Local info you simply can NOT google
Susan's
ASPEN INTEL
Christie's International Real Estate
A running calendar of live music in Aspen & Snowmass — updated for Summer 2026.
Aspen Summer Music 2026: The Season, Venue by Venue
From the Klein Music Tent to a new downtown jazz room to two festivals staged at the base of the mountains, Aspen's summer sound rarely takes a night off. Here is the season laid out venue by venue, with the dates and names worth planning a trip around.
Quick Answers
- Aspen Music Festival & School: July 1 – August 23. Nearly 200 events; free lawn seating most nights.
- JAS Café at the Paul JAS Center: 23 nights, July through September, in Aspen's downtown core.
- Up in the Sky Festival: August 7 – 8 at Buttermilk. Headliners John Summit and Dom Dolla.
- JAS Labor Day Experience: September 4 – 6 at Snowmass Town Park. Benson Boone, Tim McGraw, The Red Clay Strays.
- Belly Up Aspen & the Wheeler Opera House: club shows and staged works all season long.
- Free outdoor concerts: Snowmass on Fanny Hill (Thursdays) and Basalt River Park (Wednesdays) all summer.
Aspen Music Festival & School
The AMFS anchors the summer: eight weeks, nearly 200 public events, and roughly 450 young artists studying alongside faculty drawn from the country's leading orchestras. The 2026 season runs July 1 through August 23 under the banner "For All," timed to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, with a program that leans into American composers alongside the usual breadth of the repertoire.
A few nights stand out. Opening Sunday, July 5, brings Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson to the Klein Music Tent with the Festival Orchestra under Robert Spano. Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato gives a recital July 15 in Harris Concert Hall. Pianist Yuja Wang makes her return July 29 and August 1. Emanuel Ax plays an all-Mozart evening July 25, and bassist Edgar Meyer takes Harris on August 18. The season closes August 23 with Beethoven's Ninth.
Two fully staged operas move into the Wheeler this summer: Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (July 20 & 22), conducted by Dame Jane Glover with countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo as Oberon, and Mozart's The Magic Flute in August.
The local's move
Most performances offer free lawn seating on the David Karetsky Music Lawn and in the Kaye Music Garden, just outside the Klein Music Tent — bring a blanket and arrive early. Children and teens (ages 4–18) are $10 for most regularly scheduled concerts. Box office: 970-925-9042.
The Paul JAS Center & JAS Café
Jazz Aspen Snowmass now has a permanent downtown home. The Paul JAS Center opened last December on the second floor above the old Red Onion at 422 E. Cooper Avenue — an intimate 200-seat room with a full bar, a small-plate menu from Epicure Catering, and a "café-dance" format that trades some tables for standing room and lower ticket prices.
The JAS Café Summer Series runs 23 nights, July through September, with two performances most evenings at 6:30 and 9 p.m. The slate mixes returning favorites — pianist Shelly Berg, vocalists Bria Skonberg and Veronica Swift, the Django Festival Allstars — with Café debuts including The Brass-A-Holics, blues guitarist D.K. Harrell, Grammy-winning trumpeter Randy Brecker, jazz vocalist Ashley Pezzotti, and vocal group The New York Voices.
For the dance-floor nights, watch the "Café-Dance" standing-room shows: the James Hunter Six (July 3), New Orleans trombone band Bonerama (July 4), The Boneshakers (July 17), and George Porter Jr. and the Runnin' Pardners (August 1).
Free on Tuesdays
Community Nights run free every Tuesday at 5 p.m. through the summer — open mics, trivia, local bands, salsa nights — with discounted food and drink. A genuine local's night in the middle of town.
Belly Up Aspen
The 450-capacity club on the Galena Street mall keeps the season's tightest run of name acts. Summer highlights on the calendar so far:
- Bob Moses (Club Set) — July 3
- An Evening With Grace Potter — July 5
- Futurebirds — July 12
- Paul Cauthen — July 18
- Jamestown Revival — July 22
- Lyle Lovett — July 28 & 29
- Melissa Etheridge: RISE — July 31
- The Wailers — August 29
The lineup fills in through the season. Check the live calendar at tickets.bellyupaspen.com. Box office: 970-544-9800.
