The Wheeler Opera House, in partnership with the City of Aspen Transportation Department, presents a new, free August concert series, continuing its tradition as the city’s central civic gathering space.
The upcoming series of free performances is being titled “Traffic Jams” and offers early-evening music inside The Vault for locals and guests to enjoy music before heading to their cars or the bus, to sit in rush hour traffic. The Wheeler will provide complimentary snacks, and beverages are available for purchase. While admission to these community events is free, advance RSVPs are encouraged to secure reservations.
Mike Harrington, Executive Director of the Wheeler Opera House, says: “No one enjoys sitting in traffic – and everyone loves free music. TRAFFIC JAMS at the Wheeler is an invitation to ‘shift your trip’ and nourish your soul at the same time. Come relax with neighbors, maybe make some new friends, and enjoy some excellent live music!”
For two weeks in August, the Wheeler has invited musicians to share early evening performances Monday through Thursday from 4:30 pm–6 pm. The concerts feature full sets by the artists, with room for interpretation and moments of improvisation, culminating in the premiere of a new song inspired by Aspen at the end of each week. With unique artists, light snacks, and room to linger, Traffic Jams encourages audiences to slow down, stay in town, and connect through live music.
Rather than sitting in traffic on Main St., audiences are invited to step out of their ride – car, bus, or bike – and into The Vault for live music and refreshments.
How to reserve tickets: Visit https://wheeleroperahouse.com/
Featured Musicians
Drunken Hearts August 3-6, 4:30-6 PM
Drunken Hearts is a Colorado-based outlaw country rock band featuring songwriter Andrew McConathy, known for over a decade of high-energy touring and festival appearances. They blend raw roots music, soulful storytelling, and cosmic grace into a heavy-hitting live sound. The band has performed at major events such as Electric Forest and WinterWonderGrass, as well as at McConathy’s own Yarmony Music Festival.
Larry & Joe – August 10-14, 4:30-6 PM
Larry & Joe unites two celebrated musical traditions through the partnership of Venezuelan joropo master Larry Bellorín and GRAMMY-nominated bluegrass musician Joe Troop. Together, the duo blends Venezuelan folk music and Appalachian string-band traditions into what they call “latingrass,” creating a vibrant cross-cultural performance featuring harp, banjo, cuatro, fiddle, upright bass, guitar, maracas, and bilingual storytelling. Their performances highlight the shared roots of folk traditions while demonstrating the power of music to transcend borders and bring communities together.
About the Wheeler Opera House
Since 1889, the Wheeler Opera House has been Aspen’s favorite year-round performance venue and has become the Roaring Fork Valley’s premier site for concerts, films, festivals, lectures, community events, and more. Recently named the Outstanding Historic Theatre Award from the League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT), a national honor recognizing excellence in preservation, programming, services, and community impact, the Wheeler takes extraordinary pride in being a part of Aspen’s history as a gathering place and a space for artistic expression in our community. Our vision is to set the stage for connections that create memories for our audiences, artists, and greater Aspen community.
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