Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater kicks off a diverse summer concert season

Summer in Vail doesn’t officially launch until you dance, sing and revel in community at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. This summer, The Amp presents a robust lineup of diverse entertainment.

A sold-out Leon Bridges show on May 25 kicked off the season, followed by Michael Franti & Spearhead’s positive vibes May 29. Attendees raved about both shows, as the two acts delivered stellar nights of music in Vail’s intimate setting after — or before, respectively — performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. And that’s one of the outstanding things about The Amp: the ability to catch big-city acts without the big-city headaches of traffic and mega-crowds.

“Part of the magic of The Amp is being able to see major artists who typically play larger venues in a very intimate, smaller setting. Many artists who play The Amp typically play larger amphitheaters, so being able to experience these artists at a less than 3,000-capacity venue that has outstanding acoustics and a phenomenal guest experience is a beautiful thing,” said Dave Dressman, vice president of The Amp.

Plenty of people drive up to Vail from Denver — and well beyond — to catch a show. After seeing Michael Franti in Flagstaff, Arizona, Sedona residents Anne Lantry and Christian Eaton decided The Amp would be the perfect place to see him again.

“The venue is alive,” Eaton said. “I love that there is nature behind (the stage). The trees are growing … There’s also little baby trees planted along the sides that are growing, and that’s a special part of the venue that’s not at any other venue.”

Support Local Journalism

Donate

“I love the size — no matter where you are in it, it’s a good seat,” Lantry added.

Thursday night’s Franti show radiated with jovial arms waving in unison as he ushered in waves of warmth, even as late-night temperatures dropped.

“It’s just the vibe — you’ve got the scenery, the mountains, the view, the weather, the people, it’s like a festival; it tells me it’s summer – the first concert of the summer,” said Russ Kennedy, a Denver resident with a second home in East Vail.

In 2025, USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards recognized Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater as the No. 4 Best Amphitheater in the country, and the Bulleit Hot Summer Nights free concert series earned the No. 5 spot for Best Outdoor Concert Series.

“Our partnership with AEG Presents over the past few years has elevated our programming and national exposure,” said Kristen Dudding, senior director of marketing and public relations for the Vail Valley Foundation, which operates The Amp.

“Colorado is a very competitive music landscape with a myriad of amazing venues, so bigger artists will ultimately decide which venue(s) they will play based on scheduling and revenue potential. Our goal, at the end of the day, is to have a robust and diverse lineup at The Amp that appeals to all generations and a variety of different musical tastes,” Dressman said.

This summer’s musical talent ranges from Trevor Hall to O.A.R. and Blind Melon, Steel Pulse, The String Cheese Incident, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, The Black Crowes, Melissa Etheridge, Wilco, Ray LaMontagne, Jon Batiste and Big Wild.

In partnership with The Amp, GoPro Mountain Games also brings three nights of upcoming co-headliners. Thursday, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue’s funk, jazz and soul share the spotlight with Bonfire Dub’s reggae, rock and dub fusion. Friday, singer-songwriter and virtuoso guitarist Molly Tuttle headlines along with retro-soul improvisations of The California Honeydrops. Saturday, British reggae band Steel Pulse, multi-platinum artist Mike Posner and The Original Wailers fill The Amp with uplifting rhythms and socially conscious lyrics.

Throughout the summer, Grateful Dead fans have their pick of takes on the legendary band’s sounds, from Joe Russo’s Almost Dead to Bertha: Grateful Drag, the latter of which is a free show.

Other free concerts include: the multi-genre talents of singer-songwriter Maggie Rose; Journey-tribute band Those Crazy Nights; ALO; The Man in Black tribute to Johnny Cash; self-proclaimed party animal Andy Frasco & the U.N.; and the Denver-based, Southern-country-and-folk-rooted Clay Street Unit.

Eagle resident Alice Harvey, who was at the Franti show, looks forward to introducing her teenagers to different types of music throughout The Amp’s summer, whether that’s Bravo’s! classical music or any number of its free and paid concerts.

“I’m looking forward to time with community and family. This venue, in particular (supports) the sense of community,” she said, pointing out that lawn seats make concerts more affordable and the blend of covered, seated pavilion and open hillside make it both a formal and an informal venue that promotes an overall festival feel.

In general, live outdoor music fosters a sense of freedom, joy and connection, all of which were palpable as Franti strolled through the crowd singing — all the way up to the back of the lawn seats.

As Carrie Kennedy, Russ’ wife, simply put it: “When I’m up here, I’m happy.”

And, it’s not just the audience who shares that happiness; it extends to the musicians themselves. As Franti stated before launching into “Summertime Is In Our Hands”:

“I love when we get to come to Vail because we come here every year right at the start of summertime, and as you can feel in the air, summer is here, ya’ll.”