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Neil Young
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Dan Kloster prepares food for the crews and entertainers, while wondering what Bob Dylan and Hunter Thompson have in common.
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Since 1991, Jazz Aspen Snowmass has been providing great concerts during the Labor Day weekend and for many Villagers, this is one of the highlights of the year.
For two residents, the event holds a special meaning.
On Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, Villagers Amber Hatfield and Phil McKeague tied the knot on top of Elk Camp in a small private ceremony led by friend Ray Greiser.
For the reception, they invited their friends through an ad in the Snowmass Sun to celebrate the nuptials by coming to their hospitality tent at the JAS Labor Day Festival. Somewhere between 200 and 300 people came by to wish the couple well.
They chose the date because Ziggy Marley and Joe Walsh were playing.
“It was the first day that it didn't rain in a month,” said the groom, who's been working the event for the past 15 years and is the beverage manager. “That was the best day of my life.”
This year they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary back at the concert grounds as they have for the past nine years. Each year since then, when their anniversary coincides with the festival, the beverage crews have a champagne toast for the couple after the concerts are over for the evening and everyone has finished working.
One member of the crew is Ray Greiser, who came to the first JAS Labor Day Festival as a paying patron and left as an employee.
“When I went to the bar to get a drink, they looked really busy and I asked if they needed help, but they said ‘no.' When I went back, they begged me to help,” he said. He's been working the events ever since.
Working the bars can get really crazy, but he does get a little time to enjoy the shows. Greiser particularly liked Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
“(Young) did a sound check for the employees before the gates were opened. That was great,” he said.
Another Villager who spends most of his time working during the JAS festival is Dan Kloster of Snowmass Catering. For the week prior to the event, he feeds the workers who erect the massive stage, and during the concerts, he feeds the entertainers and their entourages.
While Kloster is mum on the backstage antics of the stars, he did have one wish.
He remembers when Bob Dylan was the headliner in 2002 and Hunter Thompson came to visit the star in his bus.
“I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that conversation,” said Kloster.
If there is a concert in Snowmass Village, Jeff Sivess will probably be there. Pressed for his favorite memories of concerts past, he lists the Allman Brothers and Steve Winwood.
His favorite weekend occurred four years ago when the friends who came out for his wedding to Keri in 1985 returned for a 20th anniversary reunion during the JAS festival.
“I especially remember G Love, Jack Johnson and Donovan Frankenreiter and hanging out with my old friends from high school and college. Each year Keri and I buy the Blind Faith tickets in January and we don't even know who's coming,” he said.
Johnny “Vacation” Herzing of the Village Market has been going to the Labor Day festival for the past eight years. His favorite concert was in 2007 when Derek Truck of the Allman Brothers Band came on stage to play with his wife, Susan Tedeschi. He also enjoyed Government Mule and Jackie Green.
For Villager Annette Kremer, her favorite time was when she brought her twins Hayley and Kellan to see Neil Young perform “Greendale.”
Jack and Ruth Hatfield have been attending Snowmass concerts going back to the One World Festivals that predated the JAS events.
“They were outrageous, since they were reggae-based. I also liked the JAS Labor Day concerts, especially acts from my generation including Neil Young, Tom Petty, Don Henley, the Allman Brothers and especially John Fogerty. He was absolutely the most outrageous,” said Jack Hatfield.
The couple buys each other a festival pass each year as their Christmas present.
“Music is our common bond and has been for 36 years,” he added.
Their friends Billy and Deidre Boineau also frequent the concerts, but were hard pressed to pick a favorite.
“They all blend together for me. My favorite time at the concerts is seeing all my old friends who have moved downvalley and I haven't seen for a while,” said the Snowmass Village mayor. His favorite bands include Earth, Wind and Fire, the Temptations and Willie Nelson.
“Every year brings a different group. They're all fun and it's a great time,” he said.
“We look forward to it every year,” added Deidre, who this year will host some family during the event.
Once again it's time for Jazz Aspen Snowmass to put on another great show bringing concert-goers from all over the country and from Colorado. With the Allman Brothers plus the Black Eyed Peas, Elvis Costello, Michael Franti & Spearhead, the Doobie Brothers and much, much more, it's bound to create memories for years to come.
