It is 18 miles from Aspen to Basalt. The music that will be played this summer within that stretch, encompassing Aspen, Snowmass and Basalt, rivals any other similar tract in the world.
From classical to reggae, opera to bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll to folk, jazz to hip-hop, electronic to indie rock, Indian ragas to celtic, blues to country, flamenco to North Mississippi hill country blues, funk to cosmic country, it’s all going coming to the Aspen area in the next 90 days.
Not surprisingly, Belly Up Aspen delivers a stellar summer lineup which includes heavy hitters like Melissa Etheridge and Lyle Lovett in addition to a July 4 concert with Nashville’s Boy Named Banjo. Aspen Music Festival’s lineup features some of the greatest musicians on the planet. The vote for the best summer music concert series goes to the Basalt Summer Concert Series. Futurebirds, Magic Beans, Dangermuffin, Peach Street Revival and Dragondeer are all next level bands and the venue is first-rate. Basalt is the place to be on Wednesdays this summer.
This is a guide to live music in Aspen this summer leading up to Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience on Aug. 30 which will punctuate the season with performances by Sting, Lukas Nelson, Brandi Carlisle, The Black Crowes, Tim McGraw and more.
Eric Burton and Adrian Quesada of The Black Pumas who will take the stage at Belly Up Aspen on June 18. Their song “Colors” has been streamed 250 million times. Influential AAA deejay Kim Czornig of 98.3 The Penguin in Wilmington, NC called the tune “one of the best songs of the 21st century.”
6 shows you don’t want to miss:
Psychedelic neo-soul hits Belly Up
Who: Black Pumas
Where: Belly Up Aspen
When: June 18
Black Pumas is a psychedelic neo-soul band from Austin, Texas. The band is similar to Gnarls Barkley from the early aughts in that Gnarls Barkley was a band composed of one member who was primarily a musician – Cee Lo Green — and a producer, Dangermouse. The Black Pumas are also a two-person outfit — singer/songwriter Eric Burton and Grammy Award winning producer/guitarist Adrian Quesada.
Black Pumas released their eponymous debut in 2020. They made their network TV debut on CBS This Morning, performed the single “Colors” on Jimmy Kimmel Live and then performed on Austin City Limits which propelled “Colors” to reach No. 1 on AAA radio. The single has been streamed more than 250 million times across all platforms.
On Nov. 24, 2020, “Colors” received Grammy Award nominations for Record of The Year and Best American Roots Performance and Black Puma’s self-titled album was nominated for the Album of The Year, the most prestigious Grammy award at The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards.
In 2021, Black Pumas received two more Grammy Award nominations, bringing their total Grammy nominations up to six. More than 57 million people have streamed the live version of “Colors” on YouTube. You can be one of 450 people to see them play it live at Belly Up Aspen on June 18.
Daniel Womack of Futurebirds performing at Belly Up Aspen on Feb. 2. Futurebirds play The Basalt Summer Concert Series on July 31 with Sittin’ on Strings opening.
Flying into the future of indie rock
Who: Futurebirds
Where: Basalt River Park (Basalt Summer Concert Series)
When: July 29
Futurebirds are an indie rock band formed in 2008, known for their high energy rock and country undertones. Like many great rock outfits, they originated from Athens, Georgia.
The birds will fly into Basalt River Park on July 31 for a free show at the Basalt Summer Concert Series. A month after Futurebirds sold out Belly Up Aspen on Feb. 2, the six-piece outfit received a feature article in Rolling Stone magazine. The prolific band has since released three singles – “Colorados,” “Bloom” and “Up and Out” — off of their upcoming album “Easy Company.”
Futurebirds have three guitar players who also write and sing their own songs, much like Athens legends Drive by Truckers back in the early aughts. Carter King handles the writing and singing on “Colorados,” Daniel Womack takes control on “Bloom” and Thomas Johnson is the driving force behind “Up and Out.” “Easy Company” is due Aug. 9 — the day Jerry Garcia died. Coincidence? I think not.
Seeing Futurebirds in River Park is likely to be one of those shows where one day you recall, “I saw those guys when…”
Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country will play Belly Up Aspen on June 10. Rolling Stone magazine called Donato “Nashville’s next great guitar player.”
Fire (cosmic country) on the mountain
Who: Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
Where: Belly Up Aspen
When: June 10
Another “I saw them when” moment presents itself June 10 when Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country rolls into Belly Up. If Billy Strings and Goose are the new thing in the jam/jamgrass worlds, Daniel Donato is the next big thing.
Rolling Stone Magazine called him “Nashville’s new guitar hero.” Donato told Rolling Stone, “Onstage I’m trying to take us to places we’ve never been before, exploring a realm and playing music that has never happened before.”
Donato’s album “Reflector” captures the essence of what cosmic country is all about – country, smothered in grease and a healthy amount of jam.
He is the darling of the jam/jamgrass scene, having shared the stage with Widespread Panic, Greensky Bluegrass, Billy Strings and more.In addition to an impressive array of original material, Donato is known for creating unique interpretations of beloved songs like “Angel From Montgomery” and “Fire on The Mountain” that he makes distinctly his own. Donato’s version of “Fire on The Mountain” is hands down the most smoking, rocking version of the song ever recorded.
Shemekia Copeland will play the Rooftop Cafe of the Aspen Art Museum on Aug. 17 as part of the JAS Café Summer Series. Copeland won the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of the Year.
Blues and soul on the roof
Who: Shemekia Copeland
Where: Rooftop Cafe at Aspen Art Museum (JAS Café Summer Series)
When: Aug. 18
Shemekia Copeland is one of the great blues and soul singers of her generation. She will perform at the Aspen Art Museum’s Rooftop Cafe on Aug. 18 as part of the JAS Aspen Café series.
Copeland released her first album in 1998 and has recorded nine more since. Her latest, “Done Come Too Far” looks at the cultural landscape of being black in America both in the past and present.
“I am so happy that Shemika is delivering these songs that the world needs to hear,” Mavis Staples said in a recent interview in Blues Music Magazine. “Her voice is strong and soulful and her message is from the heart.”
Copeland sings smart songs that are both rootsy and rocking and slow and soulful with a powerful intention that makes her an inimitable force in concert.
Copeland, a six-time Grammy nominated artist, hosts a daily show on SiriusXM’s Bluesville. She has played thousands of shows all over the world and performed with Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, Carlos Santana, Dr. John and shared the bill with The Rolling Stones. Copeland won the 2021 Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer of The Year.
Boy Named Banjo headlines Belly Up Aspen’s second annual Fourth of July concert. Boy Named Banjo hails from Nashville, Tennessee, and while their instrumentation suggests bluegrass, their sound is more country and indie rock.
Celebrate Independence Day with a banjo
Who: Boy Named Banjo
Where: Wagner Park (Belly Up Aspen Fourth of July free concert)
When: July 4
Belly Up Aspen presents its second annual Fourth of July celebration, following last year’s throw down with The Motet. The name of the band is deceiving: it’s not a bluegrass band. While there is a banjo, mandolin, stand-up bass and acoustic guitar in the band’s instrumentation, the sound is less bluegrass and more country/indie-rock, but in the best way.
Their song “Feel for You” sounds like a Mumford and Sons track. Similarly, Mumford and Sons plays bluegrass instrumentation without really playing bluegrass. Mumford and Sons is a good spirit animal for Boy Named Banjo.
The Nashville-based band’s songs are often quasi-anthemic, the vocals are great, the lyrics are solid and the melodies are sweet, like the moment where you crunch into the Blow Pop and the shell of the candy meets the gum.
“Boy Named Banjo is a band we have watched grow over the last couple of years and are excited about their future,” said David Goldberg, partner of Belly Up Aspen. “We think they are a great fit for this July 4 event musically and are excited for them to have an opportunity for more people to see their energetic live show.”
Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia perform as part of the Aspen Music Festival at Harris Concert Hall on July 17. They will be playing songs from their album “As We Speak,” which won two Grammys this year for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Global Music Performance for the song “Pashto.”
Unique and exotic tunes at Harris Hall
Who: Bela Fleck, Edgar Meyer, Zakir Hussain and Rakesh Chaurasia
Where: Harris Concert Hall
When: July 17
On July 17 at Harris Hall, audiences will be treated to a concert of some of the most unique and exotic music by some of the greatest musicians in the world when Bela Fleck (banjo), Edgar Meyer (bass), Zakir Hussain (tabla) and Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri) take the stage as part of the 2024 Aspen Music Festival.
The four virtuosos will be playing music from their album “As We Speak,” which won two Grammys this year for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Best Global Music Performance for the song “Pashto.”
Fleck and Meyer are both well known in bluegrass circles and they have been regulars at Telluride Bluegrass Festival for decades. But Hussain and Chaurasia may not be recognizable names.
Hussain is regarded as the greatest tabla — an instrument that has two hand drums of different sizes and shapes — player in the world. The instrument is played by hitting the fingers on the head and sliding the palm to create a modulating sound.
“When we are performing on stage, in composing mode or creating mode, we are basically having a conversation,” Hussain said. So the music emerges as we speak.”
Chaurasia is a master of the bansuri, an ancient side-blown bamboo flute that originates from the Indian subcontinent. It is an aerophone produced from bamboo and metal like material used in many Nepali Lok songs.
The mix of these four disparate instruments combined with the speed with which the members of the band can all play creates a truly astonishing sound. This is one of those shows you will remember for the rest of your life.
Bonny Light Horseman come to Harris Concert Hall on Aug. 9 as part of the Roaring Fork Sessions. The trio’s music features tight harmonies surrounding acoustic guitars and piano.
The Horseman of the Roaring Fork Sessions
Who: Bonny Light Horseman
Where: Harris Concert Hall
When: Aug. 9
Bonny Light Horseman is Anaïs Mitchell, Eric D. Johnson and Josh Kaufman. The trio will be in Colorado for two shows, the show in Aspen on Aug. 9 and one at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival in Lyons the next day.
Bonny Light Horseman first came together when they received an invitation from Justin Vernon of Bon Iver and Aaron Dessner of The National to perform at the Eaux Claires Festival. Out of that experience, the trio decided to form Bonny Light Horseman. Their self-titled debut album was released in January 2020. The album contains a mixture of traditional British folk songs and original material. Brilliant harmonies, lovely melody and laid-back guitars and piano earned the album a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Folk Album.
If you were looking for a good comparison for Bonny Light Horseman, The Head and The Heart would be a good choice.
In 2021, the band played the Newport Folk Festival. They also received the Best Americana Record award by the American Association of American Music. The band released their second record “Rolling Golden Holy” in 2022. On June 7, Bonny Light Horseman will release “Keep Me on Your Mind/Set Me Free.” The record is sure to pop up on several best album of the year lists. The track “Old Dutch” is a good song that has been released in May. If there is a better song that comes out this year I want to hear it.
The Bonny Light Horseman show is part of the Roaring Fork Sessions, the brainchild of Roaring Fork Valley resident Ed Baney. The goal of the sessions is to promote the best Americana music in an intimate setting. The series hosted a fantastic Sierra Hull show in April and the Bonnie Light Horseman show promises to be another great intimate night of music at Harris Concert Hall.
