Live music in Routt County, CO

The Jayhawks bring a roots-centered sound that first set them apart in Minnesota in 1985. Across nearly four decades they have released 11 studio albums and performed widely. After two independent releases in the 1980s, they signed with American Recordings in 1991, issued five albums through the next decade, toured around the globe, and continued on after founding member Mark Olson departed in 1995. A break in the mid-2000s was followed by a reunion of the 1994 lineup that yielded a 2011 studio album and two years of touring. In 2014 a late-1990s incarnation led by Gary Louris hit the road to support reissues of the 1997–2003 albums, then delivered the ninth studio album in 2016, recorded in Portland with producers Peter Buck and Tucker Martine. Back Roads and Abandoned Motels arrived in 2018 with the band’s takes on songs Gary Louris had written with other artists, along with two new songs, and recording wrapped in Minnesota in late 2019 ahead of the 2020 release of the 11th album, XOXO. In early 2025 the group announced work had begun on a twelfth studio album planned for 2026, which marks 40 years since their debut. The year has been designated The Year of the Hawk.

Enjoy a free outdoor concert with the Steamboat Springs Symphony Orchestra, featuring Rock ’n Radio. This high-energy show celebrates music from soul to rock and pop, including crowd favorites like “Respect,” “Hotel California,” “Livin’ on a Prayer,” “Bad Romance,” and more. Come early for VIP seating options if you want the best view, and plan for an evening of live music under the summer sky.

Kris Lager Band is a Nebraska-born ensemble devoted to the breadth of American music traditions. Describing their sound as a revival of roots styles, they deliver an eclectic, high energy performance shaped by years of learning, living, and loving the music that moves them.

At Lupita's Taco Temple, DJ Sparkafya pairs tacos, sunshine, and mountain air with a lively blend of funky beats, global rhythms, and reggae grooves. Order a margarita, settle onto the patio, and enjoy the soundtrack of summer in Oak Creek. Whether dancing, dining, or simply soaking up the scene, the good vibes roll from start to finish.

Enjoy an orchestral celebration featuring works by Bach, Handel, and Purcell, including Brandenburg Concertos, Purcell’s Abdelazer Suite, and Handel’s Concerto Grosso in D Major. Concertmaster Amy Lee leads a Strings Music Festival ensemble with flute, oboe, trumpet, and harpsichord, plus an intermission during the program.

Drunken Hearts make a return to The Press in Steamboat, Colorado with an intimate show, and tickets will be sold only at the door. The second night features a Happy Hour performance at Thunderhead Lodge at the top of the gondola, offering two evenings of live music in Steamboat.

Wax Monkey brings its five-piece jam band sound to Schmiggity's. Formed by childhood friends from Birmingham, Alabama, the group began playing together in high school and officially became a band in 2023 while attending the University of Alabama. Their music draws on influences like the Grateful Dead, Phish, and the Allman Brothers Band, blending Southern rock, psychedelic rock, and open-ended improvisation.

Alex Thoele brings a lively solo performance to Mythology Distillery in support of Pocket Knife, his debut solo album. Expect a mix of original songs and familiar covers, delivered with the upbeat storytelling and stage presence he has honed over more than 20 years performing at venues and festivals around the United States. After five albums with Chain Station, he steps forward with Pocket Knife, a 10-song collection that highlights his songwriting and guitar work, with singles arriving in early 2026 and the full album releasing in summer 2026.

Rock'n The Taco, the free music series at Lupita's Cantina, features The Joey Tenuto Band. This 4 to 5 piece group blends rock, blues, reggae, and country with original tunes that keep the crowd moving. The show can also include guest horn sections along with organ and keyboard players for a fuller sound. It brings together tacos, live music, and a welcoming community vibe.

Herbie Hancock is a pioneering figure across culture, technology, business, and music, with a career stretching over six decades. He rose to prominence in the 1960s with the Miles Davis Quintet, helping define a groundbreaking jazz sound, and continued to push boundaries on his own recordings. In the 1970s he reached a wide audience with landmark releases such as Headhunters, blending electric jazz, funk, and rock in ways that continue to influence contemporary music. He later embraced electronic dance ideas on Rockit and Future Shock, while also pursuing acoustic interplay with V.S.O.P. His achievements have been recognized around the world. He earned an Academy Award for the Round Midnight score and has collected 14 Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year honor for River: The Joni Letters, plus two Grammys in 2011 for the globally collaborative The Imagine Project. He holds the role of Creative Chair for Jazz with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and is the Institute Chairman of the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz. He was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2011 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2013. Viking published his memoir, Herbie Hancock: Possibilities, in 2014, and he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

A free 45-minute concert in the Music on the Green series, co-presented with Yampa River Botanic Park, features pianist and educator Beth Blaskovich. With more than two decades of solo and collaborative performances throughout the United States and Europe, she brings classical training and a wide-ranging background in piano, voice, and percussion. She holds a Bachelor of Music in piano from the University of Montana, and career highlights include an appearance at Vienna’s Musikverein. Blaskovich is also a committed teacher with over 15 years of experience. She leads a busy piano studio in Steamboat Springs and has worked with hundreds of students of all ages, blending technical rigor with creativity to foster musicality, confidence, and expressive artistry.

Join Harmony Yoga for an all-levels, all-ages yoga class in Strings Festival Park, set to classical music. The session focuses on breath for grounding, movement for alignment of energy, and an extra-long savasana. Afterward, stick around for a non-alcoholic drink reception as the sun sets on Mt. Werner. Bring your yoga mat and dress in layers for changing weather. A suggested donation of $15 helps support Strings Music Festival. Yoga will be canceled in bad weather, so check closer to the start time if conditions look questionable.