All About Colorado’s Summer Music Festivals
Summer is a great time to explore the outdoors, soak up the sunshine and enjoy some great music under the summer sky. Some of the most popular summertime events across the US are music festivals. Colorado plays host to to a variety of annual music events all across the state throughout the summer. Some become an annual tradition for locals, while others are a once in a lifetime opportunity due to their lineup. Check out this break down of some of Colorado’s music festivals so you can mark your calendar for these exciting events.
- Telluride Bluegrass Festival 2017: June 15 – 18
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival will be celebrating its 44th year. Head to southwest Colorado for some great music from artists including Brandi Carlile, Dierks Bentley, Yonder Mountain String Band, Dispatch. Elephant Revival and more! - Country Jam Colorado 2017: June 15 – 18
This festival is known as the “Biggest Party” in Colorado. Each year, tens of thousands of country music fans flock to a field just west of Grand Junction, Colorado for 4 days filled with great music, dancing, camping and more. Now in its 26th year, it will play host to artists from Kenny Chesney to Cody Johnson. This is one you won’t want to miss! - Westword Music Showcase 2017: June 24
Celebrating its 23rd year, Westword Music Showcase will play host to Shakey Graves, The Revivalists, Cut Copy, Bob Moses, Coin, Arizona and more. On top of these well-known artists, enjoy performances from a variety of local musicians under the Denver sky. It is the largest music festival showcasing and celebrating Denver’s music scene. - The Ride Festival 2017: July 8 – 9
The Ride Festival may only be in its 5th year, but you wouldn’t guess by the big names making appearances! This year’s lineup includes performances from Beck, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Kaleo, The John Butler Trio and more. Head to Telluride for this great great festival in July. - Rise Music Festival 2017: August 4 – 6
This festival will be one of the most diversely entertaining festivals on the list. It will not only include music by artists like Atmosphere and Tipper, but it will also host major yoga sessions and art galleries. You will also have the chance to catch some live music from Lettuce, Ani DiFranco and more! Activism and Workshops are just some hands on options at this festival. More than just a Music Festival…It’s A Movement!
If you see a festival you are interested in, buy tickets early to make sure you get a ticket directly from the event website, rather than a third party vendor. Check the weather so that you know if you should expect rain or a heat wave. Pack lots of water to stay hydrated and make sure you are applying sunscreen even if it’s cloudy.
There are many more options to get outside and enjoy great music in Colorado this summer. Red Rocks Ampitheater is world-renowned for its incredible views and great performances. Fiddler’s Green is another outdoor ampitheater that draws big names to the great state of Colorado. No matter where you are and who you are listening to, you are sure to have a great time under the Colorado sky!
Image courtesy Freerange Stock and Greyson Ferguson.