Fox Theatre hosts a local take on a New Orleans classic when Mountain Standard Time throws their third annual “Mardi Grass” on Saturday, featuring special guest Jeff Austin from Yonder Mountain String Band. Lake Tahoe’s pride and joy, Dead Winter Carpenters, will also be a part of the action.
Aligning with the creation of their new EP, “Sunny,” Mountain Standard Time has recently added two new mates, Otis Lande on bass and Ryan Ebarb on keyboards.
Mountain Standard Time will be throw their third annual “Mardi Grass” Saturday night at the Fox Theatre. (Courtesy of Mountain Standard Time)
“’Sunny’ surpassed any expectations,” Nick Dunbar, a mandolin and guitar player as well as singer in the band, said. “We got in there very prepared and we were able to bust out seven tunes in less than four days including mastering.”
The group looks forward to throwing their blowout “Mardi Grass” festivity, but will maintain composure with their solid lineup. Dunbar and Stanton Sutton both hold down the mandolin, guitar and vocals while Zack Scott works the drums.
Dunbar explained the band’s history: “Ryan had just quit Yamn and was looking for a project to invest in. He has been touring in bands for the last ten years. He knows tons about the business and has lots of experience on the road, not to mention he’s a monster player. Otis is pretty much the go-to bass player in the greater Boulder area.”
“Mardi Grass is our Rocky Mountain Free Grass version of New Orleans Mardi Gras,” Dunbar said. “We encourage people to dress up. We try to make these shows more of a party, where we have sit-ins from friends and opening bands in an attempt to embody the free music and the spirits down in NOLA [New Orleans, Louisiana].”
Landing special guest Jeff Austin of the infamous Yonder Mountain String Band means a lot to Mountain Standard Time, as their genre of bluegrass jam band hails from innovators like Austin.
“Having Jeff Austin from YMSB is such an honor,” Dunbar said. “We will be playing some favorites that Jeff sings and some others that really let him go off instrumentally.”
The Dead Winter Carpenters performance will also ensure a great night of music from start to finish, he said.
Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. Sunday at the Fox Theatre on the Hill. Tickets are $13 in advance, $16 day of show and an extra $2 if you are under 21 years of age. Tickets can be purchased online at the Fox Theatre’s website.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Kyle Ward at Kyle.ward-1@colorado.edu.
