Colorado festival lineups get ever more eclectic

By the Thirst Team

Nobody can pigeonhole the sound of Colorado, which has exported the classic rock of Firefall, the EDM of Pretty Lights, the alternative hip-hop of the Flobots, the pop-rock of the Fray and the jams of String Cheese Incident, among countless others.

There is no defined Colorado musical genre. Our tastes and interests range widely, and our music festival lineups are as eclectic as our streaming playlists.

We have a symphony that performs with rappers, pop bands and country singers; bluegrass festivals with bands that have never touched a banjo; and jazz fests with lineups that might make Branford Marsalis scratch his head.

It’s fun to see musical genre lines blurring so much, and exciting to know that our homegrown bands and festivals are responsible for a lot of the mixing. Here are the Colorado music festivals coming this spring and summer, with an emphasis on the eclectic lineups.

MAY

Meadowgrass Music Festival

May 24-26, Black Forest
“Grass” in this context seemingly refers to the lawn, not the genre. This year’s headliners are Americana roots band The Steel Wheels, folk rockers Blitzen Trapper and singer-songwriter John Craigie.

SpringFree Bluegrass Festival

May 24-26, Vail
This free festival is only slightly more bluegrass-y than the Black Forest event on the same Memorial Day weekend. Nashville’s Infamous Stringdusters headline, but the lineup also includes soulful funkster Robert Randolph and mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull, as well as the Rock and Roll Playhouse for the kids.

GoldenGrass

May 30-June 2, Golden

Greeley Blues Jam

May 31-June 1, Greeley

JUNE

Outside Festival

June 1-2, Denver
Thundercat is a genre-defying and Grammy-winning bassist who has collaborated with virtually everyone in the rap, soul and R&B worlds and beyond. In between a mostly sold-out European tour and a Bonnaroo set, Thundercat will headline Denver’s biggest new festival. Also, as part of the festivities, Outside magazine will roll out a line up of films and guest speakers to go along with an outdoor gear expo, wellness events and concerts at Civic Center Park. The other headliners are Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird and Lettuce.

Mountains of Music

June 6-9, Vail
The GoPro Mountain Games bring cycling, kayaking, disc golf and much more to Vail in June. The events are accompanied by free daytime concerts from many of Colorado’s best musicians, including Bill McKay, Daniel Rodriguez, Rapidgrass and Mama Magnolia. Ticketed evening concerts bring in major national acts, including Dispatch, Xavier Rudd, Lotus and Mike Love.

Regenerate Festival

June 7-8, Denver

Palisade Bluegrass and Roots Festival

June 14-16, Palisade
Progressive bluegrass and Americana band Railroad Earth headline the Saturday show, which also includes a tribute to Earl Scruggs. But, as the name suggests, there is also roots music and other genres in the lineup. Mipso brings the harmonies of a string quartet to various styles during a Sunday headlining set. Other acts include the Last Revel, Good Morning Bedlam, Mild Goose Chase and the Fretliners.

Parker McCollum plays the Country Jam Colorado in June | Photo provided

Juneteenth Music Festival

June 15-16, Denver

Country Jam Colorado

June 20-22, Grand Junction

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

June 20-23, Telluride

JAS June Experience

June 20-23, Aspen
Swing with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, funk with the New Mastersounds (who are celebrating their 25th anniversary), and have a gospel brunch with the Blind Boys of Alabama. All this happens in one weekend in June in downtown Aspen. JAS stands for Jazz Aspen Snowmass, and there is some jazz on the menu from the Headhunters (on their 50th anniversary tour), but many other genres also are represented.

Bravo! Vail Music Festival

June 20 to August 1, Vail
The venues around Vail for this event are as diverse as the music. They include world-class symphony and world music performances at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater; chamber music, Broadway tunes and more in private residences and other intimate venues; and even children’s events at the library.

Aspen Music Festival and School

June 26-Aug 18, Aspen

Blues From The Top Festival

June 28-30, Winter Park

Yarmony Music Festival

June 28-29, Bond
It’s hard to find a festival that feels more “Colorado” than Yarmony, coming to Rancho Del Rio, which is tucked into a canyon on the Colorado River north of Vail. It is as much about the music as the rafting, floating and fishing. At press time, tickets were nearly sold out for the festival, which spotlights Lindsay Lou, Drunken Hearts, the Fretliners and more.

JULY

Colorado Music Festival

July 5 to August 4, Boulder
The Chautauqua Auditorium hosts the Colorado Music Festival, which brings beloved works from Mozart, Mahler and more. The lineup also features innovative new performers and composers, including sisters and piano duo Christina and Michelle Naughton, and Boulder’s Grammy-winning Takács Quartet performing a world debut concerto by Gabriela Lena Frank.

Yampa River Reggae Festival

July 20, Craig

Rockygrass Festival

July 26- 28, Lyons