Sugar Loaf String Band

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Holly Babcock

A Suzuki-method violin teacher and classically trained player, Holly brings the traditional sound of fiddle to the band. One of those people who's always making something good to eat, wear, carry, live in, or ride into space in.

Kevin Babcock

A Boulder native, Holly's husband has been playing the banjo ever since persuading his mother to let him give up accordion lessons. A chronic hard worker, this Mr. Hustle invented the steam-powered pickin-pal and the mandolin-hand brake. Rumored to have thought those up during a long bike race.

Aaron Weatherly

Hailing from Texas, Aaron picks, sings lead vocals, and is the vocal coordinator for the groups tight harmonies. Able to positively identify an out-of-part vocal or picked note from a great distance, while playing, amid disturbance. When he isn't playing, he's off biking or fishing or both up that-a-way . . .

Dave Rosenberg

Dave moved to Boulder from Peoria, IL in 1976, and took up building, remodeling, and selling houses. His friends were a bit cramped in the house he sold them, so they gave him their bass to make more room. Dave shares the lead singing role with Aaron, and is undoubtedly the best dancer in the band.

John Heiland

A Chicago transplant, John took up the mandolin after a friend handed down an old plywood Harmony as a birthday present. Searching for both a hair style and a picking style since the late seventies, he considers all suggestions. Prefers area venues to Chi-town subway tunnels.

Carey Messinger

A Colorado Springs native and outdoor enthusiast joined the band in 2003 filling the "hard to fill shoes"of John Heiland. And doing a great job. He plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mouth harp and maybe some instruments we are not aware of yet. He also adds some sweet harmonies and lead vocals as well as great ideas and endless energy to the band. Living in Niwot Co with his wife and two boys, he is the only band member who is a flatlander. He will argue, how ever that he does live on a hill but we ain't buying it. He is also a certified expert on the inter workings of the San Francisco cable cars.

Following the 1997 Rocky Grass Festival in Lyons Colorado, the Sugar Loaf String Band began as a weekly informal pickin' jam along Boulder Creek.
As the picking crowd grew, regulars got to know each other, and the band began to take shape. On March 12, 1998 the band gave its first performance. Since then they have been fortunate to play and record at many venues in the area, including the Jamestown Mercantile and the Fox Theatre and the Boulder Theater. The band took third place in the Rocky Grass Band contest in 2000.
Influences include old grass and new, Monroe, Stanley, Flatt & Scruggs, McCoury, Osbourne, Seldom Seen, Greene, Hot Rize, Rowan, Skaggs, Bush, Fleck, Grisman, and Garcia.
The band delivers its acoustic show in the old tradition of a single microphone, mixing their sound in a truly live style. Jokes and amazing stories - the true meanings of songs revealed.

Contact the Band

4580 Sugarloaf, Boulder, CO 80302

Call 303 443 3501

home when & where community

Holly Babcock
A Suzuki-method violin teacher and classically trained player, Holly brings the traditional sound of fiddle to the band. One of those people who's always making something good to eat, wear, carry, live in, or ride into space in.
Kevin Babcock
A Boulder native, Holly's husband has been playing the banjo ever since persuading his mother to let him give up accordion lessons. A chronic hard worker, this Mr. Hustle invented the steam-powered pickin-pal and the mandolin-hand brake. Rumored to have thought those up during a long bike race.
Aaron Weatherly
Hailing from Texas, Aaron picks, sings lead vocals, and is the vocal coordinator for the groups tight harmonies. Able to positively identify an out-of-part vocal or picked note from a great distance, while playing, amid disturbance. When he isn't playing, he's off biking or fishing or both up that-a-way . . .
Dave Rosenberg
Dave moved to Boulder from Peoria, IL in 1976, and took up building, remodeling, and selling houses. His friends were a bit cramped in the house he sold them, so they gave him their bass to make more room. Dave shares the lead singing role with Aaron, and is undoubtedly the best dancer in the band.
John Heiland
A Chicago transplant, John took up the mandolin after a friend handed down an old plywood Harmony as a birthday present. Searching for both a hair style and a picking style since the late seventies, he considers all suggestions. Prefers area venues to Chi-town subway tunnels.
Carey Messinger
A Colorado Springs native and outdoor enthusiast joined the band in 2003 filling the "hard to fill shoes"of John Heiland. And doing a great job. He plays mandolin, fiddle, guitar, mouth harp and maybe some instruments we are not aware of yet. He also adds some sweet harmonies and lead vocals as well as great ideas and endless energy to the band. Living in Niwot Co with his wife and two boys, he is the only band member who is a flatlander. He will argue, how ever that he does live on a hill but we ain't buying it. He is also a certified expert on the inter workings of the San Francisco cable cars.