Confessions of a Local Winter WonderGrass Musician

By Denton Turner, Buffalo Commons

Editor’s note: Want to know what it feels like to play in front of your friends at Winter WonderGrass?

Consider the following post-show Facebook post from Denton Turner of Buffalo Commons.

How would you define your

DJ style and has town been receptive to it?

I’ve created a family-like following here as the “House Gangster” of Steamboat. I don’t dislike any music; in fact, I do everything from the Steamboat High School Prom to weddings and birthday parties. With a music scene that is highly dominated by country and bluegrass, I think the DJ scene brings the same if not more of a dedicated following anywhere, anytime.

What are you looking forward to this summer?

I can’t wait to see what the future holds with all my new endeavors. I’m involved in a new ultra-lounge in Steamboat called the Fox Bar opening this summer, and I plan to produce my own music and release an album and spread the love of house. Peace, Love, and House Music forever.

EDM Rockin’ the ‘Boat

Things are shifting in Steamboat’s music scene, with EDM playing a big role, thanks to the likes of both DJ Whoski and John Fransella, who’s championing the world of electronic dance music under the stage name TEAK, named after his favorite type of wood. Fransella hopes to grow town’s EDM scene one party at a time. Creatives across the country are hosting small, one-off parties to put their stuff out there, he says, and that’s also occurring here. He’s helping by founding events production company and record label Feels Right, which hosts local events. EDM is different from other genres, he says, because of such production amenities as laser lights and TV screens. But it’s all part of creating an authentic EDM experience. “I want people to come both for the act as well as the event and overall vibe,” he says.

The gratitude I have for Steamboat Springs, the people who have helped me in my journey and the Winter Wondergrass festival is deep. The memories I have over the years with different amazing musicians and bands is something I don’t take for granted. My history with WWG started 10 years ago at the inaugural event in Edwards, Colo., playing with my old band The Old Town Pickers—formed in the backyard of my 100-year-old cabin in the alley behind The Old Town Pub, my favorite place to play. We named our band after the bar. That first year of WWG The Old Town Pickers made the front page of the Vail paper. Over the years I’ve played a bunch of times and different stages at WWG and cherish for them all. Last year was an amazing moment when I got to join the WWG Allstars on the main stage for a couple songs with such heroes as Ronnie McCoury and Andy Thorn, Jon Stickley and more. My dreams had come true in that moment. But just when you think it can’t get any better, it does. This year my band Buffalo Commons played a main stage Saturday and I also got to play Friday with The Old Town Pickers.

I have so much thanks and love for my family and friends and supporters and the Winter WonderGrass Festival and all who have helped me. Life is crazy and keeps rolling and everything comes full circle in the end, good or bad. I just try to lead with my heart and soul and live every day like there is no tomorrow and trust and accept whatever comes, because there never is a yesterday or tomorrow to prepare for. Now is all you have. I’m missing a friend dearly today. She was a huge supporter of mine and made me always believe in myself. I’m dedicating my weekend to her because I know she is proud of me looking down and if she was still on earth she’d be riding the rail smiling at me making me play harder. I wore her button on my shirt throughout the weekend so I’d still be able to look down and see her big smile to tell me to keep on going, Lara. #keepongoing #boundtocoverjustalittlemoreground #thesoulneverdies