Home-town Pickers

Floodgate Operators keep it real and rowdy in the valley with their bluegrass vibes

By Kendra Walker

The guys arrive at the shop, each greeting each other with the comfortable, casual familiarity of family. Beers and jokes are cracked, while a hockey playoff game plays on the television in the background. The guys catch up on recent travels and upcoming plans and town goings-ons. Then one by one, they each unpack their gear and the room fills with the plinking sounds of instruments tuning and impromptu jamming. It’s time for band practice. 

The Floodgate Operators have been bringing their fast-pickin’, boot-stompin’, high-energy bluegrass music to the Gunnison Valley since 2018. The band includes Scott Stewart on guitar, Zach Vaughter on mandolin, Ryan Maddux on banjo, Kevin Doherty on the 12-string guitar and Sebastian (Seb) Akesson on bass. Known to get the crowd rowdy and moving with their fast-paced traditional bluegrass tunes and their energetic and heartfelt originals, the Floodgate Operators have become a community favorite in Crested Butte’s local live music scene. 

These guys have been friends long before forming the Floodgate Operators. “We were all buddies and just organically started playing music together,” says Scott. “A few of us were already playing music around town, Kevin and I went to Western together, a lot of us all played hockey in town. We’ve all been really good friends.”

While many bands just getting established might start off with a sleepy dive bar gig, the Floodgate Operators began with a bang. “The Fourth of July was our first show,” says Zach. “We were opening for the Kitchen Dwellers for Music on the Mountain.”

However, in true Crested Butte form, Scott had recently broken his hand playing Town League softball. “I could barely strum,” he says. The guys had the idea to ask Kevin, who played in another band, to sit in and play guitar for the show. 

“After that, it really just felt like Kevin was a part of the band. I remember thinking, ‘He passed the test, he’s in the band now,’” says Ryan. 

The guys started gigging regularly around the valley, and in early 2020 released their EP Drought Driven Days. “It was right before COVID,” remembers Scott. “We released it and then two weeks later everything shut down.”

In 2021, the band’s bass player Brian Lieberman left the valley and Seb joined to take over for bass. “That’s when stuff really ramped up with this iteration of the group,” says Zach. “And that’s been the band ever since.”

While keeping their own unique style, the bandmates pull inspiration from other modern bluegrass bands such as the Infamous Stringdusters, Greensky Bluegrass and Yonder Mountain String Band. “Early on we played more traditional material,” says Scott. “As we grew together musically, we took that route into jam grass. Seb and Kevin have been in jam bands and that played into our strength. As we’ve evolved, I think our songwriting has become much more complex with more rock and jamming.”

“I think we all have pretty eclectic music taste, we’re not listening to bluegrass all the time,” says Zach. “Our sound and influences have definitely evolved as we’ve played together more and gotten better.”

The bandmates also feel their songwriting process has always been very collaborative. “Every song has everyone’s stamp on it,” says Scott. “Sometimes one person brings an idea they have been working on and then it comes to the group, and we work through it and fine-tune it into a final product.”

“Five heads are better than one,” says Kevin. “It’s great to have that collaborative aspect.”

In 2022, Floodgate Operators released their debut album, Flood the World. They do all their recordings at Evergroove Studios in Evergreen, Colorado with Grammy-nominated producer Brad Smalling. “We have recorded with him exclusively,” says Zach. “It’s a really cool studio and we feel comfortable with him.”

In addition to recording, the band has done their fair share of touring over the last several years, traveling across the Western Slope, Front Range, New Mexico, Montana and Wyoming. 

They recall some highlights and shenanigans from their touring adventures: venturing up north to Montana and Wyoming (“Pine Creek Lodge in Montana is one of my favorite places we’ve ever played,” says Scott), dressing up as the Backstreet Boys for a Halloween show, playing at Belly Up in Aspen, getting attacked by wasps during an entire set in New Mexico, sleeping on the stage of Tres Litros in Salida when they didn’t have a place to crash (The guys proudly claim that to this day they are the only band allowed to sleep on the Tres Litros stage).

And of course, they love the local shows, playing at their favorite Crested Butte venues like The Eldo, Public House, the I Bar Ranch and summer outdoor concerts. “Playing at Alpenglow was a big show,” says Zach. “The turnout was one of our largest crowds we’ve had. It was such a trip to play in front of that many people. It was pretty amazing to see the community that has seen us play seven years ago at house parties after Closing Day to now come to our show at Alpenglow.”

Among the memories of playing together over the last seven years, the guys agree on a highlight that stands out above the rest. 

Playing on the Telluride Bluegrass Main Stage,” says Zach. “That was a dream that none of us thought would ever happen.”

The guys attended the 2023 festival together and weren’t even planning on performing that weekend. But a connection got the crew a last-minute slot to play in the festival’s highly sought after band contest, which has hailed past winners such as Greensky Bluegrass, The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) and the Lil’ Smokies. Twelve bands perform in Telluride’s Elks Park, judges rate the bands and the top four have the honor to play on the Telluride Bluegrass Main Stage to compete in the finals in front of the festival crowd.

The Floodgate Operators not only made it to the finals, they earned second place in the competition. 

“It was a huge surprise. We watched so many incredible musicians play, we weren’t even expecting to even make it to the finals,” says Ryan. 

“To get second at that competition was pretty huge,” says Zach. “Playing on the main stage as the five of us really showed that our hard work had paid off. That’s a memory that will carry forever.”

They also happen to be buddies with the winners that year, The Freltliners, who often come through Crested Butte to perform. “To be one and two with them was a pretty crazy feeling,” says Zach.

After several busy years of touring, the guys are excited to dedicate their time this year to writing songs, recording and playing locally. 

“I look back so fondly at all of the crazy tours, but being on the road a lot is tough,” says Scott, estimating they clocked in nearly 60 shows last year. “It seemed like we were out of town almost every weekend.”

“We all have real jobs so we have to be respectful of everyone’s commitments and responsibilities outside the band,” agrees Zach. “I think we’ve done a really good job with that. We do the most we can without burning out.”

And the guys have some new recordings in the works, with plans to release a new six-track EP in mid to late 2025, titled After the Flood. The EP will feature their most recent single “Land Rush,” as well as five new recordings. 

“Some of my favorite times with the band are all of us being in the studio where we can still get together and be creative,” says Scott. “It’s very raw and we’re creating together.” He looks around the room at his fellow musicians, “I consider you all my brothers, so spending that quality time is my favorite part.”

Zach agrees and adds, “We’ve created an environment where the live shows are typically really fun and rowdy and there’s this element of having a good time with everyone. But those times when we’re on the road, it’s just the five of us. With recording, we get the opportunity to share more with the fans. The albums and songs we write together are maybe more far reaching and have potential for a longer legacy.”

“Performing is temporary, but recordings are forever,” says Kevin.  

As for upcoming local shows, Floodgate Operators will play at the base area on the Fourth of July as part of the Music on the Mountain free concert series. For a list of all show dates this summer, check their website www.floodgateoperators.com.

With plenty to look forward to in the year ahead, the guys reiterate how grateful they are to the local community for all the support and positive energy over the years. 

“I don’t think we’d ever be what we are without the local community,” says Scott. Everyone in the room nods in agreement. 

“The community of the Gunnison Valley is so incredible, and it’s why we all love it here,” says Zach. “We can’t thank everyone enough.”