LP Giobbi performing at Coachella in 2023. Giobbi will play the Palm Tree Festival today along with Xandra, Forester, Mojave Grey, Dom Dolla and Kygo.
Courtesy photo
The third annual Palm Tree Music Festival kicks off today in Rio Grande Park and for the second consecutive year, and not a single ticket is to be found for the two daytime shows or the nighttime concerts at Belly Up.
This year’s event sold out six weeks in advance, according to David Goldberg, partner with Belly Up Concerts, one of the producers of the event.
“Once again, we are deeply humbled and grateful for the opportunity to host this event with such incredible artists in this truly special location, and our home,” Goldberg said in an interview. “This wouldn’t be possible without our attendees, loyal supporters and the countless individuals who work tirelessly to bring it all to life.”
Belly Up produces the festival in partnership with C3 Presents from Austin, Texas, and The Palm Tree Crew, an alliance between the Norwegian DJ Kygo (Kyrre Gorvell Dahll, who serves as the de facto house DJ of the festival) and Myles Shear.
“We’re thrilled to return to Aspen for the third annual Palm Tree Music Festival,” Shear said. “This location holds a special place in our hearts — the Aspen community, the artists and the attendees are always incredible. We’re doing it bigger and better this year and are so happy to be back in Aspen.”
Palm Tree Crew is a diversified holding company that owns and operates a consumer brand, a global live events business and a multi-product investment platform among other investments.
Palm Tree Crew’s production company has promoted events in the Hamptons, Dana Point, Egypt, Cabo San Lucas, Croatia, Hawaii and Australia.
In 2022, Palm Tree Music set its sights on Aspen and teamed with Belly Up Aspen to produce the inaugural Palm Tree Music Festival Aspen in 2023. The partnership looked a bit odd on paper as all of the previous Palm Tree events had been done in tropical locales, quite a contrast from a festival in the mountains during the winter.
The inaugural Palm Tree Music Festival lit up Rio Grande Park in 2023 with headliners Kygo and Jack White. The third annual Palm Tree Festival starts today at Rio Grande Park.
Jason Charme/Aspen Daily News
The Goldbergs initially wanted to produce the festival in the summer. However, out of respect for Theatre Aspen’s performances in Rio Grande Park in the summer season, the Goldbergs decided to try and pull off a winter festival and settled on the last weekend of February as the least disruptive date to other events occurring within the winter cycle.
The first Palm Tree Music Festival in Aspen featured festival founder Kygo and Jack White as headliners of the two-day event. Last year, the Goldbergs pulled a veritable turntable out of a hat when they brought David Guetta, voted the No. 1 DJ in the world by his peers in 2024, to headline the weekend.
Michael, David and Danny Goldberg appeared before council last May seeking a five-year lease agreement for Rio Grande Park in hopes of securing the festival’s future until the end of the decade. The extension was granted, securing Palm Tree’s future in Aspen until 2029..
“A 5-year deal is crucial for us because the music business plans far out in terms of both talent, production crews and right down to the vendors,” David Goldberg said. “Continuity is a very important piece of the puzzle of putting on a music festival.”
This year’s lineup features an international cast including Dom Dolla and Fisher from Australia, Kygo from Norway and Franc Moody from England.
“We are very excited with our 2025 lineup,” Goldberg said. “Dom Dolla is performing in Aspen for the first time. He is on a meteoric rise and the timing couldn’t be better.”
Dom Dolla is the co-headliner of the third annual Palm Tree Music Festival happening in Rio Grande Park. He will co-headline with Kygo. Dom Dolla hails from Australia, as does festival performer Fisher.
Courtesy photo
Dom Dolla, whose name is actually Dominic Matheson, is a house music producer, DJ, songwriter and remixer. He is celebrated for his distinct style of house music and high-profile collaborations. He has been nominated eight times for the ARIA Award (Australian Recording Industry Association) for Best Dance Release. His song “San Frandisco” in 2020 won the award. He was nominated for a 2024 Grammy for the song “New Gold,” which features Gorillaz, Tame Impala and Bootie Brown.
The acts preceding Dom Dolla Friday in the park include LP Giobb, Xandra, Forester and Mojave Grey. Dom Dolla is co-headlining today’s show at Palm Tree, along with Kygo.
“Kygo is our dear friend and partner,” Goldberg said. “His career just continues to explode. He’s playing arenas and stadiums. Having him and Dom Dolla on the same lineup Friday is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Saturday’s acts in Rio Grande Park include Sofi Tukker, Franc Moody, Victoria Nadine and Balthvs before headliner Fisher takes the stage. He also is a member of the duo Under Construction, with frequent collaborator Chris Lake. Fisher was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for Best Dance Recording for his solo single “Losing It.”
“We’re very fortunate to have Fisher this year,” Goldberg said. “He’s been getting bigger and bigger. He’s cresting right now. His energy is unmatched.”
In what promises to be a long day for the DJs from Down Under, both Dom Dolla and Fisher will headline at Belly Up on Friday and Saturday nights, respectively. For those who want to stick around Sunday, there are still tickets available for Franc Moody at Belly Up Sunday night.
“I want to thank everybody who has been involved, from the city, my partners and all my crew,” said Goldberg. “We never could have pulled it off without their patience and hard work. We’re incredibly thankful and excited to be able to continue Palm Tree in Aspen.”