Legacy Room - Mile High Blues 2018

Mile High Blues is excited to present the Legacy room. In the community there has been much discussion lately about our general understanding of Blues and Black culture: How do we develop a relationship with Black culture so our relationship with Blues is part of the legacy of Blues? One aspect we felt was an easy thing to address was knowledge of Black culture. We chose to do this through incorporating music that was influenced by the creation of Blues. American Blues music is one of the original styles of music to come out of the Americas. The creation of that music has greatly impacted the musical landscape of Black culture. By looking at other genres of music we can gain an understanding of Black culture as a whole and have another angle to look at Blues music with. And so the Legacy room was born. The focus of this room is going to be on music styles that are the legacy of Blues music. In addition to the Blues sounds you may hear in this room, there will be: Jazz, Soul, Funk, Hip Hop, Rap, R&B, Rhythm and Blues, Trap and so much more.

If you know other African diaspora dances that come out of the African American community, this is a great time to try them out and find their relationship to Blues. If you don’t, this is a great place to explore what happened to dance as the music changed over the years, and get in touch with more current Black musical expression. Join us!

DJs

Damon Stone

Often wrongly viewed as a traditionalist when it comes to both music and dance, Damon loves a wide variety of music for dancing and delights in the old and new, the off the wall, and the tried and true. If it will make you step, strut, swing out, twist, Harlem Shake, or shake your ass it might wind up in his set.

Kenneth Shipp

Kenneth has been spinning tunes over a decade, creating breakdance mixes from his dad’s vinyl collection to DJing hip hop / break competitions in college. After falling in love with blues in 2014, he’s spent the past few years learning and diving into the wide variety of blues styles and history. Kenneth aims to get you grooving and moving every time you step out onto the dance floor. He loves playing with your faves while also showcasing the soul/blues legends from his hometown of Nashville.

Julie Brown

A veteran DJ of the blues scene, Julie has DJed blues around the country at many of the large events, but she’s extra-excited to DJ some other genres, as one of your Legacy Room DJs. As Austin Blues Party’s resident Sunday latenight “party set” DJ, Julie is ready to deliver you some sweet slow jams, booty-shaking hip-hop, and grown-ass R&B for steppin’, line dancing, and more.

Rachel Stirling

Rachel fell in love with blues music upon finding the dance almost 15 years ago. She’s got a passion for the wide variety of blues music from Piedmont finger-pickin’, gritty swamp, funky boogaloo, to entrancing hill country. Above all though, it’s gotta be real and have soul.

Having enjoyed many dances and styles of music, she brings an eclectic mix of sounds and genres when she DJs, with a soft spot for a good horn section, interesting rhythms, solid grooves, and sweet harmonies. Just know, you’re guaranteed to hear tunes that have some ass and make you want to shake it. From old school jams to brand new beats, Rachel keeps it bumping in the clubs and on the streets. For more info check out http://www.redstirling.com.

Adam Wilkerson

Adam is proud to call Huntsville, Alabama home, but he’s originally from Mississippi. He’s been partner dancing since 2004, starting in Ballroom, Latin street dances, and Lindy Hop, but he followed Krystal into blues in 2010, and it’s been his primary focus ever since. He’s passionate about social dancing and blues music, and loves to explore all different blues styles in his instruction and setlists. He strongly believes in teaching the context and history of the music and the dance, focusing on research in his spare time. He grew up listening to his Dad’s music, and developed a love a rock and roll early on before discovering hip-hop in college. Ever since then, he’s been obsessed with sampling techniques and the Funk and Soul music used by DJs to innovate inspirational beats.

Pomona

Pomona grew up dancing on the west coast of Canada, sneaking out of her parents’ place to go to blues parties in high school. She makes a point to focus on showcasing music from queer people and people of colour in her sets, and will never refuse a solo dance battle.

Daniel Bullard-Bates

Daniel likes to DJ sets that shift and transform, with plenty of variety in rhythm, style, and emotion. He loves the process of watching a dance floor and trying to figure out what everyone in the room wants. A frequent DJ at Tuesday Blues and Barefoot in Portland, Oregon, he’s traveled to play dances and events in Seattle, San Francisco, and a few wilderness locations. This is his first time in Denver, and he’s super honored to be playing both blues and the legacy room.