Photo by Andy Johnson, from Torpe’s Facebook page

“Michigan” Mike Torpe, the Colorado-based concert promoter responsible for NedFest, died on Thanksgiving. He was 43. Originally from Plymouth, Michigan, Torpe moved to Colorado in 1992 and quickly immersed himself in the greater Nederland jamband, bluegrass and roots music communities. He spent time as a club DJ and semi-official archivist/videographer for Leftover Salmon before starting to promote shows in the area.

Of his nickname, Torpe explained:

I got the nickname ‘Michigan Mike’ on November 20th, 1992. I was travelling the country in search of a new place to live and it was my first night ever in the State of Colorado. I didn’t know a soul west of the Mississippi and the snow was dumping so bad on my way into Boulder that I couldn’t see the mountains. At a gas station I asked for directions as to where I could catch some live music and was directed to the Pearl Street Mall area. I ran across a bar called ‘J.J. McKabes’ (not there anymore) and a band called ‘Steak’ was performing. The bar was not crowded due to the storm, so I started shooting pool with a group of five or six people… three of whom were named Mike. They also had a few other Mikes in their clan of friends… each of whom had a nickname to distinguish who was who. Being fresh out of Michigan I instantly became ‘Michigan’ Mike. I was out of my car for less than two hours before getting the moniker!

In 1996, Torpe hosted the first Nederland Music and Arts Festival, which celebrated “the mountian community of Nederland, with a spotlight on local musicians, artists, and businesses.” Torpe launched NedFest in 1999; the festival’s inaugural lineup featured Stanley Jordan, Yonder Mountain String Band, Tony Furtado Band, The Motet and many others.

NedFest quickly developed into a summer festival staple and has featured the likes of Keller Williams, Steve Kimock, Merl Saunders, Bill Kreutzmann, David Grisman, Particle, Dr. John, Sam Bush, Ricky Skaggs, The Duo, ALO, The Slip, Rob Wasserman, Stanley Jordan, Melvin Seals & JGB, Victor Wooten and New Monsoon over the years. All the members of area heroes The String Cheese and Leftover Salmon have also performed at the event in numerous configurations. Torpe was personally involved in virtually all aspects of festival, from booking to promotions to onstage emcee duties to site design and production. He also limited attendance to 2,000 fans to ensure an intimate experience.

An obituary in Denver Westwood reads, “A vital, highly esteemed and beloved member of the scene, Michigan Mike was the founder, president and CEO of NedFest. No word yet on a memorial service, but given the impact Mike had on the scene, it wouldn’t be surprising if a number of acts stepped up to pay tribute. Rest easy, Mike.”