We had the good fortune of connecting with Cody Tinnin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cody, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel all over the United States with my band Stillhouse Junkies. We have played shows for all kinds of people and had a chance to chat and get to know folks from all different walks of life. No matter what people’s backgrounds are, or personal beliefs, we’re always able to connect with folks through our music. I think music is very powerful in that way and if we can bring folks together through what we do, I’d like to think that has some kind of positive impact on the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
To make a long story short, once my bandmates, Fred Kosak, Alissa Wolf and I linked up to form Stillhouse Junkies in its current configuration, we knew we had something special. We’ve come a long way in a short amount of time through years of practice and hard work. We were finalists in the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Contest in 2018 & 2019. Also in 2019 we were invited to play an official showcase at Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, NY. In 2020, we were selected as an official showcase band at the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass conference and festival in Raleigh, NC. In 2021 we were selected as an official showcase band at the Folk Alliance International conference and festival in Kansas City, MO, and again as an Official Showcase band at IBMA, as well as being nominated for the IBMA’s Momentum Band of the Year Award, which we were fortunate enough to win. We are booked at festivals all over the continental US and will make two trips to Europe in 2022. All of this has been possible because we have been prepared for opportunity. All of us come from different professional backgrounds that we all walked away from to pursue something we truly love. It’s been the most difficult and most rewarding thing any of us have ever done and I don’t think we’d change a thing. We still have a lot of personal and professional goals around our music and the band and that only serves as more motivation for all of us. I think the biggest take away is that if there are young people out there that want to pursue music as a career, know it can be done. With enough practice and determination you can make it happen!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Southwest Colorado is such a special part of the state! Durango has lots of great restaurants and bars to check out. The Diamond Belle Saloon is always a great spot to catch a local musician playing a solo set. 11th Street Station has food trucks to sample, and El Moro has an extensive cocktail list and knowledgeable bartenders. We have a river trail along the Animas River stretching from one end of town to the other as well. Mancos, CO is a fun day trip west of Durango, and the old mining town of Silverton, CO is about an hour drive north over two beautiful mountain passes.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Music is a second career for me and making that transition into being a full time musician was challenging. My family was more than supportive and went above and beyond to support my music career. My band has seen enormous support from our local community in Durango, CO. In 2020 we cancelled 200+ shows, including our debut UK/Ireland Tour. We pivoted into “The Rolling Junkies Revue,” playing thirty-minute acoustic, COVID safe, sets of music in people’s front yards and driveways. By the winter we had played over 250 “yard shows.” In the winter we produced a nine part streaming series called “Sidecar,” where we hired friends from all over the country to play ticketed streaming shows. Without the support from our friends, family, and fans, I’m not sure how we could have kept going.

Website: codytinnin.com

Instagram: @cody.tinnin.music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/codytinninmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZb5QCJ6J9GOCANToh4lcQw

Other: Stillhouse Junkies website: StillhouseJunkies.com Stillhouse Junkies Instagram: @stillhousejunkies Stillhouse Junkies YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF584AXKmohc1AQMN5_Xv3w Stillhouse Junkies Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stillhousejunkies

Image Credits
Photos Courtesy of Renee Cornue Studio

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