Make music part of your meeting agenda in a town where tunes are regularly available and encouraged. The northern Colorado community of Fort Collins features a vibrant music scene by offering free live music several evenings a week during the summer, an eclectic selection of live music venues, and several surprising ways to plug into all things musical.
Painted Pianos and In-Tune Lodging
Anyone can play a song or tickle the keys on one of 100 pianos painted by local artists and placed around Fort Collinsthrough the Pianos About Town hands-on exhibit. While in the historic district find a selection of pianos and book a stay and meeting space at the 164-room Elizabeth Hotel, which has in-room record players, a collection of 1,200 vinyl records, a lending library full of musical instruments, and The Magic Rat for a healthy dose of live music. Attendees also may want to stop by the two vinyl record stores in Old Town to make a purchase.
Summer Concerts Galore
Why go to the expense and effort of booking music when there is already so many options available? The summer 2023 outdoor summer concert lineup in Fort Collins includes FoCo Food Truck Rally at City Park on Tuesdays, Lagoon Summer Concert Series at Colorado State University on Wednesdays, and Bohemian Nights Thursday Night Live at Old Town Square on Thursdays. On weekends, head to New Belgium Friday Live Music Series at New Belgium Brewing and Live at the Gardens Summer Concert Series at The Gardens on Spring Creek on Fridays and Sunday Summer Series at Mishawaka Amphitheatre.
Many of the more than 20 local breweries in Fort Collins, including Odell Brewing Company and Maxline Brewing, also host live music regularly.
Local Stages & Music District
Also check out the local stages and options for booking private events at places like Washington’s, an Old Town landmark that holds 900 and was purchased and renovated by the Bohemian Foundation. Concerts at The Armory pair a local artist with a nationally known musician in an intimate 200-seat listening room, while Mishawaka Amphitheatre (aka The Mish) opened in 1916 along the Cache La Poudre River and holds up to 1,000.
If you want to bowl and listen to live music at the same time, go to 830 North for Live on the Lanes that features weekly concerts sponsored by The Mish.
On a broader scale, Fort Collins features a vibrant music scene in the Music District, which is driving the city’s thriving cultural landscape by serving as a musical incubator. The district’s campus has gathering spaces, apartments for artists-in-residence, a radio station, rehearsal studios, and performance spaces. Backed by the Bohemian Foundation, the district aims to attract both music lovers and musicians at various levels in their expertise and career.
“The local scene is vibrant and full of incredible talent of all genres and pulls in an amazing amount of support from the community,” says Greta Cornett, co-founder and president of the Fort Collins Musicians Association. “It’s become a hot spot for breakout acts and a touring location for national musicians.”
