Music on the Mesa (MOTM), the free concert series in Norwood now in its third year, is excited to announce the move from Sundays to Saturdays in 2026.
“Parents and workforces spoke; we listened,” said producer Daiva Chesonis. “When we first started up, some bands were less expensive to book on a Sunday, so being a new event, we were minding every penny and locked into that schedule. We are still minding those pennies, of course, but the live music industry is a dynamic beast, and it matters not which night you book anymore, so it made sense to shift towards a night that allows us all to sleep in a bit after a festive bit of revelry.”
Although expenses for live music production have exploded around the world, even the cost of porta-potties, the show must go on, and with major support from Town of Norwood, Norwood Park & Recreation District, San Miguel County, Telluride Foundation and a host of others, Wright’s Mesa will again play host to two free “picnic concerts” on June 13 and August 8.
Like the last two years, gates will open at 4:30 p.m., with food and artisan vendors in the Pig Palace, a robust KidZone, yard games and a cash bar offering many Colorado-crafted libations. The music starts at 7 p.m., allowing plenty of leisurely pre-show picnicking, catching up with old friends and perhaps making a few new ones. Vendors will again run the gamut of locally made offerings, from handmade jewelry and leather goods to tallow-based health products, plus regional organizations enjoying casual outreach about their important community services.
The June 13 performers
On Saturday, June 13, MOTM will feature Wolf Jett, a Santa Cruz-based six-piece band, whose sound will make the crowd dance, sing — and possibly even howl. Their all-original songs are an upbeat celebration infusing folk, soul and Americana into what they call "cosmic mountain music.”
Cofounded by two life-long friends and musical partners, Wolf Jett combines the southern-fried vocals of Tennessee-born frontman Chris Jones with Jon Payne’s endlessly groovy drums. They currently perform with Duncan Shipton on bass, female vocalist Allyson Makuch and electric guitarists Rory Cloud and Alex Benjamin on keys/percussion.
Jones and Payne have been performing together since they were 12 and conceived Wolf Jett in late 2019 as a tribute to Jones’ maternal grandparents. Prior to the release of their debut album, the world was brought to a halt by the pandemic, and all their shows were cancelled. They then constructed an analog studio at Payne’s residence, called House on a Hill in Boulder Creek, Calif. Tragically, lightning fires ripped through Big Basin State Park in August 2020, consuming the house and studio along with it. Their story was featured in several papers, including the San Francisco Chronicle and the Oakland Tribune. Seeing an opportunity to help their community heal, they recorded an emotional live video among the ashes and rubble of where their home once stood, featuring the song “Garden of Pain.”
“In learning this part of Wolf Jett’s story, I can’t help but relate as we enter a horrifically dry spring, knowing how quickly someone else’s fiery nightmare can become our own, but seeing this group persevere through loss reminds me of how we keep on keepin’ on, with music the lasting elixir,” Chesonis said.
Their newest album “Letting Go,” produced by Jonathan Kirchner, released two weeks ago. The June show in Norwood will feature freshness, but also some tried-and-true originals. Wolf Jett has performed with California Honeydrops, The Brothers Comatose and Shiny Ribs. Their albums have featured talent from Jackson Browne, the Lumineers and Hot Buttered Rum.
“Get your big ole howl ready to welcome this quintet onto the bed of that classic 1964 Loadstar truckstage we’ve come to love for the June concerts, thanks to John Herndon bringing it down the mountain for its annual night of fame,” said Chesonis.
The Aug. 8 show
For Round Two on Saturday, Aug. 8, the San Miguel County Fairgrounds will host The Burroughs, a nine-piece bundle of brass-laden energy from Colorado. From humble beginnings covering soul standards in their unlikely hometown of Greeley, The Burroughs have traversed a decade of growth and reinvention to become a band that defies odds and transcends categorization. Since 2013, they have lit up stages around the country with their trademark brand of “sweaty soul music,” an invitation for audiences to dance, celebrate and connect under a unifying and infectious groove.
Bandleader and frontman Johnny Burroughs sings, dances and screams audiences into a revival-like frenzy. His dynamite backing band includes sizzling horns and a powerhouse rhythm section made up of some of Colorado’s most versatile and in-demand musicians. Since their early days pulling inspiration from artists spanning Stevie Wonder to Beyonce, the group has grown into a formidable creative collective focused on finding an original voice. In an industry focused on finding the next big singular artist, The Burroughs have forged their own path that centers on music made in community.
The band’s latest single, “Got To Free Your Mind,” is a call to break free, transported by the mind-altering substances of funk and sweat. This single marks the first release in a new era for The Burroughs, returning to their roots as leaders of radical communion on dance floors and dive bars around the country.
Their previous studio album “Honey Imastar” (2023) is a conceptual intergalactic adventure, following an alien traveler who comes to Earth to study and understand humans. Previous recorded releases include self-released singles “Zero Sum Game,” “Baby Get Down” and “I Refuse.” And, the album “Love and Unity” was produced by Eric Krasno (2020), but there’s a full-length studio album from 2018 and the full-length live album “Sweaty Greeley Soul,” recorded at the Moxi Theater, in 2015.
The Burroughs have played prestigious festivals and venues including Salmonfest Alaska, Bohemian Nights New West Fest, Denver's Underground Music Showcase and the Mishawaka. The band also wrote, produced and performed a show of original music with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021. They have opened for The Motet, The Steve Miller Band, Keller Williams and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Since the band’s start, The Burroughs have always embraced their hometown of Greeley with a passion for community outreach, highlighting the work of organizations like the Weld Food Bank, Greeley Boys and Girls Clubs and Habitat for Humanity. The band’s latest mission is an ongoing partnership with Greeley-Evans District 6 Schools titled #BandsGiveBack, a campaign for local artists to pledge money and time dedicated towards providing all area students with access to music education.
“More and more, we’re seeing musicians giving back deeply to their communities, feeding the taproots from which they sprang. It’s recognition that we’re all in this together, and caring through music makes it all the sweeter,” Chesonis said.
She added there’s something magical about live music.
“Its solid ability to be the universal equalizer for so many in so many instances … ,” she said. “It’s there for us when we need it, so let’s be there for those that spread its joy through soul-thumping rhythms, tirelessly traveling town to town giving their all to all who will listen. Oh, and invite out-of-town friends to camp in your yard, or offer a ride to the fairgrounds to the elder couple next door. It’s not just a couple of concerts; it’s community.”
Anyone who’d like to support Music on the Mesa, ensuring that these dreamy summer evenings remain free for all, is welcome to become a sponsor or donor. Chesonis said every penny makes music.
“If interested in being a Pig Palace vendor or volunteering a few hours for either or both concerts, those applications are now live and available at norwoodparkandrec.org/music-on-the-mesa-2026,” she said.
