Denver Art Museum opens on its off day
Monday. The Denver Art Museum, West 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Street, is usually closed on Mondays, frustrating dozens of wannabe visitors each week. But to give DNC delegates and other visitors and, of course, the local public, an added opportunity to tour the institution, the museum will make an exception and open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday. Even better, admission will be free, courtesy of Target. Among the things to see will be the newly reinstalled modern and contemporary galleries in the Hamilton Building. 720-865-5000 or . Kyle MacMillan
Classical Music
Today. Opera. For those who still have not gotten their fill of summer opera, a program titled “The Highlights of ‘The Ballad of Baby Doe’ ” returns to what is certainly a most fitting venue: the historic Tabor Opera House in Leadville. Denver mezzo- soprano Marcia Ragonetti will join Steven Taylor and Judeth Shay Burns in the fully staged program. The performance is set for 7:30 p.m. today. Tickets are $15, $10 for students. 719-486-8409 or .Kyle MacMillan.
Visual Art
Monday. Book art. The Abecedarian Gallery, founded by nationally known book artist Alicia Bailey, has moved to a new, larger location in the 910 Arts Building, 910 Santa Fe Drive. The opening reception for the space’s inaugural show, “Interweavings,” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention. The exhibition, which continues through Sept. 13, focuses primarily on artists from across the country who use fiber materials in innovative ways and stretch the possibilities of what book art can be. The gallery will have extended hours during the DNC, remaining open from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Aug. 29. 303-534-1038 or . Kyle MacMillan
Today. Collaborative art. During a five-month collaboration via the Internet, teens from Denver; La Paz, Bolivia; and Puebla, Mexico, examined the growing diversity of an ever-more-globalized world. The resulting artworks, which address stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination, went on view Thursday evening at the Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, in an exhibition titled, “Inside/Outside/North & South.” In conjunction with the upcoming Democratic National Convention, the museum is hosting “Spanish Happy Hour: Hablamos Politicos!” from to 5 to 8 p.m. today. Admission to the event is $3 for members and $8 for everyone else. The show continues through Sept. 14. 303-571-4401 or . Kyle MacMillan
Pop music
Today. Punk. The first PunkRocks lineup is pretty solid, especially if you miss ’90s ska and punk. This year’s headliners: NOFX, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Bouncing Souls. Also playing: Circle Jerks, Street Dogs and Frontside Five. Look for this to be an annual tradition at Red Rocks Amphitheatre if things go well this year. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. today in Morrison. Ricardo Baca
Tonight. Rock. The Fire Drills did it right — and fast. They played their first show a few months ago, and they’re already releasing a CD tonight at the Hi-Dive. The band’s straightforward songs hit hard with a wild, unnerving swing. Watch out for the jab tonight when the band plays with the Shackletons and Spoke Shaver. Tickets: $6. More: hi-dive.com. Ricardo Baca
Saturday. Tribute act. If nostalgia is dangerously close to delusion, then 1964 The Tribute is insane. The eerily spot-on Beatles act has been playing the Fab Four’s early hits longer than the Beatles actually existed. The event doubles as a benefit for PBS station KBDI-Channel 12, so you can feel good about getting as close as you’ll ever be to seeing the Beatles at Red Rocks. Saturday. Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison. 8 p.m. $18. 303-830-8497 or . John Wenzel
Saturday. Hip-hop.Rock the Bells is the best hip-hop festival going, but usually the inland tour dates get a scaled-down version of the main festival stops on the coasts. That’s not true this year. Saturday’s Rock the Bells gig will see A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def (above), the Pharcyde, Method Man, Redman, Raekwon, Ghostface, Spank Rock and others taking over Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre. Count in indie heroes Immortal Technique, Dead Prez, Murs, Kids Sister, Cool Kids and others, and you have one of the best touring festivals of the year. The goodness starts at noon Saturday in Greenwood Village. Ricardo Baca
Comedy
Today. Stand-up. One of the joys of Lewis Black’s stand-up act is that you never really know what you’re going to get. Sure, it’s likely his jowls will vibrate, his voice will rise and that politics will enter at some point, but the comedian’s finely tuned act hinges on the very energy that makes it seem like it’s going to spin apart. Tonight at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. $45-$65. 303-830-8497 or . John Wenzel
