The Railbenders

They've been called "country," "alt-country," and "outlaw country," but the phrase that might best describe the Railbenders is "hard country." This Denver, Colorado band has been playing unabashed, straight-no-chaser music that pulls no punches since 2000. Their music and dynamic live shows have made them one of the top draws in Colorado, bringing in a diverse fan base of all ages.

Formed by Jim Dalton (vocals, guitar) and Tyson Murray (upright bass), the Railbenders took a mutual love of Johnny Cash, Waylon, Hank Williams, rock 'n' roll, punk, whiskey, and threw it all together to create their own sound. Powered by the steady rolling' drums of Graham Haworth and the blazing guitar picking of Tony Nascar ("The Fastest Guitar in the West"), the band has garnered local awards, including "Top Country Band" by the Rocky Mountain News (2004 & 2005), and "Best Country/Roots Band" five years in a row (2002 to 2006) in the annual Westword Music Showcase.

The Railbenders have opened for country greats Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam, Charlie Daniels, and David Allan Coe. As well, they've shared bills with rock legends like ZZ Top, John Fogerty, Peter Frampton, the Doobie Brothers and .38 Special. The Railbenders won a multi-year sponsorship from Coors Brewing Company in 2004, and in 2007, they had the honor of performing at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, CA, where they opened a stage that featured Emmylou Harris, Kris Kristofferson, Junior Brown, John Doe, Drive-By Truckers, and Alejandro Escovedo. And in 2008, the band played in the inaugural year of the Mile High Music Festival in Denver, sharing the spotlight with national headliners like the Dave Matthews Band and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.