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by Amy Allen
So, things haven’t loosened up as much in the
expendable income column as you might have hoped, and it looks like you’re
going to be sticking close to home turf this summer. Why not relax and enjoy
it?
ROSIE LEDET'S ZYDECO BAND and the Tommy Castro Band headline Pearl Street’s Blues & Brews.
Photo: flickriver.com
Looking
for activities to please your entire brood – or a passel of restless
friends? From the peaceful lawn in the Shady Grove at Four Mile Park, to the
stunning sights and sounds of Red Rocks Amphitheatre; from the urban environs
of downtown Denver to the semi-suburban reaches of the new Stapleton, you’ll
find a brimful roster of free and low-cost live music and popular films
beckoning all summer long.
Gather
up friends and family, dust off your lawn chairs (low-profile festival chairs
are more crowd friendly in park settings), grab your favorite blanket and pack
some delicious edibles. It’s time, once again, for summer fun in the Queen City
of the Plains.
Rock
The Block
South Pearl Street
2012 Summer Music Festivals
in the 1200 block of S. Pearl St.
For
the sixth consecutive year, the merchants of South Pearl Street invite music
lovers to a series of high powered but laid-back concerts featuring “tasty
bands and full bodied music,” held monthly throughout the summer. All of the
festivals are held in the 1200 block of S. Pearl St., between Buchtel Blvd. and Louisiana Ave. (Simplify parking: take
light rail, or ride your bike. And bring a chair!)
The
season kicks off on Sat., June 9, luring bluegrass aficionados to the area for BrewGrass, a mixture of hot licks and cold beers,
presenting Colorado in a fine light in both categories. Next up, on Sat., July
14, is the second go-round for the South Pearl Jam Festival, bringing a
taste of the jam band phenomenon to the South Pearl stage. Closing out the
South Pearl season in fine form on Sat., Aug. 11 is Blues & Brews, featuring
another strong lineup dipping deeply into the depths of American blues.
All
three concert events run from noon-10p.m., and welcome
all members of your tribe (but no pooches, please). This year’s admission
charge is a still affordable $5. Once inside, you’ll have the chance to
purchase a variety of microbrew beers as well as some downright tasty festival
eats. All shows will take place rain or shine.
For
information, visit SouthPearlStreet.com.
June 9
BrewGrass
The David Mayfield Parade
The Stone Foxes • Fruition String Band
Oakhurst • Musketeer Gripweed
Bonnie & The Clydes
Acoustic Mining Company
July 14
South Pearl
Jam Festival
Rubblebucket • Juno What? • David Starfire
Larry Keel & Natural Bridge • Shakedown Street
Atomga • The Magic Beans
August
11
Blues &
Brews
Tommy Castro Band • Rosie Ledet
Zydeco Band
Harper & Midwest Kind • The Informants
Rockin’ Jake Band • Doug Mac Leod
Delores Scott from Chicago with Jack Hadley
Movies In The Park!
Denver City Parks
The
City of Denver’s Department of Parks & Recreation brings back its popular Movies
in the Park! series for a seventh go-round,
offering 16 Blu-ray formatted films shown on 24-foot-wide inflatable screens
with high-quality sound to heighten your viewing and listening experience. The
series focuses on six of Denver’s fine city green spaces. As always, lawn
chairs, blankets and picnic treats are welcome – food will also be
available on site. All films are G, PG or PG-13.
Denver
kicks off the series at Skyline Park on June 30 with the classic heart-tugging
comedy, Forrest Gump, one of eight showings slated for that location
throughout the summer. The Skyline Park films are sponsored by Southwest
Airlines and hosted by the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, with
live music opening each evening’s festivities.
For
the second year in a row, the Civic Center Conservancy will host four Bike-In
movies at Civic Center Park. The Sunday and Friday night shows will feature a
state-of-the-art 40-foot screen and a festive atmosphere – including
gourmet food trucks – before each show. Bike racks will
be provided by the 2012 USA Pro Challenge.
Lala’s Wine Bar and Pizzeria will be at Governor’s Park
on Aug. 22, spicing up a yet to be determined flick with a pre-show dinner menu
to be enjoyed on a street-side patio.
For Movies in the Park! info, visit denvergov.org/parksandrecreation. Details on the Civic Center Bike-In Movie Series can be
found at civiccenterconservancy.org.
