2026 CO Free Concert Series: Hot Summer Nights (Vail – Tuesdays) | Full Lineup & Guide

Bulleit Hot Summer Nights will return to the iconic Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (lovingly referred to as The Amp by locals and those in the know) on select Tuesday nights from June 16 through September 15.

The series has been a summer staple in the Vail Valley since 1987, offering free, world-class live music against one of the most spectacular natural backdrops in the country. It has been consistently ranked among the country’s best outdoor concert series in the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, earning the top spot in 2024 and coming in at number five in 2025. 

“Hot Summer Nights has been a cornerstone of our community for almost 40 years, and we’re excited to run it back with an incredible lineup this summer,” said Dave Dressman, Vice President of the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater. “What I love about this series is that it’s free, it’s open to everyone, and the variety of genres means there’s something for every musical taste. You’ve got locals who’ve been coming for decades and visitors experiencing The Amp for the first time, all gathered together on a summer evening in the mountains. It’s pretty special.” 

Hot Summer Nights Lineup

• June 16: The Main Squeeze: This high-energy funk-rock-soul quintet from Los Angeles is known for tight grooves, soulful vocals, and electrifying improvisational live performances. 
• June 23: Jammy Buffet: The Boulder-based group delivers a sun-soaked journey through Jimmy Buffett’s beloved catalog, with guitarist Brendan Mayer — son of Coral Reefer Band member Peter Mayer — bringing a deep personal connection to Buffett’s legacy. 
• June 30: The Long Run: Colorado’s premier Eagles tribute band, The Long Run faithfully re-creates the classic ’70s sound of America’s best-selling rock group. 
• July 14: Wuki: This Grammy-nominated Denver-born DJ and producer has earned a devoted global following through his genre-blending style, including a viral rework of Stevie Nicks’s “Edge of Seventeen” that has surpassed 40 million Spotify streams. 
• July 21: Jamestown Revival: Childhood friends Zach Chance and Jonathan Clay weave rich harmonies and narrative-driven songwriting in the tradition of Willie Nelson and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Their debut album Utah was named iTunes’ Singer-Songwriter Album of the Year, and the duo most recently composed the score for the hit Broadway musical The Outsiders. 
• Sept. 1: The Wailers: Originally formed alongside Bob Marley in the 1960s, The Wailers continue to carry his message of love, unity, and justice to generations of fans around the world. 
• Tuesday, Sept. 15: Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience Presented by Discover Vail & Donna Giordano The VVF Community Concert returns to close out the summer season with the McGuigan brothers. Billy, Matthew, and Ryan build a custom set list from audience requests each night, making for an interactive Beatles experience where no two shows are ever the same. For this show, setlist requests will be taken in advance via social media. It’s the perfect way to send off summer.

Good To Know

• Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for all Hot Summer Nights shows, with music beginning at 6:30 p.m.
• Concerts are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. 
  • The Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater can host up to ~2,600 guests within the pavilion and lawn seating areas. Please note that the venue tends to fill up quickly, so we recommend arriving when the gates open.
• You can bring a picnic dinner to enjoy or can purchase concessions onsite. Note that the concessions are 100% cashless. 
  • Guests are allowed to bring food into the venue so long as it is done within venue bag policies. Picnics and commercially sealed non-alcoholic beverages are permitted.
  • Personal sized coolers (no larger than 18qt) and subject to search
  • Empty Water bottles are allowed
• Umbrellas, blankets, and short-legged chairs are allowed. Note that chairs can be no more than 5 inches off the ground. SEE EXAMPLES HERE. 
• Pets/Animals are not allowed (except for service animals as defined by the ADA)
• All bags are subject to search and no oversized bags are allowed ie duffle bags, large backpacking bags, suitcase

Accessibility at The Amp  

The Amp provides reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities, including those with limited mobility. Click the button below for information regarding accessibility features, policies, and recommendations for your visit. Learn MORE

Location & Parking/Transportation

The Amp is located at 540 S Frontage Rd East in Vail, CO, adjacent to the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens and Ford Park.

Driving directions: Take exit 176 off I-70. Head south toward Vail mountain, into the main Vail roundabout. Exit the roundabout so you are heading east on South Frontage Road. The Vail Parking structure will be a short distance up on the right, where summer parking is FREE. Alternatively, you can continue on to the Ford Park parking lot, where attendants will collect payment by credit card for paid parking.

Walking directions: From the Vail Village parking structure, exit to the east. Walk northeast toward the softball fields until you see the paved walkway into the park on your right. Follow that path straight down to the Amphitheater. Golf carts run frequently between the top of the path and the venue prior to and following shows. You can also take the Gore Creek Trail directly to the venue. See maps below.

From the Ford Park parking lot: look for the bike path at the southeast end of the tennis courts. Follow the path directly downhill to the Amphitheater.

Free Vail Bus: From the Vail Village or Lionshead parking structures, guests may hop on a free bus to get to The Amp. There are a couple of bus routes to choose from including Golf Course, East Vail, or Intown. Click HERE to view the bus schedule and map.

Parking: Limited paid parking is available at Ford Park, located northeast of the Amphitheater on the Frontage Road, and at the Soccer Field, located southeast of the Amphitheater on Vail Valley Drive. Check the parking availability HERE. Parking in the Ford lot for Amp events is $20; paid by credit card (no cash accepted).

Free parking is available in the summer at the Vail Village and Lionshead Village parking structures when entering after 3pm (until 4am). Both structures are a short walk or shuttle ride to the venue. Learn more about summer parking options in Vail HERE. Courtesy cart service is provided to the facility on a regular basis before and after each performance for those needing transportation assistance.

Free Core Transit Rides: The Eagle Valley Transportation Authority now offers fare-free service routes from Vail to Eagle with increased route frequency. If you will be traveling up or down valley, be sure to check out bus times and routes here.

Carpool & Save: Coming with a group to the Ford Park or Vail Athletic Fields/Soccer Lot?  The FOUR + FOR FREE carpool program offers free parking to those who arrive with four or more in a vehicle! Guests utilizing the Ford Park lot or the Vail Athletic Fields/Soccer lot during paid parking events who arrive with four or more people in their vehicle will have their parking validated at entrance.

• To receive the free parking validation, guests must speak with the parking attendant or push the call button at entrance.
• A schedule of paid parking events can be found at this link.
• First come, first served.

COMPLIMENTARY BIKE VALET: Enjoy a glorious summer bike ride to The Amp and take advantage of our FREE bike valet right at the entrance of the venue!