Editor's Note: This is CPR's 2023 summer music festival guide. You can find our 2024 guide here.
The original story continues below:
Colorado boasts summer music festivals for every musical taste, all across the state.
So if you want to find a concert under the stars, massive events featuring well-known performers, or more intimate gatherings in more intimate settings, the list includes a variety, some for free and some with affordable ticket prices.
Did we miss an event? Email the reporter at [email protected].
Colorado Dulcimer Festival in Littleton
May 4 - 6
This festival is returning in person this year. Workshops take place during the day, and concerts take place in the evenings on Friday and Saturday at Saint James Presbyterian Church, 3601 West Belleview Ave. It includes both the mountain dulcimer and the hammered dulcimer.
https://www.coloradodulcimerfestival.com/
The Levitt Pavilion Denver
May 6 - Sept. 29
The Levitt Pavilion Denver offers a summer concert series that is free and accessible to all ages. The series features major, emerging, local, and international artists from diverse genres and backgrounds.
levittdenver.org/free-concert-series
14th Annual MeadowGrass Music Festival in Colorado Springs
May 26 - 28
MeadowGrass Music Festival kicks off summer in the Pikes Peak region. Always held over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, this music festival attracts regional and international talent. The festival aims to bring world-class musicians to Pikes Peak in a family-friendly setting.
rockymountainhighway.org/index.php/information
34th Annual Boulder Creek Festival
May 26 - 29
Dead Phish Orchestra and The Zimmermans headline a free Friday night concert at the Glen Huntington Bandshell on May 26, and the following three days will feature live music from 30+ bands across 3 stages, a beer fest, artisans, local eats from 20+ vendors, a skate park activation, family-friendly activities, and more.
Bohemian Nights in Fort Collins
June 1 - Sept. 7, Thursdays 7-9 p.m.
This year's 15 weekly performances feature different Colorado and national music. New and established musicians perform live every Thursday from 7 - 9 p.m., Fort Collins' Old Town Square's outdoor stage will host the series. Free public performances.
The 2023 Greeley Blues Jam Music Festival
June 2 - 3
The Greeley Blues Jam promotes blues music education and community. Everyone can enjoy the Blues in the family-friendly atmosphere, food, drinks, merchandise, free parking, and camping and RV sites outside the Island Grove Arena.
Sundays at Six in Alamosa
June 2 - Aug. 27
The Alamosa Live Music Association's free summer performance series, dubbed Sundays at Six locally, has become synonymous with the summertime in the San Luis Valley. The event features a wide variety of music featuring all kinds of music, performed by everyone from the neighbor down the street to nationally recognized touring musicians.
Music Under the Mountains in Colorado Springs
June 2 - July 7, Fridays 5-7 p.m.
Every summer, the Promenade Shops at Briargate host a concert series called Music Under the Mountains. Beginning on Friday, June 2, and running through Friday, July 7 at Pikes Peak Patio, this series showcases the finest in up-and-coming local talent. From 5 to 7 p.m., revelers can relax in lawn chairs and enjoy the music, sunshine, tasty treats, and carnival games provided by a wide range of exhibitors.
https://www.thepromenadeshopsatbriargate.com/event/Music-Under-the-Mountains/2145572081/
Denver Day of Rock
June 3
This one-day music festival in Denver's LoDo District benefits Amp the Cause. Four stages of free live music and family-friendly entertainment while raising funds for Amp the Cause to assist local non-profits.
ampthecause.org/our-events/denver-day-of-rock
City Park Jazz in Denver
June 4 - Aug. 6
Each summer, City Park Jazz presents 10 free jazz performances in Denver's City Park. The three main musical genres are—jazz, blues, and salsa. The free concerts are staged at the City Park Pavilion.
cityparkjazz.org/2023-concert-calendar
Mountains of Music in Vail
June 8 - 10
The 2023 GoPro Mountain Games include incredible live shows throughout the event as part of the series. Mountain House Gear Town (Vail Village) and The Hangout (Golden Peak) will host free afternoon concerts from Thursday through Sunday.
summer.mountaingames.com/music
Apogaea in Trindad
June 8 - 11
Apogaea is registered as an official Burning Man Regional Event for Colorado. operating under the guidelines of Burning Man’s Ten Principles: Radical Inclusion, Gifting, De-Commodification, Radical Self-Reliance, Radical Self-Expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Leave No Trace, Participation, and Immediacy. Art, performance, sustainability, radical inclusion, and radical self-reliance
Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival in Palisade
June 9 - 11
The Palisade Bluegrass & Roots Festival, held at Riverbend Park along the Colorado River, features premier bluegrass acts and Colorado's rising stars for three days of festival vibes. Camping passes are available for festival attendees only.
Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass Festival in Pagosa Springs
June 9 - 11
Hosted by KSUT, the three-day event includes a main stage, a late-night stage, workshops, a kids' tent and Morning Yoga in the Ponderosa Pavilion. Children 12 and younger get free admission and camping when accompanied by an adult.
ksutpresents.org/folknbluegrass
The Five Points Jazz Festival in Denver
June 10
Celebrating 20 years, this free annual festival celebrates the history of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood. Five Points, once known as the Harlem of the West, was home to several jazz clubs that hosted jazz luminaries such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and many others!
artsandvenuesdenver.com/events-programs/five-points-jazz-festival
Telluride's 50th Annual Bluegrass Festival - SOLD OUT
June 15-18
The Telluride Bluegrass Festival is famous for its beauty and diversity of music. In 1974, the Fall Creek Boys launched the Telluride Bluegrass Festival after a successful 1973 Fourth of July celebration in Town Park. Tickets for the 50th Annual 2023 Festival are SOLD OUT!
https://bluegrass.com/telluride
Sonic Bloom 2023 in Hummingbird Ranch Rye
June 15 - 18
CloZee is set to headline the 16th annual Colorado-based summer solstice festival. The event offers immersive experiences, workshops, and performances. This year, more than one-third of the festival's lineup is made up of female producers and musicians.
Juneteenth Music Festival in Denver
June 16
The Juneteenth Music Festival draws 50,000 people to Denver and includes concerts, parades, a two-day street festival and more. Juneteenth commemorates the day Texas African Americans learned they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and, is celebrated nationwide. Denver City Council designated Juneteenth as a commemorative holiday in 2021.
Country Jam Colorado in Grand Junction
June 21 - 24
The three-day Country Jam festival takes place in the stunning red rock landscape of Colorado and features the music of more than twenty acts across two stages. Headliners include Blake Shelton and Jason Aldean.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival
June 22 - Aug. 3
Since its inception in 1987 as a modest chamber music series, Bravo! Vail has expanded to become a world-renowned music festival featuring dozens of concerts in venues across Eagle County and serving as a summer home to some of the world's finest musicians and orchestras.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass
June 22 - 25
Jazz Aspen Snowmass, a nonprofit, was founded in 1991. JAS presents and preserves jazz and associated music through world-class events, performances, and education.
jazzaspensnowmass.org/june-experience-2023
Grand County Blues Society Presents Blues From The Top in Winter Park
June 23 - 25
The Grand County Blues Society has promoted "The Blues" for 21 years by hosting live concerts by Blues musicians and educating the public about its history. Vendors selling everything from food to apparel to jewelry to artwork can be found at this fair. In addition, on Saturday and Sunday, the Keeping the Blues Alive Youth Stage will be located near the Vendor Village.
grandblues.org/bluesfromthetop
The Colorado Music Festival in Boulder
June 29 - Aug. 6
The six-week Colorado Music Festival summer performance season calls the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder home. This world-class festival orchestra under music director Peter Oundjian includes artists who represent 44 orchestras from 23 states, 4 provinces.
Elevation Music Festival in Alma
June 30 - July 2
World Music Development hosts the Elevation Music Festival in the highest incorporated town in North America at 10,578 ft. In Alma, Colorado, this 3-day boutique micro festival showcases jam, rock, techno, funk, reggae, and bluegrass acts!
Zeds Dead & Deadbeats 3rd Annual Backyard Jamboree in Denver
July 4
Celebrate Fourth of July in Denver's Civic Center Park. This year's event will feature three dynamic stages, lawn activities, food trucks, bouncy castles, and a glam station for the perfect festival appearance. Win great rewards in the 3-legged race, dunk tank, or donut on a string challenge! Plus, it is the third annual Deadbeats Hot Dog eating contest.
artscomplex.com/events/detail/zeds-dead-4
The One Sweet Summer Concert Series in Loveland
July - August
The annual One Sweet Summer event series is held in The Foundry Plaza and designed with the goal of bringing both local residents and tourists downtown. Free concerts on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., July 5 through August 23. Connect with local artisans, let the kids get creative with free art activities, and try out some tasty treats from downtown vendors and craft breweries, all while listening to live music.
