The tumultuous economy can certainly stop people from doing a lot of things but it cannot stop people from getting down to some good old rock, funk, and blues in the open Aspen air and with Elk Mountain Range as a witness people will still proudly dance, dance, dance.

The Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Festival this year saw their crowds drop more than a third this year with about 23,800 people in attendance compared with the 36,600 concertgoers last year.

However, it was considered a success and more people showed than expected, “those are very respectable numbers, especially in a recession,” said Executive Director of the festival Jim Horowitz. “We didn’t expect to set any records…. The whole resort is off.”

The festival was shortened to a three day festival as opposed to the traditional five day festival. The Saturday headliners, Black Eyes Peas, Umphrey’s McGee, and Elvis Costello and the Imposters drew in the biggest crowd with 9,200 people in attendance. Feedback from the festival was extremely positive, especially the sets by Michael Franti and the Black Eyed Peas where the vibe was positive and the crowd could dance.

“It was fun and people appreciated that,” Horowitz said. “It’s been a tough year for everyone.”

Friday’s lineup with Citizen Cope’s soulful sound and the positive vibrations of Michael Franti and Spearhead drew in 6,600 people and I am sure they did not disappoint. 8,000 people came out to see some good old classic rock, the Allman Brothers Band, the Doobie Brothers and the Drive-By Truckers were a perfect way to end a weekend in the open mountain air.

The weather for the event could not have been more beautiful beneath a bright moon at night and a full rainbow that crowned the venue at dusk. When asked what the success of this years festival was Horowitz said this year’s festival was not based on attendance but rather what people took away from it.

“We got through it and everyone had a great time,” he said. “Net, net, we’re please. It’s not just numbers; it’s that it went great.”

Again, here is the daily reminder that an economy may take away pieces of our income but here in the Rocky Mountains we understand there is still music to be heard, places to see, and starry skies to camp beneath.