Mixtape: Songwriter Showcase with Joe Kuckla and Ryan Chiachiere

This is an intimate live show in downtown Longmont, Colorado presented by The Soundpost Sessions at The Times Collaborative featuring two songwriters and host Monica Marie LaBonte all on stage swapping songs and stories in-the-round. Music is from 7-9:15, doors at 6:30. Join us for this very special ongoing musical series once a month!

$18 Advance (reserved seating)

$20 Day of Show

This event is sponsored by:

Colorado Lending Group

This is the second show sonsored by this wonderful local lending company and we are so grateful!

Longmont Creates

https://www.downtownlongmont.com/creative-district/longmont-creates

Longmont Creates is the non-profit arm of the Longmont Creative District. They support activities in the Longmont Creative District and the creatives throughout Longmont. Mixtape was the first recipient of their new Pop-Up Grant and we are so thankful!

The Artists:

Joe Kuckla https://www.joekucklamusic.com/

Joe’s original songs are catchy from the first listen, and his selection of covers gets audiences dancing and singing along–from Waylon and Willie to Prine and Prince. His groove can be described as Rocky Mountain Country Soul. His latest single, “Something About a Horse”, was inspired by his recent 300-mile trek with two horses and a guitar along the Colorado Trail, where he took his campfire songs to folks he met along the way.

At the 2023 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival’s songwriter competition, Joe received an Honorable Mention for his song, “So Long” which made the next to last cut where the finalists were selected.

Joe’s smile and energy when he delivers his songs is infectious and his audiences return the good vibes, always.

Ryan Chiachiere (of the Elbow Brothers) https://www.youtube.com/@elbowbrothersband

Ryan Chiachiere sings and plays guitar for the Lyons-based rock quartet The Elbow Brothers. He moved to the St. Vrain Valley in 2018, and in many ways the region became his muse, with the bulk of his work in recent years comprising a series of locally-focused songs that retell and repurpose the history of the Rocky Mountains and the American West in refreshing and unexpected ways. Several of those songs will be featured on The Elbow Brothers’ forthcoming studio album, to be released in Spring 2025. Ryan’s songwriting is influenced by Robbie Robertson, Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell, Jeff Tweedy, Bruce Springsteen, Gillian Welch, Jerry Garcia, Neil Young and Steve Earle, among many others. He lives in Lyons with his wife, Carolyn, daughters Louisa (5) and Julia (2), and a Bluetick Coonhound named Nash.

Monica Marie LaBonte monicamariemusic.com

From a wide-eyed tike delicately pressing the keys of her mother’s upright piano to a seasoned artist taking various stages across the country, Monica Marie LaBonte has always been guided by song.
With the sharp ability to craft tracks that speak to the fragility and wonder of life, the crystalline vocalist continues to attract listeners with her stirring blend of folk and country. At times, her lyrics come across as wise whisperings from a dear friend. At others, they hold all the vulnerability and transparency of raw confessions. A keen observer, LaBonte bears witness to life’s magic and heartache and artfully weaves the intricacies of the human condition into tunes that possess undeniable intimacy, grace and grit.
In her over 10-year career, the Colorado native has played hundreds of venues, including the historic Gold Hill Inn and Planet Bluegrass. Whether belting out ballads in a small listening room or playing to tens of thousands at an open-air venue, she brings a palpable authenticity to each gig.
Known for her stint in mystic-Americana band Monocle, her stellar musicianship and gift for commanding a stage shines just as bright in her solo work.
Armed with an acoustic and her truth, it’s clear LaBonte is pursuing her art for all the right reasons. Although her creative pursuits are guided by pure passion, LaBonte hasn’t escaped critical praise and success. A finalist In the 2018 Songwriter Showcase, at Rocky Mountain Folks Fest in Lyons, Colo., she continues to impress with her art.
A natural-born wordsmith — in the vein of Joni Mitchell and Alison Krauss — it’s easy to see why the songstress has packed coffeehouses, held her own on the lineup at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and been hailed as having “a voice I trust” by fellow musician Daniel Rodriguez (founding member of Elephant Revival).
Powerful, yet understated — poetic, yet real — LaBonte remains one to watch.

Host or Publisher Soundpost Acoustics