Put these summer concerts on your calendar
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
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
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.
Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest
Aug. 15-17
Old Town Fort Collins
Free
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Author: 2story
