Press

There is no better way to kick off the busiest weekend of the summer than with a big party featuring a sizzling, live soundtrack. Ushering in the holiday weekend, Riverwalk First Fridays return to the Riverwalk Backyard Amphitheatre in Edwards beginning at 5 p.m. July 1 with free live music and a vendor booth bonanza featuring Crazy Mountain beer, wine and tasty specialties from Taco Rico and Loaded Joe’s.

Music kicks off at 6 p.m. with Colorado-grown powerhouse The Burroughs. The nine-piece ensemble touts itself as “sweaty soul” and includes a four-piece horn section. The Burroughs follow the musical vein of Ottis Redding and Ray Charles and their thunderous performances include an energetic selection of crowd-pleasing favorites as well as danceable originals.

The June Riverwalk First Fridays concert featuring fellow Colorado favorite Hazel Miller drew the largest crowd in the history of the event – hundreds of dancers, picnickers and passers by ranging from families with young children, to couples, work groups and visitors of all ages.

Picnics are welcome at Riverwalk First Fridays but no pets are allowed and the event is non-smoking. Riverwalk First Fridays are presented by Alpine Bank and Kaiser Permanente. The event is a project of  KZYR 97.7 The Zephyr and Vail Jazz. For more information, call 1-800-VAIL-JAM or visit riverwalkfirstfridays.com. To check out the incredible 2016 lineup of Grammy winners and musical icons at the summer-long 22^nd Annual Vail Jazz Festival, visit vailjazz.org.

ABOUT VAIL JAZZ

In 1995 life-long jazz fan Howard Stone launched the inaugural Labor Day Weekend Vail Jazz Party. A resounding success, the Weekend Party spawned the Vail Jazz Foundation, its mission to showcase the talent of prominent and up-and-coming jazz musicians as well as educate and nurture the genre’s next generation of greats. Vail Jazz has grown to include year-round programming such as Vail Jazz Goes to School and 12 weeks of live performances every summer with The 22nd Annual Vail Jazz Festival’s Vail Jazz @ Vail Square, Vail Jazz @ The Market, Jammin’ Jazz Kids and The Vail Jazz Workshop for a total of more than 60 live performances and educational programs.