For those employed by or in some way supported by the ski resorts of Summit County, May is a time for escape. Long winters lead us to want to abandon our homes for the musical, film, art and theater offerings of the summer.

This week, find a guide to several festivals of music in Summit County, in Colorado and a few others of note outside the mountains that are coming up in these warm months ahead.

Next week will be a look at film festivals and Hollywood’s lineup with a sneak preview into Breckenridge’s own film festival the first weekend of June.

In the May 16 edition of the Summit Scene, preview the schedule of local art fairs. Then on May 23 find out what they’re staging at the Backstage and Lake Dillon Theatre companies through August.

Find the Summit Daily Summer Guide on racks in late May with the full summer schedule of events.

You don’t have to leave the state to find some well-established music festivals. Check out what’s coming up this summer, including the brand new Mile High Music Festival in Denver in July, along with the lineups for some favorite outdoor venues — Red Rocks near Denver and Mishawaka near Fort Collins.

Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest, June 6-8
— www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com
The Aspen/Snowmass summer season kicks off with the 5th annual Snowmass Chili Pepper & Brew Fest June 6-8. Tickets, ranging in price from $15 to a weekend pass of $50, are available for purchase at www.snowmasschiliandbrew.com. After May 15 tickets will be available at participating City Markets between Rifle and Vail and at local outlets in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Chili Pepper & Brew Fest schedule
• Friday, June 6
Chili: The International Chili Society’s Front Range District Chili Cook-Off.
Microbrews: More than 40 elite national microbreweries compete in the professionally judged Best Summer Ale Brew Fest 2008 competition. Party Pass holders are invited to the following seasonal brews sampling with more than 60 microbrews on tap to sample.
Music: Musicians hit the stage starting at 3 p.m. DJ Harry, Lyrics Born, Stephen Marley
• Saturday, June 7
Musicians hit the stage starting at 3 p.m. The Wildbirds, The Neville Brothers, Dr. John

Jazz Aspen Snowmass opens and closes summer with festivals
— www.jazzaspen.org
ASPEN — Music is an incredible feast of possibilities, and Jazz Aspen Snowmass has arranged a menu for the summer of 2008 that will touch every taste, salute every genre, and please the most jaded palate.
Tickets for both festivals are on sale and can be purchased by calling (866) JAS-TIXX (527-8499), or visiting www.jazzaspen.org.
• Jazz Aspen Snowmass June festival lineup, June 19-22
At Rio Grand Park, downtown Aspen
June 19 — Bebel Gilberto, Dianne Reeves
June 20 — The Manhattan Transfer, Anita Baker
June 21 — Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings, Brian Setzer Orchestra
June 22 — Los Lonely Boys
In between the two big events, on July 24 Jazz Aspen Snowmass will present The Blues Brothers for its JASummerNights Gala at the Belly Up in Aspen.
• Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival, Aug. 28 through Sept. 1
At Snowmass Town Park, Snowmass Village
Aug. 28 — Widespread Panic
Aug. 29 — The New Mastersounds, Xavier Rudd, Widespread Panic
Aug. 31 — Dwight Yoakam, John Fogerty
Sept. 1 — Jerry Douglas, Yonder Mountain String Band

First ever Mile High Music Festival is July 19-20
— www.milehighmusicfestival.com
AEG Live Rocky Mountain Region announces the first Mile High Music Festival on July 19 and 20. The festival will be held on the Outer Fields at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Denver. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers will headline on July 19; Dave Matthews Band will top the bill on July 20. The festival will be hosting five stages (some tented), food from many of Denver’s top restaurants, an artists’ village, misting tents and more. Tickets for the Mile High Music Festival are on sale now at www.tickethorse.com and www.milehighmusicfestival.com, by phone at (866) 461-6556 and at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park Box Office. The Outer Fields at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park is located nine miles from downtown Denver, and 1.8 miles from the I-70 and Quebec exit.

