Vertex Festival: Colorado’s Soon To Be Newest Gem

Corinne KellyCorinne Kelly·
FestivalsShow Preview

Festival season is officially full swing verifiable by our golden tans and empty wallets. With so many fantastic weekends on the horizon it becomes difficult to prioritize, but one festival that you should not miss this summer is Vertex in Buena Vista, CO.

While Red Rocks sets typically dominate the Colorado summer, a new contender has hit the scene. Madison House, the producers of Electric Forest, has teamed up with AEG Presents to transport fans to the magical foothills of the Rocky Mountains. From August 5-7 Cottonwood Ranch, located roughly a mile from downtown Buena Vista, will serve as the inaugural home for musical acts including Alabama Shakes, Lettuce, Seven Lions, and Odesza.

Lineup

Where is Buena Vista?

If you are flying in from out of state or you are local to the Denver area you can expect an unforgettable 2-hour drive through the peaks and valleys of the still snow-capped Rockies. If you are willing to tack on an extra 15 minutes of driving, we highly suggest bagging Google Maps’ recommended route and driving down I-70 West past Idaho Springs, Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper and Leadville.

Camp

The city of Buena Vista boasts a picturesque downtown, lined on either side by small boutiques and trendy cafes. If you arrive early, make a quick stop at Louie’s Ice Cream Shoppe on Main Street for a double scoop of Samoan Cookie before heading to the campgrounds!

Not to Miss…

Cottonwood Creek runs right through the Vertex campgrounds. Daily beach parties will be feature music by the likes of Goldroom and Imagined Herbal Flows. Campers are encouraged to float down sections of the creek to escape the heat so bring your inner tube and swimsuit.

Music doesn’t start until noon. If you’re an early riser, festival organizers have got you covered. A variety of “field trips” offer campers the opportunity to explore the rich nature Buena Vista has to offer. Excursions include a white water rafting trip down the Arkansas River ($65), a 6-mile hike through the ghost town of Hancock ($25), complimentary 18-hole disc golf, and free trips to downtown Buena Vista.

Odesza and family played their first Red Rocks show this past month. The quality of the visuals and live performance charged the crowd, electrifying the sold out venue with energy. In an after movie released by the group, Odesza labels their recent performance a “place marker” for future shows. If projections hold true, fans in attendance at Vertex can expect (even more) enhanced visuals and a live band accompaniment, in addition to the beautiful tracks characteristic of the duo.

In addition to pulling in Odesza as one of the festival’s many headliners, Vertex has included the majority of the group’s foreign family collective on their roster. Australian electronic band Rüfüs du Sol, Jai Wolf, and Big Wild will also be throwing down expectedly memorable sets.

If you’re planning on joining us for the inaugural Vertex weekend, we recommend grabbing your Base Camp Pass now. 3-day tickets are on their final tier and can be purchased here! Friday and Saturday single day passes are also up for grabs on the Vertex site. For those of you already with a ticket in hand be sure to keep checking the Vertex Facebook page for schedule updates and news about a possible festival app.

See you at #Vertex2016!