Red Rocks Amphitheatre celebrates 80 years, and the musicians who kept music alive
MORRISON, Colo. — Live music is once again filling the air at Red Rocks Amphitheatre.
The first official concerts since the pandemic shutdowns, returned to entertaining in-person audiences in the past week. To the delight of many music lovers, more concerts are continuing to fill-out the upcoming summer calendar.
Red Rocks is returning to what it has been doing since 1941: entertaining and inspiring visitors with Colorado’s iconic beauty. To celebrate this eight-decade milestone, a special evening was planned, one that celebrated the local artists who kept music alive during the pandemic — some from front yards, porches, churches, and Zoom.
The "Red Rocks 8 O’clock Howl" brought nine artists and community heroes to the stage for a rare opportunity to perform on the famous space.
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Guests purchased tickets for 80 cents, the same price concert-goers paid in 1941. They were treated to a variety of sounds, ranging from the Emerald Society Pipes & Drums, a group of first responders who played bagpipes during the pandemic, to a 5th grader from Parker who is a piano sensation, not to mention energizing sounds from the D’Evelyn High School Marching Band, who also had the honor of performing for the virtual Inauguration Day celebration earlier this year.
There was also a celebratory, cathartic howl, just like the ones that became a tradition during the pandemic. This time the crowd honored the first responders and frontline workers along with celebrating the 80th season at Red Rocks and the music that has returned to fill the nights.
All of this adds up to bragging rights for D’Evelyn High School seniors and members of the marching band, Linnea Guldbeck and Grace Kennedy.
“They can’t believe it. Because they’ve all come here for concerts,” said Guldbeck.
“They’ve been saying, 'Wow, you can play on the same stage as Jimmy Buffett, Billie Eilish, and all these big names. It’s really cool,” added Kennedy.
The Jaguar Marching Band closed the evening celebration with memories to last a lifetime.