Summertime means picnics in the park, songs under the stars, barbecues by the pool and the time to break out those dancing shoes. Here’s your area guide to summer fun across the Front Range — from free outdoor shows to intimate indoor gigs.
Broomfield
Bands in the Garden: Enjoy music in the garden every Saturday and select Fridays through August; 7 p.m. every Saturday, The Old Man, 4381 W. 120th Ave., Broomfield; free. Lineup: June 1 Generation Jukebox, June 7 Dirty Side Down, June 8 The Stephen Lear Band, June 15 Mojo Fats, June 21 Kenny Perkins Band, June 22 Steve and The Cruisers, June 28 Busted Bones, June 29 Couple Of Daze, July 6 Lee & Co, July 13 On The Flip Side, July 20 Mojo Fats, July 26 Uncle Beefs Band, July 27 Couple of Daze, Aug. 2 Spearfish Junction, Aug. 3 Lee & Co, Aug. 10 On the Flip Side, Aug. 16 Lowfive, Aug. 17 Mojo Fats, Aug. 24 Moonspit and Aug. 31 Colorado Junction; theoldmanbar.com.
Live on the Lanes: Strap on those bowling shoes that double as dancing shoes as 100 Nickel brings concerts all summer long. Lineup: June 7 The Ephinjis, June 12 Latin Night, June 19 Workingman’s Wednesdays, June 20 There’s an Ape for That, June 23 Mojohand, June 28 Kedron Asphalt Palace, July 17 Workingman’s Wednesdays, July 18 There’s an Ape for That and Aug. 21 Workingman’s Wednesdays; 100 Nickel, 100 Nickel St., Broomfield; free; chipperslanes.com/100nickel.
Broomfield BrewHaHa: This can’t-miss summer festival features fresh local brews from Gravity Brewing, Westminster Brewing Company, Luki Brewing and Wonderland Brewing, popular food trucks, beloved lawn games, live music from Cody Qualls & the Brand New Ancients and Jacob Larson Band, an exciting range of modern merchants and more; noon Saturday, June 8, Arista Park, Arista place, Broomfield; free; broomfield.org/2454/BrewHaHa.
Summer Concert Series: The Summer Concert Series is returning to Broomfield. Grab some lawn chairs and umbrellas, and enjoy an unforgettable evening of music, food and family fun; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Broomfield parks; free. Lineup: June 12 ZIMBiRA at Redpoint Ridge Park, June 26 The Coffis Brothers at Redpoint Ridge Park, July 10 Sam Reider and Jorge Glem at Anthem Park, July 17 Heavy Diamond Ring and Anthem Park, July 24 Broomfield Out Loud’s Mixtapes Memories featuring The Mighty Untouchables at Midway Park and July 31 Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards at Midway Park.; broomfield.org/3441/Summer-Concerts-Series.
Great American Picnic: Spend the Fourth of July with family, friends and Broomfield neighbors at the Great American Picnic and Fireworks. There will be fun for the whole family, with inflatables, concessions, food vendors and a beer garden for those ages 21 and up. Add a creative spin to the holiday in the one-of-a-kind bike parade, then enjoy the show with music starting at 6 p.m. from 17th Avenue Allstars and Thumpin’. The evening ends with a bang with fireworks set off at 9:15 p.m.; 5 p.m. Thursday, July 4, Broomfield County Commons Park, 13200 Sheridan Blvd., Broomfield; free; broomfield.org/611/Great-American-Picnic-July-4th.
Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival: The Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival attracts consumers that are geared toward premium high-end products – including premium cigars, hand-crafted brews, unique wine and spirits, excellent food and everything encompassing the finer things in life; noon Saturday, Aug. 24, Omni Interlocken Resort, 500 Interlocken Blvd., Broomfield; $80-$595; rmcigarfestival.com.
