Last night’s Official Beanstalk Festival Pre-Party got rowdy in Boulder, with non-stop jams from Tenth Mountain Division, Cycles, and support from Good Touch—all local bands and part of the Magic Beans and Beanstalk family. If the hootenanny that went down last night is any indication of what is to come at Beanstalk Music and Arts Festival this upcoming June, I ardently believe that you should get your tickets to the beautiful festival in the Colorado Rockies before they sellout!

Denver “Funk ‘N Rollers” Good Touch, opened the night up at the historic Fox Theatre and pumped up the crowd with fiery-hot guitar licks from Alex Newton and crushing rhythm on the drums provided by the ever-so-talented Tyler Hobbs. By the end of their 45-minute set, the continuously growing crowd had packed the venue awaiting local favorites Cycles to take the stage.

The name Cycles may ring a bell for many of you who saw them pack a crowd surrounding the Cash or Trade tent on Phish Dicks lot last year on Friday evening. Cycles has built a loyal fan base over the past year and has the mystical power of continuously evolving. Guitar-extraordinaire Patrick Harvey, bass-guru Tucker McClung, and the backbone and powerhouse Michael Wood on drums create a sound that I rarely hear three individuals able to make. Combining some heavy jams similar to Umphrey’s Mcgee and then quickly changing tempo and style, the trio dove into blissful and beautiful jams that left the crowd begging for more.

Cycles mixed a few new tunes in with staples last night and had the pleasure of inviting Tenth Mountain Division’s Winton Huega on mandolin and MJ Ouimette on guitar for a mind-boggling rendition of “Get Up Out of Your Head.” Staples like “Chapanga” and “The Ruminator” were played, with a highlight cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Fire” to close possibly the best Cycles set I have seen to date.

Boulder locals and CU Boulder alumni (most of them) Tenth Mountain Division headlined the Fox Theatre for the first time since last August. You could tell out of the gates the boys were more than ready and seemed as if they had never left. Last night’s packed-crowd is a frequently an indication of how many define “success” and “making it” in the tough music industry that exists today, and I am confident saying that Tenth Mountain Division, or TMD as we like to call them, are on the continuous up-and-up.

The self-coined “Ski-Rock” quintet composed of mandolinist Winston Huega, guitarist MJ Ouimette, bassist Connor Dunn, keyboardist Campbell Thomas, and drummer Tyler Gwynn crushed out a jam-packed setlist and were joined by the horn section from Guerilla Fanfare for rockin’ covers of “The Letter” (in the style of Joe Cocker), “Hurricane Season” by Trombone Shorty, and an ever-so fitting closer of “Do What You Wanna” originally done by Rebirth Brass Band. The youngins also busted out three new originals, “Arkansas”, “Good Gravy”, and “Stop” (Falling Back in Love), leaving anybody who had never seen them before hungry for more. Those feeling it are in luck, as the band is slated to release their second album in June, with a massive fall tour in the works to promote the new tunes!

Make sure to get your tickets to the intimate Beanstalk Music and Arts Festival, hosted by The Magic Beans this June 22nd through 25th, at beautiful Rancho Del Rio in Colorado, and check out these three bands as well as the other incredible acts slated to perform! You can also check out photos from last night’s pre-party courtesy of the author.

Setlist: Cycles | Fox Theatre | Boulder, CO | 4/27/2017

The Home, Music For Free, Vacation, Get Up Out Of Your Head[1], Be Yourself, The Key > Sunday Night, The Ruminator, Twilight, The Call, Chapanga, The Aloe Parade > Fire, The Store, The Changer

[1] “Get Up Out Of Your Head” featured Winston Heuga (Tenth Mountain Division) on mandolin and MJ Ouimette (Tenth Mountain Division) on guitar.