Lucius: Field Recordings x Aspen Ideas Festival

Suraya Mohamed | August 28, 2025
Known for its panoramic views of Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley, Smuggler Mountain was conveniently a couple of miles from the Aspen Ideas Festival campus. The band Lucius and our crew took a short trek up a dirt road to arrive at the historic Smugger Mine. Once inside, we walked through the cold and damp Clark Tunnel and arrived at a man-made cavern. There Lucius played “Dusty Trails,” perhaps appropriate for the fossilized surroundings.

The subsequent songs come from its latest self-titled album. Performed just outside of the mine entrance, the audience had the good fortune to take in catchy tunes and a gorgeous background overlooking the town. “Final Days” is a reminder that the human experience is filled with unknowns. The sugary “Gold Rush” highlights lead singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig’s solid vocal connection. The set ends with “Mad Love,” a beautiful ballad that inspired some grasshoppers to sing along.

SET LIST
“Dusty Trails”
“Final Days”
“Gold Rush”
“Mad Love”

MUSICIANS
Jess Wolfe: vocals
Holly Laessig: vocals
Dan Molad: percussion, background vocals
Peter Lalish: guitar
Jacob Peters: bass

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director: Mito Habe-Evans
Editor: Nickolai Hammar
Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Nickolai Hammar, Ryan Lohr, Will Sardinsky
Audio Engineer: Neil Tevault
Post-Production Coordinator: Tsering Bista
Senior Producer, Aspen Institute: Ava Hartmann
Program Associate, Aspen Institute: Jacqueline Olivas-Sison
Festival Director: Graham Veysey
Supervising Editor: Becky Lettenberger
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed

SPECIAL THANKS
Sean Duty
Ben James
Samuel Lasater
Jay Parker
Chris Preusch
Smuggler Consolidated Mines, LLC.
Fred Wilson
Matt Windholz
Keith Jenkins