The creative process is ever-changing and often requires taking a look back to locate the way forward. The Arvada Center’s three summer exhibitions celebrate this fact by using the past as a guide to finding a way to and through modern times.

“I hope people come away from the galleries with a new understanding of what they can perceive,” said Olive Witwer-Jarvis, exhibitions manager and associate curator at the Center. “The personal stories and struggles on display provide a new look at what’s important.”

Melissa Furness — Embedded: A Mid-Career Survey, Haley Hasler — Origin Stories and Past is Present is Past is Present are all on display at the Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through Aug. 24.

Set up in the Main Gallery, Embedded is an engrossing look at the career of an artist who is constantly finding new ways to explore themselves and the world around them. Broken up into subsections like In Ruins and Gathering Moss, Furness’ shows that she’s a conceptual artist of the highest order. Guests will see work that was created in places as disparate as Ireland and China, each with unique subjects and mediums worked into beautiful paintings.

History and its impact on our current times is a subject Furness — a professor at the University of Colorado Denver — returns to in fascinating ways, from making surreal recreations of well-known works to displaying discarded bricks from China.

“My work explores human nature and struggle as it manifests itself in relation to contemporary society and the remains of the past,” Furness said in a provided statement. “I am interested in what one culture upholds as significant — objects and ideals that we revere versus those that we discard or discount as unimportant. What does what we throw away say about us as a people versus what we place on a pedestal or seek to preserve?”

The Upper Gallery is home to Origin Stories, where Fort Collins artist Haley Hasler paints portraits that take her friends and family and put them in elaborately staged settings. The end results are transporting, at once familiar and slightly foreign.

“This show includes work from the past as well as my newest body of work,” Hasler said in a provided statement. “The beloved, everyday people around me are transformed in my paintings into gods and goddesses of the everyday realm.”

In Past is Present is Past is Present, located in the Theatre Gallery, visitors can see how Colorado artists use their ancestry, religious and cultural iconography, and mythology to shed a light on contemporary concerns, like our tumultuous political climate and missing Native women and children. The works are fascinating examinations of the artists’ relationship with the past and provide a window into the things that matter most.

“These exhibitions question what’s important and why,” Witwer-Jarvis said. “What makes something like the Mona Lisa so important, when there is so much happening in people’s day-to-day life?”

For more information, visit https://arvadacenter.org/galleries/current-exhibitions.

Go for a Moonlit Ride in Castle Rock

Castle Rock’s Pedal the Moon bike ride goes from 6:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 and departs from Castle View High School, 5254 N. Meadows Drive, at 7 p.m. As dusk starts, riders will follow the East Plum Creek Trail for about 6 miles to Festival Park.
According to provided information, the terrain is suitable for all riders and participants are encouraged to decorate their bikes with lights and other items. There will be a decorating station for those who want some glow-in-the-dark decorations. At Festival Park, riders can relax and enjoy some music while participating in some giveaways.
Full details and registration information is available at https://www.crgov.com/3184/Pedal-the-Moon.

Feel the Artistic Power of ‘Mutual Terrain’

RedLine Contemporary Art Center is celebrating Denver Month of Video with Mutual Terrain, curated by Adán De La Garza and Jenna Maurice. The show is on display at the Center, 2350 Arapahoe St. in Denver, from Friday, July 11 through Sunday, Aug. 3.

According to a provided statement from the curators, “Mutual Terrain’ brings together six artists whose works reveal the land as a living presence — one that remembers, resists, and responds. This exhibition invites viewers to reconsider their relationship to the natural world, not as separate from it, but as deeply entangled within it.”

The show encourages and rewards patience, so be ready to take your time. Find more information at https://www.redlineart.org/mutual-terrain-denver-month-of-video-mov.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Car Seat Headrest at Mission Ballroom

Virginia’s Car Seat Headrest are one of the most ambitious bands in the indie rock world. Over the course of their career, they’ve experimented with all kinds of stylistic approaches, from kind-of rock operas to just straight up ripping rock albums. You never quite know what you’re going to get, but the lyrics are always extremely literate and the music is top-notch.

