Music on the Mesa, the free summer concert series produced by Norwood Park & Recreation District (NPRD) with major support from the Town of Norwood and Pickin’ Productions, will close out its 2026 season on Saturday, Aug. 8, with a large band bringing their large sound to a large stage at the San Miguel County Fairgrounds.
Due to forecasted high temperatures, gates on Saturday will open at 5 p.m., a half hour later than usual. But, refreshments and shade under the Pig Palace will be plentiful. Music will begin after announcements start at 7:15 p.m., allowing plenty of leisurely pre-show picnicking, catching up with old friends and perhaps making a few new ones.
Rounding out the vibe is a robust KidZone, yard games and a cash bar offering many Colorado-crafted libations. Vendors will again run the gamut of locally made offerings, from handmade baskets and leather goods to tallow-based health products, plus regional organizations enjoying casual outreach about their important community services. There may even be a visit by Smokey the Bear again, thanks to the U.S. Forest Service booth. Food vendors will offer tacos, savory dumplings and buns, freshmade cookies and lemonades, brisket with all the trimmings, and frozen treats from the Polar Express bus.
Before the music, the drawings for NPRD’s 250/150 Bucket List Challenge will take place from the stage. A summer-long scavenger hunt, collecting not things but experiences in Norwood and the 418,500-acre district, the challenge will pay off with prizes that include an assortment from Crossbow Leather, Twisted K Leather and four pure silver 2026 Colorado quarters. A reminder to those who have been doing the challenge to bring their cards for the drawing.
The Burroughs invite dancing
The summer’s last band is The Burroughs, an eight-piece bundle of brass-laden energy from their “unlikely hometown” of Greeley. From humble beginnings covering soul standards, The Burroughs have traversed a decade of growth and reinvention to become a band that defies odds and transcends categorization.
Since 2013, they have lit up stages around the country with their trademark brand of “Sweaty Soul Music,” an invitation for audiences to dance, celebrate and connect under a unifying and infectious groove.
Bandleader and frontman Johnny Burroughs sings, dances and screams audiences into a revival-like frenzy. His dynamite backing band includes sizzling horns and a powerhouse rhythm section made up of some of Colorado’s most versatile and in-demand musicians.
The band’s recent single, “Got To Free Your Mind,” is a call to break free, transported by the mind-altering substances of funk and sweat, returning to their roots as leaders of radical communion on dance floors and dive bars around the country. Their previous studio album Honey Imastar (2023), which garnered Grammy consideration, is a conceptual intergalactic adventure following an alien traveler who comes to Earth to study and understand humans.
The Burroughs have played prestigious festivals and venues including Salmonfest Alaska, Bohemian Nights New West Fest, Denver's Underground Music Showcase and the Mishawaka. The band also wrote, produced and performed a show of original music with the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra in 2021. They have opened for The Motet, The Steve Miller Band, Keller Williams and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Since the band’s start, The Burroughs have always embraced their hometown of Greeley with a passion for community outreach, amplifyng the work of organizations like the Weld Food Bank, Greeley Boys and Girls Clubs and Habitat for Humanity. The band’s latest mission is an ongoing partnership with Greeley-Evans District 6 Schools titled #BandsGiveBack, a campaign for local artists to pledge money and time dedicated towards providing all area students with access to music education.
The Divide hosts afterparty
There’s an afterparty at The Divide that will go until 11 p.m., featuring Sean DeLand.
NPRD’s Daiva Chesonis said she hopes all will enjoy the night of live music. She also recommends staying in the Norwood area afterward.
“Grab a gaggle of friends and head to Norwood, perhaps making it a public lands camping weekend? Between the Ponderosa Pines up on Thunder Road Trails or lakeside at Miramonte, to the San Miguel River in the canyon between Placerville and Norwood, plus all that incredible terrain west of Norwood, there are plenty of nice spots from which to base your Wright’s Mesa weekend getaway,” she said.
Music on the Mesa in Norwood is presented by the Town of Norwood, NPRD, Pickin’ Productions, and sponsored by Norwood Chamber of Commerce, BackCountry Inn, Telluride Foundation, Colorado Housing & Finance Authority, San Miguel County, San Miguel Power Association, Lone Cone Legacy Trust, Blue Grouse Bread, Wild Iris Greenhouse & Gardens, Lisa Foxwell & Paul Finley, John Herndon, Alpine Bank, Telluride Luxury Rentals & Real Estate, Mary Jane’s Medicinals, George Lewis & Judy Muller, Dark Sky Café, Local Liquor & Wine Shop, San Miguel Basin Forum, Jim & Gretchen Wells, The Coach’s Mother, Apple Core Project, Metzger Associates PR, Tree Realty, Arena Hair Studio, KOTO Community Radio, KRKQ Mountain Chill and Wild Gals Market.
