FRIDAY
Café Nuba
EVENT|Kwanzaa, the New Year, a tart mix of poetry and politics – there’s a lot of celebrating to be done at Café Nuba. This last-Friday- of-the-month installment features Brooklyn-based, singer-songwriter Sparlha Swa, Denver’s Jambalaya Sistah Drum Ensemble, as well as invited artists and open mic warriors. |8 p.m.-2 a.m. today|The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut Street; $10 at the door; 303-298-8188
Jazz Project
LOCAL MUSIC|Future Jazz Project is one of the state’s premier live hip-hop and acid-jazz acts. The group invited London nightclub singer (and former Denverite) Venus Cruz to turn her voluptuous voice on their R&B and jazz standards. |10 tonight|Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge, 930 Lincoln St., $15, 303-839-5100.
Danish team
GYMNASTICS|The National Danish Performance Team, which includes 28 male and female gymnasts from Denmark, is on a 10-month world tour. Their performances combine gymnastics, rhythmical sequences, dance and advanced tumbling and are aimed at showing that sport on a high level can be done in a recreational and noncompetitive way. |6 tonight|Overland High School, 12400 E. Jewell Ave., Aurora, $5-$8, 303-337-1458.
Three bands
ROCK AND COUNTRY MUSIC|Three local bands – Brethren Fast, Honky Tonk Hangovers and Tequila Mockingbird – get together to strut their stuff at the same place on the same night. Free tickets at
honkytonkhangovers.com and tequilamockingbirdco.homestead.com |8tonight|Herman’s Hideway, 1578 S. Broadway, $7, 303-777-5840 or hermanshideaway.com
“Aida” for a cause
MUSICAL THEATER|Today’s final performances of the Arvada Center’s Disney musical “Aida” are also the last chances for audiences to kick into the company’s campaign to support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The thespians hope to match or exceed the astounding $42,727 gift raised last year during “The 1940s Radio Hour,” making the Arvada Center one of the top five contributing theaters in the nation, and the No.1 company outside New York. “Aida” Cast members will be selling for $20 “Broadway’s Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure Volume 7,” a new two-CD, 27-song collection of holiday music performed by Broadway stars.|1 and 7:30 p.m. today|6901 Wadsworth Blvd., $34-$44; 720-898-7200 or arvadacenter.org.
SATURDAY
Burlesque
EVENT|Get naughty in the nicest way as, as Honey Touché, Bibi Bordeaux, Vivienne VaVoom do their Burlesque best at this New Year’s Speakeasy. If that’s not hot, hot, hot enough, jazz ensemble Gypsy Swing Revue will twirl you ’round till the ball drops and then some. |11 p.m. Saturday|Jungle Room at the Mercury Cafe, 2199 California Street; $20, for information, 303-294-9281; for reservations, 303-294-9258
THE WEEK
Acoustic Tuesdays
HONKY-TONK MUSIC |Honky-tonkers Whiskey Trip debut an acoustic lineup with singer Rachel Simring. Simring is better known as the leader of the popular rock group Rachel’s Playpen. Other musicians, all well known on the local roots scene, are Ben O’Connor on upright bass, Dave Shapiro on guitar and Todd Livingston on dobro. They will be performing as part of Acoustic Tuesdays, which is hosted by Jim Dalton of the Railbenders. | 8 p.m. Tuesday|Royal Hilltop, 18581 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, free, 303-690-7738.
