If you’re summering in the Centennial State, there’s no excuse for boredom. For evidence, look no further than the following roundup of events — featuring everything from community festivals to big-time concerts, mountain-town gatherings and more. Dive in and start planning the best summer of your life.
June
Boulder Plein Air Festival
Saturday to Friday, June 1-7 (exhibit opens June 9), Niwot Feed & Grain Store, 291 2nd Ave., Niwot. Free
The Upslope Get Down
Saturday, June 8, Upslope Brewing Company, 1898 S. Flatiron Court, Boulder. Free
Must-see act: Pamlico Sound, a full-speed funk and jam band that’ll have the whole family dancing.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters with The Wallflowers
7 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Red Rocks Park Ampitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $100+
Colorado Shakespeare Festival
June 8-Aug. 11, various locations, CU Boulder. $22+
Taste of Fort Collins
Saturday to Sunday, June 8-9, Civic Center Park, Fort Collins. $22
Must-see act: Rick Ross, the Port of Miami’s original hustler and MC extraordinaire
Boulder Jewish Festival
Sunday, June 9, Pearl Street Mall, in front of Boulder County Historic Courthouse, Boulder. Free
Bands on the Bricks
Wednesdays, June 12-July 31, 1300 Block of Pearl Street, Boulder. Free
Margo Cilker with Jeremy Ferrara
Wednesday, June 12, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $15
DJ Williams Band with Marcus Machado
Thursday, June 13, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $18
Steve Martin and Martin Short
8 p.m. Friday, June 14, Red Rocks Park Ampitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $150
Black Pumas with Abraham Alexander
8 p.m. Friday, June 14, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $45
FIBArk Whitewater Festival
Sat.-Tues., June 13-16, Arkansas River, Downtown Salida. Free
Flatiron Sounds Music Festival
Sunday, June 16, Chautauqua Park, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. Free
Must-see act: Clay Street Unit, a six-piece Colorado folk and country act
Litha Festival
11 a.m. Sunday, June 16, Bancroft Park, 2408 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs. Free
Parcels with Molly Lew
7 p.m. Monday, June 17, Red Rocks Park Ampitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $100
Gig of the month: This Australian five-piece outfit makes their Red Rocks with a potent blend of electro-pop and alt-rock. On the heels of their second live release, featuring dancefloor-ready renditions of fan favorites, Parcels will be performing alongside fellow Aussie and indie sensation Molly Lewis.
Kevin Gates with NLE Choppa, That Mexican OT and Maiya The Don
6 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $60
Bela Fleck with Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer and Rakesh Chaurasia
7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18, Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $50
Boulder Comedy Festival
Wednesday to Sunday, June 19-23, various locations, Boulder. $25
Must-see act: Emma Perkins, a Denver regular whose deadpan comedy will have you in stitches
Country Jam Music Festival
Thursday to Saturday, June 20-22, 1065 Highway 6 & 50, Grand Junction $99+
Must-see act: Jelly Roll, a rock country cult hero and rising star
Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Thursday to Sunday, June 20-23, Town Park, 500 E. Colorado Ave., Telluride. $130+
Must-see act: Sierra Ferrell, West Virginia’s most exciting songbird with a folky edge
JAS June Experience Summer Musical Festival
Thursday to Sunday, June 20-23, multiple locations, Aspen. $75+
Must-see act: Cory Henry, one of the world’s most renowned organists
On the Rise Concert Series
11:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22, The Hill, 1221 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder. Free
Must-see act: Wrenn Van Band, an emerging and soulful local outfit
Greeley Stampede
June 26 to July 7, Island Grove Regional Park, Greeley. $50+
Must-see act: Cheap Trick, the legendary ’70s power-pop institution that will no doubt have your dad going back for that fourth beer
Adrianne Lenker with Staci Foster
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $36
Donkey Derby Days
Friday to Sunday, June 28-30, Cripple Creek City Hall, 337 E. Bennett Ave., Cripple Creek. Free
Nas with The Colorado Symphony
6 p.m. Sunday, June 30, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $80
July
Colorado Music Festival
July 5 to Aug. 4, Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $10+
Must-see act: Augustin Hadelich, a revered classical violinist
High Lonesome
8 p.m. Friday, July 5, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $16
