Steamboat Pilot & Today

The Spring is Sprung Festival seems to be one of those creatures who was always meant to be. It just needed someone to open the door so it could happen.

Two weeks ago, Shane LaVigne was talking over beers with a friend about the great time they had this time last year when LaVigne threw a private party at State Bridge Lodge. LaVigne, a musician, got eight other local musicians to show up for an impromptu gig at the Lodge in Bond. They invited their friends, and almost 100 people came. Everyone camped nearby and, even though they didn't know it at the time, an annual music festival was born.

As LaVigne recounted last year's event, he decided that he wanted it to happen again. He had two weeks to find the bands, rent the venue, hire sound and lighting people and invite the public. It seemed like an impossible task until he'd made a few phone calls. Things just fell into place.

LaVigne remembered packing up his car at the end of the party last year and thinking how fun it would be if they could keep playing music for one more day.

So, this year, the festival is going to last through the entire weekend.

The music starts at 7:30 p.m. today with music until 2 a.m. by local bands Pangaea, Gyrus, members of Bodacious Tatas, acoustic sets by local Trevor Potter and a DJ set by Steamboat's own Adam Lincoln, aka Glitch. They will be joined on stage by Boulder bands Blue Sky Invention and The You Name It Chuckwagon Express.

The music will begin again at noon the next day and continue until 2 a.m.

"I have no idea how many people are going to come," LaVigne said. "Maybe 500."

The bar will be serving food and will have a Bloody Mary breakfast Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Free camping is nearby, and yurts are available to rent for discounted prices. Call State Bridge Lodge at (970) 653-4444.