Denver has tried hard to lose the cow-town image, but sometimes we just have to embrace our Western heritage.
Take, for example, the Urban Cowboy fundraiser Saturday night at the Walnut Foundry, where a room full of urban cowboys (and cowgirls) will don cowboy boots and Western shirts to take a stab at bull riding, calf roping and cow milking.
“No real cows are harmed in this event,” joked Jim Guttau, a board member and spokesman for the ASCENT Foundation that organizes the party. Most of us are familiar with mechanical bulls and the horns-on-a-hay-bale roping trick, but how does one milk a fake cow?
“Everyone asks about the cow milking,” he said. “It’s a painted plywood cow, almost cartoon-like, complete with fake udders.”
They’ll also host a best dressed male and female competition (winners get Park Meadows gift certificates) so come dressed to impress. Not brave enough to jump atop the bucking bull? Laid-back cowpokes can simply watch the country dance performances, or swing onto the dance floor themselves during the live set by Denver-based country rockers The Railbenders.
The $70 ticket price includes a Western barbecue buffet, a martini bar, beer and wine, with proceeds benefiting Colorado Youth at Risk.
The sixth annual Urban Cowboy event is at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Walnut Foundry, 3002 Walnut St. Tickets and details at .
Get in line
While some socialites are happy to enjoy only the occasional Western-themed event, downtown fans head to the Cowboy Lounge for a weekly dose of line dancing and country music. For years the dance club at 1941 Market St. was a hip-hop and Top 40 club called Market 41, but for the past year it has drawn a different crowd, and new owner Frank Schultz is happy to keep ’em coming.
“I bought the Cowboy Lounge at the end of July because it was the property next door (to Schultz’s Tavern Downtown) and it made sense,” he said. “At first I wasn’t sure if I would keep the format, but it’s a fun clientele. They just want to line dance. We play country plus rock, with a ratio of three country songs to one rock song.”
The club opens at 8 p.m. every Wednesday through Saturday night, with no cover on Wednesdays and ladies’ night each Thursday, $5 cover charge on weekends.
1941 Market St., 303-226-1555.
Vintage country
For a live dose of classic country, hit the Raul Malo show on Sunday at the Bluebird Theater (3317 E. Colfax Ave.). Malo, best known as the lead singer for The Mavericks, is touring to support his latest solo CD, “After Hours.”
Malo covers 10 of his favorite classic songs on the record, from Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart” to Buck Owens’ “Crying Time,” delivering each song slowly and thoughtfully. Band members Robert Chevrier on piano and multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke on sax, steel guitar and clarinet add a touch of old-time jazz and shuffling swing to the mix. The result is perfect for a mellow show on a Sunday evening.
$30, 7 p.m., 21+, .
Rekha does Radiohead
If you’d rather ditch the whole country theme, check out Dazzle Restaurant and Lounge (930 Lincoln St.) on Saturday, when local vocalist and pianist Rekha Ohal and her band play the music of Radiohead. New York based pianist Andy Milne will take over piano duties with Ohal on vocals during two performances at 7 p.m and 9 p.m.
Both shows are $15; . for tickets and info.
Kat Valentine writes about night life Fridays in 7Days. Reach her at kat@kingproduction.com or 303-954-1568.
