Silver City's Music Scene 1965-2017

Silver City, Nevada- The historic community of Silver City has its roots in 1860s underground mining, but by the 1960s, the town’s population had dwindled, and it was seen as a ghost town. However, beginning in the mid-1960s, a wave of new residents arrived, leading to a “cultural re-population” of the community. This was the final stage in Silver City’s change from a mining town to a residential community.

Lyon County land use plans in the 1970s, the 1980s, and again in 2010 reassured newcomers that the town was zoned as residential, excluding heavy industrial use such as open pit mining from the town limits.

The new inhabitants bought historic buildings and homes, rehabilitating the structures into cozy, and often unusual, residences. Other newcomers to town built their own architecturally unique homes, like strawbale homes and geodesic domes.

Music Town: The newcomers also brought a particular love of music with them, and the town became home to a number of professional musicians and singer/songwriters, music promoters, and semi-annual music events like the Fireman’s Ball. The film Rockin' at the Red Dog documents the key role the new wave of Silver City residents, such as Chandler Laughlin and Don Works, played in the “dawn of psychedelic rock” on the West Coast.

Today the town has an outdoor performance stage (The Silver Pavilion) that is the site of frequent summer events. During the cooler months, a number of local groups host indoor concerts with both locally and nationally known musicians. In the last 6 months, the town has been host to concerts with everything from blues, folk, classic rock, ukulele, and show tunes to opera.

Monthly Acoustic Music Jam: For the last two years, acoustic jam sessions have been a monthly highlight of Silver City community life. The next one takes place on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Silver City School House, 385 High Street, Silver City, Nevada 89428.

"Silver City, Nevada- Preserving a Fascinating History; Protecting a Vibrant Present and Future."