In support this their latest release, The Scholars, the band is coming to the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. at 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 12. They’ll be joined by openers Slow Fiction for what’s sure to be an evening of great, adventurous live music. Get tickets at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

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Castle Rock’s annual Summer Concert Series is back in full swing, drawing crowds to Philip S. Miller Park with a lineup that covers everything from chart-toppers to local favorites.

This year’s series features national acts like Sugar Ray and Gavin DeGraw, alongside local openers and themed tribute nights — including a collaboration between the Denver Pops Orchestra and yacht-rock cover band Yachty Got Back on Labor Day weekend. The first concert of the season, headlined by Sugar Ray, kicked off the series in June.

“We started curating this lineup last fall,” said Erika Alsobrook, special events supervisor for the Town of Castle Rock. “Each of the five concerts has its own heartbeat and rhythm. That’s one of my favorite things about this series — each show stands alone, but they all come together to make something really special.”

Alsobrook said community input plays a big role in shaping the series. At the end of each season, the town sends out surveys asking residents what genres and artists they’d like to see next year.

“That feedback helps us learn what the community wants,” she said. “Sometimes someone mentions a local band they saw at a bar, and even if we don’t book that exact artist, it sparks ideas and conversations. It really is a community-driven lineup.”

The concerts typically draw between 1,500 and 1,800 people each, with a venue capacity of 2,200.

“We always see a spike in ticket sales when the lineup drops,” Alsobrook said. “And then it builds again the week of the show as people start making plans.”

Tickets are sold in tiers — general admission on the elevated lawn, mid-level orchestra seats and front-row patio box seating with tables and bar service.

“No matter where you’re sitting, you’re close to the stage,” Alsobrook said. “The lawn’s one of my favorite GA setups in the state — great sound, a full view of the lights and backdrop, and that signature Castle Rock skyline behind it.”

The event is designed to be family-friendly, and has ADA seating available and golf cart transport from parking to the venue. 

“We absolutely love when families come out together,” Alsobrook said. “One of my favorite moments was seeing a little boy yell ‘I know that guy!’ when Sugar Ray’s opener, Dylan Cotrone, walked by.”

Organizers also prioritize a wide mix of genres each year.

“Country plays really well here,” said Castle Rock program specialist Lisa Sorbo. “But we try to always include a top-40 artist … that really helps make the whole series a really fun experience for people, because you’ve just got this broad array of music.”

This year, the town partnered with iHeartMedia and uses social media, local promotions and even a massive LED screen at the outlet mall to get the word out. The event draws people from Denver and all over the Front Range, including Fort Collins, Boulder and Colorado Springs.

“It’s a more intimate venue, and I think that draws folks in,” Alsobrook said. 

The concert series is part of Castle Rock’s broader strategy to invest in community-driven events that support local businesses and showcase what the town has to offer.

“It’s about more than just a show,” Alsobrook said. “People grab dinner downtown, they explore the area — and for some, it’s their first visit to Castle Rock.”

This year marks the ninth season of the series and the 10th year since Philip S. Miller Park opened.

“There’s a lot of optimism about where the series can grow from here,” Alsobrook said.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to crgov.com/Summer-Concert-Series.

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There are some musicals that are just made for the summer, and “Rock of Ages” certainly falls into that category. The show not only captures some of that wild freedom of the best summer days, but also is full of quintessential 80s songs.

“The show is all about bigger and better. It embraces the big hair of the time and has all the great music,” said Leslie Bonnell, marketing coordinator at the Parker Arts, Culture & Events (PACE) Center, which is staging the show to close its season. “It brings out all the elements of the 80s that people find so nostalgic and fun.”

Produced with Veritas Productions, “Rock of Ages” runs at the PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave. in Parker, through Sunday, July 20. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Directed by Kelly Van Oosbree (who also does the choreography), the show takes place at one of the Sunset Strip’s last venues and features a group of music fans coming together to chase their dreams and save the soul of the strip.

