126 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC & VENUES | FOOD & DRINK | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SPORTS & RECREATION | SHOPPING & SERVICES | CONTENTS | has established a fan base ravenous for its juicy, rambling jams that still showcase clas- sical, tight sensibilities. Taking inspiration from such acts as Phish, the Grateful Dead, Umphrey’s McGee and more, Polysanto blends heavy prog moments with uplifting melodies that keep us coming back for more. Best Breakout Folk Duo Marfa marfabandoffi cial.com You never know who’s listening. Bryce Menchaca and Kellen Wall formed the folk- Americana project Marfa a couple years ago while studying music at CU Denver, and their popular TikTok song covers caught the attention of their teacher and local scene vet Bart Dahl, who had once managed Dinosaur Jr. and a pre-fame Na- thaniel Rateliff. Dahl came out of retire- ment and joined forces with Ryan Ramos and Joel Klaiman of Ascend4M to man- age the duo, and soon enough, Wall and Menchaca were invited by producers from Nick Waterhouse to Josh Block and Jona- than Wilson to record four different singles that were released last year. Best Dark-Folk Mythology Album Kinnery of Lupercalia: Buell Legion Slim Cessna’s Auto Club scacunincorporated.com In 2015, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club started re- releasing its work through its own imprint, SCAC Unincorporated Records, which in- cluded connected groups like Denver Bron- cos UK (DBUK), Munly & the Lupercalians and Munly & the Lee Lewis Harlots. In 2022, the label released Kinnery of Luper- calia: Undelivered Legion, by Munly & the Lupercalians, which served as the fi rst in a mythical trilogy that would include SCAC and DBUK. SCAC dropped its contribution, Kinnery of Lupercalia: Buell Legion, in May 2024, and it’s another storytelling master- piece about an existential journey through Lupercalia, a magical world invented by lyricist Munly J. Munly. Best Bluegrass Band to Sign to a Major Label Clay Street Unit claystreetunit.com It’s only been fi ve years since Clay Street Unit formed, after lead vocalist/guitarist Sam Walker met banjo player Jack Cline at Zuni Street Brewing, but the bluegrass band has big things in store. The six-piece worked its way from playing breweries to venues, and this summer, it will open for Leftover Salmon and Kitchen Dwellers at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. But that’s not the only dream to come true for the group, which includes Scottie Bolin (mandolin, vocals), Brad Larrison (pedal steel, dobro), Brendan Lamb (drums) and Jack Kotarba (bass). In January, Clay Street Unit signed with the Sony Music label Monument Records, joining an im- pressive and growing roster of country and roots acts. Best Bluegrass Album High Lonesome High Lonesome highlonesomenewgrass.com High Lonesome combines guitar, bass, fiddle, dobro and mandolin to create a polished, modern bluegrass sound. The fi ve-piece band brings boot-stomping en- ergy to its live performances, and audiences can’t help but get swept up by the captivat- ing tunes. Hailing from Longmont, High Lonesome is always playing somewhere around Colorado, from Swallow Hill Music to the Chautauqua Community House in Boulder. You can get a taste on the group’s self-titled debut — a collection of eleven modern bluegrass tracks where the band- members each have their moment to shine. High Lonesome is quickly picking up a fol- lowing as it tours, and we see it going far. Best Outlaw Country Album Blame It on the Road Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts roughcutsband.com Outlaw country is alive and well in Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts, which formed in January 2013 after frontman Ryan Chrys, who moved to Denver in the early 2000s, had spent a decade performing guitar in a variety of acts. Music & Venues continued from page 124 continued on page 130
