As the verdure of early summer unfurls across the Boulder foothills, notes of classical music, bluegrass, jazz and every genre imaginable can be heard floating out from Pearl Street patios and across Chautauqua Green, where locals gather sur l'herbe for everything from classical acts to children's tunes. Here's where you can catch some of the region's best music for yourself this summer:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
These new and limited-run events are worth a spot on your agenda:
To kick off summer, Arts In the Park begins June 1 and runs through August 31. Stop by the Glen Huntington Bandshell on July 4, August 3, or August 24 to hear the Boulder Symphony, Boulder Opera, and Boulder Philharmonic, respectively. BoulderColorado.gov/Arts-Park
Beginning June 3 and running most Mondays through July 8 (with a final event on Saturday, July 20) Boulder’s beloved musicians and educators Jeff and Paige put on Meadow Music, where Boulder families can enjoy children’s music and nature education on Chautauqua's lawn. This year marks the 20th anniversary and they will be hosting an 'Alumni Meadow Music' on July 8th. JeffandPaige.com
Attend the first-ever Flatiron Sounds Music Festival on Sunday, June 16 at Chautauqua Park to hear acts like Clay Street Unit, Two Runner, Jake Leg, King Cardinal and Alexa Wildish kick off this annual free event. Chautauqua.com
From July 5 to August 4 you can catch world-class classical music at Chautauqua Auditorium during the Colorado Music Festival summer concert season. In just one month, you can hear musicians representing 44 orchestras from 23 states, four provinces, and three countries. ColoradoMusicFestival.org
MAKE A TRIP OF IT
Hit the road to hear live music in one of these rarefied destinations:
Drive 30 minutes into the hills west of town to listen to live music in a 100-plus-year-old log cabin at the Gold Hill Inn, or depending on the night, out in its sprawling backyard beer garden. Head up the road to the Gold Hill Store & Pub for more tunes and a post-show snack. GoldHillInn.com, GoldHillStore.com
Take US-36 45 minutes northwest to the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons, August 9-11 to see names like Brittany Howard, The Watson Twins and Bonny Light Horseman, among others. Bluegrass.com/Folks
On August 9, if you head one hour south, you can catch Boulder-based musician Trevor Hall in concert with the Colorado Symphony and Valerie June at Colorado’s iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater, a summertime must. RedRocksOnline.com
An hour and a half north, The Mishawaka offers the chance to catch a variety of acts, like Old Crow Medicine Show or MOE., along the banks of the Cache la Poudre River. TheMishawaka.com
Pack an overnight bag and make a road trip out of the four-hour drive to Marble, where MarbleFest offers the chance to hear the music of the mountain town's locals on August 6 and 7. Aside from great tunes and stunning views, you can also expect food trucks, a kids’ carnival and art vendors—all in a woodsy setting. Instagram.com/MarbleFestCO
Finally, end summer by heading six hours west to the Moab Music Festival, which offers two weeks of chamber, jazz and Latin music performances in one-of-a-kind desert settings, like canyons, farms and even aboard an open-air river boat. MoabMusicFest.org
MAKE IT A ROUTINE
Finally, an abundance of venues, from concert halls and recording studios to breweries and bars, make it easy to catch live music almost any night of the week, with no planning required:
Pop into Beyond the Mountain Brewing in Gunbarrel for an open bluegrass pick every Wednesday hosted by members of the Sweet Lillies, or take a stroll on Pearl Street to catch Bands On the Bricks every Wednesday evening. Later in the week, Mountain Sun Pub plays host to a rousing show every Friday. And be sure to check the calendars of venues like Stone Cottage Studios, eTown Hall, The Velvet Elk and more to see what’s new in Boulder’s ever-growing music scene.