KGNU’s Ginger Perry chats with Colorado musicians Duncan Coker and Sarah Adams. They highlight their co-hosted performance at the Roots Music Project in Boulder. Both artists, who lead their respective bands, discussed their latest releases, musical styles, and creative processes (Interview date: 11/15/2024)
Ginger Perry: I think the listeners want to know what’s going on with you guys. You’re playing at Roots in Boulder, November 16th.
Duncan Coker: That’s right.
Ginger Perry: And that’s at what time?
Duncan Coker: The doors open at seven. Show starts at eight o’clock.
Ginger Perry: Okay, good. And are you guys from Boulder?
Duncan Coker: I am. Sarah lives in Denver.
Sarah Adams: I live in Denver now but I’m from South Carolina originally. I moved out here about two years ago and really like it here.
Ginger Perry: Oh, good. Welcome to Colorado.
Sarah Adams: Thank you.
Ginger Perry: We’re pretty proud of our state these days. Now you play separately, right? Not together?
Duncan Coker: Yeah, we each have our own band. So this show is sort of a co-host show, but you get to see two wonderful bands. Sarah writes all of her own music and has a really great band and I do the same.
Ginger Perry: Original music. That’s cool. Let’s get right into a little music. Duncan, you want to play something for us?
Duncan Coker: Sure. I would love to. This song is called “Nashville Dream”.
Ginger Perry: That’s really beautiful. Did you write that?
Duncan Coker: I did.
Ginger Perry: I love it. Tells a story. Always appreciate that. How long have you been playing music, Duncan?
Duncan Coker: I would say the last 10 years, as a singer songwriter. And just the last year with a full band. I really love playing with the band.
Ginger Perry: Tell me about the band.
Duncan Coker: Everyone’s in Denver, except for me. But I’ve got Jim Dorschel on drums, Marshall Hayes on bass, a new guitar player, Jason Paradise, and a really wonderful singer, Katie Mintle sings with us.
Ginger Perry: Sounds good. Pretty full band there.
Duncan Coker: Yeah. For this particular show, we’re adding a fiddle player for Saturday. His name’s Chris Duke. He lives in Greeley, and he’s a great fiddle player.
Ginger Perry: Let’s see, I’ve been to Roots, but I can’t quite picture it. It’s a small venue in East Boulder.
Duncan Coker: Yeah, it’s in that warehouse district on Pearl Street. A wonderful venue. It’s a listening room, but you can also get up and dance if you want to. Really comfortable space. They got couches, they got chairs. Good sound. And it’s a non-profit. They do a lot for the community of Boulder, helping artists find a nice venue to play music.
Ginger Perry: Let’s see, do you know the address offhand?
Duncan Coker: It’s 4747 Pearl Street.
Ginger Perry: And that’s in East Boulder.
Duncan Coker: I forget the number, but you pull in and it’s straight ahead.
Ginger Perry: Tell me about your band, Sarah.
Sarah Adams: I’ve also got a group of Denver-based guys with me. Chad Irish on the drums. He was the mutual friend that connected Duncan and me. And then Elliot Miller on guitar and harmonies, and John Baldwin on bass and harmonies.
Chad also sings some harmonies as well. We’ve got a folk Americana rock kind of sound, similar to the vein of Brandi Carlile, Katie Pruitt, that world of musicians. If you like that kind of sound, that’s what we’ll be giving.
Ginger Perry: Oh, yes. And you’re described as a queer musician, which always seems odd to me, to have to define it that way, but I guess it’s important in a certain way.
Sarah Adams: Yeah, I guess the reason I say that is because I can’t quite call myself a lesbian for sure. Because I think there might be some men out there that I might still like. Definitely just historically have been into women, so yeah. Leave the door open, though.
Ginger Perry: I just saw Joni Mitchell at the Hollywood Bowl. I was fortunate enough to go to that show.
Sarah Adams: How was it?
Ginger Perry: It was incredible! It’s like being in the midst of a miracle because of what she’s been through. And she did 27 songs in three hours. She just turned 81 and she was radiant and the moon was just coming up. And of course, the reason I mentioned it is because Brandi Carlile is the one that kind of got her out. There were a lot of lesbians at that show.
Sarah Adams: I actually got to see them both at The Gorge last summer. Similarly, very regal.
Ginger Perry: Yes, but Joni didn’t play that much, right?
Sarah Adams: She did have her own night. I want to say it was like two hours still. It was still a pretty hefty set. But she sat up in her throne. It was just regal, I think is the only way to describe it.
Ginger Perry: Yeah. That’s a good word. Majestic. She had Marcus Mumford with her. Annie Lennox.
Sarah Adams: This was the crew that was at the gorge as well.
Ginger Perry: Joni’s Jam, it’s called. It’s from the people that would go and hang out with her in her living room as she was recovering over the past years. Elton John was there the next night, but it was an all star lineup. Everybody was in tears at one point or another, especially when she sang “Both Sides Now”. She had that aneurysm nine years ago and she hadn’t actually performed live music in probably a couple of decades. It was really scintillating to be there. It was just stunning. Anyway, that’s a lot of talk. You triggered a memory.
Sarah Adams: Hey, that’s all right.
Ginger Perry: So let’s hear from you, Sarah.
Sarah Adams: Sure. I’m going to do this song. I started nannying for this little girl named June when she was seven weeks old. I was with her through the first year of her life. Babies are just magical and bring out this pure connection. So I wrote this one. It’s called “Junie”.
Ginger Perry: Beautiful. And inspired by a little baby you took care of. How old is that little baby now?
Sarah Adams: She’s 14 or 15 months. I’m not with their family anymore, they just didn’t need as much help. I’m with a new little guy who’s just turned two. That “Junie” song just came out back in September so you can go listen to it online.
Ginger Perry: Do you have a new release, too?
Sarah Adams: Just a single. I am working on a second album. In March, we’re going to be recording and I’m going to do a more full version of “Junie” then. But for now, there’s an acoustic single out that people can go listen to.
Ginger Perry: Okay. I’m reading the description of Duncan, who’s here too, and he’ll be playing at the Roots Music Project. This says, “Americana rocker Duncan Coker blends honky tonk and folk rock, drawing from his diverse musical roots.” There’s a new album out now, too. Tell us about that.
Duncan Coker: Yeah, the album came out in April. It was all recorded right here in Boulder at Broadway Music Studios with Bob Baric, my friend and producer. We had a lot of fun doing it and we’ll be playing a lot of those songs and some new ones.
Ginger Perry: A wonderful venue here in Boulder. It’s the Roots Music Project. It’s at 4747 Pearl Street, Suite V3A. A little bit challenging to find, but as Duncan said, there are signs pointing the way. And Duncan and Sarah, with their wonderful music, and we’re going to do one ticket giveaway too, will be at the Roots Music Project, Saturday night, eight o’clock show, with their bands, so it’ll be a different sound, and we’re really happy to have them here in the studio.
Duncan Coker: You got two wonderful bands, some great music and we’re going to give away two tickets.
Ginger Perry: Yeah, two tickets to paradise. You’re listening to KGNU, and we’re honored and happy to have Duncan and Sarah in here. So nice to have you here, and good luck with that show.
Duncan Coker: Thanks so much for having us. We really appreciate it and come on out and see us on Saturday.
Sarah Adams: Thank you so much.
Ginger Perry: Okay, Sounds good. I’m real happy to have you.
