Party with d.biddle
INDIE ROCK|The still-newish d.biddle record – the lush, eponymous work produced and recorded by Pall Jenkins of The Black Heart Procession – deserves to be celebrated. The Denver band’s music is itself a celebration of introspective storytelling, and frontman Duncan Barlow is the man spinning the easy-to-take yarn. The band plays tonight at the Hi-Dive to kick off a tour through Chicago, Detroit and New York in the next few weeks.|9 tonight.|Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway; 720-570-4500; hi-dive.com.
“A World of Dance”
CONTEMPORARY BALLET|The impressive, athletic dance company David Taylor Dance Theatre presents a free performance of “A World of Dance,” narrated by artistic director David Taylor. It’s designed specifically for children and families, exploring cultural heritage through dance.|7 tonight|City Center Englewood amphitheater, East Hampden Avenue and South Santa Fe Drive; free; information at 303-789-2030 or dtdt.org.
Video art from Chile
ART|Juan Downey is one of today’s more original video artists. A group of his works will be screened Saturday during a program titled “Film Under the Stars: Celebrating Chilean Video Artist Juan Downey.”|8:30 p.m. Saturday|Museo de las Américas, 861 Santa Fe Drive; $8 general public and $5 museum members; 303-571-4401 or museo.org.
Old favorites return
COUNTRY ROCK|The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s members lived in Colorado when the group was winning awards and charting hit singles like “Mr. Bojangles” and albums like the classic “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” |6:30 p.m. Sunday|Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, $26, 303-797-8565.
A wee bit o’ fun
ALL THINGS SCOTTISH|The Colorado Scottish Festival offers two days of folk dancers, food, games for children, more than 200 pipers and drummers, a parade of British-cars, dogs of the British Isles and more.|9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday |Highlands Heritage Park, 9651 S. Quebec St., Highlands Ranch, $6-$10, 303-238-6524.
Out with a bang
ART|To celebrate the final weekend of the Dale Chihuly exhibition, the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is sponsoring a party with two live bands and a champagne toast at 9 p.m. in the Deco Lounge. The glass-sculpture display runs through Sunday.|Party, 5 to 11 p.m. Saturday; viewing hours, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday |Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St.; $10 general admission, $7 seniors, students and children ages 13-17, $5 children ages 3-12, free for members and children younger than 3; call 719-534-5581 or go to csfineartscenter.org.
A touch of Ghana
FAMILY|This benefit for the Colorado-Ghana Children’s Fund hosted by television newscaster Tamara Banks will feature traditional African food and music with special appearances by Denver singer Sheryl Renee and Joilet Harris from “Menopause the Musical.”|5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday|Kimbal Hall, 700 E. 24th Ave., $25, 303-341-4140.
“The Writer of O”
FILM|Pola Rapaport’s “The Writer of O” isn’t simply a biography of Dominique Aury, the author of “The Story of O,” the famous French erotic novel of freedom, love, enslavement and sex. For 40 years, the identity of the writer who went by the pen name Pauline Réage remained unknown. Rapaport’s documentary is also an inventive, hybrid consideration of the power the controversial best seller exerted not just on culture but on the director as an adolescent. The film opens Friday but will screen Thursday with director Rapaport in attendance. |7 p.m. Thursday |Starz FilmCenter; $5.50-$8.50; 303-820-FILM.
A family show
AMERICANA MUSIC|The O’Brien Family Band uses fiddle, mandolin, bass and guitar to create a variety of music: gospel, fiddle, Western, bluegrass and old-time country. Presented by Arts Live!, the concert is geared for ages 5-12. Families, schools and other groups are welcome.|11 a.m. Aug. 18|Recreation Center at Eastridge, 9568 S. University Blvd., Highlands Ranch, $5-$7, 303-791-2500.
Lewis & Clark
HISTORY EXHIBIT|The celebration of the bicentennial of one of the most famous moments in Western exploration continues with a new traveling exhibit on the fifth floor of the Denver Central Library – “The Literature of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.” It contains 66 objects, including rare books, maps, newspapers, hand-colored plates and American Indian artifacts, from the collection of Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.|Through Sept. 30|Denver Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. Parkway; free with museum admission; 720-865-1111 or denver.lib.co.us.
