The mountains come alive with music in the summer. The Vail Valley’s calendar is packed with events, particularly outdoor concerts, and you can find live performances almost any day of the week. From free family-friendly concerts to world-renowned orchestral music to big name bands, there is something for every musical taste. Ready for a summer of music in the Vail Valley? Read on for the lowdown of all the artists making their way to the mountains this summer.
Moe’s Original BBQ Hot Summer Nights is a free concert series hosted at The Amp in Vail. With eight nights of shows throughout the summer, a variety of bands with wildly different styles will take to the stage.
Kicking off the series on June 20, the LowDown Brass Band, an all-horn band, blends dancehall and street beat rhythm with jazz notes, hip hop beats, and reggae vibes. The following week, June 27, features Classic Albums Live, a modern day orchestra that recreates famous albums exactly the way they were recorded - literally note for note. With pure music perfection and no cheesy gimmicks, Classic Albums Live will perform David Bowie: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
After the Fourth of July holiday, the series returns with 49 Winchester on July 11. They are a Virginia-based alt-country band that’s a bit gritty and edgy with rock-n-roll flair and high energy folk sounds. The Dip, a seven-piece band from Seattle, brings rhythm and blues to the stage on July 18.
Free music returns to The Amp on August 17 with the Hogslop String Band. Jimi Hendrix and Grateful Dead fans will love Jimi’s Dead, a tribute to music icons, on August 22. Fruition, a bluegrass band that has opened for numerous large headline shows and festivals, will be in Vail on August 29th. Finally, the series wraps up on September 7 with Other Brothers, an Allman Brothers Tribute Band.
Doors open at 5:30pm and shows start at 6:30pm.
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival is an international classic music festival that hosts dozens of performances throughout the Vail Valley. Three orchestras are hosted for week-long residencies, including the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Most performances are held at The Amp, but there are smaller shows held throughout the Vail Valley.
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra, in town from June 30 through July 5, will play classical favorites and unique programs. Join the Dallas Symphony Orchestra for the 4th of July Patriotic concert or Music of the Movies on July 5, which features beloved soundtracks from Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Superman, and more.
Starting on July 7 through July 14, The Philadelphia Orchestra performs classics from Beethoven and Rachmaninoff to Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, and caps off the series with Mozart’s Requiem.
The New York Philharmonic returns July 19 through July 26 with familiar and fresh sounds. Movie at the Symphony, a fan and family favorite, returns this year with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. On Saturday, July 22, the New York Philharmonic will perform alongside the movie as it plays in high definition on the screens of The Amp. The orchestra also takes on some of the most recognized classic scores including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Rossini’s William Tell Overture.
There are also opportunities to experience smaller ensembles in an intimate setting. The Chamber Music Series features acclaimed artists at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek. Classically Uncorked events are an innovative series with cutting edge composers complete with wine tastings and hors d’oeuvres at Donovan Pavilion in Vail.
It’s never too early to introduce kids to classical music, which is why Bravo! hosts community concerts. Bravo! Vail seeks to inspire the musician in every child with family concerts at Little Beach Park in Minturn and Little Listeners at the Library, which rotates events through the libraries each week.
In addition to free concerts, The Amp brings in bigger bands with paid tickets for lawn and reserved pavilion seating.
Shakey Graves blends a unique mix of blues, folk, and rock on June 21. On July 6, Big Head Todd and the Monsters & Blues Traveler will rock the stage. Thievery Corporation with special guest BoomBox, pioneers in song-based electronic music, will return on July 15. String band Old Crow Medicine Show will be picking and singing on July 16. CAAMP, an indie folk group will belt out heartfelt songs on July 17. With Americana and country-rock vibes, The Head and the Heart will return to Vail on August 15 and will join Father John Misty on August 16. Alt-rock with pop charm, the Pixies, will play alongside Modest Mouse on September 2. On September 3, The Amp will host Tash Sultana, a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, hailing from Australia with indie vibes and fiery vocals.
Backed up against Nottingham Lake, with sweeping views of Beaver Creek, the large, grassy, flat lawn at Nottingham Park is the perfect family-friendly concert hangout. AvonLIVE! hosts free concerts on Wednesdays, from June 14 through August 30 (other than the first week of July) from 5:30 - 9:00 pm.
Food trucks line the perimeter of the field, offering tasty options to grab food or pack your own picnic. Additionally, an on-site bar sells cold beer and canned alcoholic beverages. Bring your own blanket and chairs to watch the sun set behind the stage.
With only 530 seats, the Vilar Performing Arts Center is an intimate concert venue with incredible acoustics. Located in the heart of Beaver Creek Village, the theater features rich wood paneling and a packed event schedule. Well-known performers from a variety of genres hit the stage, from the Gipsy Kings, Boz Scaggs, and Keb’ Mo’ to classical music with Bravo! Vail, ballet performers from the Vail Dance Festival, stand-up comedians, and more.
Alpine Bank ShowDown Town hosts free concerts in Eagle Town Park on Thursdays, from June 29 through August 10, starting at 6:30pm. Bring your own blanket and picnic to set up in the grassy lawn for this family-friendly music series.
Kick off the series with Deadphish Orchestra, a Colorado quartet that blends jam-band style to make a sound uniquely their own. The following week, Liver Down the River, their name and music inspired by countless river floats and late nights picking around a campfire, draw inspiration from bluegrass and funk tones. On July 13, Kind Hearted Strangers delivers a high-energy rock show with harmony-driven acoustics. The Denver-based Los Mocochetes brings dance tunes from the band’s origins in Mexico on July 20. Bill McKay, live on July 27,has dabbled into every corner of the music world since starting his music career at a young age and blends all the styles into his own band. Mark Morris’ acoustic style is inspired by bluegrass and country genres. His performance on August 3rd will feature members of Rapidgrass. Finally, Happy Landing will close out the series with music they call “skate folk”, a blend of folk, pop-punk, alt-rock, and bluegrass.
The Block Party is the music event of the summer in Eagle, Colorado. The two-day festival sets up in the downtown streets of Eagle and features headliners Lettuce and Oteil & Friends, along with numerous other bands throughout the day, including Sam Bush, Karl Denon’s Tiny Universe, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, and more. As the day wears on, the street fills up for standing room only. Food and alcohol vendors are available inside the gates, and outside food and beverages are not allowed. Kids are welcome for this family-friendly show.
Spend your Sunday with Bloodies and Brass, an intimate concert from 12:00pm - 3:00pm with Big Sam’s Funky Nation while enjoying breakfast and bottomless bloodies and mimosas. This event is outside of the two-day GA pass.
For music lovers who want to enjoy concerts throughout the Vail Valley, the best place to stay is in Edwards, with a convenient central location. The Inn at Riverwalk, situated in the heart of Edwards, is the perfect home base because it is minutes away from Beaver Creek and Avon and equidistant to both Vail and Eagle. From here, guests have easy access to all the best music, festivals, and events the Vail Valley offers.
After an evening out, settle into plush, featherbed topped mattresses and rooms equipped with modern amenities. The Inn offers a variety of room types, from a King or Double Queen room to one- or two-bedroom condos that fit up to 6 guests. With your choice of mountain or river views, The Inn offers the perfect setting for every stay.
Book your room at The Inn at Riverwalk today.