Come celebrate Nederland’s very own Carousel of Happiness, with readings from the creator, carver and author, Scott Harrison. Scott will be joined by Burt Rashbaum, Ned-poet, writer and carousel operator. Featuring music by Daryl Purpose and Sarah Banker.
art by George Blevins
About Scott Harrison:
Scott Harrison was born in Dallas Texas, learned things at a Texas high school, fields in Vietnam, and then the University of Texas. He figured out how to build a boat in Alviso, California and then sail it in the Pacific. He joined Amnesty International where he worked for 32 years with his co-staffer and wife, Ellen. They made two kids and moved to Nederland Colorado where the kids were raised, mostly outside. Scott then carved enough animals to create the Carousel of Happiness, The Council of Kindness, and is nearing completion of his third circle of wooden animals, A Gathering of Sorrow. He is the author of Haiku Poetry and Carousel Soul.
About Burt Rashbaum:
Burt Rashbaum’s many publications include, Of the Carousel (The Poet’s Press), Blue Pedals (Editura Pim, Bucharest) and a recent novel, From Where We Came (Story Sanctum Publishing). His new poetry collection, Pathways to the Hidden Wood (The Poet’s Press) will be out in 2026 and his new short fiction collection Jigsaw Puzzle (Prolific Pulse) will be out in 2027. His stories and
poems have appeared in various journals and over a dozen anthologies. Although he was born and bred at sea level, he now only feels at home in Nederland, CO, where he is closer to the sky.
About Daryl Purpose:
A master of the ‘narrative’ folk tradition, Purpose has earned a reputation as a top-shelf songwriter and performer with a keen eye for detail and an uncanny knack for subtle twists that engage his listeners through his unusual, beautiful melodies and personal stories.
Purpose’s love for telling stories is almost as compelling as the life he’s made for himself. As a teenager, he hitchhiked to Las Vegas and began a legendary career playing blackjack. A few years later he joined a “March for Peace” that began in Los Angeles and walked across the country to Washington, DC. He then continued on to walk in the then Soviet Union. He began performing music on the marches, including participating in the first ever outdoor stadium concert in Russian history, produced by the legendary Bill Graham and featuring Santana, James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt and others.
In his thirties, Purpose began his current vocation as a performing songwriter. He has released 8+ albums of original material. Still The Birds (2016) and Next Time Around (2012), recorded at Blue Rock Studios, spent weeks at #1 for airplay on Roots Music Report. His release of Dave Carter's Gentle Arms Of Eden, was the #1 played song in the world on the FolkDJ list for July 2021.
Purpose's most recent release, Connected (2025) has been in the top ten Folk DJ albums for both August and September 2025.
Purpose is inspired by his daughter Kari, the love of friends, the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh, and the beauty of trees, water and land.
About Sarah Banker:
Sarah Banker's soothing voice and catchy lyrics accentuate her soulful pop-folk vibe and message of compassion and resilience. Her ability to capture the complexity of emotions in simple yet expressive lyrics is a consistent strength across her music. Her songs feel both universal and deeply personal, inviting listeners to reflect, heal, and embrace what’s to come. Ultimately, her musical intention is to be a source of light and love through sound.