Mile High Music Festival lineup
• Saturday, July 19
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, O.A.R. (Of A Revolution), Michael Franti & Spearhead, Steve Winwood, Spoon, Jason Mraz, moe., Citizen Cope, Lupe Fiasco, Andrew Bird, Josh Ritter, Mike Gordon, State Radio, JJ Grey & Mofro, Bob Schneider, Hill Country Revue, Newton Faulkner, Meese, Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, Born in the Flood and Railbenders.
• Sunday, July 20
Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, The Black Crowes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Flogging Molly, Colbie Caillat, OneRepublic, The Roots, Leftover Salmon, Martin Sexton, Flobots, Ingrid Michaelson, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Brett Dennen, Rose Hill Drive, Tea Leaf Green, The New Mastersounds, Eric Hutchinson, The Whigs, Serena Ryder and The Photo Atlas.

36th Annual Rockygrass Festival is July 25-27
— www.bluegrass.com/rockygrass
LYONS — With the final addition of Darol Anger & Mike Marshall and a Sunday morning gospel set featuring Jeremy Garrett (of the Infamous Stringdusters) & Friends, Planet Bluegrass has announced the single-day lineups for the 36th Annual RockyGrass Festival taking place July 25-27 in Lyons. Founded by Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, in 1973, the festival features a diverse lineup of bluegrass, newgrass, celtic, and old-time artists, including the Dan Tyminski Band, Natalie MacMaster, and the Sparrow Quartet. Single-day tickets are $45-50, three-day passes are $125, and camping priced at $45-50 is available at bluegrass.com or (800) 624-2422.

RockyGrass lineup
• Friday, July 25
Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas & Edgar Meyer, Dan Tyminski Band, Béla Fleck & Friends, John Cowan Band, Russ Barenberg & Bryan Sutton, The Steeldrivers, Mike Marshall & Darol Anger, and Spring Creek Bluegrass Band
• Saturday, July 26
Natalie MacMaster, Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile, Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet featuring Béla Fleck, Psychograss, Infamous Stringdusters, Bearfoot, and Chatham County Line
• Sunday, July 27
Sam Bush Bluegrass Band, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Peter Rowan, JD Crowe & The New South, Adrienne Young & Little Sadie, Stairwell Sisters, and Gospel Set featuring Jeremy Garrett

NedFest, Aug. 22-24
— www.nedfest.com
The 10th Annual NedFest is a three-day outdoor music festival located on the shores of Barker Reservoir in the mountains of Nederland — 17 miles west of Boulder. It happens in August, the weekend before Labor Day weekend, and the music featured is in the bluegrass, jazz and world-beat genres ... or more so, a sound that blends these styles (and others) together. Up to six bands headline each day on one stage, with acoustic ‘tweener sets between each band.
The lineup of bands for NedFest so far includes: Steve Kimock with Melvin Seals & JGB, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, The Motet, Vince Herman & Great American Taxi, New Monsoon, Tony Furtado Band, Split Lip Rayfield, Larry Keel & Natural Bridge, Swingset (featuring Banjo Dave Johnston, Sally Van Meter, Dave Watts & John Ridnell), Onda, Elephant Revival and more to be announced. Tweener sets include Acoustic Shanti Groove, Danny Shafer and more. Late Night Shows to be announced.

Colorado State Fair
PUEBLO — The Colorado State Fair says country music stars Jason Aldean and Sugarland are scheduled to perform at the fair this summer.
Other performers signed for the fair are Colbie Caillat, The Guess Who, the Smothers Brothers, Little River Band and Latin Legends Live, with Tierra.
The fair runs Aug. 22 to Sept. 1, overlapping the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Little River Band is scheduled to play Aug. 22, Aldean on Aug. 23, the Smothers Brothers on Aug. 27, The Guess Who on Aug. 28, Caillat on Aug. 29, Sugarland on Aug. 30 and Latin Legends Live on Aug. 31.
— The Associated Press

Monolith Festival, Sept. 13-14 at Red Rocks
The festival, which debuted in 2007, hand picks a lineup of indie favorites and blog darlings, which for 2008 includes Denver’s own Devotchka and French electro-buzz-band Justice as headliners. Joining the 2008 headliners is a roster including Silversun Pickups, Band of Horses, TV on the Radio, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Vampire Weekend, Avett Brothers, Neko Case, Del tha Funky Homosapien, Mickey Avalon, CSS, Cut Copy, The Kills, Tokyo Police Club and more. A complete list of currently confirmed acts is included below, with additional artists still to be announced. Visit www.monolithfestival.com for ongoing updates.

