This weekend in the Vail Valley: Country music, ’90s nostalgia, fundraisers and art and jazz
Enjoy a double header of 90s tunes with Barenaked Ladies and Toad the Wet Sprocket or bring the whole family to Wild West Days for games and activities for charity
Eli Young Band at Vilar Performing Arts Center
The Vilar Performing Arts Center is winding down its summer concert season with chart-topping country group the Eli Young Band on Saturday at 7 p.m. The band members met while at the University of North Texas in Denton and haven’t looked back since the days they would practice in the dorm. The band gets its name from Mike Eli, lead singer and guitarist for the group, and James Young who also plays guitar. Rounding out the foursome are Jon Jones on bass guitar and Chris Thompson on drums.
Since their humble beginnings, the band has achieved great success with many of their songs reaching the top of the country music charts. “Crazy Girl” won the Billboard and the Academy of Country Music’s Country Song of the Year award. Other hits include “Even if it Breaks Your Heart,” “Drunk Last Night” and “Love Ain’t.”
I don’t think Andy Grammer will be coming on stage to perform his “Honey, I’m Good” duet with the band, but maybe the Eli Young Band will put that on the set list. You never know.
Tickets are still available for this show, including orchestra pit tickets in case you want to stand up right along the stage. Go to for more information.
Barenaked Ladies and Toad the Wet Sprocket at The Amp
The following night, head to the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail for a bit of nostalgia with Barenaked Ladies with special guests Toad the Wet Sprocket. Barenaked Ladies formed in 1988 in Toronto and the Canadians have left a mark on the pop music scene ever since. After 35-plus years, the group has received numerous awards and accolades across both borders. Its concerts are legendary for hilarious antics and hijinks and crowd interaction. Listen for mega-hits like “If I had $1000000,” “One Week” and “The Old Apartment” plus some new songs from their latest album, “In Flight.”
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Another band that is celebrating decades of existence is Toad the Wet Sprocket, which formed in Santa Barbara, California, in 1986. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the band’s album, “Dulcinea,” which came out in 1994 with hits like “Fall Down” and “Always Something Wrong” and “Fly From Heaven.” Other favorites from the “Fear” album, which came out in 1991, include “Walk on the Ocean” and “All I Want.”
Toad the Wet Sprocket founding members Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols and Dean Dinning are still writing and touring today and their new works are as attractive as their early tunes.
If you still have a CD player, pull out your old Barenaked Ladies and Toad CDs or create a playlist of these ’90s icons. Once you take a listen you won’t be able to resist the urge to relive that era once again. There are limited pavilion seats, but lawn seats are available for the show at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater in Vail. There are also some VIP tickets if you want an up-close experience. On Sunday, doors open at 6:30 p.m. and Toad the Wet Sprocket takes the stage at 7:30 followed by Barenaked Ladies. Visit for tickets and more information.
Wild West Day fundraiser for the elementary schools
It’s a Sunday Funday for the kids this weekend at 4 Eagle Ranch near Wolcott. Let your kids roam the wide-open spaces and enjoy all the fun games, crafts and activities that have made this fundraiser successful for over 30 years. This one-day event single-handedly raises money for Eagle County public elementary schools, therefore streamlining the efforts for asking for donations, allowing businesses and people to give at one time to help all the public schools. Pre-K facilities are also a part of this effort and the Education Foundation of Eagle County is leading the charge.
Schools that benefit from this event include Avon, Brush Creek, Eagle Valley, Edwards, Edwards Early Learning Center, Gypsum, Homestake Peak, Red Hill, Red Sandstone and pre-K programs.
Check out the family fun at 4 Eagle Ranch from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. which includes games like potato sack races, Jell-O eating contests and more. 4 Eagle Ranch provides the perfect setting for this Western-themed event, so don your cowboy hat and boots to look the part. There is also a raffle and you can purchase tickets 鈥� $5 for one or $20 for five tickets. Winners will get anything from cold hard cash to a winter getaway from Vail Resorts, a trip to Palisade Wine Country or a $250 shopping spree at Wishes Toy Store.
Admission is $8 per person and can be purchased at the gate. For more information go to .
Vail Valley Art Guild Art & Jazz Reception
The Vail Valley Art Guild and Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley are teaming up once again to host the 11th annual Vail Valley Fine Art Show and Art & Jazz Reception on Friday at the Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley campus in Edwards from 5 to 8 p.m.
Come stroll the halls of the college and view art that has been created by Colorado Mountain College Vail Valley students and staff and members of the Vail Valley Art Guild. Artwork will be offered for sale at Friday’s reception and proceeds support the mission of the Vail Valley Art Guild. The exhibit includes sculptures, drawings, paintings, ceramics and photography.
This year, the jazz music will have a Latin flair. Duende Flamenco will feature the talents of flamenco dancer Jessica Pinto, Diego Espinosa (guitar), Santiago Doglione (drums and cajon), Augusto Doglione (bass guitar), Brent Gordon (saxophone) and Jill Goodman (vocalist and composer).
Catering is provided by Pollyanna Productions with items curated by Pollyanna Forster, former owner of Eat! Drink! in Edwards. Although it is free, organizers are asking you to register in advance at .
Rocky Mountain Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease
Head down to the Brush Creek Park and Pavilion for the Rocky Mountain Walk to End Alzheimer’s this Saturday. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and get there early for coffee and breakfast goodies and kids activities as well as entertainment by Helmut and Charlotte Fricker, Don Watson, Mountain Harmony and the Battle Mountain High School Dance Team.
This Saturday’s Walk is one of the many walks happening across the nation right now for the Alzheimer’s Association. The Alzheimer’s Association’s mission is to have a world without Alzheimer’s disease and all other dementia.
The walk will be held on the recreation path throughout Eagle Ranch and is about two miles in length, perfect for any age and strollers, wagons, wheelchairs and dogs are welcome. New this year is the after party at Capitol Public House with music by The Evolution Live starting at 11 a.m. and 10% of food and drink proceeds from the restaurant will go toward the cause. It’s free to participate and donations can be made at .
