If anyone in Boulder hears a rumbling sound emanating from the University of Colorado Boulder campus this weekend, fear not. No volcano is brewing. It’s just the sound of Folsom Field gearing up to burst back into action.
Crew members prepare for a concert as electronic duo Odesza will perform a sold-out show on Saturday at Folsom Field. (Steve Hurlbert/Courtesy photo)
The renowned Buffs football stadium will turn into a vibrant musical venue on Saturday night when electronic musical duo Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight — aka Odesza — will perform a sold-out show to 40,000 fans from all around the country.
For the first time since 2016, Folsom is welcoming music that isn’t Jerry Garcia-inspired and tie-dye laden, with a subculture of rabid fans. In 2016, Dead and Company cracked a 15-year hiatus from live music at the stadium, bringing back live shows for the first time since Dave Matthew’s Band played in 2001 with Wyclef Jean. Dead and Company kept the shows rolling for seven years (minus the pandemic’s 2020-2021) until the band hung up touring in 2023.
This year, Odesza is sliding into that slot with its The Last Goodbye Finale Tour. (The band is also bidding adieu to touring for the foreseeable future.)
To those who don’t know, Odesza is a big name. The musical duo has more than 5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, has three Grammy Award nominations and consistently performs headlining slots at festivals like Governor’s Ball and Bonnaroo. In years past, the pair performed many sold-out shows at Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater — a spot where fans assumed the two would perform again this year.
Odesza’s Last Goodbye Finale tour stops at Folsom Field Saturday. (Avi Loud – Courtesy photo)
However, in a tour lineup that also includes locations like the Gorge Amphitheater, Madison Square Garden and BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, fans were surprised — but excited — to learn that the Colorado tour stop would take place at Folsom Field in little old Boulder.
According to Ryan Gottlieb, CU Boulder senior associate athletic director, all 40,000 tickets for the concert sold out in 24 hours — the only concert to do so on Odesza’s “The Last Goodbye Finale” tour.
“To be one of four cities on their tour, that was a really big win for us,” Gottlieb said. “I think it proves how phenomenal of music fans we have in the state of Colorado — but more specifically, in Boulder. And then, to sell that amount of tickets in just a couple of hours … that’s special. That’s extraordinary, big time.”
Folsom Field has a knack for attracting big-time names and numbers.
In the late-′70s and early-′80, Folsom hosted concerts each summer with legends like Fleetwood Mac, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, and REO Speedwagon. But the stream of summer concerts tapered to a trickle in the ′90s with a lone Paul McCartney concert in 1993, followed by the 2001 Dave Matthews show and then the string of Dead and Company shows.
Gottlieb said having Dead and Company perform was a revival for Folsom — the excitement around another large musical act performing live on the field was widespread. Local businesses enjoyed the increased revenue that the concerts brought in. With the capacity to safely manage large crowds and a keen interest from renowned performers, the question arose: Why not host more concerts?
“The idea was, we have this beautiful stadium in an incredible setting, but we had only been using it about 10 times a year — six or seven home football games, graduation ceremonies, the Bolder Boulder, and maybe Fourth of July Fireworks,” Gottlieb said. “When we were looking at summer 2024, we knew Dead and Company wouldn’t be coming back, so we decided we had to do something new to fill our calendar, and frankly, keep us relevant as a concert venue.”
After Odesza performs Saturday, acclaimed country songster Tyler Childers — known for his traditional country sound with a modern, introspective twist — is scheduled to perform at Folsom on Aug. 17, marking the first summer since 1986 that the stadium will host more than one concert from multiple artists.
“I think this is the start of something big,” Gottlieb said, noting that CU staff is excited to see what will happen in the next few summers.
And while Folsom is ushering in an exciting, young and hip new era, many readers are probably wondering how the local Deadheads are faring now that Dead and Company halted touring (and since picked up residency at Las Vegas’ new Sphere arena).
According to one local Grateful Dead fan Stoney Williams, it was about time that Folsom Field ushered in some new talent.
“We all knew last year was going to be the final ride for Dead and Company at Folsom,” Williams said. “So for me, I’ve mourned that and come to terms. I’m just happy that they are still jamming on, and truth be told, I went to the Sphere a couple of weekends ago, and that was mind-blowing.”
Williams added: “I’m glad [Folsom] is opening up to new acts. And, who knows, maybe some of these newcomers will strike a chord with people like me down the road.”
Since the Odesza show is sold out for Saturday, some good news is that the CU ticketing office has released several “limited view” tickets for sale at $85 each, plus a $37.60 fee per ticket. The view may not be the most pristine, but at least you’ll be able to hear the magic. Visit cubuffs.evenue.net for tickets.
John Mayer, left, and Bob Weir are out front playing and singing during the Dead and Company concert on June 17, 2022. at Folsom Field. The band played at the venue 13 times over a span of seven years.(Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)
Official parties around town
Special Delivery – Official Odesza finale kickoff event: Start the weekend off with a celebration of Odesza’s “The Last Goodbye Finale” tour with an exclusive kickoff event featuring artists from the independent record company Foreign Family Collective, a lineup curated by Odesza, as the duo is the co-founders of the Collective. 8 p.m. Friday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $35, Sold out; z2ent.com.
Liquid Sky Odesza at Fiske Planetarium: Sit back and relax at this signature Fiske Planetarium laser light show, set to Odesza’s most sonically stimulating music from the past decade. 10 p.m. Friday, Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Drive, Boulder; $10-14; colorado.edu/fiske.
CU Rave Club and DV8 Present Odesza pre-party: Partake in the ultimate concert pregame with other Odesza superfans at DV8, which will be offering buy-one-get-one-free drink specials and tunes from DJ Pulse Ctrl and other local artists. 2:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday; DV8 Distillery, 2480 49th St., #E, Boulder; $10-15; dv8.fun.
ODESZA Folsom Field After Party at The Fox: Head to the Fox Theater post-show for the ultimate Odesza after party. Dance the night away with sets from artists Spirit Motel, Rizzy Rails, Kvndyce Rose, Hammerhype and Murra. 11 p.m. Saturday; The Fox Theater, 1135 13th St., Boulder; $20-25; z2ent.com.
Special Delivery — Official Odesza after party: This show features a secret lineup of Foreign Family Collective Artists who will perform after the big show at Folsom Field — also curated by Odesza. 11 p.m. Friday, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $35, Sold out; z2ent.com.