Dark Star Orchestra
8 p.m. Saturday, July 6, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $40
Portugal. The Man with Tegan and Sara
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $60
Boulder Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival
Thursday to Sunday, July 11-14, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder Free
The String Cheese Incident with Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas and Sierra Hull
7 p.m. Friday to Sunday, July 12-14, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $65
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
July 12-21, Historic Train Depot, 716 Elk Ave., Crested Butte
Twenty Ninth Street Summer of Love Concert Series
July 12 to Aug. 23, 29th St., Boulder. Free
Mackenzie Rae & Buckshot Moon what Good Music Medicine
8 p.m. Saturday, July 13, Velvet Elk Lounge, 2037 13th St., Boulder. $15
Dr. Dog with Fruit Bats
7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $65
Ryan Montbleau Band
8 p.m. Thursday, July 18, Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A, Boulder. $25
Pearl Street Arts Festival
Friday to Sunday, July 19-21, Pearl St., Boulder. Free
Vampire Weekend with Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
7 p.m. Friday, July 19, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $115
Gig of the month: We’re not sure what’s more exciting, that Ezra Koenig and his critically acclaimed Vampire Weekend are taking their talents to Red Rocks — fresh off the release of their fifth studio album, Only God Was Above Us — or that the South’s smoothest guitarist, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is the opener.
The Roots with Digable Planets
8 p.m. Saturday, July 20, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $67
Underground Music Showcase
Friday to Sunday, July 26-28, multiple locations, Denver
Must-see act: Deeper, DIY indie and post-punk true to their Chicago roots. $90
RockyGrass Festival
Friday to Sunday, July 26-28, Planet Bluegrass Ranch, 500 W. Main St., Lyons. $105+
Must-see act: Sam Bush, a master mandolinist and progressive bluegrass torchbearer
Vail Dance Festival
July 26 to Aug. 5, Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater, 530 S. Frontage Road, Vail. $10
Must-see act: Dance Theatre of Harlem, an organization whose globally renowned ballet is honed in the heart of the Big Apple.
Global Dance Festival
Friday to Saturday, July 26-27, Stockyards Event Center Grounds, 5004 National Western Drive, Denver. $120+
Must-see act: Kaytranada, a Haitian-Canadian turntable whiz
Aerial Dance Festival
July 28 to Aug. 9, Frequent Flyers, 3022 Sterling Circle, Suite 150, Boulder. $190+
Miles Nielsen and The Rusted Hearts
8 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A, Boulder. $25
August
Ken Carson
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $40
Moffatt Hot Air Balloon Festival
Friday to Sunday, Aug. 2-4, Loudy-Simpson Park, Craig. Free
Graham Nash (Night 1)
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $50
Schoolboy Q
8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $50
Digable Planets with 2MX2
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St. $35
Mt. Joy
8 p.m. Thursday to Friday, Aug. 8-9, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $100
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival
Friday to Sunday, Aug. 9-11, Planet Bluegrass Ranch, 500 W. Main St., Lyons. $95
Must-see act: Brittany Howard, contemporary queen of soul and songwriting
Boulder Taco Fest
Saturday, Aug. 10, Mojo’s Taqueria, 2785 Iris Ave., Boulder. $30+
Must-see act: Midnight Strange, a local marriage of outlaw country and psych-rock
Mimesis Documentary Festival
Wednesday to Sunday, Aug. 14-18, Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder Free
Sierra Ferrell with Nick Shoulders
8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $70
John R. Miller
11:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder. $15
Gig of the month: Though this weekend’s festivities are marked by what is sure to be a monster show at Folsom Field by country’s golden child, Tyler Childers, an intimate set from West Virginia songwriter John R. Miller at the Fox Theatre will prove just as sweet.
Colorado State Fair
Aug. 23 to Sept. 2, Colorado State Fairgrounds, 1001 Beulah Ave., Pueblo. $9+
Alvvays with The Beths
8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St., Denver. $33
Khruangbin with Peter Cat Recording Co.
8 p.m. Tuesday to Wednesday, Aug. 27-28, Red Rocks Park Amphitheatre, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway, Morrison. $125
The Robert Cray Band
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder. $43
