There’s something about live music that sounds a little better with a chill in the air. September in Colorado brings warm afternoons, cool evenings, and the first hints of gold in the trees. It’s a brief sweet spot between summer concert season and the arrival of fall, and a particularly good time to catch a show outside. From big names in a Telluride box canyon to bluegrass on the Western Slope, here are four music events we love this September.
Sunnyside Music Festival
Big festivals have their place, but this one makes a convincing case for keeping things local. On September 12, the free, volunteer-run gathering takes over Chaffee Park for a day devoted exclusively to Colorado musicians. The festival has come a long way since 2000, when it began as a backyard gathering with just two bands and about 50 people. Today, it’s a North Denver tradition that also gives back, with proceeds supporting youth music and arts programs throughout the community.
Telluride Blues & Brews
From September 18–20, Telluride Blues & Brews fills the box canyon with three days of blues, funk, rock, gospel, and soul. Now in its 32nd year, the festival brings Jon Batiste, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Marcus King Band, Samantha Fish, G. Love & Special Sauce and more to town, with performances spilling from the main stage into intimate late-night
Mountains, the festival pairs three days of venues throughout Telluride.
Pickin’ in The Rockies
On September 20, Pickin’ in The Rockies brings country, bluegrass, and gospel to Loma on Colorado’s Western Slope. The one-day outdoor festival celebrates music with distinct American roots while promoting Colorado musicians and preserving and teaching the history and evolution of bluegrass and acoustic music. Workshops and vendors round out the day, but the premise is refreshingly simple: bring a chair, settle in, and spend a September Sunday listening to some very good picking.
Caveman Music Festival
Start the month decidedly off-grid at Caveman Music Festival, held September 4–6 at Monument Lake Resort in Weston. Tucked into the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the festival pairs three days of Americana, country, folk, and rock with 368 acres of mountain wilderness. A slew of bands perform across two stages, but the setting is as much of a draw as the music. Festivalgoers can camp or glamp beside the lake, hike, fish, and settle in for sets surrounded by mountain views. Now in its fifth year, Caveman feels more like a musical mountain escape than a traditional festival.
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