The Lawn Has Successful Night, Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles Jazz Band Up Next

The Lawn, a local outdoor concert venue located in Buena Vista, hosted its second of two events this past week, with the California Honeydrops. The Lawn offers participants a chance to enjoy live music in an outdoor setting, something so many have missed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Community members and visitors alike came out to get down with the band who cross genres from roots and blues to R&B and soul. Their sound is tied together by their instrumentation, vocal harmonies, and New Orleans style. Concertgoers of all ages could be seen enjoying the bands funky grooves in-person.

The California Honeydrops live at the Lawn in Buena Vista. Photo by Brooke Gilmore.

For those unable to attend the concerts this past week, don’t fret. Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles will perform from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday August 29. This is a free public event.

Joe Smith and the Spicy Pickles Jazz Band is a Denver-based band dedicated to revitalizing swing music and dance. This small group style swing band packs a punch of power, personality, and wit into each show, intriguing generations new and old with the beloved charm of big band swing from the late 30’s and early 40’s.

The Pickles bring high energy, quality musicianship, and a true big band sound and look that celebrates the unique American spirit of swing.

The band fuses musical influences from the sounds of Count Basie, Benny Goodman, and Artie Shaw with the showmanship of Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, and Jimmy Lunceford. With a respect for the preservation of vintage jazz music and entertainment, the Pickles are constantly adding new and original tunes to their repertoire. They bring a unique visual flair to each performance with gimmicks, tricks, horn movements, and hat work inspired to captivate audiences all night long.

Trumpet player and vocalist, Joe Smith, says that he started the band in January of 2013 to give dancers live music to swing out to. Since the bands’ inception, the Pickles have held a special place in their heart for the swing dance community.