Red Rocks lineup through August
— www.redrocksonline.com
• Saturday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. — Sugarland
• Saturday, May 17 at 5:30 p.m. — Insane Clown Posse
• Wednesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. — The Cure
• Wednesday, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. — Death Cab For Cutie
• Tuesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. — R.E.M./R.E.M.
• Thursday, June 5 at 8 p.m. — Rush: Snakes & Arrows Live!
• Friday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. — Emmylou Harris / John Prine
• Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. — Big Head Todd & The Monsters
• Friday, June 13 at 8 p.m. — The Australian Bee Gees Show
• Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• Tuesday, June 24 at 8 p.m. — Mark Knopfler
• Tuesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. — Unity Tour 2008: 311 & Snoop Dogg
• Saturday, July 5 at 6 p.m. — True Colors Tour
• Monday and Tuesday July 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. — Foo Fighters
• Thursday, July 17 at 7:30 p.m. —Steely Dan
• Friday, July 18 at 7:30 p.m. — Lyle Lovett
• Monday and Tuesday, July 21-22 at 7:30 p.m. — The Police/The Police
• Friday, July 25 at 8 p.m. — ABBA-The Concert
• Saturday, July 26 at 7:30 p.m. — Carlos Mencia/Carlos Mencia
• Thursday, July 31 at 7:30 p.m. — Steve Miller Band
• Saturday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m. — Yonder Mountain String Band/
• Saturday, Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m. — George Thorogood & The Destroyers
• Monday, Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. — YES
• Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. — Jethro Tull/Jethro Tull
• Saturday, Aug. 16 at 2 p.m. — Reggae On The Rocks
• Sunday, Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. — Jack Johnson
• Tuesday, Aug. 26 at 7:30 p.m. — Willie Nelson & Family

Mishawaka Amphitheatre lineup through August
— www.mishawakaconcerts.com
• Saturday, May 10 — Rage 1.0 Music Fest with W-MOB, Dubskin, Modus, Trichome & Good Gravy
• Friday, May 16 — Cross Canadian Ragweed (alt-country)
• Saturday May 17 — Head For The Hills with special guest Billy Nershi of String Cheese Incident
• Friday, May 23 — Wasabi & Drift
• Friday, May 30 — George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
• Saturday May 31 — The New Deal with OTT, Pretty Lights, Ana Sia, Passage Project
• Sunday, June 8 — Stephen Marley
• Sunday June 15 — Drive-By Truckers
• Friday, June 20 — Kannal. Summer Solstice Celebration (tribal psychadellic rock)
• Saturday, June 28 — 8th Annual Jam up the Poudre
• Sunday, June 29 — Liz Barnez
• Friday, July 4 — Other Side of Clearview
• Saturday, July 5 — White Water Ramble
• Sunday, July 6 — The Experience Festival with Holden Young Trio (HY3), The Grip, E.O.E., Bill Smith
• Friday, July 11 — Motet with Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
• Saturday, July 11 — Sam Bush Band with Lori McKenna
• Saturday, July 19 — 12 Cents For Marvin
• Friday, July 25-26 — Poudre River Reggae Fest with Kenyetta Hill, Dubskin and more
• Friday Aug. 29 — Punch Brothers featuring Chris Thile
— Compiled by Leslie Brefeld

Arapahoe Basin
Shakin at the Basin May Concert Series
• May 10 : Rel-I, 1-4 p.m.
Rising out of California, acoustic world/reggae artist REL-I, pronounced (rell-eye), is a powerful and soulful singer who compliments his vocals with energetic acoustic folk-style guitar. REL-I has worked with Spear, Culture, Buju Banton, Sister Carol and Eek-A-Mouse. Free rail jam will take place in the Treeline Terrain Park.
• May 17: The Rock Shop, 1-4 p.m.
The Rock Shop has your rock n’ roll addiction covered. Throw in some excessive energy and a few cool originals for good measure and you’ve got yourself a rock ‘n’ roll party. Free rail jam will take place in the Treeline Terrain Park.
• May 24: The Fables, 1-4 p.m.
This five-piece Colorado Beatles cover band will take you back to those early Beatlemania days, to the wild middle years and finally to the break up.
• May 25: 7th Annual Festival of the Brewpubs and Memorial Weekend Beach Party featuring That Eighties Band
Spend the day sampling mugs of beer from a variety of Summit County brewpubs including Pug Ryan’s, Breckenridge, Dillon Dam, Backcountry and Wolf Rock. Begins at 11 a.m. Band plays in the base area from 1-4 p.m.

