Head for the Hills’ Pickin’ on the Poudre
May 18
Bellvue
themishawaka.com
It has become our tradition to kick off festy season at the fabled Misawaka Auditorium. Head for the Hills’ party is the perfect prologue for veteran festivarians.
Don’t Miss: The show will mark the live debut of the much-anticipated Drew Emmit Trio—Leftover Salmon’s Drew Emmit and Andy Thorn will team up with the Infinite Stringdusters’ Andy Hall.
Insider Info: A big Mish Burrito will fill you up.
Love Your Valley
May 18
Ridgway
ridgwayconcertseries.com
This big fundraiser of a festival makes free concerts in Ridgway’s Town Park every Thursday in July possible.
Don’t Miss: Multi-instrumentalists Alias Hayes and Jones will rock the park with world funk.
Insider Info: Microbrew tasting! Just $20/person.
Camp Out for the Cause
May 24–26
State Bridge
campoutforthecause.org
The family gathering of music, river sports, yoga, SUP and general one-world-ness overtakes State Bridge.
Don’t Miss: Grant Farm, Govinda, Zion I
Insider Info: There’s a damn hula hoop workshop.
MeadowGrass Music Festival
May 24–26
La Foret
meadowgrass.org
Meadowgrass is a laid-back alternative to the big Colorado festivals but it still manages to pack an eclectic punch of both rootsy picking and hipster cool.
Don’t Miss: Portland’s Blitzen Trapper are headlining Friday night with their hard-charging trucker-hat rock. Want more? How about Dawes, Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer, and Great American Taxi.
Insider Info: Festival proceeds help preserve the historic La Foret open space.
Snowmass Mammoth Festival
June 7–8
Snowmass
snowmassmammothfest.com
Take cutting-edge bands. Add a chili cookoff and beer tasting. Sprinkle in the camping and sublime singletrack and hiking surrounding Snowmass. The result is one hot festival just as summer gets rolling.
Don’t Miss: Living Color’s Corey Glover and members of The Rollins Band celebrating 40 years of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon on Friday night. LA’s Lord Huron on Saturday afternoon. AWOLNATION brings it all down on Saturday night.
Insider Info: Skip the stink of the campground and book a room at the retro-hip Wildwood Snowmass Hotel (wildwoodsnowmass.com),
Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival
June 7–9
Pagosa Springs
folkwest.com
The real deal. This little festival that rocks is more about appreciating the sound than the scene.
Don’t Miss: There’s an eclectic grab bag of music to savor here, including standouts like true-grit country from the Black Lillies (see sidebar page 47), New Orleans roots rockers The Iguanas, Fort Collins Americana icons Finnders and Youngberg and Austin rockers the Band of Heathens.
Insider Info: Escape the festy freaks and enjoy a little soak when you hike 10 miles roundtrip to undeveloped Rainbow and Piedra River Hot Springs.
South Pearl Street BrewGrass
June 8
Denver
southpearlstreet.com
Part of the South Pearl Street neighborhood’s Rock the Block concert series, which runs throughout the summer, this one-day fest takes over the streets—bring a chair, ride your bike and boogie down while sipping a selection of local microbrews.
Don’t Miss: The Black Lillies (see sidebar, page 47).
Insider INfo: Head back for microbrews and more tunes on August 10 for Brews and Blues.
Sonic Bloom
June 13–16
Georgetown
sonicbloomfestival.com
With a vibe filled with electronic music, live painters, art installations and yoga friendly one-ness, Sonic Bloom will free your mind so your ass can follow.
Don’t Miss: Santa Fe-based Desert Dwellers meld electronic and traditional music for tribal dance in the sacred spaces in America’s deserts (and on stage).
Insider Info: EO’s festival guru, Ryan Narayan (see sidebar, page 51) will be teaching tribal Vinyassa here.
Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival
June 14–16
Palisade
palisademusic.com
It’s all about atmosphere at this festival. There’s just as much excitement around Palisade—with local distillers and wineries in attendance and secret singletrack out the gate—as there is on stage.
Don’t Miss: Singer/songwriter Justin Townes Earle, the son of Steve Earle, has the presence to mark this one on your calendar just to see him. But you will also appreciate Pokey LaFarge’s brand of old-time Americana.
Insider info: Mountain biking in Palisade is on the rise. Check in with the folks at Rapid Creek Cycles for local beta. Or hop on a cruiser-and-float tour on their Wine Wench Experience.
