Block Party, Jay Lane at Shakedown, wine tastings and dining for a cause: Tricia’s Weekend Picks 8/11/23

News News | Aug 10, 2023

Eagle will be the musical mecca this weekend with over a dozen bands playing on three stages Friday through Sunday. The annual event, typically held early summer, moved to August this year and is being dubbed the summer kickback so go out for one last hurrah before school starts, before Labor Day or before leaving Eagle County to head back to your home state.

This year’s headliners include Otiel & Friends, Lettuce and Pepper. The Record Company returns to the Block Party and local bands, Trees Don’t Move and Danger Mountain fill up the schedule. Other artists include Paul Cauthen, Sam Bush, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Bill & Jilian Nershi featuring Jason Hann, Celisse and Float Like a Buffalo.

The three stages will be set up in downtown Eagle and expect to hear a mix of blues, funk, rock and some jazz. VIP tickets are sold out, but other tickets are still available. Camping is available nearby at the Eagle County Fairgrounds.

As for transportation, the Block Party has worked with Epic Mountain Express to offer two 12-passenger shuttles for rides near the corner of Third and Wall Street by the event entrance and box office. They will also run between Founders Avenue and Capital Street near the Capital Theater and Eagle Pool and Ice Rink. Want to pedal in? There is a bike valet to watch over your bikes during the shows and Vail Pedicab will be available for in-town concertgoers looking for a quick ride home.

Sunday offers a brunch with live music from Big Sam’s Funky Nation. This is a separate ticket from the two-day or single-day festival tickets, so make sure you get that ticket if you want to take advantage of bottomless bloodies and mimosas and brunch between 12:30 and 3 p.m.

Music starts at 4 p.m. on Friday, 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. For a full schedule and to purchase tickets, go to BlockPartyEagle.com.

The big musical weekend continues up valley and if you didn’t get tickets to Chicago on Friday at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater or Boz Scaggs on Sunday at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, I’ve got another hot ticket for you: Jay Lane will be playing with the Shakedown Family Band Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at Shakedown Bar Vail in Vail Village.

Jay Lane is known for his stints with Primus, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros. and most recently he was touring with Dead & Co, like, very recently. Shakedown bar owner and musician, Scott Rednor was at the last shows in California and was able to ask Lane to come play Vail.

“I decided to come play Vail so soon after the Dead & Co. tour because I love Vail and it was a nice opportunity to get away,” Lane said.

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“I met Jay a few years ago at a party he played at Shakedown with Warren Haynes and we had a good hang. I really enjoyed his playing, so when I got a chance to reconnect after the final Dead & Co. show in San Francisco I asked him to come back out,” Rednor said.

Expect the shows to be different each night.

“We’ll be playing everything that we enjoy playing. Friday’s line up we’ll play old country, old soul music and beyond. Then, psychedelic rock and more the following two nights,” Rednor said. Joining Rednor and Lane on stage will be Eric “Benny” Bloom (Lettuce), Todd Smallie (JJ Grey & Mofro), Joey Porter (The Motet), and Taylor Scott Band and Kramer Kelling. The roster will change each night.

Lane has barely had a chance to reflect on the Final Tour that ended in July but does know this.

“The best part of the tour was seeing so many delighted fans every night! I’ve never felt so much love! Not to mention, how fun it was to finally play in a baseball stadium after years in theaters,” Lane said.

What’s next for Lane? “I’ll be playing with Bob Weir and Wolf Bros and whatever else I can squeeze in because they’re going to get busy next year. I’ve done one gig as Jay Lane and the Mayhem so we might see more off that,” Lane said.

There will be a cover at the door each night and doors open at 9 p.m. Reservations are available at [email protected]. They will also be streaming the shows on the Shakedown Presents YouTube page in case you can’t make it to the shows in person. For more information, go to ShakedownBarVail.com.

