Fourth of July weekend in Boulder last year morphed the motherland of organic milk and non-GMO honey into tie-dyed dancing bears while marijuana multiplied like mogwai. (Not the Scottish band, the Gremlins.)
Speaking of bands — and multiplying fuzzy things — the Deadheads will invade Boulder again, as the Dead & Company (former Grateful Dead members Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann who teamed up with John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti) will return for two shows at Folsom Field on June 9-10.
And to dip dear ol' Boulder into some dreadlock wax and roll it around in patchouli, this town is gearing up for the event with multiple parties. The Fox and Boulder theaters are celebrating the Dead's return with a week's worth of pre- and post-shows, said Darlene D'Agostino Beck, director of marketing for Boulder's Z2 Entertainment.
D'Agostino Beck said a highlight of the week will be a big party on University Hill, shutting down 13th Street to make way for one of the longest-running Grateful Dead tribute bands, Shakedown Street. The free street festival will run from noon-7 p.m. on Saturday, June 10, and will also feature music from Dragondeer, Cycles and Mikey Thunder — plus, there will be a beer and spirits garden and plenty of vendors.
If the Dead doesn't strike your fancy, the Front Range will host a slew of live music this summer in mountain towns and college campuses and downtown streets and library lawns — the Colorado summer music calendar is as diverse as its venues.
In Boulder, the Drive-By Truckers, Lucinda Williams and Colin Hay will play shows at Chautauqua; Longmont's Rhythm on the River will feature Policulture and Euforquestra; Erie Town Fair & Balloon Festival will host Chris Daniels & The Kings; Loveland's ARISE Music Festival features Ani DiFranco and Atmosphere; the Taste of Fort Collins will have the Plain White T's; Barenaked Ladies and Toby Keith will visit the Greeley Stampede; catch Depeche Mode and Kendrick Lamar at Denver's Pepsi Center; and Paul Simon, Elephant Revival and Beck will perform at Red Rocks in Morrison.
Summer should have a soundtrack, and we've done most of the work for you. From Fort Collins to Denver, there's music for nearly every day of the week.
