Psst… Colorado Summer Music Festivals 2016

With the Colorado summer peaking over the horizon, I find myself constantly day dreaming of the adventures that are sure to abound in the coming months. If you are anything like me, you plan on packing your summer full of as much music as possible! No matter what genre you like to jam to, Colorado’s music scene caters to all tastes. With all of the fun music festivals happening around Colorado this summer, there is sure to be a little something for everyone.

Colorado Summer Music Festivals 2016

Greeley Blues Jam

Where: Island Grove Arena, Greeley
When: June 10th – 11th, 2016

The Greeley Blues Jam is a family oriented atmosphere where everyone can expect to enjoy a wonderful Blues experience! The Blues 101 Stage gives kids of all ages the opportunity to learn about the music which is the foundation for most of our pop music, and to see some of the most talented young blues performers from Colorado and around the country. Be sure to catch the Friday pre-festival activities in Historic Downtown Greeley. Expect great food and drink, merchandise vendors and music that will put a smile on your face and get your feet moving!

LOHI Music Festival

Where: Lower Highlands Neighborhood, Denver
When: June 11th, 2016

The LOHI Music Festival is an outdoor urban music and arts street festival in the heart of LoHi in Denver. The festival will feature this year musicians such as Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, ALO, Poor Man’s Whiskey and more. This fun festival also includes a special after-party at Cervantes Master Ballroom.

Sonic Bloom

Where: Hummingbird Ranch, Spanish Peaks
When: June 16th – 19th, 2016

Sonic Bloom is an inspiring showcase of the best of Colorado’s vibrant live and electronic music scene, and is at the forefront of the trans-formative festival movement. It’s an annual electronic dance music festival held over the Summer Solstice and offers an array of daily classes and activities to educate people of all ages, packed with diverse speakers and workshops to enhance the creative and physical well-being of festival goers. Yoga, meditation, science, dance, massage, art, performance, and sound healing to expand the experience and practices of the participants.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Where: Telluride, Colorado
When: June 16th  – 19th, 2016

Every June, festival goers and musicians make the pilgrimage to the historic town of Telluride for the Telluride Bluegrass Festival. With music on the main stage all day, intimate workshops on the Elks Park stage in the middle of town, prestigious band and songwriting contests, late-night Nightgrass concerts at every indoor venue in town, and jam sessions throughout the night in condos and around campgrounds, this is a week of uncommon musical riches.

Bands In the Backyard

Where: Vineland, Pueblo
When: June 17th – 18th, 2016

Grab your cowboy hat and a pair of beat up boots and head on over to the Bands in the Backyard country music and southern rock concert in Pueblo, Colorado. This two-day celebration of the country lifestyle features some of the biggest names and buzz-worthy newcomer acts on the radio today playing extended sets. A few other perks include on-site camping, meet and greets, and flame grilled foods!

The Divide Music Festival 

Where: Fraser
When: June 22nd – 24th, 2016

The Divide Music Festival is a three-day festival in Fraser that features national acts like Kid Cudi, Edwarde Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The Fray, Cake, Passion Pit, Saint Motel and more, along with the best of Colorado’s local music scene. Throw in Colorado best and brightest craft beers, local food artisans and some crafters and you’ve got yourself a party. Relax while camping under the stars with the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide as the backdrop.

JAS June Experience

Where: Benedict Music Tent, Aspen
When: June 24th – 26th, 2016 and July 2nd, 2016

The JAS June Experience, includes four nights of headline concerts from world-class musicians at the Benedict Music Tent, an expanded JAS Cafe Downstairs at the Nell Series, and a free Nightly Lawn Party on the Music Festival Grounds with food vendors, bars, and two live music stages. Head out to Aspen and enjoy the fun!

Westword Music Showcase

Where: The Golden Triangle, Downtown Denver
When: June 25th, 2016

The 22nd annual Westword Music Showcase will be bigger and better than ever! With national headliners including DJ and producer Dillon Francis, soulful indie-rock band Cold War Kids, amped-up indie-pop duo Matt and Kim, Danish rockers New Politics, L.A. noise band HEALTH, indie electro-punks Brick + Mortar, Black Pistol Fire, Chef’ Special, Hometown for the Holidays winner, 888, and over 100 more of the best bands and artists from Denver and beyond. The bands will perform at more than a dozen venues throughout the Golden Triangle, including two main stages.