Breckenridge
• National Repertory Orchestra, June 3 through Aug. 3
The National Repertory Orchestra is a nonprofit organization, with a primary mission to train talented young musicians for seats in symphonic orchestras in the United States and abroad. Alumni currently play in virtually every major and regional orchestra in the U. S. and in orchestras world-wide. The NRO performs two full orchestra concerts each week in Breckenridge’s Riverwalk Center between mid-June and early-August. In addition, members of the NRO take part in smaller chamber concerts during the festival, and the full orchestra plays at several other locations in the state.
Find the full schedule of concerts, kicking off June 14, at nromusic.com.

• The Breckenridge Music Festival and Blue River Series, May through August
The Breckenridge Music Festival’s mission is to provide performing arts programs and arts education to the communities of Summit, Park and Lake counties. The festival’s primary vehicle is the production of a 10-week summer music festival at Breckenridge’s Riverwalk Center. The festival presents both classical concerts and contemporary concerts.

• Back by popular demand ...The Breckenridge Music Festival’s non-classical Blue River Series features a variety of popular national acts including Richie Havesn, the Cowboy Junkies and Emerson Drive. Get the lineups for both at www.breckenridgemusicfestival.com.

• 24th Annual Genuine Jazz, Breckenridge, August 15-17
Get the 2008 lineup as it develops at www.genuinejazz.com.

Park County
• South Park Music Tour, June 26-29
The South Park Music Tour is a unique music experience taking place in Fairplay and Alma with more than 70 bands performing ranging in genres from rock, blues, jazz, indie, emo, country, Americana roots, bluegrass, funk, hip-hop, metal, alternative, reggae and more. Performances happen on 10 stages, along with more than 50 juried arts and crafts and food vendors.
Check www.southparkmusictour.com for the music lineup as it develops.

Dillon
• Sunset at the Summit free concert series
Lake Dillon Foundation for the Performing Arts presents concerts each Saturday night at the Lake Dillon Amphitheatre at 7 p.m.
June 28: Walker Williams; July 5: Chris Daniels & The Kings; July 12: Pure Prairie League; July 19: Ron Ivory; July 26: Hamilton Loomis ; Aug. 2: Phat Daddy; Aug. 9: Homeslice; Aug. 16: Nacho Men; Aug. 23: Soul School; and Aug. 30: Vintage.

Copper Mountain festivals and music series
• Free Friday Night Street Parties feature live music at the West Lake Overlook from 6-8 p.m.
July 4: Angie Stevens Band
July 11: TBD
July 18: Lipbone Redding and LipBone Orchestra
July 5: Band of Heathens
Aug. 1: TBD
Aug. 8: Guitar Town Kick Off Street Party
Aug. 15: Yarmony Grass
Aug. 22: Oakhurst
Aug. 29: Copper Country Kick Off Street Party

• 3Ring Weekend, Copper Mountain, July 5-6
A unique holiday weekend for the whole family that includes live music, interactive games for children and an eco-friendly circus — The Sustainable Living Road show, a caravan of experienced educators, activists and entertainers aimed at inspiring communities to live in harmony with the earth. Visit www.3ringweekend.com for the latest info on live music.

• Guitar Town, Copper Mountain, Aug. 9–10
Two days of the world’s best guitarists come together at Copper Mountain for the 4th annual Guitar Town festival. Guitar sales and expos, workshops and jam sessions make this the perfect weekend for guitar and music enthusiasts. Find the latest live music info at www.copperguitartown.com.

• Copper Country, Copper Mountain, Aug. 29-31
A Labor Day festival tradition at Copper Mountain, Copper Country celebrates the best of the American spirit. Incredible live music, the country’s top fine artists and even nationally ranked rodeo competitors come together for this family event. Find the latest info on live music at www.coppercountryfest.com.

Keystone
• 4th Annual Blues Festival and Art Show, Keystone, July 12-13
A lavish art show, tasty dishes, ice cold brews and an array of wines trim the plaza while veteran guitarists with a knack for mixing funky rhythms, sultry measures, and wicked chord patterns front our stellar event. Extreme fun and inflatable bounce houses guzzle your kids in Energy Alley. This lavish art show will include 30 artists of different types.

