Dierks Bentley’s Seven Peaks Music Festival promises a big lineup of American music under the bigger summits of Colorado’s Collegiate Peaks.
This Labor Day Weekend (Aug 30-Sept 1), the 2,700-person town of Buena Vista will come alive for the second annual Seven Peaks Music Festival, a three-day, two-stage country and bluegrass extravaganza produced by Live Nation that couples killer jams with camping under the stars (and a beach on festival grounds). Seven Peaks is no Coachella—it’s a fun, friendly atmosphere with zero pretense, all set against the dramatic backdrop of the seven fourteeners of the Collegiate Peaks that dominate the skyline. And where else can you can float across a pond on an inflatable unicorn while reveling in the sweet sounds of a handful of the nation’s best musicians?
The festival is the brainchild of multi-platinum singer-songwriter superstar Dierks Bentley, who chose the Arkansas Valley because of his love for Colorado, and a desire to make the location itself worth the trip for fans.
“I am so happy and grateful we get to come back to Buena Vista for the second Seven Peaks Music Festival,” says Bentley. “Even with the huge success of the first year, no one is taking anything for granted. If anything, we are all working harder than ever to make sure this year meets and exceeds the expectations of our returning ‘Peakers’ and completely blows away our first-time festival goers.”
This year’s festival will showcase country, bluegrass, roots, and Americana music—there’s even a special round up of 90’s country music on the first night. The lineup, chosen directly by Bentley himself, will feature a star-studded list of notables, including Luke Bryan, Maren Morris, Travis Tritt, Jon Pardi, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Steep Canyon Rangers and many more.
If it’s anything like last year, Bentley himself will have as much fun—if not more—as those of us lucky enough to attend. Keeping with the low-key vibe he’s made a point of preserving here, he’ll cruise through the crowd on a golf cart, take selfies with fans, let loose on the beach, and get his groove on while watching each and every colleague jam out. Hopefully, he’ll continue the tradition of hopping on stage several times for surprise jam sessions—a real highlight of last year’s show.
Bentley, who’s been in the biz for more than 15 years, is no stranger to success: He has six number one country albums to his name, and has headlined arenas and festivals around the world. Up until 2018, however, he still hadn’t achieved one big dream: curating a festival of his own.
“This is a dream come true for me. It’s no secret that I love everything about Colorado…the fans, the venues we’ve played and of course, the landscape,” he says. “We are bringing it all together with this festival. It’s our own ‘field of dreams,’ where we are putting everything we have into it, with no details overlooked, in hopes it is the ultimate festival experience.”
On this note, Bentley urges everyone to take advantage of the outdoor opportunities available in the Arkansas Valley. The area’s world-class hiking, biking and rafting are essential to the Seven Peaks experience.
Last year, Bentley’s event captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike; fans traveled from 49 states and as far as Australia for the inaugural festival.
No one knows what will happen this year, but we’re pretty sure you should be there to see for yourself. Information and passes available at: sevenpeaksfestival.com.
INSIDER INFO
Our tips on how to maximize your time at theSeven Peaks festival
Pack Your Speedo: A pond with a sandy beach set within the campground buzzes with a fun festy vibe that makes it party central all weekend long.
Explore Beyond the Festival: Don’t just stay on the festival grounds: Raft a stretch of the Arkansas River, pedal a trail, climb a fourteener, enjoy a cold one next to the water. Organizers have partnered with local outfitters to offer specific adventures—rafting, ATVing and kayaking—designed to immerse visitors in the outdoors without missing a minute of music. sevenpeaksfestival.com/adventure
Whiskey Row: A makeshift version of Bentley’s gastropub chain, this smaller second stage fosters a rock-club vibe and provides a more intimate atmosphere for newer and local acts. Sit back and enjoy as you sip a drink. We recommend a cocktail made with spirits from Buena Vista’s own Deerhammer Distilling Company. deerhammer.com
No Wait for Women: The festival has twice as many Porta-potties for women as for men! Why doesn’t everyone do this?
