Denver’s Jam Band Scene Has An Ugly Open Secret

Free love, psychedelic drugs, and the Grateful Dead: These are the tenets of Denver’s thriving jam band scene. But for decades, jam musicians say they’ve been dealing with a gatekeeper who projects a positive image while walking all over them. After some much more serious allegations against Denver’s ‘Grandfather of Jam Music’ came to light in March, some of those frustrated musicians are taking a stand. Two of the organizers behind the new Colorado Musicians Union, Aidan Pagnani and Sarah Mount, are on the show today to talk about Jay Bianchi’s role in the scene, their boycott campaign, and their plan for a more equitable local music community. Plus, one of the women accusing Jay Bianchi of sexual assault shares her story. 

Past (and future) City Cast Denver guest John Wenzel has been covering the allegations against Jay Bianchi for the Denver Post. Click here to read Jay’s response and more about the case.

The Colorado Musicians Union is organizing a picket/protest outside So Many Roads Brewery at 5:30pm on July 1. More details are available on their Facebook page. 

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