• 12th Annual Bluegrass and Beer Festival, Keystone, Aug. 3
Down-home cooking, frothy flavors and mountain-music are just a piece of the pie. In a whirlwind of hillbilly luxuries, folks gather while 25 of Colorado’s finest microbreweries showcase their unique blends of hops and barleys. Live music rocks out at our two stages. Energy Alley provides entertainment for the kids with inflatables and wacky activities. For more information visit keystoneresort.com.

Rothbury: The Sustainable Festival, July 3-6
ROTHBURY, Mich. — Rothbury: The Sustainable Festival takes place over the Fourth of July weekend in Rothbury, Mich. The lineup of more than 70 bands includes Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, John Mayer, 311, Phil Lesh and Friends, Primus, Thievery Corporation, Snoop Dogg , Modest Mouse, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Gov’t Mule, Slightly Stoopid, STS9, Colbie Caillat and Rodrigo y Gabriela. Rothbury will also host an Energy Fair and a Think Tank.
The Think Tank will feature curator Dr. Stephen Schneider and participants including Dr. Eban Goodstein, L. Hunter Lovins, and Winona LaDuke, and offer attendees access to various buzz sessions that will address the topics of climate change and clean energy solutions and will be geared toward conversations related to corporations, government/policy makers and the individual.
There will be an effort to achieve 100 percent sustainability and energy efficiency during the festival.
Rothbury is also giving back to the community with Rothbury’s Solar Schools Program presented by RE:VOLVE APPAREL. Some of the nation’s noted “Green Heroes” who are dedicated to shrinking society’s carbon footprint on the environment will be teaming up with this innovative music festival to help outfit Shelby High School in Shelby, Mich., with a free solar panel system. Rothbury and sponsors have committed to donating a minimum of $50,000 worth of solar power to Shelby High.
Tickets available at www.rothburyfestival.com.

BamaJam, June 5-7
ENTERPRISE, Ala. — The high lonesome sound will be heard ringing throughout the hills of Enterprise, Ala., during the first BamaJam Music & Arts Festival taking place June 5–7 at Boy Scout Road and Highway #167.
Performers on the bluegrass stage on June 6 and 7 represent a broad landscape, from the steeped-in-tradition sounds of Ralph Stanley & The Clinch Mountain Boys, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder and The Del McCoury Band, to the contemporary Blue Highway, Dan Tyminski, Cherryholmes, and The Claire Lynch Band; to the progressive leanings of Mountain Heart, The Emmitt-Nershi Band and The Duhks.
An all-encompassing community and creative arts experience, BamaJam will feature the Rowdy Frynds Tour with Alabama native Hank Williams, Jr. and Alabama favorite sons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and ZZ-Top.
Tickets to BamaJam can be purchased online at www.bamajammusicfestival.com.
Bonnaroo, June 12-15
The 7th Annual Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival is now confirmed for June 12- 15. The four-day camping and music festival will once again be held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn., 60 miles southeast of Nashville.
Headliners include Pearl Jam, Metallica, Jack Johnson, Widespread Panic, Kanye West, Chris Rock, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Phil Lesh and Friends, My Morning Jacket, Willie Nelson and Yonder Mountain String Band. See the full lineup and ticket information at www.bonnaroo.com.

10,000 Lakes Festival, July 23-26
The Sixth Annual 10,000 Lakes Festival (10KLF) has announced the lineup for this year’s celebration of music, nature and community. 10KLF ‘08 will feature performances by Phil Lesh & Friends, The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Mickey Hart Band feat. Steve Kimock & George Porter Jr., Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood, Slightly Stoopid, Dark Star Orchestra, Panjea with Michael Kang, JJ Grey & MOFRO, New Mastersounds, Everyone Orchestra, The Wood Brothers, Cornmeal, WBPN and The Hue.
Along with these artists, the OurStage 10KLF Cosmic Break Tour presents emerging musicians nationwide with the chance to perform at this year’s festival.
Located off the beaten path in Minnesota’s pristine North Country, the festival takes place at the Soo Pass Ranch’s 60-acre concert bowl. Check out www.10klf.com for more info and the latest info on performing artists.