2019 Entertainment
MC - Mr. Pete MacKay
John Erlandson
Award-winning radio personality and community leader, Pete MacKay will be this year's Big Chili Master of Ceremonies. He is a longtime supporter of Big Chili and firefighters in the Evergreen/Conifer area.
9:30am - 10:45am
Starting his performance before the gates open at Big Chili (so the Chili Cooks have music to cook to - and those waiting in line at the gates will be entertained) Big Chili is pleased to have John Erlandson return to Big Chili. John’s Minnesota upbringing had him singing and playing guitar at age 15 in youth camps and church services. Before long, he would be writing “spiritual songs,” teaching, and leading worship bands in Minneapolis churches. But, not satisfied with merely “preaching to the choir,” he moved to Colorado and soon took his music, lyrical lucidity and melodic magic into the mainstream. In ’95, after attending the heralded Song School in Lyons, CO, John began writing songs to play in coffeehouses, bars and even right out in the street. Initiating the “street music” movement in Evergreen, CO led to regular gigs at the world-famous Little Bear Saloon where he collaborated with many of Denver’s finest musicians and opened for such national acts as The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and David Wilcox. John is energetic and passionate about his Evergreen community and supporting the local firefighters at Big Chili!
Funkiphino
12 Noon - 1:30pm
Buckstein
Colorado's Funk Sensation. Pronounced "Funk-If-I-Know". Funkiphino has the energy and talent to bring a party to life. Hugely popular and in-demand, this high-energy funk band infuses explosive horn lines, old-school Hammond organ sounds, and pumpin’ bass with intoxicating vocal harmonies.
They have performed for the President of the United States, for major sports franchises, VIP parties catering to Hollywood elite, and for numerous events small and large. The band’s excellence has earned them nominations and spots as Best Funk Band from Westword Magazine and Marquee Magazine, as well as being the “go-to” band for the Denver Broncos Association and government officials. Funkiphino also produces and performs original music for their public shows.
The grass area ‘dance floor’ in front of the Big Chili stage is guaranteed to be packed! Come dance with Funkiphino at Big Chili!
2:30 - 3:30pm - Set #1
4:15 - 5pm - Set #2
If you don’t like country – you’ll love Buckstein! - Denver's hottest Country/Rock band!
He gets that a lot. Randomly. He can’t really tell you why. His “no-fear-of-the-edge” mentality hooks the non-country-lovin’ folk while he manages to maintain a balance of traditional vibes that will remind you of a modern day John Wayne.
He's a 6’4” bass-baritone powerhouse who once hit 200 million television sets worldwide as a contestant on “American Idol” on Seasons 5 and 6. With each performance he fights to create something electric, something that grabs you and makes you look up. Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s why some people don’t like country and yet... they love him.
Over the past few years Buckstein has traveled all over Colorado and the Midwest region performing for soon-to-be-lifelong fans. He admits to laughing to himself when other performers come to Colorado and complain about how hard it is to sing at such a high altitude. Buckstein, being a true native of the 5280 state (born and raised!), has never had a problem.
He has opened for Charlie Daniels, Dustin Lynch, Old Dominion, Eli Young, John Michael Montgomery, Mark Chesnutt, Vanilla Ice, and many, many others. He’s gained local fame as a regular guest star on Denver’s hottest country station 98.5 KYGO and also as the writer and performer of “The Grizzly Rose,” which is a popular song about the famous Denver nightclub, and he produced a music video for the track. Buckstein wrote the song about his personal experiences after his first week playing at the legendary venue.
And if you’re wondering, it’s pronounced “Buck-steen.”