Friday
Still blowing strong
FREE JAZZ|Jazzman Marshall Allen is 81 years old. But the alto saxophonist continues to lead The Sun Ra Arkestra, as he has for 10 years. The Arkestra stills produces a dynamic sound that is matched by its stage presence and presentation.|8 tonight|Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder; $25; 303-786-7030 or bouldertheater.com
Saturday
Mapuche and more
ART|A soon-to-close exhibition, titled “Nehuen: Mapuche Power,” offers a compact, accessible introduction to the Mapuche, an ancient and still-vibrant South American culture, blurring the boundaries of art and history. Visitors can enjoy tours of this show as well as Mexican food, live music and children’s activities during a free family day marking Mexican independence.|Noon-5 p.m. Saturday|Museo de las Américas, 861 Santa Fe Drive; free; 303-571-4401 ormuseo.org.
“Spiral Jetty” redux
ART|Few artworks are better known or have had more impact on the history of 20th-century art than Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty,” an earthwork that juts into the Great Salt Lake. A new exhibition presents photographs by Gianfranco Gorgoni of its creation in 1970 and recent images of the work by two photographers for the Deseret News.| Opening reception, 5-8 p.m. Saturday|Museum of Outdoor Arts, Englewood Civic Center, 1000 Englewood Parkway; free; 303-806-0444 ormoaonline.org.
The Weekend
A Telluride party
MUSIC AND BEER|Al Green, The Black Crowes, The Robert Cray Band, Joan Osborne and the subdudes are among the 25 acts that will entertain this weekend at the 12th Annual Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. It also features more than 50 microbreweries from six states. The Grand Beer Tasting is noon-3 p.m. Saturday.|11:30 a.m.-8:15 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday|Telluride Town Park, Telluride; $50-$55 daily or $140 for a three-day pass; 866-515-6166 or tellurideblues.com.
Pikes Peak movie fest
FILM|”My Summer of Love,” about two very different English girls finding each other, was one the best indie films of 2004. You can see this gem during the Sixth Annual Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival. Spanish director Joaquin Oristrell’s “Unconscious,” a farce set in 1913 Barcelona that makes wry sport of taboos and psychoanalysis, opens the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender festival. Ten features and eight shorts will screen during three days. Still, the most inventive programming may be Sunday’s documentary twofer: Wash Westmoreland’s “Gay Republicans” and Joseph Lovett’s “Gay Sex in the 70s”|various times Friday, Saturday and Sunday |Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, 30 W. Dale St.; $10 individual tickets, passes are available; 719-38-MOVIE or pplff.org
Directional beauty
ANTIQUE MAPS|The annual Rocky Mountain Antique Map Fair, which expands to two days this year, is the second-largest such gathering in the country. It features two dozen dealers from such countries as Germany and the nations of Great Britain, and from the East and West coasts. They will offer maps that date from the 1550s to today and range in price range from a few dollars to into the high five figures.|9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday|Denver Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave.;$5; rmmaps.org
The Week
Baroque classics
CLASSICAL MUSIC|Based in Rome, the venerable, 15-member I Musici was formed in 1952 and since has recorded dozens of albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide. Its concert kicks off the second annual Festival Italiano.|7:30 p.m. Tuesday|University of Denver, Gates Concert Hall, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave.; $30-$65; call 303-357-2787 or ticketmaster.com.
Benefit in Boulder
ORCHESTRAL MUSIC|Ed Dusinberre serves as first violinist for the Boulder-based Takacs Quartet, one of the world’s most respected chamber ensembles. But he will step out of that role to take a turn as guest soloist with the University Symphony in Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor. The concert is a benefit for the American Red Cross Disaster Response Fund.|7:30 p.m. Wednesday|Macky Auditorium, University of Colorado at Boulder; $5 minimum suggested donation; 303-492-8008, colorado.edu/music.
Help an N.O. musician
BLUES BENEFIT|Blues harmonica great Rockin’ Jake and his wife, Christy Jacobs, made it safely out of New Orleans and relocated to Texas. But their apartment took on 5 feet of water. As if that is not enough, Christy Jacobs is undergoing treatment for breast cancer. A benefit for the couple will feature a Cajun-style buffet and music by Rockin’ Jake and his band. Money from the door and all food and beer sales will go to the couple.|6 p.m. Wednesday|Oskar Blues Brewery, 303 Main St., Lyons; $25 for concert and Cajun-style buffet, $10 for music only; 303-823-6685.
Jokes for a cause
COMEDY BENEFIT|Longtime Comedy Works favorite Jake Johannsen returns to the club Wednesday for a show to benefit Colorado Youth for a Change. It is a new Denver-based nonprofit whose mission is to persuade dropouts to finish their education. Local comedian and veterinarian Kevin Fitzgerald will host and emcee the event, which includes complimentary food and a silent auction. Thursday night, Johannsen starts a three-day stand at the club.|5:30-9 p.m. Wednesday|Comedy Works, 1226 15th St.; $35; 303-619-5276 or 303-595-3637.
