Skiers and snowboarders near the Steamboat Resort base next week might once again hear a charmingly Southern-accented, shouted warning that was heard during last year’s annual MusicFest at Steamboat: “Oh, Lordy, look out, I can’t stop!”

The 39^th annual MusicFest is expected to bring in some 6,000 Texas and Americana music fans and visitors to enjoy music, skiing and winter fun Jan. 6-11. The festival will include some 200 hours of music performed by some 50 bands, individual performers and musical collaborations.

According to event organizer Dickson Productions, located in Buda, Texas, near Austin, the MusicFest “draws thousands of ski-lovin’, music-lovin’ folks to the snow-swept peaks of Colorado each January” and is “the largest group ski trip of its kind in the nation.”

In addition to the overall festival package that organizers said has sold out quickly for more than 20 years, the lineup will include four afternoons of free musical performances for the public at the Steamboat Stage outdoors at the base area.

Free concerts on the Steamboat Stage will feature the following:

• Tuesday, Jan. 7, noon-3:45 p.m.: Jack Ingram & The Beat-Up Ford Band; Cypress Valley Band; Hope MacGregor; Zach Top

• Wednesday, Jan. 8, noon-4 p.m.: Seth James; The Droptines; 49 Winchester

• Thursday, Jan. 9, noon-4 p.m.: Bri Bagwell; Tyler Halverson; Randall King

• Friday, Jan. 10, noon-4 p.m.: Dos Barrachos featuring Kevin Fowler and Roger Creager; Pat Green; Kyle Park

The festival will feature evening concerts at various locations around the resort with more than 60 live performances offering a diverse lineup ranging from longtime bands to up-and-coming performers playing country, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk and Western swing. Performers range from Band of Heathens to Cody Canada and the Departed, from Suzy Bogguss to Uncle Lucius.

To set up and break down the festival’s 18,000-square-foot outdoor performance tent, much of the free upper Knoll Lot will be closed from Thursday through Jan. 15. The lower Knoll triangle paid lot also will be closed through Jan. 11. The $448 music-only tickets that went on sale Oct. 30 are sold out.

The annual MusicFest at Steamboat started as a group skiing trip including country musicians. It began in 1986 with 600 people. Festival founder John Dickson noted about 50% of the festival guests come from Texas, while the remainder come from across the U.S. or internationally. A portion of proceeds from some festival events such as a Texas hold ’em poker tournament and silent auction will benefit local nonprofit organizations.

The Texas-based MusicFest is not to be confused with the 12^th annual WinterWonderGrass bluegrass festival set to return to Steamboat Resort Feb. 28-March 2.