“I love a good, smart comedy, and that’s what this is,” Nancy Evans Begley, co-founder and producing artistic director with Veritas Productions. She is the executive producer, assistant director and production manager for “Rock of Ages.” “My producing work started with putting together a team and we have an incredible one for this show.”

In addition to a top-notch crew, the show also features performers guaranteed to blow audiences away with their musical skills. Most of the cast is new to the PACE Center, which adds an extra level of excitement for both performers and audiences.

Many theaters end their season during the spring, so having the opportunity to see a show during the summer makes for a special treat. And the PACE Center leans into this fact.

“The season is a little off-set from everybody else’s, which gives patrons the opportunity to experience shows at different venues and then come here during the summer,” Begley said. “This is the kind of show that is perfect for people who don’t like musicals, because they can still sing-along and laugh at the dialogue.”

The show is recommended for those 14-years-old and older, but Begley sees this as an opportunity for parents to have a night out where they’re able to just enjoy themselves.

“We say leave the HOA, leave the board, leave the student council stuff behind and come relive your favorite decade and favorite music,” she said. “In a time when our day-to-day is filled with tension and negativity… you can escape that for two-and-a-half hours. We hope you walk out of the theatre saying, ‘That was really fun. Let’s do more of that.’”

Information and tickets are available at https://parkerarts.org/event/rock-of-ages/#event-description.

FAN EXPO Denver Brings the Pop Culture World to Fans

It’s time for the Mile High City to get its fandom on with the annual FAN EXPO Denver, held at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., from Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, July 6.

This year’s event will play host to some top-tier guests, ranging from Star Trek’s William Shatner and Mae Whitman to a slew of Superman performers (a role very close to my heart) like Brandon Routh, Tyler Hoechlin and Tom Welling. In addition, there will be plenty of cosplaying, collector’s items to buy and panels to watch.

Go celebrate the best of pop culture by visiting https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpodenver/.

Independence Day Goes Big at Northglenn

If you don’t want to head to downtown Denver for your July 4th festivities, the City of Northglenn has you covered with events that last for most of the day and provide attendees of all ages with something to do. Held at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park, 11800 Community Center Drive in Northglenn, activities begin at noon with a car show.

Throughout the day, attendees can take part in a duck derby, listen to music from performers like Skool Daze, Chicano Heat and Jacob Larson, and pick up food from vendors (if they don’t bring their own picnics). Fireworks will close out the evening at about 9:15 p.m.

For full details, visit www.northglenn.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Wu-Tang Clan at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

I can think of no better group to listen to on the day we celebrate our independence than the Wu-Tang Clan, Staten Island’s legendary rap group. They are, after all, for the children. And they represent the collective power of a range of voices when they come together while maintaining their individual perspectives. They’re responsible for some of the genre’s most important music and are the best kind of American success story.

Their final tour is coming to Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd. in Greenwood Village, at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 4. For the opener, the Wu-Tang will have Run the Jewels, the best modern rap duo. This has all the makings of a legendary concert, so get tickets at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

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That’s what makes the Evergreen Mountain Art Celebration such a great event, and it’s even bigger and better in its 8th year. The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29 at the Evergreen North Shopping Complex, 3719 Evergreen Parkway.

The juried fine art and fine craft show highlights 75 professional artists from Colorado and beyond. All of them use a range of mediums, including painting, jewelry, ceramics and more, to create works that honor mountain living and Western, Southwestern and rustic themes.

In addition to the art, visitors can enjoy live music. Colorado Roots Rock Unplugged, a duo that specializes in acoustic versions of classic rock, will be performing on Saturday and Link&Chain, a band of brothers performing reggae, will be on hand on Sunday. There will also be a drawing for a $1,000 Art Festival Shopping Spree at noon on Sunday.  

We interviewed Amber Calanni with Colorado Art Weekend about the event and what visitors should know.

Interview edited for brevity and clarity.

What were you looking for in artists this year?