For two residents, the event holds a special meaning.
On Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, Villagers Amber Hatfield and Phil McKeague tied the knot on top of Elk Camp in a small private ceremony led by friend Ray Greiser.
For the reception, they invited their friends through an ad in the Snowmass Sun to celebrate the nuptials by coming to their hospitality tent at the JAS Labor Day Festival. Somewhere between 200 and 300 people came by to wish the couple well.
They chose the date because Ziggy Marley and Joe Walsh were playing.
“It was the first day that it didn't rain in a month,” said the groom, who's been working the event for the past 15 years and is the beverage manager. “That was the best day of my life.”
This year they will be celebrating their 10th anniversary back at the concert grounds as they have for the past nine years. Each year since then, when their anniversary coincides with the festival, the beverage crews have a champagne toast for the couple after the concerts are over for the evening and everyone has finished working.
One member of the crew is Ray Greiser, who came to the first JAS Labor Day Festival as a paying patron and left as an employee.
“When I went to the bar to get a drink, they looked really busy and I asked if they needed help, but they said ‘no.' When I went back, they begged me to help,” he said. He's been working the events ever since.
Working the bars can get really crazy, but he does get a little time to enjoy the shows. Greiser particularly liked Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
“(Young) did a sound check for the employees before the gates were opened. That was great,” he said.
Another Villager who spends most of his time working during the JAS festival is Dan Kloster of Snowmass Catering. For the week prior to the event, he feeds the workers who erect the massive stage, and during the concerts, he feeds the entertainers and their entourages.
While Kloster is mum on the backstage antics of the stars, he did have one wish.
He remembers when Bob Dylan was the headliner in 2002 and Hunter Thompson came to visit the star in his bus.
“I would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that conversation,” said Kloster.
If there is a concert in Snowmass Village, Jeff Sivess will probably be there. Pressed for his favorite memories of concerts past, he lists the Allman Brothers and Steve Winwood.
His favorite weekend occurred four years ago when the friends who came out for his wedding to Keri in 1985 returned for a 20th anniversary reunion during the JAS festival.
“I especially remember G Love, Jack Johnson and Donovan Frankenreiter and hanging out with my old friends from high school and college. Each year Keri and I buy the Blind Faith tickets in January and we don't even know who's coming,” he said.
Johnny “Vacation” Herzing of the Village Market has been going to the Labor Day festival for the past eight years. His favorite concert was in 2007 when Derek Truck of the Allman Brothers Band came on stage to play with his wife, Susan Tedeschi. He also enjoyed Government Mule and Jackie Green.
For Villager Annette Kremer, her favorite time was when she brought her twins Hayley and Kellan to see Neil Young perform “Greendale.”
Jack and Ruth Hatfield have been attending Snowmass concerts going back to the One World Festivals that predated the JAS events.
“They were outrageous, since they were reggae-based. I also liked the JAS Labor Day concerts, especially acts from my generation including Neil Young, Tom Petty, Don Henley, the Allman Brothers and especially John Fogerty. He was absolutely the most outrageous,” said Jack Hatfield.
The couple buys each other a festival pass each year as their Christmas present.
“Music is our common bond and has been for 36 years,” he added.
Their friends Billy and Deidre Boineau also frequent the concerts, but were hard pressed to pick a favorite.
“They all blend together for me. My favorite time at the concerts is seeing all my old friends who have moved downvalley and I haven't seen for a while,” said the Snowmass Village mayor. His favorite bands include Earth, Wind and Fire, the Temptations and Willie Nelson.
“Every year brings a different group. They're all fun and it's a great time,” he said.
“We look forward to it every year,” added Deidre, who this year will host some family during the event.
Once again it's time for Jazz Aspen Snowmass to put on another great show bringing concert-goers from all over the country and from Colorado. With the Allman Brothers plus the Black Eyed Peas, Elvis Costello, Michael Franti & Spearhead, the Doobie Brothers and much, much more, it's bound to create memories for years to come.
