“Tools of the Trade” Album Release Party

December 4, 2026 • 7:00 pm

DOORS 6:00pm  •  18+ (Under 18 allowed with parent or guardian)

Golden is at its most festive tonight. Washington Avenue glows for the Olde Golden Candlelight Walk, and the Buffalo Rose is the warm, music-filled place to end your evening.

Join Colorado’s own Second Gear Bluegrass as they celebrate the release of their debut album, Tools of the Trade, with a holiday homecoming built for the season. Expect driving fiddle and banjo, sweet mandolin and dobro, and the tight, high-lonesome harmonies of traditional bluegrass, played by veterans of the Front Range scene.

Make it a night out. Bundle up and stroll the candlelit walk with family and friends, then come in from the cold for dinner, a seasonal cocktail and a front-row seat to some of the finest homegrown bluegrass in the state.

Special Guest Mighty Holler will kick off the night diring the magical Golden Candlelight walk and lead the party indoors for the Second Gear’s album release party! Hear brand-new songs from the album alongside timeless classics that sound just right this time of year.

It’s a celebration of the holidays, of small-town Golden tradition and of the local musicians who keep this music alive. Grab a table, raise a glass and help Second Gear mark a milestone they’ve been working toward for decades.

Light the town, hear the music, share the season. Tables are limited, so reserve yours early.

Showtimes

Mighty Holler 7:00 pm

Born out of a love of making music together, Mighty Holler was formed! This group, or couple of couples, brings a connected energy to their performances. They enjoy bringing a variety of styles to their shows, including old time, bluegrass, new twists on classic songs, sweet harmonies, and original tunes.

Brandy Ray (vocals, songwriting, mandolin), Elle Michelle (vocals, songwriting, banjo), Joshua Ray (vocals, songwriting, guitar) and Joe Gibb (bass), bring multiple years of performance experience and musical sensibility to their shows and are a delight to enjoy.

Second Gear Bluegrass 8:00 pm

Second Gear brings multi-generational tradition to the stage—fueled by some of Denver’s finest pickers, we deliver tight harmonies, great songs, and the authenticity that makes bluegrass timeless. 

Based in Denver, we proudly carry the torch of classic bluegrass with skill, style, and a smile. We’ve got over 100 years of bluegrass performing experience between us, with some of our members having histories in Colorado bluegrass back to the 1970s. 

If you’re looking for a Denver based bluegrass band that carries on the traditions of Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, The Stanley Brothers, Larry Sparks.Doug Elrick – Fiddle

Doug is a pillar of the Colorado bluegrass community. A retired firefighter, lifelong musician, and accomplished luthier, he has spent decades performing with local and touring bands, most notably High Plains Tradition. Doug carries an encyclopedic knowledge of bluegrass history. If he says he doesn’t know the tune, give him one verse—he’ll have it harmonized by the chorus.

Todd Lilienthal – Banjo
Originally from Northern California and now based in Denver, Todd brings a driving, traditional bluegrass banjo sound to the band. Raised around funk, jazz, and rock in the Bay Area, he fell hard for bluegrass while attending college in Boulder. Mentored by Sally Van Meter, Todd’s playing reflects deep respect for Earl Scruggs, Ralph Stanley, and J.D. Crowe, blended with the energy of the Colorado scene.

Ernie Martinez – Fiddle
Ernie Martinez is a Denver-area native and a cornerstone of the Colorado music scene, with more than 50 years of performance, recording, and teaching experience. A multiple-time International Western Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year and a member of the Colorado Bluegrass Music Hall of Honor, Ernie’s versatile picking has appeared on over 300 albums and countless stages. A longtime educator at Swallow Hill Music School and a frequent collaborator across bluegrass, western, and Americana projects, Ernie is known for stepping in whenever needed—and elevating every band he joins.

Neil McLinden – Mandolin
Neil hails from Milwaukee by way of a long stop in New York City, where he built a career in musical theater. Raised on Irish and bluegrass music and trained in piano performance, he brings precision, energy, and versatility to the band. In 2024, Neil packed up his Subaru and headed to Denver, where he now works at the Denver Folklore Center. 

Chuck Tinsley – Guitar
Chuck is our resident rhythm specialist, favoring feel, sustain, and groove over flashy breaks. A longtime Alabama native turned Colorado transplant, he discovered bluegrass later in life and never looked back. Known for marathon road trips, questionable supernatural sightings, and elite parking instincts, Chuck anchors the band with steady timing and taste.

Dan Welch – Bass
Dan provides the foundation of the band’s rhythm section A Colorado native who studied classical guitar in college, he set music aside to pursue a career that took him and his patient family across six states. After moving back to the Rockies, Dan rediscovered music—and the transcendent joy of playing real with humans, for humans.