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Dillon’s Sunset at the Summit concert series celebrates 20th anniversary

Special to the Daily

If you go

Ron Ivory and 1 on 1

Date: Tonight

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Location: Dillon Amphitheatre

Cost: Free

Series schedule

Sunset at the Summit concert series schedule

All concerts take place at the Dillon Amphitheatre and are free of charge. For more information on the bands, visit http://www.lakedillontheatre.org and click on “Music.”

Moses Jones

Followed by a fireworks display

Date: July 13

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Homeslice

Date: July 20

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Forever Dangerous

Date: July 27

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Jill Carr Band

Date: Aug. 3

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Manuel Molina Latin Combo

Date: Aug. 10

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Kahuna Beach Party

Date: Aug. 17

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Jersey Men

Date: Aug. 24

Time: 7-9 p.m.

ABBA Fab

Date: Aug. 31

Time: 7-9 p.m.

This summer will mark the 20th year of the “Sunset at the Summit” concert series held at the Dillon Amphitheatre. It is also the 20th anniversary of the Lake Dillon Theatre Company, which has hosted the summer concerts since they began in 1993.

In order to celebrate this milestone, the theatre company decided to expand its usual selection and, in addition to old favorites, bring in new and different sounds.

“We’ve diversified this summer a little bit,” said Chris Alleman, the theater’s producing artistic director.



The first concert in the series took place June 28 and featured the California Honeydrops, one of the new bands that Alleman was talking about. The group describes its sound as reaching to the roots of American music with blues, gospel, second line New Orleans jazz and early rhythm-and-blues influences. The Dillon Business Association was a co-sponsor for the concert.

Other bands in the summer lineup offer rock, pop and Latin music. The Manuel Molina Latin Combo, for instance, will play Latin jazz music in August. The band Forever Dangerous will offer a tribute to the music of Michael Jackson, while Kahuna Beach Party will bring back the upbeat sound of the Beach Boys. Performing in the final concert on Aug. 31 is ABBA Fab, which will kick it with tunes from the popular Swedish pop group ABBA. The goal of the diversified lineup is to give the audience an opportunity to listen to different types of music, Alleman said.



The next Sunset at the Summit concert takes place tonight with crowd favorite Ron Ivory and 1 on 1. Ivory is well known throughout Denver and the Rocky Mountains. He has performed at many Sunset on the Summit concerts in the past, entertaining crowds with his R&B, soul and classic Motown songs.

“We’ve got patrons that just love him,” said Alleman, “and he’s a fantastic performer. … He has an incredible classic soul R&B voice.”

Ivory’s performing career began at the age of 13 when he was asked to join a friend’s quartet. In addition to singing, he began practicing with instruments as well, particularly the guitar, xylophones and piano. He also found he enjoyed composing songs just as much as he loved performing them.

Throughout the years, Ivory has performed as a soloist and in duets, trios and quartets, with styles ranging from jazz and R&B to classics.

Tonight, Ivory will be performing with his quartet 1 on 1. The group showcases Motown, classic soul and old-school R&B. The repertoire includes songs from the 1950s through the ’90s by artists such as the Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, the Stylistics and more.

Whether people are die-hard fans of Ivory and his music or they’re hearing it for the first time, the important thing is that they’re having a good time, said Matt Miano, events manager for the town of Dillon.

“We’re trying to provide family friendly and free entertainment through the summer at a terrific venue,” he said, “so come out and enjoy a sunset.”


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