Tim McGraw and Bonnie Raitt Headline JAS Labor Day Experience

Aspen —"It’s a diverse, balanced program this year, with different acts appealing to different audiences," said Jim Horowitz, President and CEO of JAS Aspen.

That assessment sets the tone for the JAS Labor Day Experience, which returns to Snowmass Town Park from Sept. 4 to 6. The three-night festival brings open-air music to the heart of Snowmass Village, featuring a lineup that spans pop, country, rock, blues, funk, R&B, and soul. For locals and visitors alike, the event transforms the park into a stage for major headliners and a curated mix of supporting acts.

The 2025 headliners are designed to draw crowds from across the spectrum of musical taste. Benson Boone, a 2025 Grammy Best New Artist nominee, takes the main stage on Friday, Sept. 4, at 8 p.m. He is joined earlier in the day by Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, who perform at 6 p.m. Horowitz highlighted the band’s versatility, noting that it is rare for an artist to feel equally comfortable in the intimate setting of the Paul JAS Center and before a massive outdoor crowd. "He’s definitely one, and we have a lot of history with him," Horowitz added.

Saturday, Sept. 5, shifts the focus toward country and contemporary hits. The day begins at 3 p.m. with Avery Anna, followed by Shaboozee at 5 p.m. Shaboozee is known for his Billboard Hot 100-topping hit, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." The night culminates with a performance by country superstar Tim McGraw, who headlines at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 6, rounds out the weekend with a blend of blues and high-energy southern rock. Christone "Kingfish" Ingram opens the mainstage at 3 p.m., bringing his blues powerhouse status to the park. Bonnie Raitt follows at 5 p.m., marking her return to the JAS Labor Day Experience. Her connection to the event is deep; she originally performed there on Sept. 5, 1998, alongside Crosby, Stills & Nash and Taj Mahal. She also played the JAS June Festival in 2000, the same year she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Since then, she has received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center Honors. The final headline slot of the weekend goes to The Red Clay Strays, the high-energy southern rockers who perform at 7:30 p.m.

Logistics for the event are straightforward. Gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 4. On Saturday and Sunday, gates open earlier at 2 p.m. Main stage shows are scheduled to wrap up by 10 p.m. each night.

Beyond the main stage, the experience extends to Scout Village, where intermissions are filled with additional music. The Galentines, a Boulder indie rock band, perform on Sept. 4. The Runaway Grooms, a southern jam-leaning act, play on Sept. 5. Longtime Aspen local favorite and rock and roll funk band Jes Grew closes the intermission series on Sept. 6.

A new addition to the schedule is the JAS After Dark series, the official late-night concert series of the JAS Labor Day Experience. For the first time, this separately ticketed series will take place at the Paul JAS Center. "When the music ends on the main stage each night, the party will just be getting started at the Paul JAS Center, with the recently announced JAS After Dark Series," shared Andrea Beard, Chief Operating Officer.

The question is whether this mix of genres and venues will satisfy the varied tastes of the crowd. To hear them tell it, the programming is carefully constructed to ensure no one feels left out. From the intimate acoustics of the JAS Center to the expansive energy of Town Park, the JAS Labor Day Experience aims to deliver a comprehensive musical journey. As the dates approach, the anticipation builds for another year of big-name performances and community celebration in Snowmass.