Strings Music Festival: Something for Everyone
When you think about music in the high mountains, there is arguably no finer venue than what’s provided at Strings Music Festival. We in Steamboat Springs are extremely fortunate to have such a facility designed to bring our community direct access to some of the world’s finest entertainers. The 569-seat Pavilion plays host to acts ranging from traditional orchestra to modern contemporary, as well as those unbound by labels and genres.
Billo Premium Cannabis is proud to support the work of Strings Music Festival. The mission of Strings is simple yet powerful:
“To present innovative programs of distinctive classical and popular contemporary music in an intimate and friendly setting to audiences of all ages, enhancing the cultural, educational, and entertainment experiences of the community of Northwest Colorado and its visitors.”
We recently caught up with Lib Diamond, Strings’ Development and Marketing Director, to find out her perspective on what makes the organization so special. One could tell from the energy in her tone that she is passionate about their vision of bringing access to exceptional music to everyone in Northwest Colorado.
Headed into the 36th season of Strings, Lib and the team at Strings work tirelessly to make sure their programming reflects what the community wants to see. This focus has led Strings to gradually expand their contemporary artists series while still honoring their orchestral roots. Some of the most highly anticipated shows this summer include Graham Nash, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats, and the Bodeans. But the list goes on from there.
In terms of classical programs to enjoy, opening night (June 24th) welcomes Chee-Yun playing Beethoven, an evening that will surely sell out. Beyond that, classical lovers will enjoy live renditions of the arrangements written by John Williams. Williams is credited with composing the recognizable theme music for blockbuster films such as Jurassic Park and Star Wars. The Strings summer performance calendar stretches from June 22nd through August with events happening 5-6 days a week. Talk about a packed line-up!
In addition to performances at the Strings Pavilion, community programming continues to expand throughout Routt County. The Music on the Green series heads into its 25th anniversary this summer, held weekly beginning June 28th at the Yampa River Botanic Park. This weekly free event has always been a terrific Wednesday unwind for locals and visitors alike. The Strings programming staff has also been working hard to bring music to the masses with off-site performances booked at local venues like The Barley, Dusky Grouse Coffee, and The Granary in Hayden.
Don’t be surprised to see the Billo staff and patrons rubbing elbows in the crowd for local performers like the Mountainside String Band playing The Granary, and phenom singer/songwriter Adia Clark Lay at Music on the Green. Heck, you may even see our growers and budtenders limbering up for the day at Yoga In The Park with Classical Music, held Wednesdays from 9a-10a at the Strings Festival Park. Weekly yoga is open to all abilities with a $10 suggested donation to this well-deserving 501c3.
When we asked Ms. Diamond about the performances she was most excited to attend, her answer seemed to lean more towards the humoristic talk entertainment of both David Sedaris (July 18) and Fran Lebowitz (August 8). This again goes to show how the diversity of Strings’ entertainment spans well beyond traditional music.
When we asked the Billo staff to choose what they think will be the most interesting event to attend, the Musical Stargazing held in cooperation with Yampatika on August 25 & 26 was our resounding choice. After all, who doesn’t like the opportunity of experiencing a mindful look into the sky with a background musical serenade? Especially if you’ve stopped at Billo beforehand ~ wink.
Strings summer tickets go on sale May 11th with many shows expected to sell out. So don’t miss this season’s opportunity to see some outstanding performers in our own backyard. Thank you Strings, for enriching our lives so immensely and all that you do to foster community through music.
