Listen to Sound of Grand County Feb 2026 Lineup!

The Sound of Grand County Music Series continues with live performances from locals from the area.

On February 12, 2026 we had the second Sound of Grand County for the year and this one was a massive hit, and the energy at the KFFR studios was absolutely electric.

The “World Famous” Russell Martin opened up the night and completely blew us away. His set was a masterclass in Americana, Blues, and Rock-influenced songwriting—had the whole room hooked. Russell mentioned he hadn’t stepped onto a stage in 16 years, but you would never have known it; he rocked the house like he never left! A huge thank you to Russell for a killer set and for sharing his talent with us.

And ending the benign with our local headliner, Easy Forward, absolutely delivered with their 4-piece band, filling the studio with soulful Americana and slow rock vibes. From fresh originals to perfectly executed covers, the room was a sea of toe-tapping and head-bobbing all night long.

Missed the magic?

Don’t sweat it! Here you will find the recordings and descriptions of the musical talent.

World Famous Russell Martin opened the night

The man, the myth, the world-famous storyteller stepped out from behind the DJ mic to open the evening with a powerful solo Blues Americana Rock set. It was a truly special experience to see our favorite DJ in his element, showcasing the deep musical roots that started it all for him.

You did mighty fine, Russell. Mighty fine.

Recordings coming soon

No Caption

Closing out the night with Easy Forward

Easy Forward is a Denver-based roots rock and alt-country outfit founded by Matt Bauer (guitar, vocals, and has hosted a weekly jazz and blues-centered radio show on KFFR since 2019 – Mateo’s Magic Bus) and Dan Perron (guitar, vocals, bass, and mandolin – who also has DJ’d and played live on KFFR over the past years as well alongside DJ Mateo). The core of the band started as a guitar-vocal duo, often expanding their lineup with additional voices and instruments for live shows and recordings, giving their sound a rich, layered feel.

Musically, Easy Forward blends elements of alternative country and Americana with influences ranging from the introspective, melodic alt-rock of Wilco to the classic, heartland pop-rock spirit of Tom Petty, the soulful Americana songwriting of The Band, the moody blues-inflected rock of The Doors, and the jangly, melodic textures of R.E.M. Their songs typically feature thoughtful lyrics, warm harmonies, and a balance of acoustic and electric instrumentation that feels both timeless and rooted in the vibrant Denver indie-roots scene.

For the SOGC performance, Easy Forward expanded to include Boulder-based musicians Josh Bennett on Drums and Kevin Ecke on keyboards, bass, vocals and guitar. Both Dan and Kevin offered originals, while the band played an eclectic collection of songs ranging from the Doors, to REO, Traffic, Zeppelin, the Beatles, and Wilco.

Onstage, Easy Forward delivered a heartfelt performance that resonated both with the live in studio and on air audiences, we hope you’ll enjoy these recordings and for more information on Easy Forward, below are there Insta, FB and Youtube pages: