A summer of musical adventure at the Arvada Center

Over the years, the Arvada Center’s Summer Concert series has consistently proven itself to be a true gem of the summer. It’s like your favorite neighborhood spot has thrown open its doors for a few hundred friends to get together and hear some great music.

As it gears up for its 2023 season, that feeling is even stronger and more appreciated by audiences, as Philip C. Sneed, president and CEO of the Center, can attest.

“Concerts are back in full force after the pandemic,” he said. “We’re so pleased with the acts we have this year, which includes some returning favorites and some that have never been here before.” e initial wave of concerts at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., is:

June 3 — Denver Gay Men’s Chorus: Divas – Icons and Justice Warriors

June 24 — e Denver Brass: In Pursuit of Leisure

June 30 — A Night at the Movies with the Colorado Symphony

July 3 — Toad the Wet Sprocket with special guest, Cracker

July 7 — Indigo Girls with full band and Garrison Starr

July 15 — Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

July 21 — George orogood and the Destroyers: Bad All Over the World – 50 Years of Rock Tour

July 28 — Mozart Under the Moonlight with the Colorado Symphony

July 29 — Face Vocal Band

Aug. 12 — Boz Scaggs

Aug. 13 — Ben Folds

Sept. 8 — Keb’ Mo’ ere will also be some special performances that haven’t been announced yet.

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Coming Attractions

Longtime attendees may notice the Center is pulling more well-known national acts in the last years and Sneed attributes this to steady growth in the venue’s reputation.

“Even a few years ago, I don’t think we’ve have been able to get some of these acts,” he said. “A big part of it is the venue, which feels intimate but still has a lot of seats. Word is getting around about how great a place the Center is.” e variety of performers allows music fans to indulge in any style they like and local favorites like the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra are always exploring new ways to draw listeners in, like performing selections from popular lm scores. e Center itself is also a key factor in what makes seeing a performance so special — there are art shows at the indoor galleries and students all over the place taking a variety of arts classes.

“I love the energy here and the concerts allow people to experience that energy,” Sneed said. “I love sitting outside and listening to the music and seeing people lighting up for their favorite artists. It’s just a great place to be.”

For information and tickets, visit https://arvadacenter.org/musicand-dance/summer-concerts.

Find the best food of the year at City Park Farmers Market

There are many signs that summer is officially back, but one of

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• Keep it polite: No name calling or “mudslinging.” the most exciting for those looking for delicious foods is the return of City Park Farmers Market, 2551 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, which opens for the season on Saturday, May 13.

Now in its third season, the event features more than 100 local producers, demos from Colorado chefs and much more. Check out the market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 13. According to provide information, the owners prioritize “vendors who source from and collaborate with other local businesses.”

Find all the necessary information at www.cityparkfarmersmarket.com/.

Go on a magical adventure with El Espiritu Natural

The plot of Su Teatro’s “El Espiritu Natural; the Spirit of Nature,” sounds straight out of classic Disney — sisters NitaLuna and NeldaRio face off against “The Absence,” which, according to provided information, is “an overpowering memory-reducing force that threatens their history, traditions, and very existence.” The story also features appearances by La Llorona, Ehecatl and Barack Obama.

This transporting show will appear at Northglenn’s Parsons Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Information and tickets can be found at https:// northglennarts.org/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Caroline Polachek at Mission Ballroom

It is always fun to trace a performer’s arc, especially when you get to see them really grow into themselves. That’s the case with Caroline Polachek, who formed her first band, Charlift, while a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. When I first wrote about her all the way back (kidding) in 2021, she was playing the Bluebird and then she opened for Dua Lipa at Ball Arena last year. And now in support of her fantastic sophomore album, “Desire, I Want to Turn Into You,” she’s headlining Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver. Polachek will be performing at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, and she has a killer lineup joining her — openers are indie rock legend Alex G and up-and-coming talent Indigo De Souza. This has the potential to be one of the season’s best shows, 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.