Wheeler Opera House
Aspen's 1889 landmark on Hyman Avenue programs across genres all summer. On July 4, the vertical-dance company BANDALOOP performs on the face of the building for an Independence Day celebration tied to the nation's 250th. July 30 brings the world premiere of Camille Henrot's Commedia dell'arte, co-commissioned with the Aspen Art Museum.
The Wheeler's "Traffic Jams in The Vault" series offers intimate late-afternoon sets: Brooklyn indie-folk trio Bandits on the Run (August 3–6) and Venezuelan-Appalachian duo Larry & Joe (August 10). The house also hosts the AMFS staged operas noted above. Tickets at aspenshowtix.com; box office 970-920-5770.
Free Outdoor Concerts Down-Valley
Some of the best live music of the summer costs nothing. Two long-running community series bring national and regional acts to the outdoors every week — bring a blanket, pack a picnic, and settle in.
Snowmass Free Concert Series — Fanny Hill, Thursdays
Now in its 34th year and produced with Belly Up Aspen, the Snowmass series runs every Thursday, June 18 through August 27, on the Fanny Hill stage at the end of the Snowmass Mall. Doors at 5:30 p.m., music at 6:30. Free parking at Town Park Station and the Brush Creek Intercept Lot with shuttles to the Mall. The upcoming slate:
- July 9 — North Mississippi Allstars (blues / Southern rock)
- July 16 — The Droptines (Americana)
- July 23 — Kolton Moore & The Clever Few (Americana / country)
- July 30 — Clay Street Unit (bluegrass)
- August 6 — Black Pistol Fire (blues / rock)
- August 13 — Heavy Diamond Ring (Americana)
- August 20 — Abraham Alexander (R&B)
- August 27 — Typical Ghost (jam / rock / funk)
Basalt River Park Series — Wednesdays
The Town of Basalt's Wednesday series runs June 17 through August 12 at Basalt River Park, alongside the Roaring Fork River. Supporting acts play 6–7 p.m.; headliners start at 7:30. Food trucks each week, with drink proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit. Take RFTA, WE-cycle, or Basalt Connect — parking is limited. The upcoming headliners:
- July 8 — David Mayfield Parade (bluegrass)
- July 15 — Easy Jim (Grateful Dead tribute)
- July 22 — Thrift Store Cowboys (West Texas Americana)
- July 29 — Dragondeer (psychedelic rock)
- August 5 — Eric Slick (indie rock)
- August 12 — Amythyst Kiah (Americana / folk)
Basalt also runs a Friday "Local Vocals" series at Triangle Park in Willits, spotlighting valley musicians every Friday from 5:30–6:30 p.m., June 5 through September 4.
Up in the Sky Festival
Now in its second year, Up in the Sky takes over the base of Buttermilk Mountain on August 7 and 8 — produced by Belly Up Aspen with C3 Presents, and built around electronic and indie sound with panoramic Elk Mountain views.
Friday, August 7 is headlined by John Summit, with Empire of the Sun, Leon Thomas, Passion Pit, Fcukers, Night Tapes, Collect 200, and thebandfriday. Saturday, August 8 closes with Dom Dolla, alongside Parcels, Polo & Pan, Good Neighbours, Nimino, Cil, me n ü, and Paperwater — plus a daytime set from the Aspen Music Festival & School Orchestra bridging the two worlds.
Getting there
There is no on-site parking at Buttermilk. Plan on RFTA, a bike, or a private transfer. GA, VIP, and two-day Cabin packages at upintheskyfestival.com.
JAS Labor Day Experience
The season's headline weekend runs September 4–6 at Snowmass Town Park, with the Elk Mountains as the backdrop. The 2026 bill: Benson Boone opens the festival Friday, September 4, with Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue — the New Orleans band that christened the new Paul JAS Center last December. Tim McGraw and country breakout Shaboozey join the weekend, and Sunday brings The Red Clay Strays, with thirteen-time Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt — back at JAS for the first time since 2000 — and blues guitarist Christone "Kingfish" Ingram in the afternoon. Avery Anna opens the Saturday music.
Three-day general admission, JAS Deck, and Patron (VIP) passes are on sale now, with a payment plan option. Details at jazzaspensnowmass.org; JAS office 970-920-4996.
Planning Notes
Q. What if the show I want is sold out?
A. Start at the venue box office and its official resale — that's the only guaranteed-valid ticket, and a few houses (the Aspen Music Festival among them) won't honor tickets bought through outside resellers. Beyond that, valley regulars keep an active multi-venue WhatsApp chat for buying and selling tickets across most of these rooms, often at face value and often day-of. If you're stuck on a night you really want, reach out — I can sometimes help you find a seat.
Q. Where can I hear live music in Aspen for free this summer?
A. Several reliable options: the AMFS lawn and garden outside the Klein Music Tent on most concert nights, the Paul JAS Center's free Tuesday Community Nights downtown, the Snowmass Free Concert Series on Fanny Hill (Thursdays), and the Town of Basalt's free series at Basalt River Park (Wednesdays) and Triangle Park in Willits (Fridays).
Q. Which weekend has the most happening at once?
A. August 7–8. Up in the Sky runs at Buttermilk while the AMFS season is still in full swing and the JAS Café is mid-run downtown — three distinct scenes within a few miles of each other.
Q. When should I book lodging?
A. Early. Festival weekends — Up in the Sky in August and Labor Day in Snowmass — draw the tightest inventory of the summer, and Aspen sees limited availability at any price point during those dates.
Dates and lineups shift as the season fills in; confirm directly with each venue before you commit. If you're weighing a summer stay against a purchase — or timing a sale around the season — I'm glad to talk through the calendar and the market in the same conversation.
Susan Plummer
Christie's International Real Estate Aspen
520 E. Durant Avenue, Suite 205, Aspen, CO 81611
970-948-6786 · susan@susanplummer.com
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT
Update: as of WINTER 2026
The PAUL CENTER FOR JAS: opened Dec 2025 next to the Red Onion on the Cooper Street mall. It’s worth noting that Billie Holiday, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and other American legends performed in the 1950’s at the historic Red Onion. Paul JAS CENTER also has a bar-type menu with reasonably priced food options (amazing!) I found the space and accoustics to be outstanding. The Paul JAS Center is a new, state-of-the-art music venue and creative hub in downtown Aspen, Colorado, serving as the permanent home for Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) . It's a multi-use space for live jazz, blues, world music performances, music education, community gatherings, private events, and even features a recording studio, providing a vital year-round cultural center for the community.
Live Music Venue: Hosts world-class musicians in an intimate setting, with flexible layouts for standing or seated audiences.
Educational Hub: A permanent base for JAS's music education programs, including the prestigious JAS Academy and workshops for students and adults.
Community Gathering Space: Designed for a wide range of events, from lectures and meetings to celebrations, fostering connection in Aspen's core.
Recording Studio: Offers professional recording capabilities for local artists and JAS Academy students.
Culinary Partner: Features a partnership with Epicure catering for food and beverage services.
Vibe: Located at 422 E. Cooper Ave., in the heart of downtown Aspen. Offers a blend of sophisticated performances and accessible community events, aiming to be a year-round destination.
The Palm Tree Music Festival 2026 : a two-day winter electronic music festival in Aspen, Colorado, held at Rio Grande Park on February 20-21, featuring headliners like Kygo and Calvin Harris, offering an intimate setting with top-tier production and experiences for attendees to enjoy music and the mountain scenery.
Dates: February 20-21, 2026.
Location: Rio Grande Park, Aspen, Colorado.
Producers: Belly Up Aspen, Palm Tree Crew, and C3 Presents.
Vibe: An "intimate festival setting" with world-class DJs, dancing, and high-end production amidst Aspen's iconic mountain backdrop, creating a "paradise found" atmosphere.
A M 7 (pronounced "A-M-Seven") in Aspen is a new, exclusive private membership club for music, dining, and socializing, Located above the popular Belly Up concert venue and featuring a new restaurant concept by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa. It offers curated music experiences, sophisticated food and wine, and a stylish, art-focused environment for its members, aiming to provide a higher-end, deeper cultural experience in Aspen.
Location: Above Belly Up Aspen and Yuki restaurant, in the new Chalet Alpina development.
Concept: A blend of dining, entertainment, and social club with a focus on curated music and high-quality food and wine.
Music: A core element, providing a space for DJs and storytelling through sound, influenced by the live music scene.
Dining: Features creative dishes and an extensive wine list, with food and drink provided by Nobu's new concept.
Membership: A private club with various membership tiers (e.g., Patron), requiring application and approval, creating a discerning community.
