Hazel Miller sends Rock & Rails out with a bang

Although it feels like Rock & Rails just got started, the last concert of the season took place Thursday, Aug. 31. As the saying goes, "Time flies when you're having fun." And, as usual, the last concert pulled in a nice crowd to enjoy the music, the weather and to say goodbye to Niwot's long-running signature summer event.

The evening kicked off at 5:00 p.m. with Nalani in a solo performance following last week's performance as the Rock & Rails headliner with The Nalani Effect. Nalani, also known as Nalani DeMarco Clisset, is a Niwot native who currently lives and performs in Nashville.

As is the tradition, the last show was headlined by the much loved Hazel Miller and her band The Collective. Miller has played Rock & Rails every year since the event started.

A recognized performer in Colorado for over 24 years, Miller got her big break in 1982 when she recorded the official song for Louisville. Eventually she performed around the world with Colorado hitmakers Big Head Todd and the Monsters.

Miller sang the national anthem at Governor John Hickenlooper's inauguration and performed at the Vail/Beaver Creek Alpine Ski Championships in 2015, has performed at Red Rocks and has even recorded a welcome message for visitors on the train at Denver International Airport.

Hazel Miller and The Collective, previously The Hazel Miller Band, plays a combination of jazz, R&B, blues and original music. No matter what they play, it's always popular with the crowd. The Collective is made up of Miller, Coco Brown on vocals, Dana Marsh on keyboards, Cody Carbone playing lead guitar, Rich Lamb handling guitar and vocals, and Brian Mikulich behind the drum kit.

The night's set covered a wide variety of tunes, including "Happy," "Reeling In the Years," "I'm Yours" and "Superstition." She also included rousing covers of well-known anthems such as Tina Turner's "Proud Mary" and Aretha Franklin's "Respect."

Rock & Rails attendees rarely sat down, with dancers spilling out far beyond the paved dance area around the grandstand.

Hazel Miller and The Collective can be seen at Wings of Hope in Centennial, Mead Community Day, Olde Town Shindig in Arvada and Miners Day in Frederick.

The night's tip jar totaled over $2,600, and was split between the Left Hand Giving Circle and the Niwot Sculpture Park.

The Left Hand Giving Circle, founded in 2017 with 20 members, was designed as a way for a group of local women to pool financial resources and make a greater impact on the community. To date, the group has granted more than $85,000 to local nonprofit organizations and has provided 1,000 volunteer hours to important causes. Left Hand Giving Circle now has over 50 members.

The Niwot Sculpture Park, at the corner of 79th and Niwot Road, exhibits works from local, regional and international artists. The park, which is managed by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association in conjunction with the Cottonwood Park West Homeowners Association, highlights a number of tree sculptures by Eddie Running Wolf, one of which is currently being restored by Dustin Wolf, son of the original artist with assistance from Jeff Wolcott of Niwot. It is also home to five sculptures which have been donated to or purchased by the NCAA.

Last year, the NCAA purchased "Kore That Awakening" from Ukrainian artist Egor Zigura for the Sculpture Park, which helped Zigura and his family during the on-going war in Ukraine. The tip jar money will go towards the Sculpture Park upkeep and the purchase of future art.