Community » Basalt Summer Concert Series

Basalt Summer Concert Series

For three decades, the Wednesday night Basalt Summer Concert Series was established and run under the stewardship of the Basalt Chamber of Commerce. In 2023, this beloved tradition’s ownership transitioned to the Town of Basalt who now manages and produces the series, adding its own flair to this cherished community event!

2025 Concert Series

The Basalt Summer Concert Series is back for 2025, bringing free music to your Wednesday nights! Join the Basalt community from June 18 through August 27, 2025, for a fantastic lineup (details below). Details at basalt.net/concerts.

A long-standing Basalt tradition, the Basalt Summer Concert Series has been showcasing a wide variety of musical genres with performances across town for decades. Concerts are held during the summer on Wednesday evenings from 5:30–8:30 p.m., in Basalt River Park, located on Two Rivers Road, across the street from Town Hall, along the Roaring Fork River in Historic Downtown Basalt. All supporting acts are Colorado-based and will perform from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. with a half-hour break. The headliner act begins at 7:00 p.m.  

Bring your blanket, chairs, and a picnic, and enjoy free live music all summer long. Be sure to support area businesses by stopping in for dinner or happy hour.

Heads up! There will be no concert on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Instead, the party is moving to Saturday, July 5, 2025, for Basalt River Jams!

Looking for more free live music? Don’t miss the Town of Basalt’s Local Vocals series at Triangle Park in Willits! These concerts happen every other Friday, starting at 5:30 p.m., from May 30 through September 5, 2025. The lineup can be found at basalt.net/concerts.

Learn more

All concert series booking and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Brent Compton at the Town of Basalt: brent.compton@basalt.net.

The full 2025 Basalt Summer Concert series lineup

Listed in order of appearance. Keep scrolling to learn more about each band!

About the bands

FAQs

Getting There & Parking
How can I get to the concerts without driving?
A: We strongly encourage using alternative transportation to support Basalt’s climate action initiatives! You can:

  • Walk or bike: There will be ample bicycle parking available at the shows.
  • Use WE-cycle: It’s free for rides up to 30 minutes. Find stations in downtown Basalt, Willits, and at the Basalt RFTA Park and Ride by checking the map on WE-cycle’s homepage.
  • Take RFTA: Stops are conveniently located at the Basalt Park and Ride (for BRT) and directly in downtown Basalt (for local service). All RFTA rides within the Basalt Zone are free. A full schedule and stop locations are available on the RFTA website.
  • Utilize Basalt Connect (June-August): This on-demand ride service operates daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. within a designated service zone in Basalt. Learn more about the app and service area.

If I have to drive, where should I park for the Wednesday night concerts?
A: If driving is necessary, please park at the Basalt Elementary and Basalt Middle School parking lots. From there, you can walk or use WE-cycle to get to Basalt River Park.

Food & Drinks
What food and beverage options are available at the concert?
A: Drinks will be sold on-site, with proceeds benefiting a different local nonprofit at each show. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages will be available. Food trucks will also be on-site selling food each week.

Can I bring my own food and drinks to the concert?
A: Yes, you may bring food and non-alcoholic beverages into the concert venue. Non-alcoholic beverages must be in unopened, sealed containers. No outside alcohol is permitted inside the concert venue. We also encourage you to explore the menus of downtown Basalt’s excellent restaurants!

Enjoying the Basalt River Park
What should I bring for my comfort at Basalt River Park?
A: The venue is a perfect spot for a picnic! Feel free to bring coolers and meals from home, along with non-alcoholic beverages in unopened, sealed containers. We also recommend bringing a blanket or low chairs, and dressing appropriately for potential rain or cooler evening temperatures.

Are dogs allowed at the concerts?
A: Yes, dogs are permitted, but they must be on a leash at all times.

Thank you to the 2025 Basalt Summer Concert Series sponsors

Concert Headline Sponsors: Mountain Heart Brewery, Woody Creek Distillery, Z Group Architecture and Interior Design, Holy Cross Energy, and The Hoffman Hotel.

Local artist and in-kind sponsors: Decatur Wilkie, State Farm Derron C Cloud, Paragon Systems Integration, Charles Cunniffe Architects, KDNK, KA Design Works, Element Basalt, Basalt Chamber of Commerce, Aspen Wealth Management, RA Nelson, Pathfinder Broadband.

History of the Series

The traditional Wednesday night series has gone through several iterations over the years:

Beginning in the 1980s the Basalt Chamber of Commerce coordinated a series of summer concerts for the Basalt Community. In those early days, the concerts featured chamber music with artists from the Aspen Music Festival & School. Over the decades the series evolved to highlight a variety of genres and local talent on Wednesday nights during the summer months. 

In 2019, the chamber partnered with TACAW (The Arts Campus At Willits) for concert production and bookings. As a result, the quality of the concerts and the acts performing increased greatly and more people attended. In 2020 and 2021 it was necessary to pivot to a safer, disbursed entertainment alternative named Wednesday Night Live. In 2022, TACAW produced an end of summer concert.

In 2023 the series returned and leverage the brand new stage in the Basalt River Park, which officially opened with the July 7, 2023 concert. Beginning in 2023, the Town of Basalt took up the mantle for the summer concert series, adding its own twist for future iterations! The Basalt Chamber of Commerce continues to be involved in a supporting role, with Town staff executing the event in conjunction with a local event producer.