If you are looking for another reason to love Summit County in the summer, this is it. Free live music all summer long! You can grab a bite to eat or happy hour so many places where someone will be playing great music. In addition to that, outdoor venues around the county offer free concerts. The summer schedule is out. It’s time to make your summer plans and catch some free performances by great musicians.
Silverthorne’s First Fridays
The first Friday of every month Silverthorne throws a party. Most include free music.
- June 7: Free live music at Rainbow Park form 5:30-8:30 PM
- July 5: Concert from 6-9 PM at Rainbow Park with Blitzen Trapper
- August 2: Block Party at Fourth Street Crossing with live local musicians from 4:30-8:30 PM
- September 6: Neal Francis concert opened by Hobo Village from 5:30-9:30 PM
Free Live Music in River Run
The Keystone Concert Series is every Friday starting June 14th from 4-6 PM.
- June 14: Jen Mack
- June 21: El Paso Lasso
- June 28: Moonbeem
- July 5: The Newarkansans
- July 12: Brendan O’Hara
- July 19: Raez
- July 26: The People’s Key
- August 2: Shaky Hand String Band
- August 9: Mike Woodard
- August 16: Andy Stratton
- August 23: Itsmurf
- August 30: CB3
Dillon Amphitheater Mountain Music Mondays
Come enjoy free music on the shore of Lake Dillon every Monday evening at 6:30. Concerts begin June 17th with Lulada Club.
- June 17: Lulada Club
- June 24: Rebirth Brass Band
- July 1: NRO
- July 4 (not a Monday, but still free): The US Airforce Academy Band
- July 6 (not a Monday, but a bonus free Saturday show): PG6IX
- July 8: The Travelling McCourys
- July 15: Spafford
- July 22: Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
- July 29: moe.
- August 5: ALO
- August 12: Couch
- August 19: Moontricks
- August 26: Circles Around the Sun
- September 2: Locals Night. Blue River Grass and Shakey Hand String Band play to benefit a local non-profit
- September 9: Honey Island Swamp Band
- September 16: Badfish
Here’s the link for more info about the venue or bands. There are also many more pay concerts now at the Dillon Amp.
Frisco’s Concert in the Park on Thursdays
Frisco closes down a couple blocks of Main Street and puts on a concert at the gazebo in Historic Park every Thursday night from 5:30 to 7:30. Beer sales on site benefit a different local, non-profit each week.
- June:13: Coral Creek
- June 20: Santa Rio
- June 27: The Coffis Brothers
- July 11: Roundhouse Assembly
- July 18: Earl Nelson & The Company
- July 25: Easy Honey
- August 1: Doc Robinson
- August 8: Nik Parr & the Selfless Lovers
- August 15: Horizon Line
- August 22: Kevin Daniel & the Bottom Line
- August 29: Last Call Romance
Many of the businesses stay open late for the event so you can shop local businesses, grab a drink for a good cause, hear some great music and get a bite to eat afterwards. This is a fun annual event in Frisco.
July 4th Concerts
Along with parades, fishing, food and more, there is free live music to celebrate the holiday.
- NRO at Rainbow Park 10 AM – Noon
- Copper has the Red, White, Brews & Tunes with a July 4th performance by Donovan Frankenreiter. The opening act starts at 3:30 PM
- Frisco at 1st & Main the North Mississippi Allstars will play beginning at 5:30
- US Airforce Academy Band at the Dillon Amphitheater 6:30-9:30 PM
The National Repertory Orchestra (NRO)
- The Porch Series: 229 S Main Street in Breck from 1:30-2:30PM on June 24, July 8, July 22, and August 5.
- June 26: Family and Kids Concert 10:30 AM-12:30 PM at the Riverwalk Center
- Music in the Mountains: At Blue River Plaza in Breckenridge 1:30-2:30 PM on June 27, July 1, July 2, and August 8. July 2nd the NRO will be travelling to multiple places throughout Breckenridge between 11 AM – 7:30 PM
- July 1: NRO on the Lake at the Dillon Amphitheater
- Fourth of July Spectacular at Rainbow Park in Silverthorne from 10 AM to Noon.
- July 17: Pop Up Concert at the gazebo in Historic Park in Frisco from 1-2 PM
- July 17: Chamber Concert at the Riverwalk Center in Breckenridge from 6-8 PM
In addition to these free events, the NRO has many open rehearsals the public can attend at no charge.
