Sounds of summer in the Colorado Rockies include the swish of flyfishing rods being cast, crunch of mountain bike tires turning on the trails, clomp of horse’s hooves on a trail ride, and music drifting from the numerous concert venues around Breckenridge, Steamboat and the Vail Valley.
Forego the big indoor concert venues in the city and head to the mountains. Pack a picnic and blanket, spread out under the starry summer nights, breathe in the crisp clean air and enjoy everything from jazz to bluegrass, reggae to classical.
Here's our guide to enjoying live music this summer in the Colorado Rockies:
Amp Summer Concerts is a summer-long music series that brings big acts and a wide range of genres including rock, pop, country, bluegrass, comedy, and more to The Amp stage in Vail. Trey Anastasio kicks off the summer season on June 3. Other artists include Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Alison Krauss & Union Station, and Cole Swindell with Zach John King.
Bravo! Vail Music Festival hosts some of the greatest orchestras, musicians, and acclaimed soloists throughout the summer. Come watch these masters perform in a breathtaking mountain setting at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. The Academy of St Martin in the Fields opens the festival's 39th season on June 25.
Amplify your summer and experience free live music at its purest high in the mountains on the Beaver Creek Village stage every Thursday from June 18 - September, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Enjoy delicious food from Beaver Creek Village's best restaurants while picnicking out on the covered ice rink in the village. The 2026 lineup includes the Young Dubliners, The Drifters, and BoDeans.
Avon's Concerts in the Park series at Nottingham Park offers four exceptional evenings of live music. This Wednesday evening music series provides an opportunity to come together and experience music, fresh and unique foods from food trucks and enjoy a summer evening outside.
The latest addition to the music venues in Breckenridge is a reborn classic. Breck Create has taken a classic 1975 Airstream trailer and modified it with a pop-out stage that is perfect for mid-summer jam sessions in the Breckenridge Arts District. Enjoy free concerts every Thursday evening from June 11 - September 24. Bring a picnic blanket, grab dinner to go, and let the kids play on the lawn.
Surrounded by the stunning peaks of the Ten Mile and Gore Ranges and overlooking Lake Dillon, is the Dillon Amphitheater, an open-air venue that offers a diverse range of concerts throughout the entire summer. The 2026 season includes the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Black Uhuru, The Crane Wives, and Trampled by Turtles & Leftover Salmon. In addition to the ticketed shows, enjoy Mountain Music Mondays every week. The free concert series features Grammy-winning singer-songwriters, classical orchestras, folk rock, jam bands and world music.
Strings Music Festival features classical musicians from the nation's top orchestras and chart-topping popular contemporary artists. All performing in an an intimate pavilion. The summer 2026 concert lineup includes The Wallflowers on their 30th anniversary tour for Bringing Down the Horse, the Robert Cray Band, Fitz and the Tantrums, and Herbie Hancock. On the evenings of the classical concerts, there are twilight yoga concerts in the park outside the pavilion where you can hear the concert.
One of Steamboat's signature family events of the summer, everyone flocks to the base of Howelsen Hill in town for 5 free concerts throughout the summer. The series features nationally recognized artists across genres including reggae, bluegrass, rock, and funk. Lettuce kicks off the summer season on June 19. The concerts run through September 6, ending with the End of the Summer Jam with Anders Osborne. Read the full lineup here.
