Steamboat Free Summer Concert Calendar

Steamboat will be hosting five free shows this summer, and will be an outdoor treat for both local’s and tourists alike. Held at historic Howelsen Hill, the Steamboat Free Summer Concerts are a highlight of the summertime in the Yampa Valley for locals and visitors. Just a short walk over the Yampa River from downtown, Howelsen Hill is the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America and has been the stomping grounds of many past and future Olympians.

Howelsen Hill will be a hot spot for live music with performances from The Devon Allman Project, reggae artist Jesse Royal and the funk rock band Big Something. Performances from Colorado favorite Sam Bush and rocker Neal Francis round out the five shows which will prove to be a summer to remember!

The free concert schedule features a wide range of music. From bluegrass, to roots music, to rock, concert-goers will can likely something to inspire their souls and groove to at the base area of Howelsen Hill Ski Area. As announced, the lineup is as follows.

 

2023 Free Summer Concert Line-Up

June 23 — Greyboy Allstars with special guest Bonfire Dub

July 14 — Cody Canada & the Departed with special guest Alan Duty and The Lost Rangers

July 21 — The Wood Brothers with special guest Ida Mae

Aug. 11 — St. Paul and The Broken Bones with a special guest to be announced

Sept. 3 — Yonder Mountain String Band with special guest Buffalo Commons

The series kicks off on the third Friday of June with Greyboy Allstars, who hail from San Diego. The band’s rich soul-jazz sound will be paired with the eclectic roots music of opener Bonfire Dub.

The second Friday of July will feature Oklahoma-based Cody Canada & the Departed with red-dirt rock rhythms coupled up with the sound of Alan Duty and The Lost Rangers. The American-roots music of The Wood Brothers is featured the following weekend with the husband-and-wife duo of Chris Turpin and Stephanie Jean of Ida Mae warming the crowd up.

Things heat up again the second Friday of August with St. Paul and the Broken Bones with a special guest who has yet to be announced. The closing performance of the season will resonate well with those who love bluegrass as Yonder Mountain String Band returns yet again to Steamboat to play following Buffalo Commons.

The first-ever free concert was held on the lawn of the Steamboat Courthouse in 1993. Since then, the series has evolved into a board-run organization that strives to bring a combination of mainstream artists and emerging bands to the foot of Emerald Mountain.


Fast Facts

  • Gates open at 5:30pm. Concerts start with an opening band, followed by the main act. Concerts are usually finished around 9:00pm or 9:15pm.
  • You can bring a chair or blanket to sit on, and all ages are welcome.
  • Food and drinks, including beer and bottled alcoholic drinks, are available for sale at the show. Beer sales support the concert series and future series.
  • Kids Stuff: There is a kid’s play area for burning off youthful energy.  Many vendors have great options for kid friendly food and treats. Some kids like to have earmuffs or ear plugs because the music gets loud.
  • Outside food & beverages are not allowed at the shows.


Howelsen Hill

Held at historic Howelsen Hill, just a short walk over the Yampa River from downtown Steamboat, the concerts are incredibly close for anyone wanting to attend. Howelsen Hill is the oldest continuously operating ski area in North America and has been the stomping grounds of many past and future Olympians. Go Ski Town U.S.A!

Howelsen Hill offers the perfect mountain setting for Steamboat’s summer soundtrack. The area hosts the alpine ski jumps for the local Olympian training center, and also doubles as the backdrop to the stage of the pavilion stage. The scenic views of the Steamboat Ski Resort, the emerald green hills, and breathtaking sunsets all create an outdoor music experience like no other that keeps musicians and fans coming back year after year.



About

The Steamboat Free Summer Concerts began in 1993 as a small concert series with just a few hundred people gathering on the lawn of the Routt County Courthouse. The event was started by a small record shop owner and friends, the concerts were a great way for locals to celebrate the summertime and enjoy live outdoor music. From its humble beginnings, the series has grown into a major event featuring five concerts each year with an average attendance of 3,500-7,000 people at each show.

Steamboat Free Summer Concerts is a non-profit and is supported entirely by donations and beer sales at the show. Please Like, Share and Donate at https://keepinitfree.com/donate/ to help keep the music going!


How To Get Here

From Lincoln Avenue (US HWY 40) in downtown Steamboat Springs, turn toward the Yampa River on 5th street, cross the bridge about two blocks down, turn right, and you’re pointing towards the Howelsen Hill parking area.

 

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