Colorado Creative Industries has announced a new pilot project, named Detour, aimed at expanding tours beyond just the one-and-done show. The program will kick off with a monthlong 15-community tour by Colorado hip-hop act Flobots.
"Playing big festival shows is always a thrill, but there's something truly special about the intimacy of a small venue," Flobots lead vocalists Jonny 5 said in a news release. "It's even more special if you can find ways to meet people beforehand; to know the stories behind the faces and then watch those faces react to the show - that is the ultimate gift."
Musicians were really the inspiration for the program, said Margaret Hunt, executive director of CCI, an organization directed at supporting Colorado’s creative economy.
“They wanted a different experience of touring,” Hunt said. “And when we looked at all the incredible venues that we have across the state, we realized that a band could spend three weeks or a month touring in Colorado and really get to know people, get to know communities.”
Beginning Sept. 2 in Pueblo, the tour will make stops in a diverse range of communities, including Denver, Durango, Fort Morgan, Telluride and Trinidad. Detour stops will include opportunities for residencies, workshops, collaborations with other musicians, field recordings and community celebrations, she said.
“It’s sustainable for the musician because they get to spend more time in a community; instead of driving in, doing a performance, hoping back in the bus leaving town and going on to the next city kind of thing.”
The $11,000 pilot is led by CCI with partners including Denver Arts & Venues, SpokesBUZZ and History Colorado.
Bands and communities interested in becoming part of the program can already apply for potential 2016 Detour opportunities. Most events on the tour [pdf] will be free with a limited number of ticketed performances.
