Above: Pixie and the Partygrass Boys perform with Kyle Tuttle at 2025's Rhythms on the Rio Saturday, August 2, 2025
The first weekend of August saw the return of a wonderful 3-day music and camping festival named Rhythm On The Rio in Del Norte, Co. The festival was absolutely fantastic both Saturday and Sunday, but the highlight was Pixie and the Party Grass's Boys late Saturday afternoon set.
The set said plus special guests on the line up poster, and Pixie sure didn't disappoint. She brought her friend and acclaimed banjo player Kyle Tuttle for several songs, which was a highlight of the set and the day.
Unfortunately, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys did recently lose a main guitarist, but that didn't stop them from being incredible and fun as always during their live show over the weekend. Pixie is a great guitarist herself, and her skills were exceptional the entire time, suggesting that they didn't need an extra guitarist, at least for that show.
The set was broken up for a few moments that were special to the festival. "Oh, look a hummingbird," Pixie excitedly announced as one flew over the crowd during the beginning part of their set. Some members of the crowd even specialty dressed up for one of their songs, "Bear Shark". They were properly dressed up as a bear, shark and platypus which the lyrics are known for. Of course, Pixie and the gang had to incorporate that song into the setlist that wasn't planned for the day.
Another highlight of the set was when the band group played Charlie Daniels 'The Devil Went Down to Georgia', and there was even a fiddle off between incredible fiddlers Amanda Dellinger and artist at large for the festival, Jeremy Garrett, who sat in during multiple sets that day.
Above: Amanda Dellinger and Jeremy Garratt have a fiddle off during 'Devil Went Down to Georgia'
Pixie and the Partygrass Boys have played the festival more than three times, and it's quickly becoming a staple for them and their Colorado fan base.
One of the best things about seeing Pixie and the Partygrass Boys live is how emotional Pixie can be during every performance. During festivals especially, because she wears a beautiful homemade outfit which represents who she is and what her music is all about. Pixie often cries during her sets, and that's a great thing because it shows how connected she is to her music and how she tries to express herself to the world.
The festival itself is wonderfully organized, and takes care of media, volunteers and the artists extremely well. The food backstage was particular great for every meal. It's also a great place to camp for three days for festival goers, and there's a bonus: the grounds are situated right on the shores of the Rio Grande River where there's river tubbing and more fun throughout the hot August afternoons in the San Louis Valley.
It's a smaller scaled music festival which is a great thing itself, roughly holding around 2,500 daily festival goers every year. The festival is a non-profit volunteer organization that supports and raises money for Children's music learning programs in the surrounding areas.
While Pixie and the Partygrass Boys were the best performance of the weekend, every one of the artists were great, including Kyle Tuttle and company who performed before them Saturday.
Above: Kyle Tuttle performs with other musicians before Pixie's set Saturday afternoon.
Cristina Vane and her band were one of the better performers of the weekend who opened up the festival Sunday afternoon that switched things up to a more rock n roll vibe that continued throughout the day.
Above: Nashville singer song writer and guitarist Cristina Vane opens up the festival on Sunday, August 3, 2025, with her new band featuring members Larry Cook on bass and Heather Thomas on drums.
Colorado based bluegrass group Mighty Poplar were also incredible for their two sets they played on the side stage. As always, young Nashville guitarist prodigy Daniel Donato and his band, Cosmic Country, played extremely well and closed out the festival with two sets Sunday evening.
The multi genre and day Rhythyms on the Rio was a great festival to attend, and it's something that all music lovers can enjoy annually.
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