Aspen / Snowmass BLOWS up for Jazz Fest

Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival, 2011Jazz Aspen Snowmass (JAS) found the right formula for all ages at the 2011 Labor Day Festival.  JAS presented 3 days of fun and music to a large and well behaved audience at Snowmass Village Park over the holiday weekend.  Over 23,000 music fans, spanning generations took in an extremely diverse line-up of performers (see entire line-up below) on 3 stages in Snowmass.

Aspen's beautiful (and usually unpredictable) mountain weather provided a glorious backdrop for this years JAS Labor Day Festival.  JAS in it's 21st year partnered up with entertainment and  music powerhouse AEG to book a vast array of musical talent that had something for everyone. Friday night's kick-off show appealed to a younger demographic featuring progressive trip hoppers THIEVERY CORPORATION and mash-up artist GIRL TALK.  There was a mellow but upbeat vibe throughout the park with plenty of room for dancing and chillin'.  The few raindrops that fell didn't inhibit anyone from having a blast...and the sick rainbow was an added feature.

CLICK for PIX  JAS DAY 1

Good times at JAS. Michael FrantiSaturday's main stage featured RODRIGO y GABRIELA, an acoustic guitar duo who set the place on fire.  While they really don't fit into a particular genre, Rodrigo y Gabriela are quickly becoming a force in world music and the Aspen audience responded to their set with fervor.  70's rock icons STEELY DAN took the headline spot on Saturday beinging their A-game to Aspen/Snowmass.  Walter Becker and Donald Fagen displayed their eclectic, sophisticated and distinctive sound flashing the audience back to the late 1970's.  Steely Dan attracted lots of parents (and grandparents) to JAS.  The almost sold-out show got a rave reviews from the Aspen / Snowmass faithful.  AspenSpin had one pet peeve...no Rikki don't lose that number??  C'mon, son??  Saturday night included an awesome and very exclusive after party in the JAS VIP tent that allowed some of the geezers and their trophy wives to "shake it" until midnight....and they did.   

CLICK for PIX   JAS DAY 2 (VIPs gone WILD)

Sunday's show was SOLD OUT.  11,000 people, man Brush Creek Road is closed.  Sunday's musical offerings appealed to everyone.   MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD performed their brand of good-time music and got the capacity crowd into that good-time zone.  Franti and his band mates spread their love, peace and social justice throughout the fest.   ZAC BROWN BAND is simply the hottest group in Country Music today.  Brown and his band of country rockers based in Georgia have paid their dues and are finally getting their just rewards...including a Grammy for best new artist in 2010.   There was not an empty swatch of grass in Snowmass, as every inch was packed. 

CLICK for PIX   JAS DAY 3 (Git 'er Done)

The 2011 JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS LABOR DAY FESTIVAL was a huge success.  Measure it any way you want to... BIG Fun, BIG Fans, a lively but well behaved crowd and no DUI's recorded.  Congratulations to JAS, AEG, the musicians, the Town of Snowmass and RFTA  for doing a great job presenting top flight entertainment in a festive, grooving holiday atmosphere.   TIA/S.  This is Aspen / Snowmass.

Donald Fagen of Steely Dan at Jazz Aspen Snowmass

Zac Brown Band sold out show Jazz Aspen Snowmass 2011Zac Brown Band members kicking it out in Aspen