Have You Ever Attended a Concert at Colorado’s ‘Little Red Rocks’?
Colorado is home to a magnificent annual concert event, and it's not held at Red Rocks or Fiddler's Green. Have you ever heard of "Little Red Rocks"? If you haven't, let me tell you, you've really missed out.
This year's 20th anniversary event was unbelievable. Unfortunately, it was also the last year for Little Red Rocks. The event has simply become far too awesome and has quite literally outgrown itself.
What is Little Red Rocks? It's a concert event, well over 12 hours long, featuring musical acts from all over the world. How do you get tickets? You don't. It's a private concert event held each year in the mountains just outside Lyons, Colorado.
This year's music ranged from Blues to Reggae to Folk to Jazz. Something for everyone.
The lineup included:
Look at that schedule. That's nuts! Just how big is this festival? I lost count at 500 people. Looking at the parking area, I would say there were close to 500 cars. Keep in mind, this was an invitation only event.
How did it start? Well, 20 years ago, the owner of the property hired Colorado Springs musician Jimmy Lange to play for a private event at his property. Originally, the stage consisted of the small section to the left where you see the keyboard setup. As years went by, the stage was expanded, a second side-stage was added, lights were erected, and sound crews were hired. The event went from a small social gathering to a major concert event.
One of the true standouts, to me at least, was Shanna in a Dress. This was a very funny lady. Not only that, she's an excellent songwriter and performer. During her performance she mentioned living in Boulder and performing all over the state.
Another exceptional act was Denver's Cass Clayton Band.
This was the first time I had attended the event. As a matter of fact, it was the first time I had heard of it. The production aspect alone was extraordinary. When it was all said and done, 20 different acts performed. Seriously, this was a major concert event.
So long, Little Red Rocks. It's hard to imagine a better swan song. The audience loved every moment. The acts were on par with any festival I've ever worked or attended. I would like to thank the property owners for inviting me. When it comes to concerts, that's how it's done.