Remember gathering to dance barefoot on a grassy summer lawn? How about the pulse of the bass line pulsing through your chest as friends and strangers swirl around you? It’s been a minute. But live music is making its comeback in the Pikes Peak region, with shows happening all over town.
MeadowGrass Music Festival returns to La Foret in Black Forest on Memorial Day Weekend, signaling the start of summer and a sense of normalcy in the music scene. Expect a usual stellar lineup of local, regional and national artists. “I feel grateful!” says Nicole Nicoletta, executive director of host Rocky Mountain Highway Music Collective. “Grateful to our sponsors and artists who stuck with us through 2020. And immensely grateful to our festivalgoers. This will be an amazing comeback year because of them!” Read more in “MeadowGrass Music Festival Returns.”
In Knob Hill, local music venue the Black Sheep has a full schedule of shows lined up after taking a creative approach to help itself and music fans survive the difficult recent months. The gritty, live-music O.G. has operated as a simple dive bar, along with expanding entertainment offerings to include movie nights, open mic nights, karaoke and other themed evenings. “While music will always be at the forefront, we want to have a space to incorporate a more broad, quirky roster to our events list,” says Rosanna Taylor, head of marketing. That includes more shows by performers such as local comic, magician, mentalist Claire Voyant. “We have this space, to help local artist like Claire show off her craft and to show more people what cool, unique people exist and different things that are happening in our own backyard.”
But music is the soul of the Black Sheep, and its calendar is filling fast with show highlights including Tejon Street Corner Thieves (album release show), Wildermiss, Powerman 5000, Tantric, the Airborne Toxic Event, K. Flay and more.
Downtown, the Wild Goose Meeting House has opened its patio and garage doors with a full schedule of live music on its intimate stage. You’ll find lots of jazz and singer-songwriters at the regular weekend shows, including local standoouts the Wayne Wilkinson Trio, Mango Fan Django, New Vintage Jazz, Ryan Flores and more. The Gold Room is also hosting in-person shows again with limited seating and a musical mix heavy on jazz and blues.
On the larger end of the spectrum, the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts and Broadmoor World Arena are returning to live events. Upcoming concerts include the international sensation Celtic Woman, roots master Keb’ Mo’, blues-rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, icons the Beach Boys, country star Luke Combs and gospel heavyweights Yolanda Adams and Marvin Sapp. Some shows are reschedules from pandemic cancellations, and original tickets will be honored. Comedy fans can catch some big tours coming through too, including Jeff Dunham, David Spade and Jokoy.
Switchbacks Entertainment is rolling out big shows in its new stadium, Weidner Field, as well. First up are the Latin music Star Festival on May 28 and up-and-coming country hitmakers Justin Moore, Chris Janson and Mackenzie Porter on May 29. Capacity will be limited to 50%, and masks are required—but welcome to the downtown stadium concert era.
On the Westside, the hip Manitou enclave Lulu’s Downstairs has used the past year to remodel its upstairs and patio areas. After closing over the winter months, the venue is restarting live shows in May. “It’s been too long and we can’t wait to share the new spaces and toast to where we’ve been and where we are going,” reads a recent Facebook post. Manitou’s newest venue, Armadillo Ranch, is keeping its stage busy with live local music most weekends too.
Under the dome, Stargazers Theatre has a full schedule of shows throughout the summer. Concerts include local artists, such as Jeremy Fracknitz and the funk Reminiscent Soul with Suga Bear. National acts, such as bluesman Tab Benoit and the string sisters of Spinphony, will play the dome. And there are plenty of tribute bands channeling Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis, the Eagles and more.
Metalheads, rockers and hiphop fans can rejoice for a full schedule at Sunshine Studios. The southside venue has shows scheduled into November, including Techn9ne, Trapt Unplugged, Buckcherry, Rappers Against the Rona featuring Black Pegasus and more.
On the north side of town, Boot Barn Hall at Bourbon Brothers is up and running again with its country-centric lineup that includes Narrow Gauge, Savanna Chestnut and Little Texas. But classic rock fans will be into Voices of Rock Radio, featuring former singers from Kansas, Journey and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Plus, there are plenty of local artists, including Wirewood Station & Ashtonz, Sofakillers, and Mary and the Pharaoh.
For those seeking free summer concerts on the lawn, head to Banning Lewis Ranch on Thursdays at and Wolf Ranch on Wednesdays. You’ll find food trucks, playgrounds, bouncy houses and lots of family fun in the large grassy parks at these master-planned communities. Plus, Banning Lewis Ranch will host one of the largest July 4 fireworks shows in the city. You can also sing the blues on the Westside, Thursdays in June and July with the Paint the Town Blue concert series.
And come fall, there’s a new blues fest in town at Gold Hill Mesa. Blues on the Mesa will be a one-day gathering featuring national, regional and local talent. In a twist from the usual scheduling sequence, Blues on the Mesa will kick off with a Grammy winning artist: Alvin Youngblood Hart. Other highlights include Ladies Sing the Blues, described by promoter Amy Whitesell as “a show within a show.” The collection features Chicago blues diva Delores Scott, along with three of Colorado’s own: Jessica Rogalski, Jill Watkins and Peaches Embry. Closing out the show is Grammy nominee Janiva Magness, a blues and soul artist with 15 albums to her credit.
Be sure to check with concert hosts for mask policies and any other COVID precautions. And always dance like nobody’s watching.
Read More
MeadowGrass Music Festival Returns
Where to Find Live Local Music
Curbside Culture Brings the Arts Live to You
