Rocky Mountain Ski Fest supports children’s cancer research with benefit concert in Beaver Creek

In the early 1990s, Edwin McCain came to Vail from Greenville, South Carolina to be a solo acoustic player, following a pipeline of musicians who regularly performed between Hilton Head and the Vail Valley. Initially, McCain lived in his car and played on other performers’ off-nights. 

He landed his own gig at the now-gone Gold Peak Lodge when he was down to his last $50 and, with tears in his eyes, admitted to Resort Entertainment Manager Dana Del Bosco that he couldn’t face the idea of returning to Greenville with his “tail between his legs.” She let him play a few songs at Gold Peak, which gained momentum like a rolling snowball.

Shortly after he moved away from Vail, Atlantic Records signed him — a milestone that also happened to take place in Vail because Atlantic’s Jason Flom loved snowboarding. 

Throughout McCain’s 35-plus-year career, he has scored a number of hits, including two of the biggest love songs in history: “I’ll Be” and “I Could Not Ask for More.”

“Vail was the catalyst, that moment where I figured out on my own that I could come out and play music and support myself,” he said. “I have such a huge love of the Vail Valley and all of the people, and I’ve made it a point of being out there every year since. It really was transformative for me to be able to get out there, find a gig and make a living as a musician. Every time I come back, it’s like a homecoming.”

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At the Rocky Mountain Ski Fest, McCain joins Nashville’s Old Dominion, eight-time winners of the Academy of Country Music’s country group of the year, as well as seven-time Country Music Association Vocal Group winners. Their hits include “Song for Another Time,” “Hotel Key,” “Break up with Him,” “Make it Sweet” and “One Man Band.”

The Rocky Mountain Ski Fest, which comes to Colorado to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer research, brings kids with cancer to the mountains to ski and ice skate with the musicians, as well as enjoy a concert and meals with the artists. Limited tickets to the concert are available to the public and benefit the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, which funds research to find less toxic and more effective treatments for children with cancer.

“Old Dominion and Edwin McCain’s Rocky Mountain Ski Fest creates unforgettable experiences and joyful memories for children and families affected by pediatric cancer, while also raising awareness and vital funds for pediatric cancer research,” said Mollie Case, founder of Rocky Mountain Ski Fest Foundation, Inc. “It is the only event of its kind.”

McCain has been involved in pediatric causes for over 25 years and has performed in the Ski Fest since its inception. He’ll play his hits, followed by a performance by Old Dominion.

“Being a father myself, it’s easy to get attached to the initiatives. … This is the best part about a career in music. This is the good stuff,” he said. “It’s nice to see the (kids with cancer’s) family get away and have a weekend together.”

Old Dominion celebrated its latest release, “Barbara,” a more personal and introspective album that revolves around love, life and mortality, last August. In early 2025, McCain released his first new material in 15 years, titled “Lucky.” It features a collaboration with Old Dominion in the form of “Lucky All the Time,” which includes Matt Ramsey on vocals and backing harmonies from the band members.

“I was sort of happily in my semi-retirement mode, and Lee Brice started pestering me about making another record,” McCain said.

His answer: He’s already made 10, and “people don’t want to hear a new album from me,” he said. But Brice kept after him for years. Finally McCain thought, “Why not?” After all, the technology has improved in the last decade and a half, making it easier to make records — which also means you can tinker, editing and re-editing, nearly endlessly, he pointed out.

Since he says he has a propensity to write sad songs — something his kids give him a hard time about — he called Ramsey, asking if the artist had a happy song to balance out the mix. He sent over “Lucky All the Time,” but no matter what McCain did, he said it sounded like an Old Dominion song. So he figured the band should be on the record. 

Now, he looks forward to performing with them at the Vilar.

“It’s really informal,” he said. “It’s real conversational, and they’re extremely funny. It’s a great show.”