The classic rock cover band Anthem will play on Aug. 22 in Wagner Park as a part of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge race in Aspen.

The band describes itself as a “’70s classic rock experience,” and will play songs by artists like Queen, Elton John, Foreigner and Kansas. The show will begin 30 minutes after Wednesday’s stage race finish, which is estimated to be around 6:30 p.m.

The show will be performed in synch to a video with live performance clips, visual effects and other “powerful images” that tell a story about each song, according to a press release issued by the city of Aspen.

“We are thrilled to have Anthem play,” said Nancy Lesley, special events director for the city of Aspen. “Having this concert and this energizing band will cap off a great first day of events and activities in celebration of a world-class race and a world-class community.”

Aspen will host both a finish and a start on Aug. 22 and Aug. 23 for the second annual seven-day stage race that takes some of the world’s best cyclists on a challenging tour of Colorado. Cyclists will come from Gunnison, over Independence Pass, and leave via the pass the next morning on their way to Beaver Creek.

In July, Aspen City Council approved $16,000 to be spent on a concert held in conjunction with the race. The idea is that the concert will keep people in town after the race and before dinner. Originally, race organizers asked the city for $25,000 to fund two separate concerts, but council agreed to fund only one.

dorothy@aspendailynews.com [1]