Boulder
Bands on the Bricks: Complete with a beer garden, downtown Boulder’s long-standing concert series offers free shows every Wednesday from 5:30-9 p.m. on the 1300 Block of Pearl Street; boulderdowntown.com. Lineup — June 12 The Reminders, June 19 ZiMBiRA Afro Fusion Band, June 26 Hazel Miller & The Collective, July 3 Foxfeather, July 10 The 5280s Band, July 17 The Mighty Mystic, July 24 Roka Hueka and July 31 The Long Run.
Boulder Theater: Downtown venue with preserved murals and art deco charm; 2032 14th St., Boulder; z2ent.com. Lineup — June 3 Brad Mehldau, June 7 Trevor Hall, June 22 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, July 6 Dark Star Orchestra, July 11 Old Gods of Appalachia, July 19 Wheeler Walker Jr. with Logan Halstead, July 20 Steep Canyon Rangers, July 21 Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Aug. 9 Rickie Lee Jones, Aug. 10 Face Vocal Band and Aug. 25 Laurie Berkner.
Chautauqua Auditorium: Unique concert experience in a century-old, barn-style venue; 900 Baseline Road, Boulder; chautauqua.com. Lineup — June 1 Michael Franti & Spearhead, June 18 Bela Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, June 20 Tommy Emmanuel, July 13 Squirrel Nut Zippers, July 20 Straight No Chaser, July 22 Watchhouse, July 24 Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, July 31 Rayland Baxter, Aug. 3 and 7 Graham Nash, Aug. 5 Ben folds, Aug. 9-10 Ryan Adams, Aug. 11 Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers, Aug. 31 The Robert Cray Band.
Colorado Music Festival: Annual classical music festival brings international and national musicians to Boulder for 22 concerts in six weeks; Chautauqua Auditorium, 900 Morning Glory Drive, Boulder; coloradomusicfestival.org; Lineup — July 5 and 7 Alisa Weilerstein, July 7 Family concert: Green Eggs and Ham, July 9 Dohnanyi, Beethoven & Schumann, July 11-12 Rite of Spring & Gluzman Plays Prokofiev, July 18 Brentano String Quartet, July 20-21 Michael Christie, July 14 Bruckner Bicentennial: Symphony No. 4, July 16 Schubert’s Strings & Nielsen’s Winds, July 18-19 Olga Kern & Greig’s Peer Gynt, July 21 Gabriela Lena Frank’s world Premiere, July 23 Haydn, Debussy & Mendelssohn, July 25-26 Awadagin Pratt + Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade, July 28 Mozart: Duo pianos, Haffner & A Little Night Music, July 30 Danish Spring Quartet, Aug. 1-2 Augustin Hadelich & Dvorak 7 and Aug. 4 Mahler 4 & Ravel’s Sheherazade.
Concerts in the Park: Pack a picnic and head to the park Monday evenings to hear the Boulder Concert Band play a different local park each week; boulderband.org. Locations — June 10 East Palo Park, June 17 Foothills Community Park, June 24 North Boulder Park, July 1 Harlow Platts Community Park, July 8 Scott Carpenter Park, July 15 Salberg Park, July 22 Martin Park and July 29 Chautauqua Park.
Cultural Caravan: Starting June 6 with a free pop-up concert on Festival Plaza in Lafayette, this series will bring in six big main-stage concerts along with six pop-up concerts throughout Boulder County; culturalcaravan.org.
Fox Theatre: With a two-tier main floor and an intimate punk-rock vibe, every spot is a good spot in this University Hill venue; 1135 13th St., Boulder; z2ent.com. Lineup — June 1 Moondial, June 7 Diva Cup, June 13 Runaway Gin, June 14 Phoebe Nix, June 15 Dylan Kishner Band, June 20 The New Mastersounds, June 21 Spitting Image, June 26 Stop Light Observations, July 17 Fruit Bats, July 20 Easy Honey, Aug. 2 Simple Syrup, Aug. 3 julie, Aug. 4 Secret Number, Aug. 9 LA LOM, Aug. 15 Pool Sharks and Aug. 16 Moontricks.
