Photo by: Photos Dan Monick and gossiponthis.com
Icelantic’s “Winter on the Rocks.” Sound chilly? It’s the first winter concert at Red Rocks ever. That’s how Icelantic and AEG Live Rocky Mountains are marketing the never-been-done-before event, which will take place on Jan. 27 and feature hip-hop acts Atmosphere, Common, Grieves + Budo and Get Cryphy.
Icelantic, a Colorado-based ski outfit founded in 2006, teamed up with entertainment division AEG to bring the concert to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The decision came after the SIA SnowShow, the largest trade show featuring snow-sport retailers, relocated to Denver in 2010.
“We always thought it would be cool to use Red Rocks as a platform to launch the first ever winter show in Colorado with people that really support the snow-sports,” said Icelantic founder Ben Anderson in a press conference.
On Atmosphere’s most recent album, The Family Sign, keyboardist Erick Anderson and guitarist Nate Collis were added to the mix, creating a much different backdrop for rapper Slug (Sean Daley) than the usual sound provided by Atmosphere’s DJ and producer, Ant. “The Last to Say” is a solemn, understated standout among the thunderous “She’s Enough” and the reggae-infused “Just for Show.” Atmosphere will be touring its home state of Minnesota in February.
Common, who has most recently made a foray into acting, is bringing some star power to Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks. He won his first Grammy in 2003 for Best R&B Song “Love of my Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)” with Erykah Baduh and received his next Grammy in 2008 for Best Rap Performance By Duo Or Group with “Southside” featuring Kanye West. His latest album, The Dreamer, The Believer, features collaborations with poet Maya Angelou and singer-songwriter John Legend.
Last but not least are rapper/producer team Grieves + Budo, who are going to be featured in the Snowstorm Music Tour alongside T-Pain and Gym Class Heroes. Grieves’ latest album Together/Apart features the simple but moving “Lightspeed” in which he waxes nostalgic against piano synth, as well as darker, but equally affecting, “Sunny Side of Hell.”
Icenlantic’s Winter on the Rocks is a concert fans of indie and underground hip-hop do not want to miss.
General admission tickets can be found at TicketMaster.com, or the Ogden Theater box office, starting at $39.50.
