DENVER | Mumford & Sons is bringing its traveling music festival to Colorado.
The British band announced Monday that its Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers series will be in Salida on Aug. 21 and 22. They will perform along with acts including the Flaming Lips, the Vaccines, Jenny Lewis, Dawes and TuneYards.
The festival could attract 35,000 people to the arts community and recreation hub about 3 hours south of Denver, more than seven times its population, according to festival organizer Madison House Presents, which is based in Boulder, Colorado. The company has been working with the city on plans for the event since last fall, but the details of who would perform were kept secret.
Planning started after Gov. John Hickenlooper asked Mayor Jim Dickson if the city would consider a proposal from Madison House, according to The Denver Post (https://dpo.st/1N9aA0f).
“We’re real honored the governor thought of us,” Dickson told The Associated Press on Monday. He said he had contacted mayors and city managers in other communities who had hosted similar events and was confident “we can handle it.”
Organizers have agreed to pay Salida about $10,000 to stage the event on the city-owned Vandaveer Ranch. It will also pay the city $1 for every ticket sold and about $63,000 to cover public services such as police and code enforcement.
“This is hands-down the biggest event to ever come to Chaffee County,” city administrator Dara MacDonald said.
The area has about 1,000 hotel rooms, but most festival goers are expected to camp.
Gentleman of the Road Stopovers will also be held in Seaside Heights, New Jersey; Waverly, Iowa; Aviemore, Scotland; and Walla Walla, Washington.
In a news release, Mumford & Sons said it deliberately picked towns that normally do not see touring bands. “We deliberately look for towns that have something unique, or some vibe of which they are proud, explore them and enjoy what they have to offer,” the band said.