The Best Music Festivals in Colorado This Summer

While there's no shortage of live music in Colorado any time of year, summer festivals hit all the right notes. From city-based outdoor concert series such as City Park Jazz and festivals like the Underground Music Showcase, which announced this year will be its last, to multi-genre camping jamborees in the Rockies, a variety of sounds abound.

There are several brand-new festivals in Colorado this year, too, including the Up in the Sky Music Festival in Aspen, with headliners Glass Animals, Kasey Musgraves and more, and Camp Alderwild in Telluride, an EDM camping affair hosted by popular organic-bass producer Of the Trees. And you can't forget King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard's Field of Vision, which will debut at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista from August 15 to 17.

Whether you're at a fest in the city or the mountains, remember to bring extra baby wipes, test your party favors, avoid the wook flu and leave no trace. Keep reading for all the best fests in Denver and throughout the state this year.

City Park Jazz
Every Sunday, 6 to 8 p.m., June 1 through August 3
City Park
Since 1986, City Park Jazz has hosted ten free concerts each summer — a gift of free live music that's become a beloved annual tradition. Bring your lawn chairs, picnics and friends and family, and gather around the City Park pavilion to listen to jazz, blues, salsa and more from some of the city's best musicians. This year's lineup includes Best of Denver award winner Dzirae Gold, ATOMGA and more. Visit cityparkjazz.org for the full lineup.

Outside Festival
Saturday, May 31, to Sunday, June 1
Civic Center Park
Now in its second year, Outside Festival is returning to Civic Center Park for two days of outdoor-rec industry fun, including documentary screenings. But our favorite part is the music, and this year's lineup is particularly great, with headliners Lord Huron (on June 1) and Khruangbin (on May 31). On Saturday, May 31, the lineup will also include Sylvan Esso, Neal Francis, Husbands, Squeaky Feet and Brothers of Brass before Khruangbin brings its chill, enigmatic grooves to the stage. On Sunday, June 1, there will be Trampled by Turtles, Waxahatchee, Hazlett, the Copper Children and Cole Scheifele. Find more info on the festival's website.

Indiewood
Saturday, June 7, 1 to 7 p.m.
South Broadway and West Hampden, Englewood
Although this is Indiewood Street Festival's debut year, the event has a seriously solid lineup with some of our favorite indie artists in Denver. Hosted by Swallow Hill Music and presented by Downtown Englewood, Indiewood will be headlined by local shoegazers Kiltro, which has been making waves nationally, and the "road warriers" of Yarn. There will also be Best of Denver award winners Rootbeer Richie & the Reveille and Sunstoney, as well as one of the best indie-rock groups in the city, Barbara. Check out swallowhillmusic.org/indiewood for more information.

Juneteenth Music Festival
Sunday, June 15
2701 Welton Street
For a moment, it seemed as if the Juneteenth Music Festival may not happen this year, after organizers put out the call in April for community support and had to scale the event down to one day instead of two. Then the Rocky Mountain PBS station the Drop 104.7 swept in, not only as a co-producer, but bringing along headliner Juvenile. We're thrilled that this community event is still happening, bringing vendors, live music and fanfare along Welton Street in Five Points tradition. The festival is currently taking donations through its website, where you'll find more info on all the acts to see.

Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Thursday, June 19, to Sunday, June 22
Telluride, Colorado
This year marks the fiftieth Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and it's going to be a big one. Take in your favorite bluegrass and roots acts surrounded by the San Juan mountains, beer in hand and good vibes all around. This year's lineup includes Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit, Greensky Bluegrass, Lake Street Dive, Sam Bush Band, Yonder Mountain String Band, Alison Krauss & Union Station and so much more. See the entire roster as well as ticket info on the festival website.

Edgewater Music Festival
Saturday, June 21
Citizen's Park, Edgewater
The Edgewater Music Festival isn't just a great time — it also gives back. Presented by the Blues & BBQ for Better Housing Foundation, the festival raises money for Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver. It also has killer music: This year's lineup includes some of the best rock, blues and funk bands from the area, including Best of Denver award winners Wild Love Tigress and May Be Fern. All the bands are worth seeing and grooving to; check out the entire lineup and find tickets at bluesnbbq.com.

Yahn Dawn
Friday, June 27, to Saturday, June 28
Buena Vista, Colorado
Pretty Lights is a favorite EDM producer in Colorado, so naturally he's holding a festival with his live band at Meadow Creek in Buena Vista. Pretty Lights will headline both nights at the camping jamboree, although not much else is known about the inaugural event, other than it "will be a crossfade of soul and intelligence — an exploration in cosmic connectivity," the producer wrote on Instagram. "Each night will feature full PL Live Band sets and much more." Grab your tickets at meadowcreekco.com/yahndawn.

Punk in the Park
Friday, July 18, to Sunday, July 20
National Western Stock Yards Event Center, 5004 National Western Drive
All those moms who thought it was a phase were dead wrong. Punk in the Park is returning for its biggest festival yet in Denver, having launched in 2021 at Sculpture Park after a year's delay from the pandemic. More than forty punk, ska and hardcore acts will play across two stages, and these aren't your average punk groups. The lineup will see the return of such acts as Pennywise, Circle Jerks, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Descendents (whose founding drummer, Bill Stevenson, created the legendary Fort Collins studio the Blasting Room), as well as a banger set from Los Angeles hardcore punk purveyors Bad Religion and Boston alternative Celtic-punk group Dropkick Murphys. We're particularly excited to see some local acts on the bill, including Cheap Perfume, Younger Than Neil and Cleaner. See more information and tickets on the fest's website.

Underground Music Showcase
Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27
Broadway to South Broadway
The Underground Music Showcase is the perfect opportunity to learn about and celebrate the Denver music scene. Here, you can see international or national acts and discover your new favorite local band over three days across outdoor stages and indie venues along Broadway and South Broadway. The festival has released its full lineup, which includes headliners All Them Witches, Flyanna Boss and DeVotchKa, as well as a "very special" unnamed guest. And, of course, there will be hundreds of other bands to discover. See more at undergroundmusicshowcase.com.

Rockygrass Festival
Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27
Lyons, Colorado
Head out to the Planet Bluegrass ranch for the 53rd annual RockyGrass Festival, which is a celebration of traditional bluegrass and roots music. Held along the banks of the St. Vrain River, the festival has an array of outdoor-rec activities along with the tunes. This year's lineup includes Molly Tuttle & the Golden Highway, the Del McCoury Band, Sam Bush, the Fretliners, Jake Leg, the Infamous Stringdusters, Lindsay Lou, Peter Rowan with the Sam Grisman Project and more. Find more info on the website.

Unhinged Festival
Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27
National Western Stockyards Event Center, 5004 National Western Drive
The Unhinged Festival is making a grand debut in Denver, with a mindblowing set of headliners that includes Lamb of God, the Dillinger Escape Plan, Knocked Loose and more. There are also several local metal acts on the bill, such as Khemmis, NightWraith, Necropanther, Suicide Cages and Palehorse/Palerider. Presented by AEG and Brew Ha Ha Productions, which is also behind Punk in the Park, the Unhinged Festival will also include craft beer tastings — because nothing goes together like metal and beer (unless you're straightedge, of course). See more at unhingedfest.com.

Rhythms on the Rio
Thursday, July 31, to Sunday, August 3
Del Norte, Colorado
Presented by the South Fork Music Association, a nonprofit that promotes children's music education, Rhythms on the Rio is a family-friendly event that combines outdoor rec with quality live music and is entirely volunteer-run. This year's lineup is heavy on the jams as well as bluegrass, with headliners Andy Frasco & the U.N., Kitchen Dwellers and Daniel Donato's Cosmic Country. There will also be sets from Dogs in a Pile, Mihali, Pixie & the Partygrass Boys, Tuttle, Pool & Greuel and more. Find tickets and more information at rhythmsontherio.com.

Beanstalk Music Festival
Thursday, August 7, to Saturday, August 9
Bond, Colorado
The Magic Beans, which just won a Best of Denver award for Best Concept Album, has been throwing the annual Beanstalk Festival for twelve years now. The jam-centric band will perform all three nights, of course, and this year's lineup has even more jams on the bill with Lespecial, Dogs in a Pile, Squeaky Feat and others, including riverside DJ sets. This fest's appeal goes beyond music, though: Since it's nestled alongside the Colorado River in the Vail Valley, you can go rafting, bike along a wide selection of trails, or hike and then soak in hot springs.

Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
Friday, August 8, to Sunday, August 10
Lyons, Colorado
Jackson Browne once said of RMFF: "This is what I had in mind when I was about fifteen or sixteen and I thought it would be really great to travel around and play festivals. This was the festival I was thinking of." For years, the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival has welcomed an array of musicians to play for fans at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons; this year includes sets from the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the Devil Makes Three, Watchhouse and more. Find tickets on the festival website.

Up in the Sky
Friday, August 8, to Saturday, August 9
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen receives a new blockbuster music festival with Up in the Sky. The festival will kick off on Friday, August 8, with sets from Glass Beams, Suki Waterhouse and SG Lewis before headliner Rüfüs du Sol. Saturday, August 9, offers another excellent lineup: Jensen McRae will start off the day, followed by Nessa Barrett and Role Model. Glass Animals will then take the stage before Kacey Musgraves closes out the festival. See more information on the festival website.

Field of Vision
August 15 to 17
Buena Vista, Colorado
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard is one of the most prolific young bands in the world right now. The Australian group, which has dipped its toe into almost every genre imaginable, will be bringing its ever-expanding sound to Meadow Creek for three days of mayhem. Gizz will play every day, of course, but the rest of the lineup is also dope, with Mannequin Pussy, Babe Rainbow, the Mystery Lights and more. Get tickets on the Meadow Creek website.

Mountain Music Fest
August 16
Evergreen, Colorado
From noon to 9 p.m. on August 16, Buchanan Park in Evergreen will be alive with music. The festival supports the local school system, and it has some big-name acts performing: Sam Grisman Project with the Leslies, Flobots and Christie Huff. There are also rising bands that will share their tunes, including YAN YEZ, Hand Turkey Band and Non-Prophet. It will be a family-friendly affair, with carnival games, food trucks, balloon artists, dunk tanks, face painting, vendors and more. Find more information (and $25 tickets) on the festival website.

Camp Alderwild
August 22 to 23
Telluride, Colorado
Of the Trees is joining the trend of throwing his own festival. Born Tyler Coombs, the DJ and producer teased the festival with a clue on Instagram, and the announcement itself took off. The "curated concert experience with camping" — aka a music festival — will come to Telluride Town Park with a solid lineup of psychedelic, organic-bass music: Friday, August 22, will see Jade Cicada, Thought Process, Taiki Nulight and Curra perform before the headliner, while Saturday, August 23, will include Tycho, Ott., EPROM and Air Castles. Grab your tickets at campalderwild.com.

Ghost Canyon Fest
August 22 to 24
Denver
If you're into noise and art rock, Ghost Canyon Fest is for you. The DIY-centric festival will be held at the Skylark Lounge on August 22, and then the hi-dive will host on August 23 and 24.  Bands include Fort Collins rockers Flesh Tape, Denver indie band Pink Lady Monster, local metallic hardcore group Suicide Cages, Chicago noise-rock newcomers Latter and so much more. Find tickets and more information at ghostcanyonfest.com. 

Caveman Music Festival
August 28 to 31
Weston, Colorado
This festival could be the perfect way to send off your summer, with outdoor rec options ranging from fishing to hiking to kayaking, all while you listen to live music from twenty bands and musicians. With two stages and a capacity of 5,000, Caveman offers a more intimate experience than some of the summer's big festivals, but the lineup is still impressive, with more than twenty acts. This year's roster includes Jamestown Revival, the Band of Heathens, Dexter & the Moonrocks, Uncle Lucius, Rattlesnake Milk and more. Find tickets and more info at cavemanmusicfestival.com.

Jazz Aspen
August 29 to 31
Aspen, Colorado
Jazz Aspen will be one of the top festivals in Colorado this summer. The first evening will see headliners Imagine Dragons and Cannons, while the next will include Lawrence and Max McNown before headliner Lenny Kravitz. The final day will stage Grace Bowers & the Hodge Podge, Marcus King Band and Luke Combs. Find your tickets on the website.

Psychs Peak
September 5 to 6
Pine, Colorado
Ready for camping in the mountains and listening to psychedelic rock? Put Pyschs Peak on your summer agenda, because this festival has some of our favorite local bands on the bill, including Barbara, the Crooked Rugs, Horse Bitch, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, Bluebook, Wave Decay, Rugburn, Sour Magic and so much more. The festival takes place at Historic Green Mountain Ranch, and tickets are on sale now.