The Colonel Expands Cody’s Music Scene Menu

Demand vs. Availability

We saw what’s possible one night at The Colonel when they booked a Green Day cover band called Not Green Day. It’s a genre rarely featured on local stages, and the venue was packed.

People didn’t show up out of novelty. They showed up because they wanted something different. The crowd was engaged, respectful, enthusiastic. It was a reminder that availability is not the same thing as demand.

A Venue With Vision

Nathan, the owner, understands this instinctively. A musician himself, he opened The Colonel out of a love for music and a desire to create a space that complemented his restaurant — somewhere local artists could perform and touring acts could stop through. As he told me, there simply weren’t many consistent, quality spaces for musicians to play.

Music runs deep in his family. His grandmother, Hope Sheets — a well-known local songwriter and musician — had a profound influence on him.

“She was incredibly creative,” he said. Music was always part of their home because of her. After her passing, her legacy lives on at the venue: her former stage now bears the name The Hopeless Cafe.

That blend of personal history and forward momentum shows up in how the venue is programmed. The Colonel hosts reggae nights, rock nights, jazz food-and-wine evenings, and songwriter showcases. Nathan emphasized that while country music is always successful — and always welcome — it’s not the only thing people want.

“People think Cody is one type of person,” he told me. “It’s a melting pot now. Different interests, different views. Having different types of music matters.”

During COVID, the venue added an outdoor patio so people could gather safely. That space is now part of a bigger vision: an outdoor stage, specialty dinners, pig roasts, jazz bands — events that create an experience, not just a show. Plans for outdoor concerts this summer are already in motion.

The Colonel also hosts the Park County preliminary round of a regional songwriter competition. Local artists compete there before advancing to finals in Ten Sleep, giving them a chance to sharpen their craft and gain exposure beyond county lines.

When I asked where he sees Cody’s music scene in five years, his answer was simple: “We’re driving it.” His goal is more variety, more events, and at least one touring or well-known act each month.

More Than Just Music

And that matters, because the benefits extend far beyond musicians.

Live music brings people downtown. It encourages visitors to stay longer than a night or two. It gives local artists a place to grow into paid work. Without art and music, culture feels flat. With it, people have something to anticipate.

I come from a place where live music on a Tuesday night wasn’t unusual; where metal bands, jazz trios, punk kids, painters, photographers, and theater groups shared the same spaces. Art wasn’t something you waited for on a calendar. It was simply part of the air.

After three years in Park County, what I see is undeniable talent with limited visibility.

And the demand is already here — especially among younger generations. Creative outlets don’t just “keep kids busy.” They provide identity, belonging, and purpose. When those outlets disappear, something else fills the void.

Expanding the Menu

As for what’s next, The Colonel continues building momentum with events like Mardi Gras and new shows rolling out toward the end of the month. Details are available through the venue’s website and social media.

Cody’s local music scene is no longer theoretical — it’s unfolding in real time at The Colonel. Spend a weekend evening there and you’ll see it clearly: people are hungry for live music, for variety, for something that feels alive. The question isn’t whether Cody will support culture. The question is whether we’re willing to build enough space for it to grow.

People will show up for culture here.

What we lack isn’t talent. It’s infrastructure, opportunity, and permission to expand beyond what’s familiar and fully embrace who we are becoming as a community.

To be fair, things are happening in Cody. We have local country bands, occasional live music, wine-and-paint nights, and artists working quietly in their homes and studios. These efforts matter. They’re laying groundwork. But groundwork is only the beginning.

The Colonel

Website: Theconelvenue.com
Event Schedule
Facebook: @thecolonelcody
Instagram: @thecolonelcody

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