Skyline Park, Arapahoe St. & 16th St. Mall
Sat., June 30, Forrest Gump • Sat.,
July 7, Moneyball
Sat., July 14, Grease • Sat., July 21, The Incredibles
Sat., July 28, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black
Pearl
Sat., Aug. 11, Mary Poppins • Sat., Aug. 18, Hugo
Sat., Aug. 25, American Flyers
Ruby Hill Park, W. Florida Ave. & S. Platte
River Dr.
Sun., July 1, Puss in Boots
Civic Center Park, Colfax & Broadway
Sun., July 15, Kicking
& Screaming • Sun., July 29, The Blind Side
Sun., Aug. 12, Monty Python and the Holy Grail • Fri., Sept.
14, Top Gun
Bible Park, E. Yale Ave. between Monaco Pkwy.
& Quebec St.
Wed., July 25, Dolphin Tale
Curtis Park, 30th St. & Curtis St.
Wed., Aug. 15, Kung Fu Panda 2
Governor’s Park, E. 7th Ave. & Logan St.
Wed., Aug 22, TBD
University of Denver Lamont School of Music
3rd Annual Summer Carillon Recital Series
south
of the Ritchie Athletic Complex
This
unusual summer series highlights the 65-bell Williams Carillon located
in the
golden spire of the Ritchie Center athletic complex, at the southwest
corner of
Buchtel and University Blvd. Cast in 1999 by Royal Eijsbouts Bellfoundry
in The Netherlands, it’s the eighth largest carillon in North
America by number of bells. Carillonneurs hailing
from Belgium to Berkeley will bring their best to DU’s bells; the best
listening space is in the courtyard at the south end of the Ritchie
Center. All
the free recitals take place Sunday evenings at 7p.m., and will be
played rain
or shine. Bring a chair, a picnic supper and enjoy! Info: Lamont Concert
Line,
303-871-6412.
June 24, Jacques Maassen • July 8, Carol Jickling
Lens
July 22, Jim Fackenthal •
Aug. 5, Koen Cosaert
Aug. 19, David Hunsberger
Stapleton Under The Stars
Film & Concert Series
Founders
Green Amphitheatre, E. 29th Ave. at Stapleton Town Center
Founders
Green comes alive throughout the summer months with a Concert Series
featuring two bands each evening, Saturdays, 4:30-8:30p.m. The headline band
begins at 6:30p.m. Movie Nights on Fridays start at dark. Performances
of Once On This Island (in conjunction with the Aurora Fox Arts Center)
will run in early June. Admission is free to the general public. Grab a blanket
or chairs, some sustenance for your clan, and head over to 29th Ave. & Quebec
St. on the Green. No reservations necessary. Information: stapletondenver.com.
Stapleton Theater and Concert Series
June
1, 2, 8 & 9 (6p.m.), Theater On The Green – Once On This Island
June 23, Starcar
Sunday//Hazel Miller Band
July 7, Outta My Alley/The Nacho Men
July 21, Wabash Cannonballs/Serenade in Blue
Aug. 4, Control Tower/Dotsero
Aug. 18 (4-8p.m),Tommy & The Tangerines/Chris Daniels
& The Kings
Sept. 8 (noon-10p.m), Concert
For A Cause – Local Bands
Stapleton Movie Nights
June 15, The Adventures of Tintin • June 29, Moneyball
July 13, Hugo • July 27, Cars 2 • Aug. 10, The
Help • Aug. 24, The Lorax
THE STONE FOXES WILL GET DOWN WITH THE DAVID MAYFIELD PARADE and
other cutting-edge bluegrass bands at BrewGrass
on South Pearl, June 9. Photo: treeswingers.com
City Park Jazz
Bandstand
by City Park Pavilion on Ferril Lake
City Park Jazz, presented this year by Frontier Airlines and Cornerstone Apartments,
returns for another great summer of music exploring the many facets of modern
jazz. More than a quarter century ago, a small group of neighbors thought it
would be great to bring the neighborhood folks together for an evening of
family, friends, music and community fellowship. CPJ continues to be organized
and managed by volunteers.
The
2012 schedule is an eclectic mix ranging from straight-ahead jazz to
Brazilian
and South African beats and jump, with a little rhythm and blues mixed
in for
good measure. Rain or shine, all shows are held at the City Park
Bandstand
northwest of E. 17th Ave. & Colorado Blvd., 6-8p.m.; concert-goers
are
encouraged to bring a blanket and a picnic (some food is available for
purchase), and to take time to explore Denver’s namesake green space.
While nonmotorized transport takes pressure off the surrounding
neighborhoods (the park is closed to vehicles on Sundays, and BikeDenver
provides safe storage during concerts), the
Museum of Nature & Science garage and parking lots are available on a
first-come, first-served basis. For information about the City Park Jazz
series, visit cityparkjazz.org or call the
hotline at 303-744-1004.
June 3, Adam Bodine
Trio • June 10, Los Bohemios •
June 17, Salsa Con Jazz •
June 24, Tribute to Charlie
Burrell, featuring Purnell Steen and Le Jazz Machine • July 1, Lionel Young • July 8, Jakarta • July 15, Jeff Jenkins’ Piano Africa • July 22, Carmen
Sandim •
July 29, Eric Gunnison’s Wake Up
Call •
Aug. 5, Chris Daniels & The Kings
Confluence Concerts
Confluence
Park – 15th St. & Little Raven – LoDo
Ruby
Hill Park – Florida Ave. & S. Platte River Dr.
TAXI-RINO
– 34th St. & Ringsby Ct.
The
Platte River Greenway Foundation is anxious to show off its namesake waterway,
and this summer has expanded your viewing options by spreading their quartet of
free concerts among three lovely venues on the banks of the South Platte River.
Bring
friends and family for Thursday concerts each week in July – with
everything from big band to funk, salsa and blues. Local food and local beer
will be available for purchase. All shows run 6:30-8p.m. For information about
the Confluence Concerts, visit greenwayfoundation.org
or call 303-455-7109.
July 5, Denver Municipal Band -– Confluence
Park;
July 14, Mary Louise Lee – Ruby Hill Park;
July 19, Johnny O Band – Confluence Park; July 26, Quemando Salsa – TAXI/RINO
Denver
Municipal Band
Free
Parks Concerts
The
Denver Municipal Band, our city’s longest-running musical organization, returns
for its 120th season of free musical performances. Under the direction of
Gerald Endsley, the band will mix performances by the
full 40-piece Concert Band with the smaller DMB Jazz Band, Brass Quintet and
other ensembles.
The
DMB always serves up a top-flight musical performance with a nod to easier days
gone by. Following is a list of close-in performances scheduled at press time.
All shows are free and open to the public. For a complete, up-to-date recorded
schedule, call 303-322-8608 or contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
for email updates.
June 2 11a.m. Eisenhower
Park, Colorado Blvd. & Dartmouth Ave. • DMB Brass
July 4 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • A Patriotic Celebration Concert Band
July 5 6:30p.m. Confluence Park, 15th St. & Little Raven • Concert Band
July 8 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • Jazz Band
July 15 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • Concert Band
July 19 7:30p.m. Newman
Center for the Performing Arts Gates Concert Hall, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. • Concert Band w/Summit Brass soloists
July 21 6p.m. Clement
Park, W. Bowles Ave. at S. Long St. DMB Wind Festival, Concert Band
with 3 guest bands & 16 Civil War cannons for 1812 Overture
July 22 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • Concert Band
July 28 6:30p.m. Platt Park, 1501 S. Logan St. • Jazz Band
July 29 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • Concert Band
Aug. 3 6:30p.m. Fairmount Cemetery, 430 S. Quebec St. Colorado Day
Celebration • Jazz Band
Aug. 4 7:30p.m. Harvey Park, 2120 S. Tennyson St. Nearby fireworks at
9p.m. • Jazz Band
Aug. 5 7:30p.m. Washington Park, 715 S. Franklin St. • Jazz Combo
Aug. 7 7:30p.m. Cook Park, 6500 Cherry Creek Dr. S. • Jazz Combo
Aug. 12 7:30p.m. Washington
Park • 715 S. Franklin St. • Concert Band
Aug. 17 7p.m. Bates
Hobart Park, W. Bates Ave. at Hobart Way • Brass
Aug. 26 6:30p.m. Cheesman Park, E. 8th Ave. at Franklin St. •
Concert Band
Shady Grove Picnic Concerts
Sponsored
by Swallow Hill MusicFour
Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St.
Swallow
Hill’s 2012 Wednesday evening series will fill the Shady Grove with
folk, jazz, roots, chamber, bluegrass, blues and country music, with historic Four
Mile Park, built in 1859, providing a perfect backdrop for an early evening
picnic in the fresh summer air (no glass containers or pets, please). For
details on individual performers and general Swallow Hill info, call
303-777-1003 or visit swallowhillmusic.org.
All shows begin at 6:30p.m. Tickets available day of show: $7 for Swallow Hill
members/seniors, $10/nonmembers; $2/children under 12. Bike over to Four Mile
– and you’ll receive member pricing for admission throughout the 2012
season.
June 20, Clay Kirkland & Al Chessis
June 27, Frank Fairfield w/Two Thin Dimes
July 11, Ian Cooke w/You, Me and Apollo
July 18, Wendy Woo and Megan Burtt w/Jeff
Brinkman Band
July 25, Matt Skellinger Group & Ayo Awosika
Aug. 1, Rocky Mountain Jewgrass w/Dave Devitt
Aug. 8, Patrick Dethlefs and Glowing House
w/Poets Row
Aug. 15, Katie Glassman w/special guest
Aug. 22, Bonnie and The Clydes w/special guest
Aug. 29, Harry Tuft & Dick Weissman
Denver
Concert Band
Free
Parks Concerts
The
Denver Concert Band is a group of 90 volunteer musicians who have an undeniable
love for music, and an eclectic sound ranging from jazzy Sinatra stylings and Mozart concertos to a rousing march or even
bluegrass rave-ups. Audiences know they should expect something new and
different every concert, which makes DCB performances fun for everyone. For a
full schedule, visit denverconcertband.org.
Free, unless noted.
July 4 noon Four
Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. (fee for Four Mile Park admission;
concert is free)
July 21 6:30p.m. Clement Park, W. Bowles Ave. at S. Long St. Denver
Municipal Band Wind Festival
Aug. 26 4p.m. Washington
Park, 715 S. Franklin St. The Goddard School Children’s Concert
Colorado
Symphony Orchestra
2012
City Parks Concert Series
The 3rd annual Independence Eve Celebration,
Tues., July 3, 8p.m., will feature a free patriotic concert by the Colorado
Symphony, an innovative light show on the Denver City and County Building and a
stunning fireworks finale. Lawn seating will be available on a first-come,
first-served basis; blankets or low-rise concert/beach chairs are encouraged.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own picnics; concessions will also be
present on-site. Civic Center is easily accessible by light rail, bus, bicycle
or the 16th Street free MallRide and use of public
transportation is encouraged. Parking is available at nearby surface lots and
parking garages.
Info: civiccenterconservancy.org or coloradosymphony.org, or call
303-623-7876.
Mondays
At Infinity Park
Infinity
Park, S. Cherry St. at E. Kentucky Ave., Glendale
The
Village of Glendale has created a first class athletic/entertainment venue in
the heart of their little kingdom just east of Colorado Blvd. In addition to
building the first pure rugby stadium in the United States, the complex
includes a 35,000-square-foot sports/fitness center and adjacent event center.
The
weekly free events begin at 8p.m. Feel free to bring blankets, picnics, etc.,
but alcohol and pets are off limits. Visit infinityparkatglendale.com
or call 303-248-7100 for information.
June
11, The Wizard of Oz • June 25, Ghostbusters
July 9, The Goonies • July 23, Toy Story
Aug. 6, E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial • Aug. 20, The
Princess Bride
SEE PUSS IN BOOTS IN BEAUTIFUL RUBY HILL PARK on Sun., July 1, part of Denver Parks & Rec’s
free Movies In The Park! series, running at six area parks throughout
the summer.
Film
On The Rocks
Red
Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
There
may be a more impressive venue for music and movies under the stars, but we
don’t know where that would be. Pack a picnic, bring a
blanket and dress for the vagaries of summer nights in the foothills. Each
evening will begin with music at 6:45p.m.; movies
start at dusk. Tickets are $12 general admission and can be purchased from the
Denver Film Society at denverfilm.org or at
Denver Film Center/Colfax, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. Day-of-show tickets – if
available – will be sold at Red Rocks box office for $14.
June
4, Office Space (band: The Moderators)
June 11, Iron Man (band: The McRae)
June 18, Tropic Thunder (band: A Tom Collins)
June 25, The Notebook (band: The Dunwells)
July 2, Wayne’s World (band: School of Rock National
All-Stars)
July 10, Bridesmaids (bands: Land Lines)
July 16, Spielberg Fan Favorite TBA (band: Joe Sampson’s
“Kill Our Friends”)
July 30, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (band: Take to
the Oars)
Aug. 13, Spirited Away (band: Meiko)
Aug. 20, Awesome: I F-in’ Shot That (band: School of
Rock Beastie Boys Tribute) |
