As the weather heats up and the days grow longer, many people seek out outdoor concerts to socialize with their friends and listen to some great music in the warm evening weather. Additionally, these events can also offer significant health benefits. That’s just one of the many reasons why Intermountain Health has sponsored the popular Summer Concert Series at the Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities. We sat down with Sarah Kolb and Kathy Blegan-Huntley of the Arvada Center, to talk about their fantastic 2024 Summer Concert lineup and the health bonuses outdoor music can provide you.

Benefits of Vitamin D

One of the biggest benefits to attending an outdoor concert is exposure to sunlight, which is crucial for the body’s production of Vitamin D. When the sun’s Ultraviolet rays hit your skin, it transforms the cholesterol in your cells into Vitamin D, also known as the sunshine vitamin. This super-powered nutrient plays several crucial roles in our body including:

• Bone and Muscle Health: Vitamin D helps you maintain strong bones and teeth by helping with calcium absorption in your gut. Adequate levels of Vitamin D can help prevent fractures and osteoporosis. This vitamin is also known for lowering inflammation in the body which helps lessen your chances of muscle cramps.
• Immune Support: Vitamin D has been known to help boost your immune system. Regular exposure to sunlight can increase your immune response, working to ward off those pesky summer colds and viruses.
• Mood Regulation: When you get outside you feel good! So, it should come as no surprise that Vitamin D has been linked to the regulation of your mood. Exposure to sunlight helps with serotonin production, which is a neurotransmitter that enhances your mood and promotes happy feelings.

Benefits of Music

(Photo credit: Arvada Center / Scoutitoutmedia.com)

It’s no secret that both music and the sun can significantly help our overall well being.

“Just being out in the sunshine and dancing and having a nice time and being outside, It elevates our physical health and our mental health and makes us happier.” Kolb said.

Music has all kinds of positive effects on the brain and the chemicals and hormones it produces to keep our bodies working. When we hear music, research shows that our brain secretes dopamine, another neurotransmitter that plays a major role in the brain’s pleasure and reward system.

You may also find yourself feeling less stressed when listening to good music. That’s because music can help with the reduction of cortisol, the body’s stress hormones. Cortisol reduction can lead to fewer feelings of anxiety and promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Blegan-Huntley felt this mental relief firsthand when she and her husband went to the most recent concert to help cope with a loss.

“Grief can cause a lot of physical and emotional pain, so I had a complete relief from that.” Blegan-Huntley said. “I felt, you know, happy and at peace during the show. It took me out of my sort of focus world a little bit and gave me a broader perspective.”

Cover Up

While it may be tempting to soak up the sunshine as long as you can, it’s important to protect yourself from the long-term effects of the sun’s rays. While many of the Arvada Center’s summer concerts start well after the sun’s radiation peaks between 10 A.M and 4 P.M, Intermountain Health will be providing free sunscreen to all concertgoers while supplies last. Even with a layer of good sunscreen, you should come ready to protect your skin and eyes from sunburn, sun damage, and skin cancer with proper clothing and accessories. These might include:

• A hat, preferably with a wide brim to protect your face and neck.
• Comfortable, photoprotective clothing such as lightweight and long sleeved shirts and pants.
• Sunglasses with UV protection lenses.

Make sure you take plenty of breaks in shaded or indoor areas as an added precaution. The Arvada Center has plenty of shady spots to rest including a foliage-covered patio space, covered seating, and an expansive indoor space which includes a rotating visual arts gallery of local artists.

“We encourage people to go inside. They can get air conditioning, they can cool off, they can get water, and they can look at our other art exhibits.” Blegan-Huntley said. “Our visual arts galleries are open (during the concert), and I often see people kind of meandering through the center, checking out the visual arts as well.

Hydrate

However you choose to spend your time outdoors, proper hydration is essential to making sure you feel good and stay safe in the warm months. Make sure you bring a refillable water bottle to your outdoor concerts, so you can ward off dehydration. You can refill it at any of the Arvada Center’s convenient water bottle filling stations.

Alcohol and caffeine can dehydrate you further. If you choose to drink either, especially alcohol, be sure to balance it with plenty of water breaks.

“We have lots of things for people to drink that are festive and fun and we have great food.” Blegan-Huntley said. “Enjoy something fun to drink but also drink water."

Healthy foods with high water content, such as watermelon, oranges, and cucumbers can also provide a tasty boost of hydration during these long summer days.

Line-Up

While the health benefits of a concert are great, the best part about live music is the music itself! The Arvada Center has a fantastic lineup of artists for you to enjoy out in the sunshine. From the timeless jazz of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, to the blues tunes of Kingfish, to the six-time Grammy nominated soul of Yola, you’re sure to enjoy or find a new favorite musician taking the stage this summer. Kolb said she is excited by the variety of artists set to play, bringing artists of all kinds together for a unique set of shows.

“This summer in particular, it’s cool to have Ricky Skaggs, an artist who’s been playing music for 25-30 years, share the same stage as a kind of up and coming bluegrass band called Big Richard that just played Telluride Bluegrass Festival for the first time.” Kolb said.

Kolb said the best part, however, is the community these shows bring together over one common love.

“I think music is such a part of Colorado culture, and really what people in Colorado love to do in the summer in particular is see really great live music with their friends and their family outside. There’s a sense of people just kind of like coming and being part of our community and driving over or walking over or spending time and Old Town Arvada and then coming to a show.” Kolb said. “It's just really fun to be part of that scene in that community and tap into people who really love live music.”

For more information on the fantastic summer concert lineup at Arvada Center, start here.