As summer returns to Crested Butte, so do the turntables, the dance floors, and the earth-shaking bass, vibrating the Mother Rock to electronic dance music (EDM). What started, at least in my time here, as post-bar closing after-parties in places like the old Mark’s Automotive building has grown into a tight-knit electronic community that now holds its own on the valley’s community calendar. Anyone remember J-How at the Eldo spinning tunes with samples like “GirlTalk” in 2008? We’ve grown a lot.
Picture this: It’s 2018, you’re listening to “Rock Hard Radio” with Shano on KBUT, and you catch a callout to your tribe: “You’ll need 4WD, a map to a ‘secret’ location, and the fence code. IYKYK.”
You rally the troops, gather your camping gear, funky costumes, and other necessities that help orchestrate the vibe. From solar lights and a well-loved fur coat to smoothies and pancakes for dancing into the wee hours, it takes a village to create that mini-festival feeling right at home.
That was my first memory of the affectionately called “Woods Womp,” originally formed as a Burning Man decompression. It carried on for several late summers, connecting what felt like a scattered group of DJs, fire spinners, and dance-floor Debbies into something cohesive, rooted in love for the music and for each other.
Fast-forward to 2026, and several artists who were raised here on this emerging scene are now playing official venues in Crested Butte.
Severyn Peterson, aka “Reveryn Severyn,” started young, hosting a weekly show on KBUT at age 13 before playing in local venues. Recording school in Vancouver, Canada, sharpened his production skills, and today his sets weave funk into modern house and garage.
Hanuman Enright, “HyphyHan,” blends tech house, Afro house, underground cuts, and classic hip-hop. A long-time festivalgoer and Burning Man participant, he brings that ethos of connection and respect to his sets. Offstage, he runs his own sound company, Bless-Up Productions.
Sam Moore, another Crested Butte wildling who goes by “Bassaiah,” leans into heavy, experimental dubstep with a spiritual edge. Growing up with a passion for music and computers, he found a home in the EDM community during high school. After years of refining his sound, Sam has a new release, “Back It Up,” on deck.
And Maisy Ramsey returned home after years performing on Colorado’s Front Range to launch her company, White Buffaloes DJs, in 2022, creating intentional, high-energy soundtracks for celebrations across the valley. Book her for your wedding!
Not everyone grew up here. Some found the valley and stayed. Like David Miramon, “DJ Mijo.” He has more than 25 years of DJ experience and prides himself on seamless mixes that bring the crowd in with nostalgic tracks and current tunes, all set to feel-good dance beats. He says, “In all my years, I have never experienced such a talented group in a smaller community. There must be something in the water here.”
Sean Monahan, “Walter Balltell,” emerged from a vibrant fusion of sound as a lifelong musician. He defies genre boundaries with a blend of tech house, deep bass, funk, hip-hop, Afro house, and otherworldly rhythms sure to take you on a musical journey.
Kristen Sheehan, “PO1,” formerly “Party of 1,” has been DJing long enough to remember when genres were movements. She started falling deep into vinyl, CDJs, and the evolving UK garage scene during the birth of dubstep. During a stint in Belgium producing VIP comfort zones at TomorrowLand, techno and house music stole her heart. Look for her in “Scary Movie 5,” scratching a pizza in the club scene. Totally worth a rewatch!
Of the EDM-friendly ski area scene these days, local legend and Olympian “DJ Red” Wendy Fisher says, “I have been in the valley for 30 years, and it has been really exciting to finally see the base area with energy. José at Elevation has been a big part of that change by supporting the local DJs to play during après.”
Amy Woody, known simply as “Woody,” shifted from classic rock and rap into experimental bass and dubstep after moving to Colorado in 2017. She co-founded Bass Elevation, the collective behind Wookstock, which has grown from a forest renegade into a full-scale show at I Bar Ranch, returning this summer. Her first EP is also on the way later this year.
Behind the scenes, lighting technicians like Alex Sturde help bring it all to life. “There’s nothing like standing behind a console and feeling the room move,” he says. For him, Wookstock is where immersive production meets community. He believes the Gunnison Valley is stepping into a more diverse, inclusive music culture and that EDM “belongs here just as much as anywhere else, and we’re proving it.”
What’s the future? From toddlers to octogenarians, anyone can be part of it. That’s the beauty of electronic music — it’s a welcoming community for all ages. If the beat resonates and makes your body move, we’ll see you on the dance floor!
Know your EDM:
CDJs: Digital music players used by DJs to mix and manipulate audio from USB drives. Also known as decks.
BPM: Beats per minute
Dubstep: A genre of electronic music known for its heavy, syncopated bass and rhythmic “wubs.” BPM ~140
House music: A rhythmic, soulful style of dance music; includes subgenres like Afro house (tribal beats) and tech house (techno-influenced). BPM 115-130
IYKYK: “If You Know, You Know.”
UK garage: A British electronic style defined by upbeat, “shuffling” percussion and vocal samples. BPM 130-140
Vinyl: Traditional analog records played on turntables, the original medium for DJing
Woods Womp: A local term for “renegade” electronic dance parties typically held in a forest
Wookstock: A community-grown EDM music festival in the Gunnison Valley featuring local DJs and immersive production (August 22, 2026!)