Learn 'stories behind the songs' at Firehouse Art Center concert

Musician, filmmaker and teacher Dave Calkins has performed his music in venues from NPR to Carnegie Hall.

On Nov. 11, he will bring a concert of his “Stories Behind the Songs” to Longmont. 

Also performing will be well-known local musicians Tim Ostdiek and Jenny Balagna.

The concert will begin at 7 p.m. in Firehouse Art Center, 667 Fourth Ave. in downtown Longmont.

Ostdiek and Balagna will perform first, followed by Calkins’ stories and songs. Tickets are available at the door for $15 or in advance for $10  at https://timostdiek.com/firehouse.

For four decades, Calkins, based in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, has established a career that spans composing and conducting music, creating films, photography and visual arts, and publishing.

In a news release, Calkins said the idea for “Stories Behind the Songs” was born out of his performing style. 

“I have always enjoyed telling stories when I perform and am looking forward to providing insights into the songs I choose to cover as well as my original pieces,” he said.

In addition to his creative side, Calkins is active as a virtuoso guitarist, singer, conductor, and composer.

He is owner and CEO of production and distribution company Ancova International and is publisher/editor of the online publication Pousto Media, which covers the arts, culture, health, and the environment. His website is https://www.ancovainternational.com/.

Ostdiek is a songwriter and performer who writes "feel-good, big-hearted folk with a drop of something funky", according to the release..

His songwriting has garnered accolades such as finalist in the 2019 Telluride Troubadour and finalist in the 2019 and 2022 Folks Fest Songwriter Showcase. His song “Goodbye” was featured in the PBS show Roadtrip Nation.  

Ostdiek’s website is at https://timostdiek.com/home.

Originally from Nebraska, the now a longtime Colorado resident has become a staple in Longmont and along the Front Range, usually performing in tandem with Balagna. His latest album, “The Lost Days”, takes listeners on a journey of his younger self into his 30s and highlights a mix of introspection and vulnerability.  His previous albums are “Temporary Home” and “Roots Below.” 

Balagna is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who performs around Longmont both solo and with Ostdiek. On Facebook, she can be found at “Jenny Balagna Music.”