Living in Boulder County is quite fabulous if you’re a music lover — unless, that is, you are a music lover with extreme choice paralysis.

When it comes to live music, the abundance of talent and the number of venues to be found on the Front Range music scene appears to be the exception to the rule of “quality over quantity.” From Lyons to Boulder, over to Gold Hill, out to Superior; Whether it’s Friday, Monday, winter or summer, rain or shine, there is absolutely no shortage of options.

Unfortunately, for those of us who have a hard time deciding where to head for our musical outings, choosing where to go is about to get a bit harder: Mixtape Songwriter Showcase, a new concert series out of the Times Collaborative in Longmont, is offering up yet another top-tier option to consider.

But while Mixtape is similar to other music offerings around the county in that it features top-tier musicians at a lovely venue, this concert series is unique in that it presents an intimate, cozy experience that makes audiences feel like they’re hanging out in the living room of their friend’s house — which probably feels that way because the concert series’ founder and creative director, Monica LaBonte, is indeed actually friends with most of the featured artists.

LaBonte is a singer, songwriter and Colorado native who, in her decade-long musical career as a solo artist and former member of Monocle Band, has performed at dozens of venues including iconic spots like the Gold Hill Inn and Planet Bluegrass. Before starting Mixtape, she led the Women in Song series at the Laughing Goat Cafe in Boulder, curating performances and connecting with artists from across the country.

Everything changed for LaBonte five years ago, after becoming a mother rendered pursuing a full-time music career a challenge. She took a break from music and moved to Longmont, where inspiration found her again.

“I’ve always been a part of the music scene in Colorado, but there was something about moving to Longmont that really made me want to get back into music. So I decided to start Mixtape, and I’ve found that running my own music series is my way of staying current, immersed and connected with the community here, while not having to go on the road and tour or pump out albums. I get to do what I love, in a way that really works for me and my family,” LaBonte said.

Mixtape is an extension of a larger music concert series called Soundpost Sessions, which was started by local music veteran Jessica Carson and audio engineer Tim Gulsrud. Both concert series take place at the Times Collaborative in Longmont — a 75-person event space in a historical brick building right in the heart of downtown. In addition to curating the Mixtape lineups, LaBonte also hosts the sessions, which are presented “in the round” — a setup where performers are positioned facing one another in a semi-circle on stage, while surrounded by the audience.

“It’s a small venue, but at 75, it means that everyone has a seat; It’s quiet, it’s intimate, and it feels just like hanging out with friends. The songs that we play onstage kind of inform the conversation, so if we play a song about traveling, we’ll talk about how life is on the road, or what inspired the song, or what have you. So it’s an organic, immersive experience, and a wonderful opportunity for audiences to get to know the people onstage,” LaBonte said.

Several previous sessions have included big names in the local scene, such as Texas-born rockers Bonnie and Taylor Sims, folk crooner Joel Ansett, and indie songstress Lauren Frihauf.

On Thursday, May 16, Mixtape is presenting a special guest for its third-ever session: A mini-revival concert featuring LaBante’s for

mer bandmate, songwriting partner, and lead guitarist of five-piece roots project, Monocle Band: Bill Huston.

Though the pair haven’t played together in years, according to LaBonte, the musical chemistry between the duo has never died.

“In the 10 years we spent playing music together, we recorded albums, spent a lot of time writing songs and touring. Monocle was my first band, and that was my first entry into the music world. We grew as musicians together. We did a ton of shows, a bit of touring, a couple of festivals, and had a lot of fun. Coming back together is going to be very special, and I expect it to be a very amazing show — not just for us, but for audiences, as well,” she said.

In Monocole Band, LaBonte and Huston both shared the role of principal songwriters, drawing from Huston’s creative writing background at Stanford University and LaBonte’s poetry degree from the University of Colorado Boulder. Their musical collaboration blossomed from a shared love for artists like Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt, and as a band, they performed in some of the foremost festivals and venues in the state, including at Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Wildflower Pavilion at Planet Bluegrass.

“As a band, me and [Huston] played together in all sorts of loud, fun, rowdy places — like bars and outdoor venues and places where people were up and dancing and drinking. They’re songs that tell stories, and I think they’re best heard by a captive audience. That’s the exact kind of music I am hoping to bring to Mixtape,” LaBonte said.

Tickets for LaBonte and Huston’s reunion Mixtape are $15 when purchased online and $20 at the door. If you’re unable to catch the May 16 show, don’t fret — Mixtape is scheduled to recur monthly, with the next session featuring Gabrielle Louise and Andrew Sturtz taking place on June 13.