wordplay: Ben Simkins & Orangepeelmoses.com
pictured: Dave Matthews Band
Big Gig:
Lollapalooza, the “festival” responsible for popping my large scale music event cherry (LOL), went down at Fiddler’s Green. Although pitching a tent isn’t exactly permitted, Fiddler’s is blessed with a key distinction that sets it apart from many of its competitors--grass. Sure, the illegal kind can often provide an inexpensive contact high, but I’m referring specifically to the lawn seating variety. Formerly Coors Amphitheatre, Fiddler’s will host KTCL’s second annual Big Gig featuring Offspring, Paramore, Dropkick Murphys, Spill Canvas, Dropping Daylight, and Flobots along with a TBA local opener. And if that local opener blows up like other KTCL-broken bands in recent history (The Fray, Flobots, etc.), you can be sure they’ll be patting themselves on the back for it ;)
July 26th @ Fiddler’s Green
Area93.com
Boulder Fringe:
A proud Edinburgh tradition comes, once again, to Boulder. Named for performances at the ‘fringe’ of the 1947 Edinburgh Festival, this organized event has come a long way from its anarchic roots, bringing together 70 artists (including our own Orange peel moses) over 12 days in 14 venues all across Boulder’s cultural corridor. Boulder Fringe is not only geared towards giving artists a large artistically-freeing forum to strut their stuff, another goal is to bring the public a variety of acts they would struggle to come across on their own. Acts range in price, but with all the box office proceeds going straight to the artist, your bucks will help breathe life back into art in our community and others. A worthy cause, indeed.
August 14th-25th @ Various Venues (Boulder)
BoulderFringe.com
Dreamtime:
For some people, events (even large scale ones) don’t deserve the festival designation unless there’s actual camping permitted. If pitching a tent is your particular bag, there aren’t a whole lot of options in Colorado. Fortunately, Dreamtime is one of them. Where this festival lacks in household headliners, it makes up for in unique landscape. Held on a patch of private land just outside Paonia (Colorado peach country FYI), Dreamtime is a DIY festival--much in the style of Burning Man-- where bands can apply for grants to cover their travel and/or production expenses and every participant is encouraged to contribute something to the overall entertainment experience. Boulder-based Kan’Nal is traditionally one of the biggest headliners, but other past acts have included Lynx, Buddha Bomb and our own George Peele. Gas prices might deter some this summer, but those who make the trek will be rewarded by the fruitful bounty of a Paonia orchard.
July 17th-20th @ Paonia
DreamTheFuture.org
Global Dance:
Deadmau5 isn’t exactly a social butterfly, which might explain why he wears a cartoonish, oversized rodent head on stage. It’s not that he doesn’t enjoy being recognized on occasion, he just doesn’t exactly know what to say when it happens. Thankfully, his music speaks for itself, and his banging electro house blend will be a welcome change from the epic trance headliners of years past. Although Global Dance will be his physical Colorado debut, Deadmau5 is certainly no stranger to Denver-based dance music domain Beatport.com, whose users recently certified him “Biggest Award Whore.”
July 19th @ Red Rocks
GlobalDanceFest.com
Mile High:
Dick’s having a party in the Park. Dick’s a good sport. Dick claims his Sporting Goods Park, home base of the Colorado Rapids, is the largest, most state-of-the-art soccer complex in the world. Dick’s never been one to exaggerate size either. Insert infinite Dick jokes here. Judging by the heavyweight heft of the headliners, the inaugural Mile High Music Fest (bankrolled by SanDisk) could be one of Colorado’s biggest in history. Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, John Mayer, The Roots, OneRepublic, Spoon, Spearhead, Lupe Fiasco, Flogging Molly and Rodrigo y Gabriela top the bill, among others, and smoking locals include Born in the Flood, Photo Atlas, The Railbenders, Rose Hill Drive and recent national breakouts Flobots. Food and art will also be part of the festivities. Hopefully Dick will host many more parties in the future.
July 19th-20th @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
MileHighMusicFestival.com
Monolith:
In its sophomore outing, Monolith’s lineup has even the Coachella organization paying attention. Pitching a tent at Red Rocks might be forbidden (I got kicked out of the parking lot for “making out” in my car once), but its seven wonders of the world-caliber scenery more than adequately compensates for that particular drawback. Pollstar called it the “Best Live Venue in North America” for good reason. The fact that a Colorado act gets top billing on Day One is a true testament to the state of our state’s flourishing music scene. Hometown heroes Devotchka, along with Justice, Atmosphere, Del tha Funkee Homo Sapien, Mickey Avalon, TV on the Radio, The Presets, Cut Copy, Vampire Weekend, and more are already confirmed. Missing this would be a mistake of monolithic proportions.
September 13th-14th @ Red Rocks
MonolithFestival.com
Reggae on the Rocks:
The longest running Red Rocks show hits its 20 year milestone this year and, with no sign of slowing, Reggae on the Rocks might just be the best way to experience Jamaica here, nearly as far inland as you can get. And with the sole surviving original member of the Wailers, Bunny Wailer and one of Bob Marley’s sons, Ky-Mani Marley, on the bill, you know it’s going to be done right. It also can’t hurt that Red Rocks is an outdoors amphitheatre, as I’m sure there’s going to be plenty of people passing the Dutchie on the left hand side.
August 16th @ Red Rocks
RedRocksOnline.com
Rock to Win @ The DNC:
This year’s California Supreme Court ruling to recognize marriage for same sex couples was the first step forward in GLBT rights in quite some time. The Human Rights Campaign, an organization at the forefront of this fight, knows that only one candidate can deliver further GLBT justice come November, and his last name doesn’t rhyme with McLame. To coincide with the Democratic National Convention in Denver, the HRC will throw “Rock to Win at the DNC”, with Melissa Etheridge topping the bill. Honoring the creators and cast of “Milk”, a film depicting the tragic assassination of San Fran City Supervisor/GLBT activist Harvey Milk, is also on the agenda. ‘Wiki’ Milk if you don’t know the story, as it’s fascinating if not tragic, or just head to the Fillmore on Tuesday, August 26th.
August 26th @ The Fillmore
HRC.org
Taste of Colorado:
In Denver, the closest we get to actual ‘labor’ on Labor Day is working off all the food we can get our mitts on at “A Taste of Colorado”, which isn’t such a hard thing with all the festivities that go on at Civic Center Park. There to bring the Denver community together, “A Taste of Colorado” celebrates our diversity while highlighting our western roots. With a ton of activities for the whole family, this free event always makes it easy to feel good about our little, big city nestled against the Rockies.
August 29th-September 1st @ Civic Center Park
ATasteOfColorado.com