It still hasn’t hit us that X Games Aspen 2020 is officially over 🙁
The best show on snow concluded at the base of Buttermilk Mountain on Sunday (January 26) and the athletes weren’t the only ones that made headlines.
In addition to the competitions, X Games hosted nightly concerts at the GEICO Music Stage — a 5,000 cap slopeside venue — that featured stellar sets from Alesso, Bazzi, Illenium and Rae Sremmurd.
In case you didn’t know already, Celeb Secrets was in Aspen all weekend, giving our followers a front row seat to the biggest competitions and concerts the city had to offer. If you missed our takeovers — or just want to reminisce — here are some of the best music moments from X Games Aspen 2020.
(Photo by Trevor Brown, Jr./ ESPN Images)
Bazzi Gives Touching Tribute to Kobe Bryant Hours After His Death
Bazzi may have been the last to perform at X Games Aspen, however, his set is the one that we’re still talking about. The R&B-pop crooner brought the romantic lullabies, gospel-inflected ruminations and confident, wide-eye anthems that the fans know and love to the GEICO Music Stage on Sunday (January 26), all while giving a touching speech that addressed the death of and honored basketball legend Kobe Bryant.
“[Kobe was] one of my heroes growing up, one of the greatest basketball players and humans of all time,” Bazzi said to the packed crowd. “I want you all to remember how lucky we all are to be at the X Games in Aspen right now alive and healthy.”
The “Paradise” singer ended his 45-minute show with a roar applause and a “Kobe” chant, followed by the live debut of “I.F.L.Y” and his sultry tune “Focus” for the encore.
(Photo by Eddie Perlas / ESPN Images)
Illenium Has a Homecoming to Remember
Illenium had a homecoming like no other on day three of X Games Aspen 2020 (January 25).
The Denver native — born Nicholas Miller — brought the energy to his home state of Colorado with a huge electric set up that featured drums, a laptop and guitar. Showing off his multiple musical talents, the DJ started kicked things off with one-chorus takes of his biggest songs, including “Blood,” “Crawl Outta Love,” and “Where’d You Go?.”
Managing to keep the crowd engaged as temperatures dropped, everyone’s favorite moment of the EDM star’s 90 minute set was his extended mashup of “Sad Songs” and his newest track “Good Things Fall Apart” with Jon Bellion. With the crowd singing and jumping along, Illenium ended the evening with an unreleased song “Feel Something,” which received great feedback from the local crowd.
(Photo by Eddie Perlas / ESPN Images)
Alesso Blows Minds with Epic Set and Firework Show
Saturday night (January 25) may have been one of the coldest out in Aspen all week, however, it didn’t stop Alesso from bringing the heat to Buttermilk Mountain.
Bringing in the largest crowd all weekend, the Swedish DJ delivered track after track with mind blowing remixes of songs like “Years,” “Heroes,” “One Last Time,” and more. With an explosive set for almost 90 minutes, it made sense for the hitmaker to end the night with a surprise firework show during its encore.
(Photo by Trevor Brown, Jr. / ESPN Images)
Rae Sremmurd Debuts New Music
X Games Aspen’s concert series kicked things off with Rae Sremmurd and some new music on Friday night (January 24).
The rap duo, comprised of Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi, came ready to debut some tracks they’ve been working on. Towards the end of the set, Swae Lee made his way to the edge of the moshpit to ask the crowded slopeside venue if they were ready to hear the new material.
“Only in Aspen for X Games, can I do some exclusive shit?” Lee said. “Nobody here is going to know these words — I want to see some real reactions.” Featuring a trap beat and lines like “I got it straight out of my system” and “get that hate out of my system,” fans were seen bopping along to the song which is expected to drop by the end of February.
Slim Jxmmi also shared an unreleased solo song called “Mic Check,” which happens to be a collaboration with rapper on the rise DaBaby.