We want to feature art that fits into the “Mountain Modern” flavor. “Mountain Modern” is a style that blends contemporary aesthetics with rustic, nature-inspired elements, but feels personal and connected to nature and elevated in presentation.

If someone has never attended the Celebration, what should they know?

They should know this festival is more than an art show, it’s a true celebration of Colorado mountain culture and “Mountain Modern” art. It’s free to attend, easy to access and full of authentic charm. Whether you’re an art lover or just looking to explore something new. Evergreen is a relaxed setting where you can enjoy art, meet the artists and connect with a creative community.

Why is it important to celebrate the arts at a time like this?

In a time when so much feels uncertain, the arts remind us of what grounds us; hope, beauty, self-expression and connection. Art gives us a chance to slow down, reflect and engage with something meaningful. This festival also gives families and individuals a reason to get outdoors, support artists and feel part of something positive and inspiring.

What do you hope people come away with?

We want visitors to leave feeling uplifted, like they’ve spent their weekend immersed in something special. Whether it’s a new piece of art, a meaningful conversation with an artist, hearing a great musical performance or simply the peaceful experience of walking the festival grounds, we want guests to take away memories that last well beyond the weekend.

For more information, visit www.EvergreenArtShow.com.

Learn About the Life of a Colorado Hat Maker

The Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St., is looking at the history of a renowned hat maker in its new exhibit, Kate Ferretti: The Life of a Colorado Hat Maker.

The exhibit opens on Friday, June 27, and focuses on Ferretti, a nationally-recognized hat maker. She entered the workforce at 13 and went on to build a family business that spanned nearly five decades. According to provided information, “this exhibition explores sources from Ferretti’s family, as well as oral histories from the collections of the Littleton Museum and History Colorado, to help tell the full story of this fascinating local maker’s life.”

For more information, visit https://visitlittleton.org/event/kate-ferretti-exhibit/.

Big Belmar Bash Brings Party to Lakewood

The City of Lakewood is celebrating Independence Day a little early, but with no less pomp and circumstance, with its Big Belmar Bash from 5 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 3, at Downtown Belmar, 7337 W. Alaska Drive.

The evening will feature something for all ages, including live music and children’s activities. There will also be a range of local vendors selling unique items and plenty of food and drink options.

Of course, the highlight of the night is a drone light show, which will begin at around 9:15 p.m. It will feature a fleet “of 250 cutting-edge drones with state-of-the-art LED lights” illuminating the night and “MIX 100 will provide a curated soundtrack for the drone light show,” according to provided information.

More information is available at www.Lakewood.org/BBB.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Elvis Costello & The Imposters at Bellco Theatre  

Elvis Costello is one of the greatest living songwriters we have and has been proving that repeatedly since his classic debut album was released in 1977. In the ensuing decades, he’s released several bulletproof records and worked with some absolutely amazing songwriters. In celebration of his stellar career, he’s bringing his band, The Imposters, andguitarist Charlie Sexton on the Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello tour.

The tour is coming to Denver’s Bellco Theatre, 1100 Stout St., at 8 p.m. on Sunday, June 29. The music of Costello’s early career is some of his best, so this will be performance not to be missed. Get tickets at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

The post Clarke Reader: Head to Evergreen for an Arts Celebration appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

The Brighton Summer Fest at Carmichael Park on June 9 was a lovely, hot day filled with live music, vendors, food trucks, and fun activities for kids. 

This year, the festival featured the Colorado Military Historical Group, a group of Word War II re-enactors from throughout Colorado and Wyoming. 

“We have members as far north as Cheyenne and as far south as Pueblo,” member Kurt Scholar said. “We even have some members in New Mexico.”

The group is dedicated to preserving the history of the United States military.

“Our primary focus is World War II, but we also cover timeline events extending from modern times back to the American Revolution,” Scholar said.

The festival’s music stage lineup featured The Dreamboats, Aubrey Dale, Christine, and the Northwoods performing different decades of music. 