The Ride Festival

Where: Telluride, Colorado
When: July 9th – 10th, 2016

Since its debut in 2012, The Ride Festival has quickly garnered a reputation among music fans for its thoughtful performance curation – handpicking rootsy, rocking talent whose music flawlessly compliments the festival’s stunning Telluride, Colorado setting. In addition to
 stellar live music, The Ride Festival’s close proximity to the many outdoor activities that Telluride and Southern Colorado have to offer help make this 
festival a unique destination event.

Underground Music Showcase

Where: All Across Denver
When: July 28th – 31st, 2016

2016 marks the 16th anniversary of  the Underground Music Showcase, the biggest independent music festival in the Rocky Mountain region and the premier showcase for Denver’s incredible local music scene! This yearly celebration of music has always been at the forefront of Colorado’s burgeoning local music community. The 2016’s edition will feature over 400 local and national performances, across 4 days, in an eclectic mix of venues!

Bass Center

Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
When: July 29th – 30th, 2016

Originally designed to be special regional gatherings, the Bass Center events have become a traveling circus. Bass Center 2016 returns to Colorado where it all began with the most intense lineup ever assembled, featuring Flux Pavilion, Wu-Tang Clan, Flying Lotus, Porter Robinson, Lupe Fiasco, Alunageorge, Minnesota, G Jones, Dabin & Thriftworks, plus each night will feature an extended Bassnectar set.

Vans Warped Tour

Where: Pepsi Center Arena Lot, Denver
When: July 31st, 2016

The Vans Warped Tour is a traveling rock festival that has toured the United States (including 3 or 4 stops in Canada) annually each summer since 1995. It is the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and the longest-running touring music festival in North America. The festival has been attributed to bringing unknown artists like Blink-182, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, MGK, Katy Perry, and Yelawolf to the spotlight.

Arise

Where: Sunrise Ranch, Loveland
When: August 5th – 7th, 2016

The Arise Music Festival features 3 days of music, yoga, workshops, and co-creative experiences of all kinds. Surrounded by national forest, the festival takes place in an oasis in the heart of Colorado’s legendary front range. Featuring sweeping vistas and beautiful meadows, this magical and secluded landscape is a perfect container for participants to entertain and be entertained, be inspired, explore their creative potentials, connect with nature, stretch out, dive in, and get down.

Vertex

Where: Cottonwood Meadows, Buena Vista
When: August 5th – 7th, 2016

Vertex is born as an intersection of inspiration, and as a celebration – of live music, of festival culture, of Colorado’s breathtaking natural beauty, and of the self-expression and pioneering spirit that each of these awaken. The venue is nestled in sprawling range-land at the foot of the Continental Divide and surrounded by the year-round snowcapped 14,000-foot Collegiate Peaks. At its core, Vertex merges the best of worlds to create a present-day frontier where anything is possible. Diverse music, exhilarating outdoor adventures, and artful fun and games bring people together for an enduring shared experience.

Riot Fest

Where: National Western Complex, Denver
When: September 2nd – 4th, 2016

Riot Fest is a multi-day independent music festival that specializes in punk, rock, alternative, metal, and hip-hop. Every year the lineup announcements create a big buzz in the music industry and this year is no different. The “will he” or “won’t he” online talkbacks regarding the possibility of Morrissey performing are already under way but some headliners are already confirmed. Expect performances by the likes of Ween, Death Cab for Cutie, NAS, Jane’s Addiction and many more. Music isn’t the only entertainment, there will also be carnival rides, food vendors, sideshow performers, and more!

Telluride Blues & Brews

Where: Town Park, Telluride
When: September 16th – 18th, 2016

Telluride Blues & Brews is a three-day festival of live music and microbrews, held at Telluride Town Park.  The festival offers an eclectic mix of live blues, funk, jam band, rock, gospel and soul performances along with the opportunity to taste brews by some of the best microbreweries in the country. There will also be a wide variety of food and craft vendors, children’s activities, late night shows, and much more.