In spring 2010, I sat down with friends at Alpine Bank, and we hatched a plan: What if we brought the music of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College to the heart of downtown Durango? What if we moved the magic from the mesa to the streets?
That summer – and again in 2011 – we set up a stage next to Alpine Bank and brought live music downtown. With support from FLC, the Community Concert Hall and Alpine Bank, that small idea took root and started to grow.
By 2012, we officially launched the Concert Hall at the Park series, moving to Durango’s Buckley Park and expanding the program to four concerts over four weeks. Since 2015, we’ve grown to seven concerts across seven summer Thursdays. Even in 2020, when public gatherings were off-limits, we kept the music going – streaming performances from musicians’ home studios and temporarily renaming the series “Concert Hall from Your Own Backyard.”
Thanks to the continued support of FLC, Alpine Bank and other generous local businesses, Concert Hall at the Park has become a beloved summertime tradition in Durango for the past 13 years.
One of the best things about the series is how it brings a mix of familiar favorites and fresh discoveries to our stage. Over the years, we’ve hosted standout performances from Fantastic Cat, Carter Simpson and the Jackalopes, Doctor Robert, Sneaky Pete and the Secret Weapons, and Frontera Bugulù. Returning acts like Tyller Gummersall, Ryan Curry, Garrett Lebeau, Halden Wofford and the Hi Beams, and Leon Timbo have become staples of the summer season.
In the past two weeks, we have seen that beautiful balance in action. Nosotros, a longtime Durango favorite, lit up the stage with their high-energy performance, reminding us why they’re so beloved in this community. The next week, Will Overman, who had never even set foot in Colorado before, delivered a moving and memorable debut. These back-to-back concerts demonstrated how the series celebrates both the familiar and the new, creating space for discovery while honoring tradition.
Next up, on July 17, we’ll welcome A Tribute to JT, featuring the timeless music of James Taylor performed by Brice Beaird and the Dallas All-Star Band. Then on July 24, Afrosonics will fill the park with their irresistible world beat rhythms, returning to Durango for the first time in 10 years. Whether the performers are new to the community or longtime favorites, the magic lies in how the audience meets them – with open ears, warm hearts and steady applause.
Each Thursday evening through Aug. 7, Buckley Park becomes the place to be. You’ll find friends and families gathering on picnic blankets, kids running barefoot in the grass, and visitors joining locals to soak in the music and mountain air.
Concerts are free and open to all – from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. – and everyone’s invited.
For the full artist lineup and more details, visit durangoconcerts.com.
Charles Leslie is director of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College.
