Bouldergrass, a local bluegrass ensemble from Boulder, joined KGNU live at the Boulder County Farmers Market. The group performed originals, fiddle tunes, and classics like Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released, while sharing their origins in a “fiddle tune club,” introducing band members, and celebrating community connections through music. (Studio Session: 9/27/25)
Robin Claire: KGNU, your place in Boulder. Hi, I’m talking to a little girl right now—she’s so cute. She’s got her sunglasses on; she knows the future is very bright. And our immediate future is extremely bright because it’s time for the live music section of Old Grass, New Grass. We’ve got Bouldergrass with us.
I think we should just move right into music. People are gathering, so let’s move into music. You guys play a couple of tunes, and then we’ll come back and get to meet you. How does that sound? Everybody, give it up for Bouldergrass.
Bouldergrass: Are we playing?
Robin Claire: No, I’m not hearing it.
Bouldergrass: Thanks, everybody. So good to be here. Thanks to KGNU for having us this morning. It’s an incredible morning in Boulder, Colorado.
(Song: “It Won’t Get the Best of Me”)
I won’t lay around this empty house in grief,
My heart has had enough, it won’t get me.
…
I am tired of your memory messing with my mind.
Tonight I’m moving on, I wasted too much time.
…
It won’t get the best of me.
Robin Claire: Hey, thanks everybody! And if you come down to the Farmers Market, lonesome won’t get the best of you either—too much great stuff going on down here. You are listening to KGNU, 88.5 FM Boulder, 1390 AM Denver. We’ve been listening to some amazing bluegrass artists—Bouldergrass, live right now.
Colorado is a big hotbed for bluegrass music. I can’t thank you all enough for coming today. Why don’t you share a little about yourselves so everyone can hear, and also wherever people are listening around the world. If you’d like to let us know where you’re listening from, it’s [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
Bouldergrass: Well, like Robin said, we’re Bouldergrass from right here in Boulder, Colorado. Not the most creative name, but that’s who we are. We kind of started a fiddle tune club—kind of like a book club, but for fiddle tunes. We would learn a new fiddle tune every week and all get together and play it.
We were having so much fun, we thought, “Why don’t we do this out there?” We’ve all been friends and played together in different bands over the years. Out of that fiddle tune club, here we are. We sing, too.
Robin Claire: I love it—girls and boys playing so nicely together. Thank you!
I always get a nice thing from someone who’s vending at the market, and today I was able to get a bouquet of flowers from Fresh Herb Company. And your daughter, Mabel Brown, won the prize that always goes to the first child who starts dancing to the live music. And wouldn’t you know it, it took a banjo player’s daughter!
So, what else have you got for us?
Bouldergrass: Well, we’re gonna play—I’ll let Katie introduce this one.
Katie: Yeah, this is a Bob Dylan tune called I Shall Be Released. I’m sure everybody knows it. We’re gonna have a different take on it.
(Song: “I Shall Be Released”)
…
Bouldergrass: Thanks, everybody. That’s Katie Bucky singing and playing fiddle. Speaking of fiddle tunes, we’re gonna play another one for you called Roscoe’s Gone.
(Song: “Roscoe’s Gone” – instrumental)
Bouldergrass: Thanks, everybody. That was Scott Midler on guitar and harmony. He’s gonna come up and sing a tune. After a little bit of banjo tuning—always gotta have the banjo tuning. Here’s a fun little tune called Cottontown.
(Song: “Cottontown”)
…
Robin Claire: You guys, where have you all been hiding? Would you mind introducing yourselves and the instruments you play?
Bouldergrass:
- I’m Steve Remmert, I play mandolin. I’m a longtime KGNU listener, and our dear friend Annie Sark is the one who got us here today.
- My name’s Katie, I play fiddle, I’m from Boulder, and I’m happy to be here.
- I’m Tyler Brown, I play banjo—best known as Mabel’s dad.
- I’m Nan Rosenblum, I play guitar and sing. We’re so happy to be here. Thank you, Robin.
- Hey everyone, I’m Franziska “Fran” Saner, originally from Switzerland, and I play bass.
- I’m Scott Midler, I play guitar. I’m also a longtime KGNU listener.
Robin Claire: Bouldergrass, everybody!
Bouldergrass: Thanks, everyone. There’s nothing like a little murder ballad to get your feet flying on the dance floor, so here we go. This tune is Caleb Meyer.
(Song: “Caleb Meyer”)
…
Robin Claire: That was Nan Rosenblum. Everyone’s going down to Mississippi now!
Bouldergrass: Okay, Tyler, you ready?
(Song: “Mississippi River Song”)
…
Bouldergrass: Ladies and gentlemen, that was Mabel’s dad right there!
We’re playing an original Steve Remmert tune now. This one’s about being in a relationship that ended, but still finding yourself driving past the old house. It’s called Missing You.
(Song: “Missing You”)
…
Robin Claire: Steve Remmert! What a great tune. Who else is writing songs in your band?
Bouldergrass: Nobody—Steve’s leading the pack.
Robin Claire: Do you have a favorite mandolin player?
Bouldergrass: I’ve got a lot of favorites, from Sam Bush to Chris Thile. But Joe Walsh is probably one of my very favorites.
Robin Claire: Nice! Speaking of favorites, I’ve got to shout out my favorite KGNU Bluegrass DJs—Neil and Joan, Leonard Wernick, Fergus, Brian, Matt, and Annie. And rumor has it there’s a guy named Travis in training who might be joining the ranks. Always good to have more bluegrass DJs!
Bouldergrass: [00:29:00] Well, they’ll have to have a cage match to figure out who’s the favorite!
Robin Claire: Thank goodness there’s a different Saturday every month.
Bouldergrass: Now it’s time for something different. I’m gonna sing this next song in Italian, and give a shout-out to our international audience.
(Song – Italian ballad excerpt)
Robin Claire: We’ve even heard from Switzerland!
Bouldergrass: We’ve got a huge audience in Switzerland—they’re a little biased.
Robin Claire: They’re not wrong! Just because they know you doesn’t mean they’re wrong.
Alright, Bouldergrass has one more song.
Bouldergrass: If you want to follow us, we’re on all the socials under Bouldergrass. And if you don’t want to hear us—don’t go there! Block us!
Thank you, Robin, for having us. Thank you to Evan for sound, and to Annie for connecting us. We appreciate you and we appreciate KGNU.
Here’s one more fiddle tune—Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom, with a surprise in the middle.
Robin Claire: Thank you! Give a big hand to Bouldergrass—and to Switzerland for tuning in!
