Join us for The Ballad - singer-songwriter Rachel Garlin’s newest piece for the stage. Part concert, part one-person play, The Ballad features original songs and intimate storytelling as Garlin explores what happens when queer desire collides with 1940s conventions in the lives of characters Madelyne and Therese. With recent showings in NYC and San Francisco, Garlin’s new work is coming to Colorado for a one-night benefit at the Durango Arts Center.

Rachel Garlin (Writer & Lead Performer) is a San Francisco-based singer and songwriter who has been making music professionally for more than twenty years. Rachel has toured internationally, released nine independent albums, and been hailed by critics at the San Francisco Chronicle, Americana Highways, and Country Queer.

Rachel will be joined on stage by Mai Bloomfield, a Los Angeles-based cellist and singer-songwriter, as well as local musicians Jim Belcher on bass, Patrick Dressen on guitar and David Sachs on drums. Jim, Patrick and David joined Rachel on the mainstage for a performance at the Four Corners Folk Festival in 2024.

Proceeds to benefit the Armida Huerta Adventure Fund, a Mancos-based non-profit dedicated to increasing access to outdoor adventures for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC individuals. The fund was created in honor of Armida Huerta, who passed away in 2024. Armida led a life of adventure, was a gifted athlete, and worked at Alpacka Raft for 10 years.