Take a tour from the West Coast to France and try all sorts of wine and outdoor experiences at this year’s Vail Wine Classic. After several winemaker dinners around town on Thursday night, the offerings move outdoors Friday and Saturday with hikes that end with a delicious meal and wine. On Friday, join the Vino & Views for a 3-mile guided hike before settling into Gessner at Grand Hyatt Vail for a lunch paired with Michael David Winery. On Saturday, try the Uncork & Unwind Hike and lunch that will end at the Vail Chophouse and a pairing with Aratás Winery. Or, do the Trail to Tasting with Manor Vail’s Ridge + River: Elevated Bar + Bites with J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines.

The Grand Tasting will be held on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and this is where you get to sip on varietals from all over while enjoying small bites while enjoying music from Blue River Grass Band and Hardscrabble. General admission tickets get you into the venue between 3 and 5:30 p.m. but early entry and premier access tickets are available, too.

The Best of Fest event is for those who really want an elevated experience. Not only is it held at an altitude of 10,300 feet above sea level at Eagle’s Nest at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (No. 19) but it also features wines that are rated 90+ and cost over $100 each. This event is on Friday between 7 and 9 p.m.

On Sunday, Brunch and Bubbles is already sold out, but you can go on the wait list. For more information, descriptions of the events and more, go to VailWineClassic.com.

If you see teams of two running around town and Vail Mountain with Camelbacks and bike helmets going down water slides and other obstacles, you’re witnessing the Vail Kids Adventure Games, an annual event that brings 6- to 14-year-olds outdoors for various challenges that build teamwork and also promotes fun. Registration for the competition has ended but there are a few ways to still be involved.

Each day, there will be a Family Adventure Zone open in Vail Village from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. featuring a climbing wall and other activities for kids to try. On Saturday, the whole family can participate in the Keen Family Fun Run which is open to kids and adults of all ages. The mud run starts at 4:30 p.m. and be prepared to get muddy. The course is located in Vail Village and is about a mile long and will feature the mud pit and other obstacles. The Vail Fire Department will be on hand to hose muddy runners down, but you’ll want to bring a change of clothes for after the run.

Register in advance at VailRec.com/register and save a few bucks or you can decide to do this the day of the event. All participants receive a gift, so it may be worth it to get a little dirty.

The 15th annual Empty Bowls event happens this Friday and it is a delicious way you can help provide financial assistance to the Vail Valley Salvation Army so they can help provide assistance to others.

Held at the Battle Mountain High School cafeteria, an Empty Bowls ticket will get you soup, bread and dessert from the valley’s fabulous restaurants. You will also get to pick a bowl from the multitudes of shapes and sizes that local potters have been busy creating for the event.

Tickets are just $25 for your meal and a keepsake bowl that you can take home to serve up dips, salsa, salad, or store things like jewelry or keys in, just depending on how big of a bowl you picked. The empty bowl reminds us that the food banks and the resources at the Vail Valley Salvation Army are always in need. 100% of the ticket sales will go to the Vail Valley Salvation Army’s food bank. There will also be a silent auction with items from nearly a dozen area businesses.

Serving the meal will be those who serve the public. The Emergency Service crews from around Eagle County will be dishing up the soups, breads and desserts. Make sure to thank them for all they do for our community while you are there.

The event runs from noon until 1:30 p.m. For more information, go to Vail.SalvationArmy.org.

There is a Tip-A-Cop night going on at Ed’z restaurant in Edwards on Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Colorado and the money raised goes to help local Special Olympic athletes compete in upcoming events.

Tip-A-Cap is a nationwide fundraising event where local police officers visit restaurants on designated dates to engage with the community and collect donations from patrons that will go toward Special Olympics.

Ed’z restaurant opened this past year and if you haven’t been there yet, bring your family and friends and eat out for a good cause. If you’re hungry, I recommend the meatloaf, it’s a healthy portion for sure! If salad is more your thing, try the broccoli slaw salad. They also specialize in rotisserie chicken and ribs. Here’s the menu: edzinedwards.com/menu.

If you can’t make it to this Tip-A-Cop event, there are a few more scheduled this year: