Put these summer concerts on your calendar

Work continues at Planet Bluegrass as the Lyons venue prepares for its 2014 concert season. (Matthew Jonas /A&E Spotlight)
Work continues at Planet Bluegrass as the Lyons venue prepares for its 2014 concert season. (Matthew Jonas /A&E Spotlight)

By Quentin Young
A&E Spotlight
Only days after the September flooding in Boulder and Larimer counties, Craig Ferguson, one of the owners of Planet Bluegrass, committed to having the devastated music venue back in shape for the 2014 summer concert series

Planet Bluegrass, site of two of the biggest music festivals in the region, RockyGrass and Folks Fest, was severely damaged by the September 2013 flooding.

The water caused a new river channel to cut in front of the main stage, some structures on the facility were devastated, and the grounds were covered in sand, silt and debris. Planet staff faced a mammoth recovery project, but they booked the festivals, saw record-breaking ticket sales and appear to be on track to have the grounds ready for RockyGrass, which is scheduled for July 25-27.

RockyGrass is already sold out (tickets are often obtainable from third-party sources), but there are countless opportunities to catch great live concerts on the Front Range this summer. These include city-sponsored downtown concert series with local artists, as well as huge productions featuring national acts.

Here are some of the highlights on the summer concert schedule:

LONGMONT AREA

Downtown Summer Concert Series

Concerts are at 5:30-9 p.m. on Fridays at Fourth Avenue and Main Street

Free

downtownlongmont.com

June 6: Cat Jerky, playing Johnny Cash to Black Sabbath, and Last Men On Earth, with hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s and more

June 13: Thumpin’, a Denver funk, soul and R&B band

June 20: Slopeside, rock, blues, reggae and pop

June 27: Moors & McCumber, an area duo that plays singer-songwriter Americana

July 25: Tripping Griswolds: Variety band whose repertoire covers seven decades

 

Longmont Concerts in the Park

Concerts are Tuesdays 6:30-8 p.m. at Roosevelt Park, 700 Longs Peak Ave., in Longmont, except as noted on July 4

Free

ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/concert.htm

June 10: Papa Juke, with Cajun, zydeco and soul and rock

June 24: Rocktin Grove, indie rock, blues and Afro-Cuban

Noon, Friday, July 4: Longmont Symphony Orchestra plays its annual Independence Day show at Thompson Park, 420 Bross St., in Longmont

July 8: Rebecca Folsom, R&B, funk and rock

July 22: Kory Brunson Band, country and rock

 

Museum’s Summer Concert Series

Concerts are Wednesdays from 6:30-8 p.m. at Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Road, in Longmont. Picnics are welcome.

Free; donations are accepted.

ci.longmont.co.us/rec/special/concert.htm

June 25: Colcannon, Irish music

July 2: Leo Everett and the Clear Creek Cowboys, country

July 9: Army 101st Dixieland Band, “The Rough Riders”

July 23: Southern Exposure, contemporary bluegrass

Aug. 13: The Low Flying Knobs, an all-woman Afro-pop marimba ensemble

LOVELAND/FORT COLLINS

Foote Lagoon Concerts

Concerts are 7-9 p.m.

Civic Center & Foote Lagoon Amphitheater, 500 E. Third St., Loveland

Free

cityofloveland.org

June 26: Haunted Windchimes, Americana

July 3: Mary Louise Lee, soul music

July 10: Queen City Jazz Band, Denver jazz band

July 17: Runaway Express, rock and folk

July 24: Chris Daniels & The Kings, rock ‘n’ roll

July 31: Sons and Brothers, country

 

Taste of Fort Collins

National and local bands, as well as craft beer, wine, cocktails and food

June 13-15

Civic Center Park in Old Town Fort Collins

$5 before 3 p.m., $10 after 3 p.m.

tasteoffortcollins.com

 

Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest

Aug. 15-17

Old Town Fort Collins

Free

bohemiannights.org

NEDERLAND

Nedfest Music & Arts Festival

The 16th annual event includes performances by members of The String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band and Dr. Ralph Stanley

Aug. 22-24

The Jeff Guercio Memorial Baseball Park, Nederland

$45-$135

nedfest.org

BOULDER

Wainwright III-Dement

Wainwright, a noted songwriter’s songwriter, and Dement, with her inimitable voice, take the stage at the Chautauqua Auditorium

8 p.m. Saturday, July 19

Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder

$30-$50

chautauqua.com

BROOMFIELD

Nickel Creek

The bluegrass and folk trio features mandolin phenomenon Chris Thile. Bill also includes Secret Sisters

8 p.m. Tuesday, May 13

1stBank Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield

Starting at $20

1stbankcenter.com

DENVER

Westword Music Showcase

The annual event features Diplo, 2 Chainz, Cherub, Man Man, King Khan & The Shrines among 150 local artists on 12 stages

Saturday, June 21

Various venues in Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood

$35-$75

westword.com/musicshowcase

 

The Underground Music Showcase

The Denver Post event features Real Estate, The Men, Baths, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Cayucas and dozens of other national and local artists

July 24-27

20 venues on South Broadway in Denver

$35-$75

theums.com

 

The Rocky Mountain Music Festival

Now in its fourth year, the 2014 event features 10,000 Maniacs, The Marshall Tucker Band and other artists

11 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 10

Clement Park Amphitheater, Littleton

$10-$53

therockymountainmusicfestival.com

 

Riot Fest

The second Denver iteration of this longtime Chicago-based punk rock festival

September 19-21

Other details to be announced

riotfest.org

 

RED ROCKS

Pretty Lights

Denver-based producer and one-time University of Colorado-Boulder student Derek Vincent Smith returns to Red Rocks, this time accompanied by 13 members of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Aug. 8-9

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison

$44.50-$100

redrocksonline.com

 

James Taylor

The iconic singer-songwriter takes the Red Rocks stage for two nights

June 17-18

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison

$60-$110

redrocksonline.com

Contact Quentin Young at 303-684-5319 or qyoung@aespotlight.com

Band Links

Chris Daniels & The Kings, Folks Fest, James Taylor, Leftover Salmon, NedFest Music & Arts Festival, Nickel Creek, Planet Bluegrass, Pretty Lights, Riot Fest, RockyGrass, The String Cheese Incident, Yonnas “Yo” Abraham

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