For those lucky enough to run around the Mile High Music Festival this past weekend at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, there were certainly some choice moments. Also, there were $1 popsicles at the Whole Foods tent. Trust me, they were necessary. And delicious. In no particular order, here are my ten favorite moments…

Derek Trucks. The man can play guitar.

[All Photos by Jason Woodside Except Where Noted]

Need I say more? And when you pair his guitar skills with those of his wife, Susan Tedeschi (not to mention her beautiful singing voice), you really can't go wrong. It was a great wind down before Jack Johnson took the main stage on Saturday night to see their band in action.

Joe Purdy

[Photo by Katya Kirilloff]

Somewhere between Ray Lamontagne and Heartbreaker-era Ryan Adams sits the music of Joe Purdy, sad and simple. It's no lack of honesty or talent in his songwriting that packed the "Elk Tent" to the brim Sunday afternoon, where his 12:30pm set was silent but for his guitar, vocals and harmonica. Something about his spirit though, independent in the true sense of the word, is truly refreshing (he has turned down multiple record deals and continues to release his albums on his own). Take a listen to the track Troubadour from his new album, 4th of July.

READ ON for more top moments from the Mile High Festival…

Sunset over the main stage

One thing that is truly magnificent about the open sky of the West is the sunsets. Each night at Mile High, as the last daytime bands were winding down, the sun set behind the main stage just in time for the headliners (Jack Johnson on Saturday and Dave Matthews Band on Sunday) to close out the evening.

Rivers runs amok

If you think Weezer won't put on a good show in 2010 - at least that's what I thought - think again. After some heavy wind seemed to slow the pace on El Scorcho, Rivers Cuomo decided to turn the energy up a notch. As the band played My Name is Jonas and Beverly Hills, Cuomo ran a lap around the concert field, singing all the while as fans and photographers chased him. Apparently that wasn't enough for him, as he took over cameraman duties briefly, teased MGMT's Kids and then donned a long blonde wig as they covered Lady Gaga's Poker Face.

Cypress Hill gets hiiiiiiiiigh, so high

In the first of many Colorado-based marijuana references, potheads extraordinaire Cypress Hill smoked, and smoked, and smoked more. If the double-cross-joint on stage didn't get them high enough, then maybe the hit from a 6-foot bong did it. Or so you'd think. Even after imbibing enough to put Cheech & Chong in a coma, Sen Dog, B-Real and Eric Bobo kick-started a party the likes of which even the high school versions of ourselves would have been proud of. Nostalgia be damned, the Smoke Out continues.

British Bred Bobby Long

If he's not already, Bobby Long will soon be famous. If you don't believe me just ask, well, everybody that's heard him. His 1:15pm set on Saturday, though it was early, showcased his honest and humble yet far-reaching songwriting to anybody and everybody that was lucky enough to walk by the "Cougar Stage" (cougars included). He's been mentioned in the same sentences as Kris Kristofferson, Neil Young, even Bob Dylan. And, though I'd be hesitant to go that far just yet, he's definitely someone to listen to.

Jack Johnson says:

"My guitar tech is from Boulder, CO so you really can't trust him," said Jack after a quick start-and-stop to tune his guitar. "I know it kind of smells like herb, so it's probably coming from over there." I guess Boulder (and the Mile High City) just has that reputation.

John Popper plays with The Samples

It's been a while since The Samples played a show with all of their original members. So needless to say, the former H.O.R.D.E. tour headliners were bound to be a little rusty their first time back. It didn't hurt, though, that their old friend John Popper came on stage to play some harmonica as the Boulder, CO band put some oil their hinges.

That Voice!

[Photo by Lucia De Giovanni]

Dressed in suits for "the Lord's Day," John Common and the Blinding Flashes of Light played their alt-country style, and did it well. What really stood out was the voice of Jess De Nicola. At times it reminded me of Norah Jones, and at other times it just sang for itself.

Slug is "not your father or anything"

One of few hip-hop acts at Mile High, Atmosphere packed the Elk Tent despite My Morning Jacket's simultaneous set on the main stage. "Now, I know I'm not your father or anything," said Slug, "but don't you think it's a little early to be so high?"

Check out a full gallery of Jason's shots:

Guide to the above photos:

1- Houses
3- People saving their spots at the "no chairs beyond this point line"
4- Bobby Long
5- Donovan Frankenreiter
8- Amos Lee
10-Mahesh Presents
12- The Samples
15- The Constellations
16- Nas & Damien
25- Rusted Root
27- Cypress Hill
33- Keller
34- Steve Miller
35- Keane
37- Slightly Stoopid
38- Phoenix
40- Derek Trucks & Susan
45- Jack Johnson
51- Tim Reynolds
54- Jimmy Cliff
58- Punch Brothers
60- Train
64- Z-Trip
66- Atmosphere
78- Weezer
84- No Band, just sunset over main stage
85- Railroad Earth
89- Dave Matthews
100- Main strip night shot