JCPL has boasted a robust offering of Pride events and activities for teens for many years but lacked comparable programming for adults. Furthermore, JCPL does not see as many participants from the “new adult” age group (adults in their 20s and 30s) compared to other demographics, nor older adults engaging with LBTQIA+ programming. There is also competition for people’s time throughout June, as Jefferson County and surrounding areas are home to many Pride events, including Denver PrideFest, which was the third largest Pride festival in the United States in 2025. Very few of these events, however, tap into Colorado’s rich bluegrass and Americana music scene.

JCPL partnered with the Arvada Center, one of the largest venues in Jefferson County, to host the concert on their main stage. It was emceed by Ron Bostwick, a host and author for The Colorado Sound radio station. The show featured four acts, all of whom are part of the LGBTQIA+ community and are Colorado-based performers: Amy Martin, Rosales and Summers, Morgan Harris and Trace and Baerd. Each act’s 30-minute set included themes that were relevant not only to the LGBTQIA+ community, but to all Coloradans. The decision to make the event a bluegrass concert capitalized on Colorado’s rich bluegrass scene. The state is home to dozens of festivals celebrating the genre, frequented by the same new and older adult audiences JCPL was trying to better engage. The show ended with all the musicians on stage performing a cover of “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” a song by Bruce Cockburn that was popularized by the Barenaked Ladies’ cover, which received enthusiastic applause.

Registration for this free event filled quickly. 298 people attended and gave the event a standing ovation. A director from the Arvada Center told JCPL that he believed the event was one of the greatest programs the venue had ever hosted. One of the musicians, Amy Martin, told JCPL, “You know, we were all talking backstage after it was over, and we all agreed it was the most fun any of us have ever had playing a show. This was incredible.” Attendees also shared overwhelmingly positive feedback with both JCPL and the Arvada Center, including, “I can’t believe this was free,” and “Can you all do this every week?”

The event also got attention from local media, including requests for interviews from The Denver Post and The Colorado Springs Gazette. Programming staff shared that successful events of this size and level of attention not only enhance the Library’s reputation, but also their ability to connect and work with larger organizations for future projects.