Fan Stories

I’ve been coming to Red Rocks since I was 17 years old, I’m 70 years old now & I’ve gone to at least 10 to 16 shows every summer, since my retirement! I live quite far from the venue – up in the mountains, but I make the trip to see many different artists each year! I love Red Rocks! It’s the only concert venue I will go to now! I know the employees by their first names & I tip them!! My son told me to “Calm Down, Before You Have A Heart Attack” I was enjoying a concert to which I replied “I can’t think of a better way to Go!” Thank you for a lifetime of joy and great shows!!

First time at Red Rocks, we saw Mt. Joy perform in 2024. It was August 9 and my birthday! The next morning we woke up and did Yoga on the Rocks. Truly an amazing 24 hours at Red Rocks!

We were at Red Rocks for a Bonnie Raitt concert a few years ago!! It was our first time seeing a concert there. It had been on our bucket list!! It was a magical night!! Perfect weather and as she was singing the full moon was rising behind her!! Wonderful in every way!!

Watching Blues Traveler play on the Fourth of July with fireworks displays going off all over Denver behind the stage while John Popper played the National Anthem on his Harmonica. An unforgettable experience!

Many years ago, we flew into Denver where we would spend a night before driving to Steamboat Springs. We stopped into a tourist store located on the 16th Street Mall. A representative told us about a Red Rocks concert that night. But it was all moot – Tickets were not available. We left and walked a couple of blocks. Suddenly from behind us we saw the representative running after us. Two tickets had just become available, and she wanted to offer them to us. Incredibly good fortune! Red Rocks was beautiful! The concert was wonderful! We have enjoyed both the venue and the concerts we have seen at Red Rocks since that first concert we attended many years. Happy 85th Birthday.

Red Rocks has been a huge part of my life. It’s my favorite place in the world — and not just because of the concerts. As a teenager, my friends and I spent countless nights here. My first concert was here. My high school graduation was here. I’ve been bringing my kids here since they were little — hiking the trails, learning the history, and making memories together. I’ve watched so many sunrises and sunsets from these rocks.

This place has been my happy place, but also the place that brings me peace when life feels heavy. But the best part of all of it has been sharing these moments and memories with the people I love.

My parents’ first date was a Red Rocks concert in the summer of 1948. I found the program from that Glenn Miller band concert among my mother’s treasures after she passed. They obviously hit it off, as they were married in 1950 and were married for 58 years.

Many amazing concerts here…the best was continuing the experience with my 13 year old son to see his first concert, Imagine Dragons, in the summer of 2018! So rewarding to witness him respond to the music and the incredible venue that we’re so lucky to have in our backyard.

We had just learned that I was pregnant with our first child. We asked someone to snap a photo of us at Foster the People in 2014, and I held up 3 fingers. It was what we sent our family to announce our pregnancy! We also knew, even then, it was the start of the end of our spontaneity so we danced even harder than any show before!

It was June 5th, 1990. At the last minute I hesitantly agreed to join my co-workers and attend a weekday concert (Don Henley) at Red Rocks. We had general admission seats (about 15 rows up) and a few in our group happen to sit in some seats that were being saved by a few guys. One tall, attractive guy Andrew, came up to me to say we were in their seats but we could stay if I agreed to dance. We married 3 years later on May 30, 1993. Many, many years later he found the Don Henley Red Rocks ticket he had purchased and saved and had it framed for me (it is very worn). When Red Rocks re-placed the original bench seating in 2008 and made them available to the public I secretly purchased one and gave it to my Andrew for our anniversary. We still have the bench and the framed ticket in our home.

I have been to many shows at Red Rocks, but Nathaniel Ratliff on August 23, 2023 was the tops!! This was the day that I proposed to my beautiful wife outside of Red Rocks and she said YES!!!

I saw my first Red Rocks show in 2024…..Counting Crows and Santana. Beautiful summer night….a mellow well behaved crowd….and the sound was every bit as good as anything you have ever heard about the venue.

My first concert at Red Rocks was after I graduated high school in 1997 to see Dave Matthews Band and I have been to at least one a year ever since. I started working out there about 10 years ago, walking the bleachers, climbing the stairs and feeling incredible gratitude that this wonder is just 15 minutes from my house. I bring all of our out of town friends here and love that my kids are old enough to share the experience. Reggae on the Rocks is our most favorite recurring concert to attend!

Dancing on the stage with 1800 friends for Daybreaker’s 1000th event while Justin Jay had us all jumping in sync. Peak joy.

My 1st Red Rocks experience was Ween and The Flaming Lips, July of 2006. What a truly epic evening of rock n roll! The poster still hangs on my wall.

My favorite memory was the torrential rain during Deadrocks 10, immediately followed by Zeds Dead’s song “Sweet Memories,” which goes, “I can’t stand the rain against my window.” I started crying because it just felt so spiritual. We were all right where we were supposed to be!

In 1968 Aretha Franklin walked off the stage after her revue played for two hours, saying, “The man didn’t pay me my money.” She deserved “Respect” with her rising fame. She’s got soul. I was sitting with my tall blonde steady in the fifteenth row as bottles started flying over our heads. I’d like to protect her but she digs the chaos. The crowd torches the piano onstage and the brush around the park. I learn to love this story even though I didn’t hear Aretha sing.

Burning Spear headlined the 1996 Reggae on the Rocks. That whole day was magical, the epitome of the love and togetherness that can only be found at Red Rocks. Burning Spear took the vibe to another level, I’ve been chasing that energy ever since. In fact, I attended the next 10 RORX shows, driving from Iowa, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and New Mexico for many of them.

My husband Edward and I had our first visit to Red Rocks in April of this year. We saw Ice Cube and we had an amazing time! Red Rocks is absolutely beautiful and we will be back in October to see Cypress Hill.

My wife was out of town for a week and told me not to be a lump while she was gone. She suggested I go to Red Rocks on the weekend and walk the bleachers. I did. I saw a group of people exercising and thought it looked like fun. Maybe I could join them sometime, I thought. When I got home, I searched the internet to figure out who the group was. I saw that they were a free group that meets every Sunday, and I decided to give them a try. That was eleven years ago, and I’ve hardly missed a Sunday since.

Best in the world concert experience!

On July 1st, 1983, I took a date to Red Rocks to see Flock of Seagulls, The Fixx, and Howard Jones. I had no idea if she liked any of the bands and come to find out she knew nothing about them. She had never been to Red Rocks. I had, and it is one of my favorite venues to see a show for countless reasons. Kathy and I have been married now for 42 years. We have enjoyed so many shows there. Our children have grown up with a love for Red Rocks and I am sure our grandchildren will also have love for Red Rocks. Every time I hear those three artists, it takes me to a great place and how great my life became that night at Red Rocks.

My sister moved to CO in the late 1970’s. She kept raving about Red Rocks. So when I planned to visit her in May 1987, I asked her to please get tickets to ANY show at Red Rocks since I wanted to experience this magical and serene venue. We were able to see Bruce Hornsby and the Range and I was sold. I couldn’t wait to move to CO and take full advantage of being able to attend concerts at Red Rocks!