Clubs
Break out your best Western outfit: Tonight is the opening of the Buck Wild Saloon, the new kid in town that replaced Beyond nightclub in the Denver Pavilions. Owner Curt Sims has been busy overseeing the finishing touches all week, adding details to the remodeled space.
“At this point it’s all cosmetic,” he said of the final touches. The new look is more roadhouse than dance club, with a bare-bones décor that focuses attention on the expanded dance floor, which was enlarged to make additional space for line dancing and two-stepping.
Three bars surround the dance floor: the NASCAR bar, the Big Rig bar, and the Daisy Duke bar. Digital images of race cars and road trips project on screens above each, and neon beer signs and American flags grace the surrounding walls.
DJs shout out to the crowd every couple of songs, reflecting the urban cowboy theme with a funky soundtrack of country, rock, and Top 40; expect to hear a mashup of hits ranging from Kid Rock, Toby Keith and the Beastie Boys to classics by Johnny Cash, AC/DC, and Bruce Springsteen.
If last Tuesday’s preview party was a fair indication, Denver’s country fans have been eagerly waiting for a chance to break out the cowboy hats, Western shirts, and Daisy Duke shorts.
This is one place where you don’t need to worry about a dress code, where flip-flops fit in just as well as cowboy boots and faded jeans. And if you can’t dance to country music, that’s not a problem. Drop by and take advantage of the nightly line dance lessons, or simply kick back in the pool hall and watch from the sidelines.
Head down tonight starting at 9 for the grand opening party, with free drinks until 11 p.m. and no cover. 1500 16th St., second level. 303-623-9663.
Jet off to “Brazil”
Wish you could split town and jet set off to an exotic location? The Jet Set Fridays series at the Jet Hotel (formerly the Luna Hotel at 1612 Wazee St.) could be the next best thing. Starting tonight, the new monthly theme parties will explore the sounds and flavors of various cultural destinations.
Tonight the celebration heads for Rio de Janeiro with Brazilian food, Brazilian dance tunes, and $4 drink specials on Caipirinhas – a Brazilian cocktail similar to a mojito – and “beach chic” attire. Next up: The party goes to Paris on July 14, Jamaica on Aug. 14, and Thailand on Sept. 8. Hit eventsavant
.com for more details.
Made in the shade
If you’re looking for a way to beat the heat tonight, hit Via Italian Trattoria (1801 Wyn-
koop) for the “Summer Shade” patio party from 5-7 p.m. The patio is one of the prettier spots in LoDo, with plenty of hanging flowerpots adding a garden vibe to the shady, eastern-facing outdoor area.
They’ve loaded up on hot-weather happy hour deals, like $4 white sangria and well drinks, $3 house wines and $2 draft beers. Nosh on $4 small plates (fried artichokes, steamed asparagus, veal meatballs) or go for a $5 pizza as you gear up for the weekend.
Patio hopping
Speaking of patios, Cherry Creek cocktailers are splitting time between the new patios at Sketch (250 Steele St.) and Brix (3000 E. Third Ave.), bouncing back and forth between the two different scenes.
Sketch’s new patio offers privacy in the sunken courtyard, and couples and small groups drift into the handful of umbrella-shaded tables until well into the evenings to take advantage of the late-night menu served until 1 a.m. Brix attracts a more gregarious, singles-heavy crowd that flocks around the potted palms, but with only a block between the two locales it’s become a summer hotspot for well-heeled bar hopping.
Kat Valentine writes about nightlife Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or call 303-820-1568.
The Local Scene
Drag the River
These countrified ex-punks from Fort Collins will release “It’s Crazy” on Suburban Home Records tonight at the Larimer Lounge with Truckee Bros., Ghost Buffalo and Cobra Kai. 2721 Larimer St. 9 p.m. $8.
Parker Country Festival
Don’t let the name fool you: There’s more than just country music at this event’s 29th installment. Opie Gone Bad, Jakarta, Judge Roughneck, Loose Change and others will play across two stages starting tonight. The outdoor shows, to be held around Neil O’Brien Park, are free through Sunday. 303-841-4268 or parkercountryfestival.org.
Under the Hood
This monthly event celebrates women’s art and culture with music from the Dojo collective, Jambalaya, Molly Cherington, Diana Sperstad, Jamie Cotton and more DJs than you can shake a stick at. Tonight at The Walnut Room, 3131 Walnut St. 9 p.m. $7.
Ten Acts on the Tenth
Ooh La La Presents will offer burlesque and “boylesque” acts, acoustic punk rock from Sputnik Slovenia, covers from The Velvet Elvis, skate videos, go-go dancers and more, all hosted by Kitty Crimson and Fanny Fitztightly. Saturday at Three Kings Tavern, 60 S. Broadway. 8 p.m. $3.
John Wenzel can be reached at 303-820-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com.
On Tour
TONIGHT|Les Claypool, Rasputina @ Boulder Theater, sold out|Danielson, Wov-enhand @ Hi-Dive, $12, tickets at the door|U.S. Bombs @ Bluebird, $12, TicketWeb
SATURDAY|Big Head Todd & the Monsters @ Red Rocks, $41-$46, Ticketmas-ter|KS107.5’s Summer Jam w/Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown, Twista and others @ Coors Amphitheatre, sold out|Man Man @ Walnut Room, $8, bigmarkstickets.com|Legendary Pink Dots @ Bluebird, $15, TicketWeb
SUNDAY|Storm Tour featuring Acey- alone @ The Marquis, $13, all ages, Ticket-Web|Front Line Assembly, Stomkern @ Og-den, $25, TicketWeb
MONDAY|Twilight Singers @ Larimer Lounge, $15, bigmarkstickets.com
TUESDAY|Ashlee Simpson @ Coors Amphitheatre, $27-$39.50, Ticketmaster|Liars, Apes @ Hi-Dive, $10, TicketWeb|Baaba Maal @ Denver Botanic Gardens, $42, TicketWeb
WEDNESDAY|The Streets @ Fox Theatre, $22.50, foxtheatre.com
THURSDAY|Young Dubliners @ Goth-ic, $15, TicketWeb|Telluride Bluegrass Fes-
tival featuring Bonnie Raitt @ Telluride, $50-$175, bluegrass.com (runs through June 18)