The 2025 Summer Fest sponsors include FNBO, United Power, Allo Fiber, The Home Depot, Intermountain Health Platte Valley, Select Health, Waste Management, E-470 Public Highway Authority, Raisin’ Canes Chicken Fingers, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Blackjack Pizza & Salads of Brighton, and Inside the Orchestra.

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For the last month, the Miners Alley Performing Arts Center has been hosting a Johnny Cash-themed party.

On June 4, that party temporarily relocated to the Golden Mill, as the venue hosted “Ring of Fire” cast members for a special performance that doubled as a fundraiser for MAPAC.

The Johnny Cash-themed jukebox musical “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” is playing at MAPAC through June 29. It portrays Cash’s journey of “misadventure, success, faith, redemption and the love of a good woman” through his music, according to the MAPAC website.

Six cast members, who double as the musical’s band, showcased their vocal and instrumental talents June 4 at the Golden Mill. About 80% of the songs they played were arrangements from the “Ring of Fire” show, but they mixed in a few other songs from Cash’s contemporaries as well as some originals.

Overall, organizers from both MAPAC and the Golden Mill said the event was a “win-win-win” as it generated interest in “Ring of Fire,” raised funds for MAPAC and brought more people to the Golden Mill on a rainy Wednesday evening.

Right show, right time

Susan Ganter, the Mill’s co-owner, said she’s been wanting to host a fundraiser for MAPAC for years — even before her team took over the Mill in spring 2021.

However, MAPAC never had a show that could easily translate to a fundraising concert. That is, until “Ring of Fire” came along, MAPAC’s Producing Artistic Director Len Matheo said.

Matheo and MAPAC Executive Director Lisa DeCaro told Ganter about “Ring of Fire” about in April, and they all worked to make the June 4 concert and fundraiser happen. Ganter said 10% of the evening’s proceeds would go toward MAPAC, and hoped to raise about $3,000.

Ganter said, if possible, she’d like to host MAPAC for another fundraiser soon and make June the Mill’s cultural arts month.

The venue is also hosting the Circus Foundry aerialists’ annual ARTSWEEK GOLDEN show June 18, which will also be a fundraiser for Foothills Art Center.

For Johnny Cash and theater fans, DeCaro said there were still “Ring of Fire” tickets available, but she recommended people get them sooner rather than later as performances are selling out quickly.

Quadruple threats

She hoped Goldenites would come to see the show, describing the entire cast as quadruple threats who can act, sing, dance and play. She said most of them play several instruments and that watching them perform is impressive.

Because of how “Ring of Fire” is structured, no one performer plays Johnny Cash. The cast members described how they take turns as Cash depending on what aspect of his life they’re portraying.

“It’s the most unique way you’ll hear Johnny Cash music,” cast member Michael Phillips said of the musical.

Cast member David Otto described it as “high energy” and “a party.”

Clark Destin Jones said he’s had a lot of fun with his fellow cast members over the past several weeks and hoped to continue that through closing night on June 29. “I just love playing with these guys,” he said.

Click through additional photos from the June 4 concert:

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Colorado Music Hall of Famer Hazel Miller is no stranger to a spectacle, and her birthday celebration this year — dubbed “Hazelpalooza” — will be no exception. 

Set for 6:30 p.m. on June 30 at the Arvada Elks Lodge, 5700 Yukon St., Miller will take the stage with her backing band, The Collective, and a host of local music luminaries including Josh Blackburn, Chris Daniels, Jack Hadley and Alice and Dave of Soda Blue. 

The proceeds from the event will benefit Inner City Health, an organization Miller says is close to her heart. 

“These people have saved my life,” Miller said of the clinic. “They provide health care for anyone who walks through the door. Doesn’t matter what you do, where you live; if you need help, they’re prepared to give it to you. They are faith-based and I’m hoping to be able to hand them some money we will take in at the show.” 

Miller said the festivities will culminate in a jam session lasting nearly two hours, where the acclaimed singer will be joined by her guests on a genre-spanning collection of hit songs. 