AirStage Après
The AirStage is an AirStream trailer converted to a mobile stage. Free concerts are scheduled for several Thursdays from 4-7 PM in the Arts District in Breckenridge. Dates are June 27, July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8, August 15, August 22. It could be popping up in other locations so keep an eye out.
Copper Live Starts July 13th
Free concerts in Center Village at Copper Mountain.
- July 13: Theoretical Blonde 2-3:30 PM
- July 27: Northwoods Band 3:30-5 PM
- August 17: The Borroughs 3:30-5 PM
- August 24: HomeSlice 3:30-5 PM
Festivals
Just about every holiday has a festival & some random weekends thrown in throughout the summer. These include free live music.
- June 6th: Rock the Dock will feature free live music from Vincent Antone and Sunsquabi from 4:00 – 8:00 PM.
- June 22-23: Keystone Bacon & Bourbon Festival in River Run has live music all day on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday’s lineup includes CB3, Jeff Kingery, Hunter Stone Band, Tribal Dantz, and Strutter. Sunday’s lineup is O’Connor Brothers Band, Brendan McKinney Duo, Those Crazy Nights, Motley 2, Those Consequence Men, and Hell’s Belles.
- June 29: Stars & Guitars Festival at River Run in Keystone. Earl Nelson & the Company opens at 1:30 for The Rocky Mountain Grateful Dead Revue that will play until 5 PM
- July 4-6: Red, White, Brews and Tunes at Copper Mountain. July 4th free performance by Donovan Frankenreiter. July 5th has performances by Brittney Spencer and Acoustic Glow. July 6th features Grace Potter. Performances begin at 2:30 on Thursday and Friday and at 3:30 on Saturday.
- July 13-14: Keystone Wine & Jazz Festival in River Run. Saturday you can see Aidan Gould Jazz Trio, Rented Tuxedo (Duo), Louisa and Tom Amend, Espresso!, Laurie Michelle’s Jasper Silver Band, Dylan Teifer (Duo), Shanaynay, and Dotsero. Sunday you’ll enjoy LATrio, Diamond Edwards Duo, David Musante (Duo), Zizania, Royal Street Ramblers, Camilla Vaitaitis, James Speiser, and Dotsero.
- July 27: Breckenridge Food & Wine Festival will have free live music. DJ Murkem and Spinphony will both be playing. One at the Village Plaza stage, the other on the Main Street Station Stage between 2-6 PM.
- August 3-4: Keystone Bluegrass & Beer Festival in River Run. Saturday lineup is The Old Fashioned String Band, Magoo, Windy Pines, Begley Moss & Murphy, Them Coulee Boys, Liver Down the River, and Pert Near Sandstone. Sunday’s free performances include Elle Michelle’s Grateful Holler, The Home Brood Band, Moonstone Quill, Jake Leg, Armchair Boogie, Clay Street Unit, and Shadowgrass.
- August 10: Copper Country Music Fest Bands have not been determined at the time of this blog so check the link.
- August 17: Mountain Town Music Fest in Keystone. The Freddy Jones Band followed by The Runaway Grooms play.
- August 31: Oktoberfest in River Run in Keystone. The Summit Concert Band plays from 1-2 PM followed by Those Austrian Guys on the Main Stage.
- September 6 – 7: Fall Fest in Frisco features Zach Day on Friday from 2-5 PM and Andrew McConathy and Conal Rosanbalm on Saturday at the Historic Park gazebo from 12-5 PM
- September 6 – 7: Union Peak Fest at Copper Mountain. The lineup has not been released at the time of this blog so check the link.
- September 13-15: Breckenridge Oktoberfest in Riverwalk. Polkanauts plays on Friday. Saturday lineup includes Polkanauts, Neue Polka, Summit Concert Band, Beau Thomas Band, and Those Austrian Guys. On Sunday, Polka Folks, DJ DC, Summit Concert Band and Those Austrian Guys are performing.
Restaurants and Bars
Many restaurants and bars have free live music. Some spots include The Pad, Angry James, Highside Brewery, Syndicate Brewing, Rocky Mountain Underground (RMU), Motherloaded Tavern, The Goat, The Gold Pan, Whiskey Star, Saved by the Wine, the Tiki Bar and so many more.
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