I always wanted a big spread in Aspen. Now everyone can have one. Jam band Widespread Panic is skedded to play two nights at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass over Labor Day Weekend.
That’s gonna rock the hamlet.
The band’s ardent “Spreadheads” now have another chance to see the group this summer in Colorado – its June 24-26 Red Rocks dates are sold out.
It was announced Saturday in Aspen that the reunited Loggins & Messina would be at the festival. Willie Nelson is also a confirmed act. But the Widespread news hit Sunday.
Jazz Aspen founder Jim Horowitz was traveling Monday and unavailable for comment – but it isn’t brain science to figure out that last year’s Jack Johnson sellout pushed organizers to find younger talent. The festival is adding a day to make it five, a new development caused by the addition of Widespread Panic, which will play Sept. 1 and 2.
Jazz Aspen has a long roster of huge acts over the years, but Widespread Panic takes it to a new level. Put on your party shoes and expect thousands of kids to turn the town upside down.
Oh, Oprah
Oprah stayed at the Brown Palace for her Saturday appearance at the Colorado Convention Center – and liked it so much she stayed an extra night in the Beatles Suite. She was very public at the inn, sending champagne to a wedding party and drinking martinis in the hotel lobby.
According to sources, it didn’t seem like she was missing boyfriend Stedman Graham one bit. BTW, Stedman’s in town Thursday to talk about mentoring at Inverness for the Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network. Two ships.
United does Denver
A production company passed through town last month to create a video on what to do in Denver. It will be be aired on every incoming United flight. They asked me to pick five restaurants that visitors would enjoy, then I was to be interviewed about them. (BTW, they were Rioja, NoRTH, Mel’s, Mizuna and Del Frisco’s.) Hey, I was gonna be a star! On every incoming flight!
But when the production team showed up at the first restaurant and demanded a $750 “production fee” to be included in the show, The Denver Post and I dropped out. It didn’t pass anyone’s smell test.
City spirit
Venanzio Momo, owner-op of Cucina Colore, plans to open a new restaurant this summer called Via – Italian Eatery & Bar in the old Brasserie Rouge space in the Ice House in LoDo … Charlie Huang, owner of Little Ollie’s, is heading back to Shanghai, China, on Wednesday. He spent a few months in Denver sprucing up Little Ollie’s, which is getting new lighting, new paint, new windows and a new, bigger bar … Sightems: Local writer Andrea Bankoff with financier Teddy Forstmann (the only Yank to get thisclose to Princess Diana) dining at Prima with Architectural Digest longtime editor in chief Paige Rense … Spurs coaching staff dining at Strings after Saturday night’s game, Spurs players at Bob’s Friday and Saturday nights … Sez who: “Keep breathing.” Sophie Tucker
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Monday Tuesday and Thursday. Husted also appears on Fox 31 News. You can reach him at 303-820-1486 or at bhusted@denverpost.com.