“It’s just going to be an old fashioned ‘We’re here to have a party jam’ — you know, the old fashioned jam session, everybody singing, everybody playing,” Miller said. “We’re all going to be singing backup for each other. We’re all going to be having just a good old time.” 

Debbie Hansen, the owner of La Dolce Vita coffee shop in Olde Town, helped Miller organize the event and said it was a great opportunity for folks to see a local legend. Miller is a longtime Arvada resident and was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame alongside her longtime bandmates, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, in 2023. 

“Hazel is an amazing lady, and she does so many amazing things for the community,” Hansen said. “She just wants to celebrate her birthday with everybody. And if you get to meet her and talk to her, you’d be instant friends.” 

Tickets for Hazelpalooza are available at Hazelmiller.biz and on Eventbrite. 

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June is Pride Month and the Arvada Center is going big with three events that celebrate LGBTQ+ communities all over the state.

“We’re excited to invite the community to celebrate Pride with these three unique events this June,” said Sarah Kolb, marketing and communications director, in a provided statement. “Each event creates a sense of belonging and understanding, and learning through the arts has such a special ability to connect and entertain us. Working with these incredible collaborators from all across Denver allows us to bring events that celebrate pride and community to the Arvada Center, and we’re so grateful for their partnership.”

The first event will be held at the Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 12 and is called Pride In Place: A Colorado Country Concert celebrating LGBTQ+ country and bluegrass musicians.

The free event is hosted in partnership with Jefferson County Public Library and will feature performances from Amy Martin, Trace & Baerd, Morgan Harris Guitar, and Rosales and Summers. According to provided information, each group will take audiences on a journey as they explore important themes like place, sexuality, identity and love.

The next event is from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, and is Drag Queen Storytime with Miss Shirley. Another free, all-ages event co-hosted with the library, this one features an interactive story time and the opportunity to get to know Miss Shirley. It will also feature complimentary snacks and drinks.

Finally, there’s the Leather & Lace concert presented by the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus and Denver Feminist Chorus. The concert is at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 15.

“It’s been a while since we’ve collaborated together, so it felt like a great idea for Pride Month to do something fun we haven’t done in a while,” said Dr. Clelyn Chapin, artistic director for the Denver Feminist Chorus. “All our concerts espouse a message that’s important to us and every song we sing has a reason for it.”

The show highlights the uniqueness of everyone’s gender expression and sexuality, which is something both musical organizations do throughout the year with their performances.

“We both have the same goal, but we approach it from a different artistic standpoint. When you put it all together, their style and our style, you get a new combined style that’s really powerful,” said Johnny Nichols Jr., artistic director for the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus. “This concert is about the things that bind us together as a community: love, family, friends and organizations that bring us together. The songs we’re singing highlight these experiences.”

Whichever event you attend, you’re going to get a powerful mix of entertainment and connection, both of which are extremely important these days.

“We hope to inspire freedom and openness and give everyone in the audience encouragement to be who they truly want to be,” Chapin said.

“We’re all in a community of love and we should be protecting, supporting and learning from each other,” Nichols Jr. added.

For more information on the Center’s Pride events, visit https://arvadacenter.org/events.

Celebrate All Things Puerto Rico at the Festival Flamboyán

The 40 West Arts District in Lakewood is celebrating the arts and culture of Puerto Rico with the Festival Flamboyán, beginning at noon on Sunday, June 8. The event will be held at The Three Leaches Theater, 1560 Teller St.

The festival will feature an artisan market from noon to 4 p.m., including a book fair, live music, a salsa class and food and drinks. From 5 to 10 p.m. attendees can see El Espectáculo — a variety show with two short plays, improv comedy, spoken word poetry and a special dance performance.

For more information, visit https://40westarts.org/events.

Take Advantage of Annual Aquatic Plant Sale 

The Colorado Water Garden Society is hosting its annual Aquatic Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 8 at the Hudson Gardens and Event Center, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton.

Attendees can browse through a diverse assortment of aquatic plants. like lilies, lotus and many other marginals at the free event. There will also be fertilizer tablets for sale. Additionally, staff will be on hand to share their advice with those in need.

