Steamboat Free Summer Concerts

Background Statement

The Steamboat Free Summer Concerts (the Series) began in 1993 as a small concert series with several hundred in attendance and presented on the lawn of the Routt County Court House, the community gathering space in the heart of downtown Steamboat Springs. Started by a small record shop owner and friends, the Series now features 5 concerts per year with attendance averaging 3,500 to 5,000 per concert for an annual average of 20-22,000. And boasts nationally recognized artists in the area of pop-rock, reggae, bluegrass, blues, and funk. The series is a gathering for all ages and has become truly one of the signature family events in the valley. Audience sizes can fluctuate relative to the performer's popularity or how the concert is schedule in relation to signature event weekends. The attendance is generally 20% visitors and 80% locals. One of the most compelling rewards of this program is the access to great music for the regional work force. With the stratification of the haves and the have-nots in our rural resort community, the Series is supported by many businesses as a way for them to provide added benefit to their employees.