Roots Music Project: This non-profit music incubator empowers local musicians in an artsy warehouse setting; 4747 Pearl, Suite V3A, Boulder; rootsmusicproject.org. June 1 Brendan James and LVDY, June 5 Thelma and The Sleaze, June 10 My Son The Hurricane, June 20 Sun Jr., June 25 Underground Springhouse, June 27 Christopher Paul Stelling, June 29 Peak 2 Peak, Aug. 2 Source, Triune, and Megatheria, Aug. 9 The Good Kind and Aug. 31 Joe Waters.
Twenty Ninth Street Summer of Love Concert Series: The outdoor shopping mall is bringing in local bands to its Central Plaza where patrons can sprawl out with sweet Flatirons views; twentyninthstreet.com. Lineup — July 12 Shakedown Street, July 19 Face, July 26 Jacob Larson, Aug. 2 The Hamilton Band, Aug. 9 Hazel Miller & The Collective, Aug. 16 Eric Golden, Aug. 23 Quemando Salsa.
Lafayette
Art Night Out: Outdoor fun with an art market, food trucks, booze tents and live music from 5-9 p.m. second Fridays through September; South Public Road between Emma and Cannon Streets, Lafayette; lafayetteco.gov. Lineup — June 14 Los Mocohetes, July 12 Hazel Miller and the Collective, Aug. 9 Kaitlyn Williams and Bunny Blake and Sept. 13 Paa Kow.
Muse Performance Space: This live events space hosts music, performances, improv jams and more; 200 E. South Boulder Road, Lafayette; museperformancespace.com. Lineup — June 3 The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers, June 7 Art Lande, June 13 Dana Cooper & David Starr, June 14 Pat Metheny, June 15 Justin Adams, June 19 Matt Venuti, June 21 Dominique Eade & Keith Waters and June 28 Amy Biondo Quintet.
Nissi’s: This renovated venue with new sound and lights brings in range of national and regional entertainment with a slate of high-class cover bands to Lafayette; 1455 Coal Creek Drive, Unit T, Lafayette; nissis.com; Lineup — June 5 Jack Hadley Band, June 6 Burns Twice, June 9 Longmont Jazz All-Stars, June 12 Marcus Motel & The Closers, June 13 The High Road Home, June 14 6 Million Dollar Band, June 115 Appetite For Destruction & Halfway There, June 16 Jon Chandler & The Slingers, June 19 Maynard Mills Band, June 20 Chimbangle, June 23 Katelyn Klickman, June 26 Nelson Rangell, June 27 10 Year Echo, June 28 Hillbilly Demons, July 3 Blue 88’s, July 5 One On One, July 6 Mile Hi Infidelity & Still the Same, July 10 50 Shades of Blue, July 11 Lookin Back, July 12 Rubber Souls, July 13 Wayward Son, July 17 Deborah Stafford and the Night Stalkers, July 18 Face Vocal Band, July 19 Paradise Theatre, July 20 The Jerseys, July 24 Mad Dog Blues, July 26 Free Fallin’ and July 31 420 Cafe.
Picnic on the Plaza: Pack a picnic for free concerts on the lawn from noon-1 p.m. Thursdays through mid-August; Festival Plaza, 311 S. Public Road, Lafayette; lafayetteco.gov. Lineup — June 6 Cultural Caravan, June 13 Pride on the Plaza, June 20 TBA, June 27 TBA, July 11 TBA, July 18 TBA, July 25 TBA, Aug. 1 TBA, Aug. 8 TBA and Aug. 15 TBA.
Longmont
Outdoor Concerts: Enjoy free concerts in several parks around the city. Lawn chairs and picnics are encouraged; longmontcolorado.gov. Lineup — June 26 101st Army Hot Seven, July 10 Denver Taiko and July 24 Kutandara.
Sunflower Farm’s Summer Music Evenings: On stage from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays and some Fridays through early October, local musicians perform at the Longmont farm while food trucks plate up snacks and patrons can mingle with the furry farm friends. Bring the fam, the chairs, blankets and drinks; $27, reservations required; 11150 Prospect Road, Longmont; sunflowerfarminfo.com. Lineup — June 5 Shuck Wagon, June 12 Ghost Town Drifters, June 19 Ragged Union, June 26 Tierro Band, July 10 Big Hooray, July 17 River Arkansas, July 24 Foggy Memory Boys, July 31 Chain station, Aug. 7 Heavy Diamond Ring, Aug. 14 FY5 and Aug. 30 The Cody Sisters.