For more information, visit colowatergardensociety.org or contact Vicki Aber at 303-423-9216 or docvicki@msn.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Coldplay at Empower Field

I’ve always connected to musicians that wear their hearts on their sleeve, and few bands have done so as wonderfully as Coldplay. They’ve made a career full of music that can be absolutely soaring and moving if you just allow it into your heart.

The band doesn’t tour often, but they’re bringing their Music of the Spheres World Tour to Empower at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. in Denver, at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10. They’ll be joined by openers Elyanna and Willow for what is sure to be a magical night under the stars.

Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

The post Clarke Reader:Arvada Center Hosts a Range of Pride Events appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Morrison Holiday Bar soundman Tom Smith got the call in early May: The Black Keys wanted to do a Record Hang — a late-night party with the band’s two leads spinning 45s for fans — at the bar after their May 27 Red Rocks concert. 

They’d provide their own security and equipment.

While the band set the Record Hang up ahead of time, the Holiday announced it on its Facebook page on the day of the event. It sold just 300 tickets — all the space it had in a room stripped of most furniture to create more space — and filled the bar to capacity by midnight.

The Record Hang wasn’t the first time the band’s leads Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have hung out at the Holiday.

“They came in in 2022 and did a benefit,” Smith said. “They really liked it and started doing it all over the country.”

It wasn’t an unusual request. 

Bar owner Dave Killingsworth said artists from Red Rocks commonly drop in, sometimes just for a drink and occasionally asking to take the stage.

“Sometimes they show, sometimes they don’t,” he said. “They find out about the bar. We don’t actively go out looking for anybody.”

Texas-based country band Shane Smith and The Saints do a Holiday after-party following every Red Rocks show.

Spinning singles

Black Keys’ Record Hang attendees paid $15 each to get into the 11 p.m. event. And while Smith coordinated much of it, the Holiday didn’t keep any of the ticket sales.

The bar’s staff also took on extra shifts and duties to get ready for the event.

While three bartenders were on duty earlier in the evening as the band Alibi played, three more joined them at about 10 p.m. — when the bar closed and Smith asked everyone to leave. 

(Please see slideshow below for more photos from The Black Keys’ Record Hang)

They took the next hour to clear tables and chairs, making way for a mostly standing-room-only crowd. The Black Keys’ staff also arrived during that hour, setting up their own sound system and boxes of 45s, establishing a VIP area for the band on the top deck, and checking to ensure doors were locked.

At 11 p.m., while the Keys’ were still on stage at Red Rocks, the Holiday opened its doors for Record Hang attendees. Just after midnight, Carney quietly walked onto the stage and started spinning 45s. A few minutes later, Auerbach joined him.

Neither spoke but went straight to the business of playing records, with Auerbach occasionally acknowledging the audience by raising a glass in a toast.

Finding the right sounds

The Record Hangs aren’t just a way to come down after a concert. Auerbach and Carney, who are known for their love of vinyl and DJing, says it’s significantly influenced their music and creative process. The Black Keys spent part of 2023 doing Record Hangs across North America and Europe, playing singles in small clubs into the wee hours of the morning, according to Billboard magazine.

They gauged the crowd’s reaction at those events, using it as market research to help tighten up their songwriting. That had a strong influence on the 2024 album, “Ohio Players,” on which they collaborated heavily with Beck.

“Ultimately you want to find the record that sounds like a hit that people haven’t heard before,” Auerbach told iHeart Radio in 2024. “That’s what the goal is. So we were having this friendly competition buying records, searching for records, trying to spin records and see how they would go over with the crowd. Then we would take that energy into the studio.”

For the Keys, the hunt never ends. The group’s Facebook page shows Auerbach and Carney spent part of May 24 in downtown Denver, looking for new 45s to spin at Wax Trax and other shops.

The post The Black Keys hold Record Hang at Morrison Holiday Bar appeared first on Colorado Community Media.