https://downtownloveland.org/onesweetsummer
High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival in Westcliffe
July 6 - 9
At the yearly High Mountain Hay Fever Bluegrass Festival, bluegrass music can be heard throughout the Wet Mountain Valley in the Rocky Mountains, near Westcliffe at Bluff and Summit Park.
https://highmountainhayfever.org/
Loveland Summer Concert Series
July 6 - 27
This classic summer event is put on by the Rialto Theater and held at the Foote Lagoon Amphitheater in Loveland every Thursday in the month of July. It is free and open to the public. The shows begin at 7 p.m., and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
https://www.rialtotheatercenter.org/loveland-summer-concerts/
Sounds of Centerra in Loveland
July 7 - 28
Each Friday in July, listen to live music at Chapungu Sculpture Park as part of the 15th annual Sounds of Centerra concert series. The Chapungu Great Lawn hosts free concerts nightly from 7 to 9 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the pre-show will begin. The pre-show on Great Lawn will be kicked off by Larimer Humane Society and Big Bones Canine Rescue. Bring along a comfy blanket or camping chair.
https://www.centerra.com/event/sounds-of-centerra-wirewood-station/
Orchard Town Center’s Summer Concert Series in Westminster
July 8 - Aug. 26
Every Saturday night this summer The Orchard Town Center hosts a free concert series from 6 to 8 p.m.
SnowyGrass in Estes Park
July 14 - 16
Since 2016, this riverside music festival has filled the mountain air with Bluegrass and Americana string bands. New for this year, SnowyGrass is relocating to Stanley Park, lakeside with mountain views.
Global Dance Festival in Denver
July 21 - 22
Celebrating 20 years the Global Dance Festival returns to Empower Field at Mile High with an all-star lineup of electronic music across multiple stages. The festival includes delicious food and treats, and immersive art installations.
Denver Underground Music Showcase
July 28 – 30
Colorado and Denver's music industry is booming, and the Underground Music Showcase is Denver's annual extravaganza. Find the next Billboard-topping band in any intimate jam session space.
RockyGrass in Lyons
July 28 - 30
RockyGrass, which is celebrating its 51st anniversary, is regarded as one of the top traditional bluegrass festivals in the nation. It takes place at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colorado, near the picturesque St. Vrain River and features wooded banks.
Rhythms On The Rio in Del Norte
Aug. 4 - 6
The South Fork Music Association, which hosts Rhythms on the Rio, is a non-profit volunteer organization that gives away instruments and teaches kids in the San Luis Valley how to play them for free. Headliners include the GRAMMY Award-winning quinte, The Infamous Stringdusters, and the five-piece funk group The Motet, a blend of funk, soul, jazz, and rock.
Beanstalk Music Festival in Bond
Aug. 10 - 12
Hosted by Colorado’s own Magic Beans, the festival showcases local and some of the best touring acts and musicians in the jam scene. The site at Rancho Del Rio features the breathtaking scenery of the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado River.
Telluride Jazz Festival in Telluride
Aug. 11 - 13
Established in 1977, the Telluride Jazz Festival is an annual celebration of the cultural tradition, modern styles, and cutting-edge progression of American Jazz.
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons
Aug. 11 - 13
For over thirty years, the Rocky Mountain Folks, also known as the "Summit on the Song," has welcomed songwriters from all genres to the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons, Colorado for three days of music, camping, and inspiration.
Block Party Eagle
Aug. 11-13
The Block Party is a three-day music event in Downtown Eagle with live music on multiple stages, local food trucks, and craft vendors.
Alpenglow Chamber Music Festival in Silverthorne
Aug. 19 - 26
The yearly festival showcases the talents of regionally and globally renowned musicians in chamber music concerts while also fostering a love for the art form through outreach, education, and audience growth.
Mountain Town Music Festival in Keystone
Aug. 19
Big bands and the Salida Circus round out the summer festival season in Keystone, providing loads of fun for the whole family. A festival honoring Colorado culture and history. Expect Rocky Ford melons, Olathe sweet corn, elk, and free outdoor concerts.
https://www.keystonefestivals.com/festivals/mountain-town-music-festival
Jazz Aspen Snowmass
Sept. 1 - 3
This year marks the 32nd season for Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS), a non-profit organization that was founded in 1991. JAS's many events, performances, and educational initiatives aim to promote and conserve jazz and kindred musical styles for future generations.
Seven Peaks Music Festival in Villa Grove
Sept. 2 - 4
Some of the biggest names in country music are about to perform at the stunning Colorado mountains as part of the Seven Peaks festival. From the producers of significant country music events like Tortuga, Watershed, and Faster Horses and Dierks Bentley.