Vibe: Aims for a stylish, art-infused, and sophisticated atmosphere for connection and networking.
In essence, AM7 Aspen is a response to the demand for more exclusive, experience-focused venues in Aspen, building on the success of its location above the iconic Belly Up.
_____
UPDATE: as of SUMMER 2025
JAS ASPEN LABOR DAY: MUSIC & Entertainment
Aug 29-31, 2025 Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) Labor Day Experience 2025 with headliners Imagine Dragons on Friday, Lenny Kravitz on Saturday, and Luke Combs on Sunday. The lineup also features Cannons, Lawrence, the Marcus King Band, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, and Max McNown. GET TICKETS HERE
UP IN THE SKY FESTIVAL:
August 8-9, 2025 | Buttermilk, Aspen, CO
Aspen’s newest summer music event brings two days of live performances to the base of Buttermilk this summer. The inaugural Up in the Sky Festival features headliners Rüfüs Du Sol, Kacey Musgraves, Glass Animals, SG Lewis Live, Suki Waterhouse, Role Model, Nessa Barrett, and more.
Up In the Sky combines live music with Aspen's scenic landscape for a distinctive summer event. Located at the base of Buttermilk with views of the Elk Mountain Range, this two-day festival offers a blend of performances in an unforgettable mountain setting.
ASPEN MUSIC FESTIVAL and SCHOOL:
July 2 - Aug 24, 2025. Founded in 1949, the classical fesival is in its 76th year. The School is one of the World's Best Training Programs for Emerging Artists. AMF Info here
AM7membership club at theBelly Up
Rolling Stone Magazine applauds Belly Up as one of “The Best Clubs in America.” Locals have enjoyed the small-scale music locale in prior iterations as The China Club, The Double Diamond, The Paragon. But never has the music and lineup been as strong or as varied. Keep an eye on the calendar to find both big names and newbies. With general admission and reserved seats, there is something for everyone. Also, see my restaurant section on the Nobu Matsuhisa eatery, “YUKI,” open to the public on the ground floor next to Belly Up and below AM7 on Durant Street across from Ruby Park station.
OTHER UPDATES
NEW BAR: “ GOLDEN HORN”
A new spot is coming to the former Maru space on the Cooper St mall, next to BOSQ (Aspen’s only Michelin-starred restaurant). Fashioned in the spirit of the former Eric’s Bar and offering reasonable prices, billiards, and a golf simulator. Longtime local benefactor and avid skier, Andrew Cader is teaming up with John Bukac, owner of Jimoto Ramen, to fill the gap left after the closing of multiple Apres and local watering holes. P.S. Jimoto Ramen, located across from the Aspen Art Museum on Hyman Ave, is re-opened after expanding, and is a MUST TRY.
Hidalgo Agave Cocktail Lounge at
W Aspen (New)
New at the W Hotel in their downstairs speakeasy space once occupied by the Sky Hotel’s wildly popular 39 DEGREES, Hidalgo promises to be a swanky lounge with moody vibes and creative cocktails.
P.S. In case you wanna take a dip…The City’s permit for W Aspen requires free access to their rooftop hot tub and heated pool.
P.S.S. Kick off Aspen Gay Ski Week 2025 in style at the luxurious W Aspen on Sunday, January 12, to celebrate 48 years of philanthropy, skiing, laughs, and smiles. Come dressed to impress in your finest cocktail attire.
HaSalon at W Aspen (New)
A mountain location from the Vegas, Miami, NY hot spot: see details in my restaurant section here: susanplummeraspen.com/restaurants
Caribou Club (Private)
“The Bou,” the legendary and fabled club envisioned by the late Harley Baldwin, has a long history as the premier club in Aspen since 1990, the year I first arrived in town. Today the Bou keeps to its roots as a members-only dinner and dancing club where proprietor Billy oversees the door and enforces the dress code (no shorts, flip-flops, or ball caps).
I love hosting clients here: the Bou is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails by the fire to post-dinner dance moves while listening to the DJ play (mostly) electronic. However, if you want privacy or a place to get to know your date, there are many rooms off the dance floor that you can escape to, including the infamous Wine Room, where you can host a private dinner or cocktail event.
I am happy to arrange temporary Caribou Club memberships for my clients.