Ever since the development of film as an artistic medium, women have been some of its most dynamic storytellers, both in front of and behind the camera. They’ve often been denied the recognition they deserve, but with its annual Women+Film Festival, Denver Film strives to ensure the works made by these creative voices are seen.

“We look through hundreds of films — both features and shorts — to ensure our final selections create a welcoming space for underrepresented voices, our local community and people new to the independent film scene,” wrote Ambriehl Turrentine, programming manager with Denver Film, in an email interview. “Getting to see audiences and filmmakers connect, reflect and empower one another through further dialogue is such a beautiful experience and reminder of why festivals matter.”

The festival begins on Friday, May 30 and runs through Sunday, June 1 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave.

Attendees will be able to see features and short films as part of the event, as well as take part in a range of special discussions and activities. One of the event highlights is the annual Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award, which is going to Julia Stiles, who will be on hand to screen her directorial debut film “Wish You Were Here.”

We interviewed Turrentine about the festival, what she hopes audiences take away and more.

Interview edited for brevity and clarity.

What kind of films were you looking for this year?

Beyond the films being directed by and about women, I like to program films with care and purpose by looking for complex stories that can ultimately broaden our understanding of the world and each other. This year’s curated lineup certainly leans into that mission — from our Opening Night film, “Sally,’ which explores the career of astronaut Sally Ride and the sacrifices made in her personal life for social acceptance, to our Closing Night film, “The Librarians,” which showcases librarians (some of whom will attend in-person) on the frontlines fighting against censorship in the US.

If someone has never participated in the festival, what do you want them to know?

For someone new to Women+Film or film festivals in general, I’d want them to know that they are not only welcome to attend but also to participate. Attendees can expect to take a walk with compelling, independent stories from around the globe celebrating women in all their glory as well as engage with filmmakers, panelists and cinephile strangers (who hopefully won’t be strangers for long). This festival is just as much about our audiences as it is what’s presented on screen.

What do you hope audiences come away with?

Our goal is always transformation, so I hope our audiences leave moved, inspired and challenged to assess life differently — whether that be about identity, experiences or the power of storytelling itself. I hope they develop a deeper appreciation for the independent film scene, and especially stories told by women, because there are so many gems out there to be discovered. The films programmed in our festival of course honor women, but they also acknowledge the various societal factors that make each person unique and worthy of understanding — emphasizing that women cannot be defined by their gender alone.

The full schedule and tickets are available at www.denverfilm.org/.

Lakewood Kicks Off INSPIRE Arts

INSPIRE Arts Lakewood is the city’s monthlong celebration of Lakewood’s dynamic arts scene and it begins this year on Friday, May 30 and runs through Thursday, July 3.

The annual event is presented by Lakewood Heritage, Culture & the Arts and features a wide range of free and low-cost arts and cultural experiences at more than 20 galleries, cultural centers, shops and other venues across the city, according to provided information.

For more information, visit Lakewood.org/INSPIRE.

Get ‘On Your Feet!’ at Littleton Town Hall

The music made by Gloria and Emilio Estefan is the soundtrack for a whole generation of fans and also introduced the world to Latin rhythms and culture.

The story of the Estefans is coming to the stage as “On Your Feet!” at Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 Main St., from Friday, May 23 through Sunday, June 22. Most performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

With a book written by Alexander Dinelaris Jr. and score built around the Estefan’s music, the show follows the arc of Gloria and Emilio’s careers. Tickets are available at https://townhallartscenter.org/event/on-your-feet/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — billy woods at the Marquis Theater

New York City’s billy woods doesn’t make the kind of rap music that you put on for a good time. His music is searing explorations of the struggles of life at the margins and the fight to have your voice be heard. His latest album, “GOLLIWOG,” uses the rich genre of black horror to chronicle the nightmares and ecstasies of modern living.

In support of the album, woods is performing at the Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St. in Denver, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 5. Don’t miss the chance to see one of the genre’s best—tickets are available at www.livenation.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

The post Clarke Reader:DFF Women+Film Festival highlights power of story appeared first on Colorado Community Media.