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This winter’s apres music lineup features both old favorites and new groups in Vail

Rosanna Turner
Daily Correspondent
Vail, CO Colorado
HL Phil Long Apres 2 JM 11-23-12
ALL |

Some might say their perfect day involves a few hours on the slopes soaking up the sun amid freshly fallen snow. But can a perfect day really be ideal without the drinking and eating that follows it? What takes place after a day on the mountain is so common that there’s even a special name for it: apres. Translated from the French to mean “socializing after skiing,” apres has been a staple in the Vail Valley for almost as long as there’s been a ski hill to slide down. Although apres mainly refers to the appetizers and beverages, it wouldn’t be a true apres experience without the music. This season’s apres music runs the gamut from longtime staples such as Peter Fontanese to newcomers My Brother’s Keeper.

Whether you’re looking forward to hearing Fontanese play again at the Tavern or interested in checking out a new act during apres, this season’s onslaught of weekly music gives you plenty of options to pick from. Here’s a rundown of who’s playing when and where this winter:

VAIL



Avalanche Pub, Vail Marriott

Vail Marriott has music at the Avalanche Pub every Sunday through Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. Featured musicians include Roy Bloomfield, Dave “Skip Dog” Anderson and Pat Hamilton. Call 970-476-4444 for more information.

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The Fitz at Manor Vail Lodge

Singer and guitarist Scotty Kabel enjoys his weekly apres gig because it gives him the opportunity to play “in my own backyard,” he said.

Kabel toured the country with the band Little Hercules before he began performing at The Fitz three years ago.

“I’m playing all the tunes I like to do, and other folks are liking it as well,” Kabel said. “The best part is that I get to do what I love for a living.”

Kabel performs every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Kabel will also play everyday from now through Dec. 31. Call 970-476-4353 for more information.

King’s Club at Sonnenalp Resort

King’s Club has music every night from 8 to 11 p.m., rotating between acoustic guitarist Donny Z, vocalist and pianist Kathy Morrow, and folk-rock musician Kevin Danzig. Pianist Britt Herrington will also play on Fridays and Saturdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Call 970-476-5656 for more information.

Pepi’s Bar and Restaurant

Nightly music has been happening at Pepi’s long before people even knew the meaning of the term “apres.”

Bartender Sean Mcree said Rod Powell plays everything, including “folk, John Denver, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac and many more.”

Powell will play Tuesday through Friday, and Jonny Mogambo will play Saturday through Monday. Both perform from 4 to10 p.m. Call 970-476-5626 for more information.

Red Lion

You can’t call yourself a “local” if you’ve never heard Phil Long play at the Red Lion. Co-owner of the bar and restaurant, Long has been jamming out for the evening crowd for more than 20 years. The Red Lion has music everyday from 4 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 to 11 p.m. Long plays Wednesday through Saturday, Brendan McKinney plays Sunday and Tuesday, and Monday will feature a rotating cast of musicians throughout the season. Call 970-476-7676 for more information.

Shakedown Bar

The Shakedown Bar showcases acoustic musicians for apres Sunday through Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m., with local and touring rock ‘n’ roll bands from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Scott Rednor performs solo Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by Steve Meyer, also known as the “Good Times Man,” from 6 to 10 p.m. A singer-songwriter who blends rock and country, Meyer has been an apres staple since 1986. The Scott Rednor Band plays Wednesday and Friday starting at 10 p.m., and My Brother’s Keeper plays Thursday and Saturday beginning at 10 p.m.

Call 970-479-0556 for more information.

LIONSHEAD

Tavern on the Square at Arrabelle

The Tavern offers apres music everyday from 3 to 6 p.m. and evening entertainment from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Musicians include Peter Fontanese, Donny Z, James Peiper, Nick Steingart and John Starr Dunn. Call 970-754-7700 for more information.

AVON

Cima at the Westin Riverfront Resort

BLT, a jazz keyboard and percussion ensemble made up of Brian Loftus (drums) and Tony Gulizia (bass, piano and vocals) will perform rock and jazz music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, Turntable Review will follow them from 6:45 to 9:45 p.m. On Sunday, Justin Allison will play from 6:45 to 9 p.m. James Pieper performs on Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m. and Turntable Review on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m.

BEAVER CREEK

Grouse Mountain Grill

Jazz musician Tony Gulizia, best known as “Tony G,” performs at Grouse Mountain Grill on Wednesday through Sunday from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Gulizia plays “the very best of jazz, old and new, bop to swing with some groovy stuff in between,” he said.

On Monday, guitarist Justin Allison will play jazz and popular tunes, and Tuesday will feature a rotating cast of musicians, both from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

Call 970-949-0600 for more information.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch

The Ritz-Carlton will have daily apres music on its Mountainside Terrace from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and in the Great Room from 6 to 9 p.m. Call 970-748-6200 for more information.

Splendido at the Chateau

Splendido showcases piano music nightly from 7 to 11 p.m. Classical pianist Peter Vavra will play Monday through Thursday, and popular pianist Kathy Morrow will play Friday through Sunday. Call 970-845-8808 for more information.

EDWARDS

Woody’s Bar and Grill

Local musician Dave Perron plays solo every Saturday at this Edwards bar from 6 to 10 p.m. He also performs with the band Laughing Bones every Thursday at Woody’s at 9:30 p.m. Call 970-926-2756 for more information.

Vista at Arrowhead

Local favorite Mickey Poage performs Monday through Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. Still with his Yamaha grand piano, Poage continues to do what he does best by being a class-act apres entertainer. Call 970-926-2111 for more information.

We’ll be running this apres entertainment listing throughout the season. Have an apres event you’d like to see included here? Email cschnell@vaildaily.com.


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