Telluride Bluegrass
June 20–23
Telluride
bluegrass.com/telluride/
Sure, it seems a bit pointless to tout the most famous of Colorado festivals when the tickets sold out months ago, but, come on, you’ll find a way to go, right? Plus, this is the festival’s 40th anniversary.
Don’t Miss: Where to begin? The lineup is stacked: Mumford and Sons, Emmylou Harris, The Punch Brothers, The Milk Carton Kids, The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, The Infinite Stringdusters, Yonder Mountain String Band, Sara Watkins (see sidebar, page 47), that Sam Bush guy. Noodle dance away, jam-band fans!
Insider Info: Nightgrass shows in town (tickets sold separately from the main festival) bring things closer after the bustle of the main show—acts include The Punch Brothers and Yonder Mountain String Band.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass June Festival
June 21-23
Snowmass
jazzaspensnowmass.org
Jazz? Yes. But there are also a lot of big-name acts mixed in to this big-time musical showcase.
Don’t Miss: Jackson Browne headlines on Friday and Pink Martini closes down the following Saturday.
Insider Info: For true jazz, hit the Jas Cafe at the Little Nell during te festival and beyond.
Lake Dillon Brew Fest
June 22
Dillon
dillondba.org
Music goes down better with beer, beer with music. That’s the gist of this Summit County festival. Hot Buttered Rum will headline.
Don’t Miss: The beer! Nearly 30 brewers, including Oskar Blues, Fate, Dillon Dam, Boulder Beer, Odell…
Insider Info: Hit the big after party at Pug Ryan’s.
Gunny Grass
June 28th, 2013
I Bar Ranch
gunnygrass.com
Gunnison has long flirted with the idea of a Bluegrass Festival and it’s finally here. I Bar Ranch offers a perfect venue complete with onsite camping in a stunning setting. The line-up focuses on bluegrass and old time music with an emphasis on hot Colorado bands.
Don’t Miss: Simpler Times Bluegrass, The Stray Grass, Lost Nation and White Water Ramble and the Blue Canyon Boys adding to a very respectable festival lineup for their first year.
Insider Info: Bring the kids for music camp, square dancing, crafts and a variety of family friendly activities.
Bluegrass in Paradise
July 6–7
Crested Butte
bluegrassinparadise.org
Well, Crested Butte is paradise when you think about it. And the sweet hereafter comes with a stage-full of the most beloved acts in the bluegrass pantheon.
Don’t Miss: The cream of the pickin’ crop: Sam Bush, Head for the Hills, Drew Emmitt
Insider Info: This is just a mini-festival within the much larger Crested Butte Music Festival.
High Mountain Hay Fever
July 11–14
Westcliffe
highmountainhayfever.org
No pop bands posing as “bluegrass” here—this mellow fest attracts roots aficionados who care more about the music than the party-crowd mentality.
Don’t Miss: A single lick of it, from the energy of the Bluegrass Patriots reunion to the string virtuosity of the Old-Time Kozmic Trio to the sweet harmonies of Salida’s Phoebe and Harper, The Powell Sisters.
Insider Info: Four words when it comes to which booth to choose for dinner: Nana’s Pork Green Chili
Keystone Wine and Jazz
July 13–14
Keystone
keystonefestivals.com
Leave the beer to the bluegrass freaks. There’s a nose of sophistication at this jazz fest, which combines real jazz (no, Journey, thanks) and oenology up in Summit County.
Don’t Miss: Colorado smooth players Dotsero.
Insider Info: We know you like to drink wine, but you can learn about grape varietals, tasting techniques, food parings and more at the seminars here.
Oyster Ridge Music Festival
July 26–28
Kemmerer, Wyoming
oysterridgemusicfestival.com
“Oystrer Grass” is simply the biggest musical happening in the nation’s least populated state. Oh, and it is free! The stage hosts local talent as well as national acts and it was all the brainchld of a USFS employee who liked to pick some mean guitar.
Don’t Miss: Flat picking is king at this festival and there’s no more honored picker than national champ and Appalachian song-spinner Robin Kessinger.
Insider Info: The festival is also home to the Wyoming state finger style guitar championship and the Wyoming state flat pick guitar championship. And anyone (even non-residents) can enter.
RockyGrass
July 26-28
Lyons
bluegrass.com/rockygrass
The real deal. Telluride for bluegrass snobs.
Don’t Miss: All the heavy hitters will be bringing their A-games: Del McCoury Band, Keller Williams, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Tim O’Brien. But the Deadly Gentleman (see sidebar, page 47) and the Carolina Chocolate Drops may steal the show.
