The Summer Music Events of 2023: Featuring Denver, Ouray, & Moab 

Summertime is just around the corner, and musicians and festivals are gearing up for the height of the summer music schedule. One of the most popular summer activities, music concerts and festivals draw locals and travelers alike with the promise of entertainment and relaxation.

The team at Vacation Rental Collective is ready for the season of sunshine and celebration, and we’re already scouting which music events we want to attend! That’s why we’re sharing three of our favorite destination's premier schedules and lineups with you, so let’s go dance!

Denver, CO

There are few places where you can look up from the bright lights of the big city and see a majestic horizon of mountains, but that’s precisely what Denver offers. The capital city of Colorado, known for its metropolitan center and nearby wilderness areas, captivates visitors and locals alike with its culture and charm.

Founded in 1858 as a part of the Old West mining boom, the city of Denver has grown to become a modern metropolis with a distinct feel. The aura of the bygone era still echoes throughout the city streets, while booming tech and outdoor industries help to keep the city on the edge of modernity.

Denver is home to several outstanding music venues that attract renowned artists from all over the world, and each summer, the marquees glow with some of music’s favorite names. Denver has everything from theatres to the acclaimed Red Rocks, from bluegrass to techno.

Parks, Theatres & More

Denver is home to a robust variety of music venues, and they are as diverse as the city's inhabitants. The cityscape abounds with theatres, arenas, public parks, and more, and each one can make for the ideal place to catch a show.

Denver Botanic Gardens is not only home to an astounding display of botany that will delight any plant lover, but also to multiple music events throughout the warmer months. The Summer Concert Series and Evenings al Fresco are both a part of the annual Music at the Gardens event, and concerts run from June through August.

The City Park Jazz Summer Concert Series is a local’s favorite that any visitor and lover of jazz should be sure to catch. With a historical tradition that spans over 130 years, this beloved event is also a volunteer-run charitable organization that puts on ten concerts over the summer in the crown jewel of Denver’s parks, City Park. Enjoy the music while relaxing on the green grass and taking in the famous Colorado bluebird sky.

Civic Park is another outdoor Denver institution, and just like City Park, it will host its fair share of music events this summer. On July 1st, Civic Park will host the Dusty Boots Music Festival. An Americana and Alt music extravaganza, Futurebirds and Margo Price will perform, to name a few.

When it comes to Denver theatres that serve as music venues, perhaps none is more renowned than the Fillmore or the Bluebird. Both have seen their share of famous names over the years, and 2023 is no exception. The Bluebird will also be hosting the Taylor Fest on May 27th, a self-described “dance party for Swifties, by Swifties. Speaking of T-Swizzle, the former home of the Denver Broncos, Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, will host two nights of Swift’s Eras Tour on July 14th and 15th.

Fiddler's Green Amphitheater is another famous green space to catch music in Denver this summer. Designed as a large scale earth-sculpture crafted to host community festivals and symphonic music, Fiddler’s Green has grown into a host venue for every type of music, with a capacity of 17,000. This summer, the venue will have The Cure, Fall Out Boy, Kenny Wayne Shepard, and ZZ Top all grace its stage, including many others.

Red Rocks

Perhaps the most famous of all Denver venues, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater has rightfully earned its place as one of the world’s premier venues, attracting the biggest names in the entertainment industry to perform beneath its storied red sandstone cliffs. Shows on this iconic stage often become fan legends, and the experience must be felt to be understood.

This season’s concert lineup is the usual star-studded affair, and M.I.A., Barenaked Ladies, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Tori Amos, Lyle Lovett, 311, Al Green, and Duran Duran are just a sampling of the tremendous talent that will play to their fans this summer.

Red Rocks is also well known for its Saturday morning yoga and Monday night movie showings, and both are sure to create even more fantastic memories from a venue that is truly unlike anywhere on earth.

Ouray, CO

When you’re looking for music in Colorado but prefer a more low-key location, the “Switzerland of America,” aka the little town of Ouray, might be the perfect destination. Tucked deep into the mountainous enclaves of the San Juan Rockies and also known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Colorado, Ouray has waterfalls, hot springs, nearly endless miles of trails to hike, bike, and four-wheel, and of course, music.

Each summer, the Mountain Air Music Series brings musicians from the Western Slope Concert Series to play free performances every Thursday in June. Each Thursday hosts two unique performances from differing styles of music, creating an event that is as eclectic as it is enjoyable. If that wasn’t enough, the event also spotlights regionally significant non-profits such as the Ouray Volunteer Fire Department. At each event, members of the selected non-profit will serve up libations in the beer tent and gladly accept all the tip money they can raise for their worthy causes.

Moab, UT

Another small town renowned for its local charm and world-class outdoor recreation is the Utah desert oasis of Moab. Located in the middle of internationally sought-after destinations like Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Moab is a charming town with a lively artist’s culture. Many different types of festivals pass through Moab each summer, with everything from Jeeps to arts and crafts attracting just as varied a selection of visitors. One of the highlights of the season is the Moab Music Festival.

This festival combines professional musicians and the magical Moab landscape each summer to set the stage for an unforgettable experience. Classic and contemporary chamber, jazz, and Latin musicians congregate in different settings around Moab to showcase their art to the fortunate festival attendees. Whether it's being enchanted by the works of Bach in a secluded grotto on the Colorado River or a review of a century of ragtime at a scenic lodge, the Moab Music Festival is one-of-a-kind and not to be missed.

The Moab Free Concert Series will also be occurring this summer, offering free performances by well-known artists from both near and far. This summer, musicians from New York City, the Southwest US, and New Orleans will make appearances.

Whether you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city to small-town America or vice versa, Vacation Rental Collective has the best-in-class service for premier accommodations in your favorite destination hotspots. Our team is ready to help you plan the kind of vacation that will create memories to last a lifetime!

Contact us today!