Top 5 ways to see live music in Fort Collins during COVID-19

The Holiday Twin Drive In

Photo by Camille Gonzales: Twin Holiday Drive in, Fort Collins CO 2020.

The Fort Collins Drive In has been a huge staple for local live music fans throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. FoCoMX, (Fort Collins Music eXperience) is a company that usually throws an annual music festival in Fort Collins. Since the pandemic, they have partnered with the Holiday Twin, Odell Brewing, and Sustain Music & Nature to create Tuesday Drive & Jive events. Each Tuesday, FoCoMX hosts live music performances that are projected onto big screens and accompanied by food trucks. Performers such as KindDub, Whippoorwill and Mike Clark and The Sugar Sounds are just some of the headliners that were featured this summer.

The Holiday Twin Drive In also throws other events with musicians like Marc Rebillet, The Fort Collins Symphony and more.

2. The Mishawaka Amphitheater

Photo By Camille Gonzales: My Dog Ate Chad at The Mishawaka Amphitheater, Bellvue CO 2020

The Mishawaka has been incredible when faced with the challenges of 2020. To start off, the Mishawaka has been throwing socially-distanced concerts by selling “tickets” as whole tables of either four or six people per table. During Colorado’s 2020 Wildfires, they were sadly told to evacuate. Did that stop the Mish’s drive for music? Nope! They created Live on the Lanes, a revitalized music series held at Chippers Lanes ( a bowling alley) full of new lighting, a new sound-system and full service dining. Now that the fires have subsided, the Mishawaka is open and once again putting on socially-distanced concerts.

3. Camping Festivals

Photo By Camille Gonzales: John Pitta at Red Feather Campgrounds, Red Feather, CO

With the lack of official live music events during COVID, many Fort Collins artists and friends have headed to the mountains for their fix. Throughout the summer and into the fall of 2020, Coloradans travel to the mountains with musical equipment and generators in order to create small “festivals”.

Photo by Camille Gonzales: Tony’s Bar Fort Collins, CO 2020

Before COVID, many Fort Collins bars would hold nights full of live music and local artists. Since the pandemic, live bands at bars have come to a halt but paved the way for numerous underground DJs. Bars such as The District, Tonys, The Blind Pig, and many more have allowed DJs to keep the music flowing on weekends. Though people cannot dance in groups, it allows for live music in a socially-distanced environment.