The shows follow Nathaniel Rateliff’s late-season run at Red Rocks. They also offer streaming options.
By John Wenzel, The Denver Post
Tiesto, Fitz and the Tantrums, Billy Strings and Lotus will take over Red Rocks Amphitheatre on consecutive nights this week as part of “a final week’s worth of concerts” at the otherwise empty outdoor venue.
The shows, announced Monday, follow a late-season burst of activity at Colorado’s most famous music venue, including a Sept. 15-21 run by Nathaniel Rateliff, tonight’s Big Head Todd and the Monsters show, and virtual-only concerts performed at Red Rocks by Rateliff, Megan Thee Stallion and others, which were sponsored by Denver-based Visible.
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All were pioneered by Colorado Symphony, which in August held the first live, public concerts at Red Rocks since the pandemic shut the venue down and began obliterating its 150-plus summer dates.
In a decidedly 2020 twist, however, actual passes to the concerts are being referred to as “in-venue tickets,” given the paltry number of seats available. Normally a 9,450-capacity venue, Red Rocks has been limited to 175 socially distanced attendees at public concerts, in accordance with city and state health rules.
“This is a great opportunity for fans everywhere to check out the magic of Red Rocks,” venue manager Tad Bowman said in a press statement. “This is some fun variety and then we’ll get to our off-season maintenance and look forward to a busy 2021.”
Construction on a new stage roof at Red Rocks begins Sept. 28, officials added.
The hastily announced concert series begins with EDM DJ Tiesto at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, Sept. 24 ($125 in person); Fitz and the Tantrums at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept 25 ($150); bluegrass maestro Billy Strings at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26; and electro-jam-band Lotus — making up a postponed April date at the venue — at 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept 27 ($250).
Tickets for all shows except Billy Strings are on sale via axs.com.
The three-set Billy Strings show will be presented as a pay-pre-view, virtual-only affair. The Fitz and the Tantrums and Lotus shows will be livestreamed in HD and 4K formats, officials said, on the website of sponsor Nugs (nugs.tv). HD streaming concerts cost $20, while 4K concerts cost $35. Tiesto will be livestreamed for free.
The shows will offer a “cinematic” experience, with “the latest Red Digital Cinema, Blackmagic Design & DJI Drone 6K cameras mixed with the 7C Cinema live style to bring you a concert experience like never before,” according to Nugs, a live-music streaming company and archive.
Tickets for all shows are on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.