A summer of musical adventure at the Arvada Center

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

Coming Attractions

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 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.

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/music-anddance/summer-concerts.

Find the best food of the year at City Park Farmers Market ere are many signs that summer is o cially back, but one of 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 e plot of Su Teatro’s “El Espiritu Natural; the Spirit of Nature,” sounds straight out of classic Disney — sisters NitaLuna and NeldaRio face o against “ e Absence,” which, according to provided information, is “an overpowering memory-reducing force that threatens their history, traditions, and very existence.” e story also features appearances by La Llorona, Ehecatl and Barack Obama. is transporting show will appear at Northglenn’s Parsons eatre, 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. at’s the case with Caroline Polachek, who formed her rst band, Charlift, while a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. When I rst 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. is 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.

Cool Jazz for a Hot Summer Night in Northglenn

e CJRO Sextet will feature the music of Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and other iconic West Coast Jazz musicians of the time. e concert will be performed at Parsons eatre 1 E. Memorial Parkway Northglenn at 7:30 p.m. June 9.

Tickets are $22 - $25 and are available at the Colorado Jazz website or by calling the Parsons eatre Box O ce at 303 450-8888.

In the period following the end of WWII, jazz as an independent genre of music went through intense transformations. West Coast Jazz refers to styles of jazz that developed in Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. e West Coast Jazz cool school was more relaxed, melodic, and generally appealing to a broader audience than its East Coast counterpart. It was easily accessible to the public and received immense airplay on California radio stations and in clubs as the sound spread across the country.

e Sextet is led by CJRO Artistic Director Drew Zaremba (Saxophone). He is joined by Remy LeB- oeuf (Saxophone), Shawn Williams (Trumpet), Eric Gunnison (Keyboards), Gonzalo Teppa (Bass), Dru Heller (Drums) and Marion Powers on vocals.

Founded by bandleader Art Bouton in 2012 with a mission to perform the best music with the best musicians, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra features exciting world-renowned guest artists and many of the nest regional musicians. e ensemble has performed everything from rollicking big band classics to contemporary large and small ensemble jazz across Colorado.

Audiences at the Arvada Center, PACE Center in Parker, Lakewood Cultural Center, Lone Tree Arts Center, Parsons eatre in Northglenn and beyond have heard the CJRO perform music from Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Stan Kenton, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, and Buddy Rich as well as original arrangements by CJRO composers and other artists.

For more information including upcoming concerts, go to Coloradojazz.org

Thu 5/11

Family Paint Party

@ 12am

May 11th - May 10th

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side

Down @ Odde's Music Grill

@ 8pm

Odde's Music Grill, 9975 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster

Sat 5/13

Family Fun Friday- Model Building

@ 12am

May 13th - May 12th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Birding by Canoe! Day 1 @ 9am / Free

Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Pica‐dilly Rd, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Fri 5/12

Lynn's Tea Shop & Lunch (5/12) @ 4:15pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Bubble Run - Denver, CO5/13/2023

@ 7am

May 13th - May 14th

Adams County Fairground, 9755 Henderson Rd, Brighton. 000000000

Custom Hat Making Experience

@ 11am 9490 Co Rd 25, Fort Lupton, CO 80621, USA, Brighton

Colorado Rapids vs. Philadelphia Union @ 7:30pm / $25-$999

DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City Paint Mines Interpretive Hike @ 10pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Sun 5/14

Mon 5/15

Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds @ 6:40pm / $6-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver

Tue 5/16

Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center (5/16) @ 4:30pm

Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

"Almost, Maine"

@ 7:30pm / $12.50

Armory Performing Arts Center, 300 Strong St, Brighton

Mother/Daughter Tea for Mother's Day

@ 2pm / $12

Aar River Gallery, 3707 West 73rd Avenue, Westminster. k�owers@ hylandhills.org, 303-428-7488

Handbuilding: Come Play In Mud @ 4pm May 13th - Jun 3rd

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Ninety Percent 90s

@ 8pm @ Cheers, 11964 Washington St, Northglenn

Monster Jam @ 7pm / $20-$90

Empower Field At Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver

Colorado Women's ClassicWestminster @ 8am / Free-$50

10600 Westminster Blvd, South of the Westin Hotel at the Promenade Terrace Park, Westminster

Colorado Rockies vs. Cincinnati Reds @ 6:40pm / $6-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Wed 5/17

Colorado Rockies vs. Philadelphia Phillies @ 1:10pm / $10-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Birding for All - May @ 10am / Free Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 53

Medicare 101 (5/17) @ 3pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Thu 5/18

Storytime in the Park @ 3pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Monthly Birthday Celebration (5/18) @ 7pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760