Winter Dispatch: 030
Why ski towns are the new EDM hotspots.
Denver finally delivered its first real snowfall yesterday! Fashionably late, but forgiven the moment fat flakes began drifting down. I marked the occasion the only way I know how: with a tray of cinnamon rolls, my annual signal that the season has officially begun!!
Chairlift Chatter
Resort openings have been delayed across the board. A few recent storms have finally dusted the Rockies with snow (most mountains are still only trending around 30-50% of normal snowfall), but the Pacific Northwest is still waiting for its first real cover.
BTS from Snowbird. The NYT published a piece called “The Secret Life of a Ski Resort” featuring a behind the scenes look on how Snowbird operates – from grooming to patrolling. Interesting read!
Hard Pack ski magazine is hosting a launch party. If you’re in NYC on Dec 9, go hang with Zach + the Hard Pack crew to get your hands on the new issue. (read more about Hard Pack in our interview from last year!)
Skip Coachella. The Real Party’s at 9,000 Feet.
I wrote about this last season, but it’s even more evident now: the ski town music scene isn’t just growing… it’s stabilizing into its own fully fledged circuit. What began as resorts trying to capture a little European après energy has evolved into something distinct, with major artists consistently routing their winter schedules through the mountains. These shows aren’t one-off novelties anymore – they’re becoming anchor dates.
EDM’s relationship with ski towns, in particular, has intensified. And the dynamics behind it are pretty logical. Artists get intimate, high-energy rooms that feel different from the standard arena loop. Resorts extend the revenue life of their season. Fans get a built-in justification for another mountain weekend. The early days (SnowGlobe’s unruly Tahoe winters and Powabunga’s brief Fyre-adjacent wobble) have given way to a more predictable and professionalized model.
It also reflects a broader shift in how people are choosing to experience live music post-pandemic. Destination-driven shows win out over generic stadium nights. Smaller venues create a kind of scarcity and immediacy that big tours can’t replicate. And there is genuinely something compelling about seeing someone like John Summit play while everyone is still buzzing from skiing all day.
Despite all of this chatter, I still maintain some of the best mountain beats come courtesy of DJ Don Woodbury (Utah’s own, holding court all winter at the St. Regis Deer Valley’s Vintage Room) and Littlefoot (the Breckenridge T Bar’s resident vibe curator).
Here’s a look at this winter’s ski town festival lineup.
John Summit’s Experts Only tour returns. The current house music golden boy is bringing his winter tour back to Whistler (March 14-15) and Vail (March 21-22). I am slightly salty that presale tix sold out in 0.2 seconds so Mr. Summit, if you’re reading this, I am a big fan.
Sofi Tukker hits Vail. The duo brings their high-energy winter set to Vail on December 13 for one night only.
The Snow Lodge in Aspen. The cold-weather sister to The Surf Lodge in Montauk returns this season with a stacked roster: Diplo, Marshmello, Blondish, Seth Troxler.
Palm Tree Music Festival is back in Aspen this February. Produced by Kygo (who is also headlining), this two-day festival features Calvin Harris, Sammy Virji, Blondish, and others.
X Games beats. Boulder local Disco Lines and Alesso will soundtrack this year’s Aspen competition in January.
Belly Up stacks its winter slate. Iconic venue Belly Up has an impressive winter lineup, with Diplo, The Chainsmokers, LCD Soundsystem, and Two Friends among the standouts.
Tahoe Live returns to Palisades. Alison Wonderland, Porter Robinson, and Zeds Dead headline next weekend’s festival.
For a ‘more banjo, less bass’ vibe…
Winter Wondergrass is back again. The last weekend of February brings peak mountain bluegrass back to Steamboat.
The Revivalists hit the winter circuit. Shows slated for Aspen, Jackson, and Beaver Creek.
Jackson Hole’s Rendezvous Festival returns. No headliners announced yet but the price tag remains unbeatable (free).
Mat Kearney revives his slope shows. Back again with stripped-down winter stops in Steamboat, Jackson, and Ketchum.
Nike x Jacquemus Joins Fashion’s Technical Ski Revolution
Add another name to the list of luxury brands going all-in on skiwear: Jacquemus just launched an 18-piece après ski collection with Nike. It’s built around the same thing that’s suddenly non-negotiable for fashion brands touching the slopes – technical credibility.
This isn’t Jacquemus slapping logos on puffer jackets and calling it ski-inspired. The collection centers on triple-layer GORE-TEX jackets and pants engineered for actual mountain conditions. The standout two-in-one jacket pairs a waterproof shell with a zip-in Primaloft-insulated bomber – the kind of thoughtful layering system that matters when you’re transitioning from lift lines to lodge cocktails.
What makes this collaboration interesting is the dynamic: Nike brings the technical legitimacy (performance fabrics, weather protection, athlete-tested design), while Jacquemus brings the fashion credibility. It’s the inverse of what Gucci just did with Head – same recognition that you can’t fake functionality, just approached from the opposite direction.
The aesthetic splits the difference between Jacquemus’ signature ‘80s-inspired rounded tailoring and actual mountain performance. Black and pale neon green colorways. Generous cuts that reference vintage ski fashion without sacrificing function. Water-repellant jumpsuits, stirrup leggings, technical menswear – pieces that work on slopes and at après ski without feeling like costume changes.
Jacquemus has been building toward this since opening a winter pop-up in Courchevel in 2023. The designer even partnered with French brand Lacroix to create matching skis and goggles, showing the same commitment to actual equipment we’re seeing from Balenciaga and Hermès.
The collection launched November 26 at Jacquemus stores and dropped yesterday at Nike retailers. Fashion’s message to the mountain is getting clearer: we’re not just visiting anymore. We’re suiting up. Please report back if you or anyone you know purchased pieces from this collection!
If you enjoy this letter, please share with friends! Feel free to respond here with ski-related intel, new products you’re loving, or just to say hi. Thanks for reading 💌