorado Spirit award.

“It’s a very special feeling, you know. The String Cheese Incident got their start up at the Mish and Leftover Salmon and a lot of those bands played their back way in the beginning. Yonder [Mountain String Band] got their start, cut their teeth at the Mish and a lot of the bands today that are Colorado roots-music bands were born there.”

Meet all of the 2023 Colorado Sound Music Award winners

On the Rise – Pink Fuzz

Colorado Spirit – The Mishawaka

Outstanding Stage Presence – Alysia Kraft

Outstanding ‘Secret Ingredient’ – Taylor Sims

Musician or Band You’d Drive 105.5. Miles to See – Volores

Lifetime Achievement Award – Chris K.

Meet all our incredible 2023 Colorado Sound Music Award nominees

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