P.S. the late Harley Baldwin also ushered in the era of Gucci, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton by purchasing the then-dilapidated Brand Building in 1971 and turning it into a posh, triple-A location in Aspen’s commercial core.
The Sterling, next to Hooch, offers LIVE music (techno, disco, experimental, and classic jazz) with a young, trendy vibe in a small space with couches, tables, and booths. Compared to other venues, The Sterling has some of the most diverse music offerings in Aspen.
As I’ve reported, Hooch is under new but still local management. With an authentic speakeasy vibe, Hooch is the kind of place where you can spend $$$ on a Premier Cru or get a quick beer and be on your way. Depending on the day, Hooch can be quiet and intimate or a raucous party. Hooch embodies the old-school Aspen vibe while welcoming visitors into the family.
Silver City Saloon (yes, saloon…) is an homage to the Wild West and days when Doc Holliday lived nearby and the locals were the Ute Indians. With a quirky vibe loved by all ages, you can play pool, lounge with friends, and even find eye-popping talent during Karaoke night hosted by “The Sandman,” the valley’s local MC. The top-shelf spirits are the main draw of this place, but the old-west-inspired cocktails make it worth the trip.
P.S. Head to Silver City every Monday night starting at 9pm for karaoke!
P.S.S. As of Dec 2024, I believe Silver City offers Aspen’s ONLY public billiards table.
Playing the latest hot trends in electronic, dance, and Latin music, you'll experience what it's like to party underground inside an airplane fuselage. Located on the Hyman Avenue mall, Escobar is popular with the young, (usually) trendy crowd. Look for the red velvet rope near NY Pizza, andonce through, see the recently remodeled curved ceiling, reflective walls, amber lights, and neon strobes. If you want privacy, consider booking a private table.
NY EVE 12/31/24 (10pm-2am): (Early Bird Price) General Admission $250; (Phase 1 Price) General Admission $350; VIP Tables email EscobarAspen@gmail.com
P.S. The descendants of infamous cartel head Pablo Escobar recently sued (and lost) over the use of the Escobar name.
As I’ve reported before, Buck, located downstairs one door east of Paradise Bakery, is the favorite local watering hole. Whether you're looking for an old-school Apres Ski bar, sports bar, a place to unwind after a long shift with a cold beer and delicious, affordable food, or want to meet a real-life ski bum…Buck has you covered.
Westy’s Tap & Tavern(formerly Aspen Brewing Company)
A great local's spot, Westy’s, or as most locals still call it, “Aspen Tap,” has grown from a small local brewery into an established Colorado brand.
P.S. The brewery distributes to over 75 bars, restaurants, and liquor stores throughout the Roaring Fork Valley and Colorado.
The Wine Bar at The Little Nell
The Little Nell offers several bars, each with its own matchless appeal, individual gourmet themes, and a thorough collection of wine, beer, and spirits. The Wine Bar is a great Apres-ski spot to let loose and wind down after a long day of hitting the slopes (or the shops!).
J-Bar at Hotel Jerome
The storied spot where Hunter Thompson once held court, along with miners, cowboys, and sheriffs who rode their horses up to its front doors. Although thoroughly updated and modernized, the J-Bar‘s bones are firmly planted in the Wild West. As far as Aspen nightlife, J-Bar is famous for mingling billionaires and ski bums…usually over the wildly popular CRUD cocktail (ice cream with booze made famous during Prohibition).
MUSIC, ARTS & CULTURE
This is the place to go if you are looking for live entertainment. From Snoop Dogg to Jimmy Buffet and everything in between, this is a hot spot for many bands touring through the Rocky Mountains.
The world's most accomplished musicians gather for the Aspen Music Festival each summer.
Anderson Ranch is an international center for creating new work and untested art forms by today’s leading artists.
The FOOD & WINE Classic in Aspen is America’s premier culinary event. It consists of three incomparable days of cooking demonstrations, wine and spirit tastings, and panel discussions by world-class chefs and wine experts.
Since 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been Aspen’s community performance venue. From The Eagles, Jerry Seinfeld, Oprah Winfrey, and Sheryl Crow to locally created performance experiences, the Wheeler is the Roaring Fork Valley’s premiere site for concerts, movies, festivals, lectures, community events, opera, and a whole lot more.
World-class exhibitions from around the globe at the Aspen Art Museum.
