Pop Music
Local faves
Tonight. Local CD releases. You keep hearing all these great things about Colorado musicians, but you rarely get out to support Denver’s thriving community? Tonight’s your chance. Two wildly different groups are releasing CDs at shows tonight, including indie folk collab Park Pourbaix and giddy indie rock outfit the Pseudo Dates. Park Pourbaix brings together the talents of songwriters Ellison Park and Tim Pourbaix, and their new recording is lush. (They’ll release it at the Larimer Lounge tonight: music.) The Pseudo Dates are loved for their layered rock compositions and their jumpy guitars — not to mention a few sweet slow jams. (They release their CD at the Skylark Lounge tonight: .) Both shows are $5. Read our Q&A with the Pseudo Dates on . Ricardo Baca
Loving Lucinda
Wednesday-Thursday. Americana.Lucinda Williams reigns as one of America’s great songwriting talents. But when she’s playing live — as she will on Wednesday at the Denver Botanic Gardens and on Thursday at Boulder’s Chautauqua Auditorium — Williams draws from a rich catalog of songs spanning several years. It’s a deep well. Tickets to the Denver show are $50-$55: . Tickets to the Boulder show are $42.50-$55: . More: . Ricardo Baca
Classical music
Brahms’ best
Today, Saturday and Sunday. Symphonic music. May’s series of top-notch piano soloists with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra comes to an end this weekend with Garrick Ohlsson. The internationally recognized keyboardist will join the orchestra for Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2. Also on the program will be Sibelius’ Symphony No. 3 and Pierre Jalbert’s “In Aeternam (In Eternity).” Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Boettcher Concert Hall. $15-$73. 303-623-7876 or . Kyle MacMillan.
He’s a fighter
Today. Musical theater.MinTze Wu, a member of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra and artistic director of the Sounds of Lyons music festival, has created an experimental musical drama titled, “Death of a Pugilist.” The 58-minute work tells the story of a longshoreman-turned-boxing phenom, incorporating words from a short story of the same title by David Mason and music ranging from folk and blues to Philip Glass. The Denver premiere takes place at 7 p.m. today at 910Arts, an event space at 910 Santa Fe Drive. The performance will include musicians from Telling Stories, a troupe of professional musicians and writers, and narrator Stephen Brunt, a Canadian sports journalist. Suggested $15 donation. . Kyle MacMillan
Family fun
Dancing queen
Today-Sunday. Musical theater. The classic tale of Snow White is set to music at the Arvada Center’s “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” Performed by members of the Arvada Center Dance Academy and Dance Theater, this cheerful adaptation promises fun for all ages. The dwarfs get time to shine, of course, along with the fuzzy forest creatures who protect Snow White. The evil Queen gets her own dance, too. 7 tonight and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Arvada Center for the Performing Arts, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.; 720-898-7200. Tickets are $8. Call or visit to purchase seats in advance.
Kathleen St. John
Starry story
Today. Stars and planets. Budding stargazers will love “The Little Star That Could,” the new planetarium show at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The 25-minute show is aimed at toddlers to second-graders, telling the story of a star’s quest to find a place in the universe. On the way, viewers learn about the composition of stars, how they can support life, why they’re different colors and more. 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd.; 303-322-7009. Tickets are $16 for adults and $10 for ages 3 to 18, students and seniors age 65 and older. Planetarium tickets include admission to the museum. To buy tickets in advance, call or buy online at . Kathleen St. John
Steps in the right direction
Saturday. Charity walk. Saturday. Get on your feet to support autism research at the 2009 Walk Now for Autism event at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, benefiting the Autism Speaks organization and the Autism Society of Colorado. Walkers can choose a 5K or 1-mile walk around the stadium grounds with family and friends. Afterward, check out the activities surrounding the walk. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, walk starts at 10 a.m. Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City. Registration is free, but participants are encouraged to raise $250 for autism research. Visit for more information. Kathleen St. John
Labor days past
Sunday. History and hard work. Springtime meant lots of work for settlers in the 1800s. See them on the job — and pitch in yourself — at the “Spring at Walker Ranch” program, presented by Boulder County Parks and Open Space. Costumed volunteers will demonstrate some of the chores farm owners had on their lists in the old days, and guests can beat out the rugs, churn a little butter or help plant potatoes. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Walker Ranch Homestead, 7701 Flagstaff Mountain Road, about 7 miles west of Boulder on Flagstaff Road. Free. Call 303-776-8848 for more information. Kathleen St. John
Theater
There’s more where that came from . . .
Through Sept 6. Musical revue. Every time the Heritage Square Music Hall tries to silence its “Loud” franchise, the fans call it back. The latest installment of silly pop-music revues is “That was Loud, This is Now,” through Sept. 6. For 11 years, this group of perpetually young (at heart) friends has gathered to rock out to everything from the Beatles to the Spice Girls. This time, the gang performs at a retirement community. The music includes songs by Shania Twain, the Blues Brothers and more. 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays (food service 90 minutes before) at 18301 W. Colfax Ave., Golden. $27.50-$40.50. 303-279-7800 or . John Moore
