Bridge to Nepal brings music and yoga to State Bridge today

STATE BRIDGE — A handful of Denver bands as well as four local bands will perform at State Bridge Riverside Amphitheater Friday through Sunday for the inaugural Bridge to Nepal Music Festival.

A portion of the proceeds from the three-day festival will benefit Namlo International, a nonprofit based in Lakewood which has been working to help the people in Nepal following the devastating earthquakes that shook the country in April.

Musician Trevor Jones is organizing the festival and will perform with both of his projects — the Trevor Jones Band and his longtime band and valley favorites Frogs Gone Fishin’, which is performing its only electric concert in the Vail Valley this summer at the festival.

Other bands include Human Agency, a hip-hop/dance/electronica trio from Denver; Atomga, a 10-member Front Range afro-funk band; and Tiger Party, a Denver electronic-funk band with a rotating lineup led by keyboardist Blake Mobley.

Atomga is slated to perform Friday.

Support Local Journalism

Donate

“I really love afro beat music. Atomga plays Fela Kuti songs and other unique, highly rhythmic stuff that I can’t wait to dance to on Friday night,” Jones said. “I’m also excited for the other activities we will have, including lots of yoga, river rafting and we are honored that The Shambhala Center from Boulder will be leading a group mediation.”

Catch performances by local bands The Sessh, Roadside Diversion, the Altitones, Renegade Sons, Jake Wolf and Friends and more. In addition to a wide variety of vendors, there will also be energy healings offered and a gong wash.

Jones is currently pursuing his master’s degree in international studies at the University of Denver, which in part is what inspired the festival, he said. He’s been “on the look out” for ways to combine his passion for music with world issues, namely the crisis in Nepal where more than a quarter of the country’s population, some 8 million people, were affected.

“The most important part about Namlo’s work for me is they build leadership and resiliency capacity,” Jones said. “Showing up with materials and money is one thing, but teaching (people how to) respond to disasters is potentially more valuable.”

Namlo International operates in the Tanahu and Sindhupalchowk districts of Nepal, two of the regions greatly affected by the earthquakes. The group also works in Nicaragua, building sustainable greenhouses in mountainous regions.

Camping is available at the adjoining BLM campground, served by shuttles. Camping and shuttle costs are included in the ticket prices. Limited on-site parking is available at $10 per car. To buy tickets or learn more about on-site lodging, visit http://www.statebridge.com.