Insider Info: Make the effort to secure a good camp spot—the nightly picking circles and chance to escape the heat back at your tent are reason enough to wait in line in your car to snag first-come campsites.
Crestone Music Festival
August 2–4
Crestone
crest-fest.org
This two-stage festival offers up a little bit of everything to everyone—and the organizers stress that there are… mojitos! The vibe certainly mirrors that of Crestone itself, where folks of all sort of backgrounds and spiritual callings all find common ground.
Don’t Miss: The Haunted Windchimes offer up eerie Americana on Friday, ragin’ Cajun Tab Benoit spices up Saturday and Vieux Farka Toure brings the soul of Mali on Sunday. Plus, dance-fave locals Atomga and Futaba get butts moving.
Insider Info: Taiko drumming. Women pounding Japanese kettle drums as if they were going through karate katas (or menopause). Don’t miss it.
Telluride Jazz Festival
August 2–4
Telluride
telluridejazz.org
Tellueride Jazz brings in acts with as much credence as Bluegrass but far less hoopla.
Don’t Miss: There’s a lot of variety here: Hardcore, classic jazz with the Stanley Clarke Band. The Motet, Galactic, The New Orleans Suspects (see sidebar, page 47) and local protégés the Telluride Student All-Star Jazz Ensemble.
Insider Info: The festival received a $25,000 matching grant to save the Elks Park Free Stage. Donate to help reach and double that goal.
Keystone Bluegrass and Beer
August 3–4
Keystone
keystonefestivals.com
Escape the heat and get a good dose of hillbilly music and microbrews up in Summit County in August.
Don’t Miss: There’s a wide rang of stuff here from the melodies and mandolin of Sierra Hull to the strings of Virginia’s Hackensaw Boys.
Insider Info: Perfect your playing with banjo, mandolin, bass, fiddle, guitar and dobro seminars.
Arise
August 14-18
Sunrise Ranch, Loveland
arisefestival.com
Arise typifies a new breed of festival—more than just bluegrass and hula hoops, it combines music with movement, performance art and everything from yoga sessions to meditation in the “Temple of the Heart.”
Don’t Miss: There are big names here like Xavier Rudd and Keller Williams and the Keels. But you’ll also find Denver dance-and-blow-your-mind bands Lunar Fire and Atomga and UK waif Serephine.
Insider Info: There is a Hemp Village.
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
August 16-18
Lyons
bluegrass.com/folks
The smallest of Planet Bluegrass’ big three festivals is our personal favorite thanks to its laid-back vibe and eclectic music lineup. Bring the family.
Don’t Miss: Celtic goddess Loreena McKennitt should summon the spirits in Lyons’ red rock. The John Butler Trio comes up from Down Under.
Insider Info: More acts are still to be announced.
NedFest
August 23-25
Nederland
nedfest.com
If it’s in Ned. It needs to be weird, or at least alternatively expressive. Ned Fest delivers with music, art, crafts, microbrews and assorted oddness.
Don’t Miss: The 2013 lineup is yet to be determined but promises to be bluegrassy-World-jam-dub-folk.
Insider Info: Early bird special three-day passes are selling for just $110 as of press time.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival
August 30-September 1
Snowmass
jazzaspensnowmass.org
Yeah, well forget about the jazz, this festival pulls in big-gun talent to kiss goodbye to summer and relishes its place with the beautiful people in Aspen.
Don’t Miss: Vermont’s Grace Potter and the Nocturnals put on one hell of a show for a band from such a peace-loving state. Train will get heavy.
Insider Info: Don’t stop believin’ and break out those acid-washed jeans. Journey will be here.
Four Corners Folk Festival
August 30-September 1
Pagosa Springs
folkwest.com
Meet the sister festival to FolkWest’s Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival. Enjoy the same core vibe and listen to rootsy performers under a 1,200-plus-person tent or kick back in the surrounding meadow.
Don’t Miss: The Wood Brothers will be bringing their brand of avant Ameicana (see sidebar, page 47).
Insider Info: Beyond its festivals, FolkWest runs bluegrass camps for adults and kids, July 4–6.
Telluride Blues and Brews
September 13-15
Telluride
tellurideblues.com
Save the best for last. Telluride’s other big festival is the one we wait for all summer long. Hey and who doesn’t like autumn nights, a cold beer and some music to make you want to cry into it… or dance..
Don’t Miss: The 2013 is TBD, but past highlights have included Willie Nelson, B.B. King and Phil Lesh.
Insider Info: The Grand Tasting features 56 microbreweries competing to be the crowd favorite.
