Sure, our local music venues are great and all, but a few of our other mountain town neighbors also have outdoor concert halls that are worth visiting for when you want to get out of dodge. Behold, a snapshot of a handful of our faves:
Gerald Ford Amphitheater (Vail) – www.grfavail.com
This outdoor venue gets surprisingly good bands, with this year’s lineup including Michael Franti, Steel Pulse, Wilco, the Black Crowes and more. To get there, most concert-goers walk from the parking center downtown along Gore Creek, whose sound keeps time with the music.
Pros:
Not a bad seat in the house with awesome-sauce amphitheater seating; great acoustics; pretty cool architecture; “mule” cocktails of all types; grassy hill where you can spread out blankets; late-night pizza slices at Vendettas.
Cons:
Tickets can be a tad pricey; attendants keep you from loitering in the aisles; hard to work your way up to front row.
Nearby outdoor action:
Kayak Gore Creek and/or Dowd Chutes; bike path from Avon up to Vail Pass; steep mountain bike trails on mountain; hiking galore in Gore Range.
Jazz Aspen Snowmass (Snowmass) – www.jazzaspensnowmass.org
Held every September, this annual right of passage for Aspen-area locals is filled with acts a step up from those laying down licks in Routt County – which is only fitting for a place that has parking attendants for Lear jets. Hint: work your way up the far-right side to get close to the stage.
Pros:
One of the best music line-ups in the Rockies; views of the Elk Range (and Capitol Peak); a VIP area to die for (especially when you see the price tag); complete spectrum of people watching.
Cons:
More crowds than you might be used to; VIP zone takes up a third of the space; usually must shuttle up from the Intercept Lot.
Nearby outdoor action:
Paddle the Shoshone section of the Colorado on the way by (or surf the Glenwood Wave downtown). Staying in Snowmass? Ride their mountain bike trails, including a quickie near the Two Owl Lift filled with “line” names: Lowline to Viewline to Deadline to Highline.
Lake Dillon Amphitheater (Dillon) – www.dillonamp.com
Offering some of the best concert views in the state with vistas of Lake Dillion and the snow-capped peaks of the Tenmile Range right from your seats, the Lake Dillon Amphitheater is Steamboat’s go-to, alternate, outside concert venue. This year’s line-up includes the likes of Alison Krauss, Train, Yesterday – The Beatles Tribute and more.
Pros:
What’s not to like…you’re on a lake; a true outdoorsy concert setting feeling; you can even take in the show by listening from a boat on the lake!
Cons:
Parking’s a bit of a pain (hint: bring a bike); evening shows can be a bit chilly; you still have that long drive home over Rabbit Ears unless you can find a place to stay or camp along the way.
Nearby outdoor action:
Paddle and/or fish Lake Dillon, Green Mountain Reservoir, or the gold-medal Blue River; bag Silver Couloir on Buffalo Mountain (if you can get up early enough and there’s still enough snow); bike paths all over; skiing A-Basin if it’s been a big year.