Niwot
Rock and Rails: Niwot’s lively summer series brings local bands to Whistle Stop Park every Thursday night through August. Food trucks and local beer vendors will be on hand, and patrons can bring chairs and blankets. Murray Street and First Avenue, Niwot; niwot.com. Lineup — June 6 The Hot Lunch Band, June 13 The Alcapones, June 20 Twenty Hands High, June 27 One On One, July 11 The Long Run, July 18 Chris Daniels & The Kings, July 25 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Aug. 1 Last Men on Earth, Aug. 8 My Blue Sky, Aug. 15 Face Vocal Band, Aug. 22 The Nalani Effect, Aug. 29 Hazel Miller and the Collective.
Lyons
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival: Plant your chair on the St. Vrain River for three days of incredible music, food, libations and tubing; Aug. 9-11; $95-$205; Planet Bluegrass, 500 W. Main St., Lyons; bluegrass.com/planet. Lineup — Aug. 9 The Wood Brothers, John Vincent III, Handmade Moments, Sir Woman, Willi Carlisle, Michaela Anne; Aug. 10 Bonny Light Horseman, Pokey LaFarge, The Mother Hips, Margo Cilker, Making Movies, Peter Mulvey, Cindy Kalmenson; Aug. 11 Brittany Howard, Jamestown Revival, The Watson Twins, Darlingside, Alsia Amador, the Faux Paws and The Harlem Gospel Travelers.
RockyGrass: Now in its 52th year, this weekend festival keeps getting better with age. July 26-28; $105-$255; Planet Bluegrass, 500 W. Main St., Lyons; bluegrass.com/planet. Lineup — July 26 Sarah Jarosz, Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper, Della Mae, Sam Grisman Project, John Reischamn & Old Acoustic, Kristin Andreassen & Chris Eldridge, The Fretliners; July 27 Sam Bush Bluegrass Band, Del McCoury Band, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, The Brothers Comatose, Henhouse Prowlers, The Slocan Ramblers, The Cody Sisters; July 28 Dan Tyminski, Broke Mountain Bluegrass Band, Sister Sadie, Tim O’Brien Band, Pixie & The Partygrass Boys, Two Runner, Solar Sisters.
Louisville
Louisville Underground: A hidden speakeasy that hosts live entertainment in the heart of downtown; 640 Main St., Louisville; thelouisvilleunderground.com; Lineup — June 1 Full Belly, June 21 Improvarama and June 22 The Pretty Shabbies.
Louisville Street Faire: Rain or shine, the Faire has food, drinks, children’s activities and arts and crafts markets. Lineup: Jun 14 Kyle Hollingsworth Band, Jun 21 The Record Company with Eric Johanson, Jun 28 Pimps of Joytime, Jul 12 DeadPhish Orchestra, Jul 19 Stone Beat Invasion, July 26 The Lil Smokies with Danny Shafer, Aug. 2 Deborah Stafford & the Night Stalkers, Aug. 9 Molly Hatchet with Full Belly; 5-9:30 p.m. Fridays, June 8-Aug. 10, Steinbaugh Pavilion, 824 Front St., Louisville; free; downtownlouisvilleco.com/street-faire.
Music festivals
Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Telluride, June 20-23
Country Jam Colorado, Grand Junction, July 20-22
Global Dance Festival, Denver, July 26-27
Rockygrass Festival, Lyons, July 26-28
SnowyGrass, Estes Park, July 12-14
Telluride Jazz Festival, Telluride, Aug. 9-11
JAS Labor Day Experience, Snowmass, Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Caveman Music Festival, Weston, Aug. 30-Sept. 1
Telluride Blues and Brews, Telluride, Sept. 13-15
Lauren Farrauto contributed to this story.
