DANCE
Fine Company
Today and Saturday. Modern dance. As part of its summer offerings, the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet makes a point of presenting other top companies from around the country. This year, one of those visitors is Parsons Dance, a perennial favorite in Aspen. This mainstay of modern dance, led by veteran choreographer David Parsons, will perform at 8 p.m. today and Saturday in the Aspen District Theatre. $20-$69. 866-449-0464 or aspen . Kyle MacMillan
THEATER
Playing unfair
Tonight through August 8. Touring drama. Denver is host to the launch of the national touring production of “August: Osage County,” which brings one of the nastiest families in the American literary canon to the stage. Tracy Letts’ play, presented by Chicago’s famed Steppenwolf Theatre, has won nearly all the awards a play can win. It’s about three generations who gather at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch has disappeared. And you’ll not wonder why once you meet the considerable matriarch Violet (Estelle Parsons), the pill-popping, insult-hurling human Brillo pad at the center of this storm. It’s a savagely black comedy that’s also poisonously funny — the fastest-moving 3 1/2-hour play you’ll ever see. Previews begin tonight, with opening night slated for Tuesday at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Aug. 8 at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. $22-$95. 303-893-4100, King Soopers or . John Moore
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Timeless sounds
Today. Baroque music. To help raise funds for its main season, the Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado presents a chamber-music concert each summer. In addition to members of the ensemble, this year’s offering will feature Kathleen McIntosh, a Santa Fe harpsichordist. The concert, with works by J.S. Bach and Antonio Vivaldi, will take place at 7:30 p.m. today at Wellshire Presbyterian Church, 2999 S. Colorado Blvd. Suggested donation is $20. 303-889-1012 or . Kyle MacMillan
Piano star
Monday.Chamber music. When pianist Joyce Yang — then 20 — joined the Colorado Symphony in 2006 for a performance of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 2, she received praise from Post reviewer Sabine Kortals. “Poised, controlled and focused throughout the four-movement concerto, Yang embraced its power and pervasive lyricism,” Kortals wrote. Yang returns to Colorado for a concert with the Jupiter Quartet, featuring works by Schumann and Shostakovich. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Salida’s Held Auditorium under the auspices of Salida Aspen Concerts. $15. 719-539-6467 or salida . Kyle MacMillan
VISUAL ART
Sticking around
Sunday.Poster art. Trippy, dude. The Denver Art Museum, West 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock Street, has extended “The Psychedelic Experience” one week, through Sunday. The popular show includes more than 300 San Francisco rock posters from 1965 through 1971, along with album covers, underground newspapers and comics. It has drawn viewers nostalgic for that time, as well as younger people wanting a taste of a singular moment in cultural history. $15, $12 seniors, $7 youth and free for children and members. 720-865-5000 or . Kyle MacMillan
FAMILY FUN
Water world
Saturday-Sunday. Floating festival. The appearance of Hong Kong dragon boats on Sloan’s Lake has become a familiar sight over the past nine years, thanks to the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival. This year, the fest celebrates Hawaii’s 50th anniversary of statehood — “Hawaii 5-0,” naturally — with Polynesian music, hula dancing, special exhibits and cultural demonstrations. As always, the dragon boat races are a highlight, with 44 teams in four classes speeding across Sloan’s Lake. There’s also “Dragonland,” an activity-filled family area, plus delicious Asian treats, shopping and entertainment. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Sloan’s Lake Park, West 23rd Avenue and Stuart Street. Admission is free. Visit . for more information. Kathleen St. John
Funny name
Thursday. Kid concert. Expect a wildly fun time when the Wiggles tour stops in Broomfield. “Go Bananas Live!” is built around the preschool-pop hitmakers’ latest album, “The Wiggles Go Bananas,” and features all sorts of friendly faces: Henry the Octopus, Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog and more. Bring along a rose for Dorothy or a bone for Wags, and get ready to yell, “Wake up, Jeff!” (Jeff, the purple Wiggle, is prone to falling asleep.) 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Broomfield Event Center, 11450 Broomfield Lane; 303-410-0700. Tickets are $18-$35, available at . or by calling 800-745-3000. Kathleen St. John
Saluting Bill
Today-Sunday. Wild times Buffalo Bill left a big impression on the West, especially in Golden, where he’s buried atop Lookout Mountain. This weekend, Golden salutes Bill’s legend at Buffalo Bill Days. Downtown Golden will revert back to the frontier days, with fast-draw contests, costumes, buffalo-chip tossing and more. The “Best of the West” parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, but events — including live music and kids activities — run all weekend. 5-10 p.m. tonight, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Most events at Parfet Park, 10th Street and Washington Avenue, or in downtown Golden, on Washington Avenue between 11th and 14th streets. Admission is free. Visit . for a full schedule and more information. Kathleen St. John
Go Arapahoe!
Today-Sunday.Family fair. From BMX bike shows to 4-H exhibits, the Arapahoe County Fair is jam-packed with activities all weekend. Everyone can find a little something to do, whether it’s taking a spin on the carnival rides, checking out live music, or maybe, if you’re a kid, trying mutton bustin’ or a stick-horse race. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today through Sunday. Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Regional Park, 25690 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora. General admission is $10, free for children under 36 inches tall. A full schedule is available at . Kathleen St. John
Seems like old times
Wednesday-Aug. 2. Ancient beasts! The Pepsi Center transforms into a gigantic, prehistoric zoo when “Walking With Dinosaurs: The Arena Spectacular” stomps into Denver. The show, based on a BBC television series, has 15 life-size dinos roaming the Pepsi Center floor, including a giant Brachiosaurus and a flying Ornithocheirus. And of course, the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex will be in attendance, scaring the pants off the front row of onlookers. 7 p.m. Wednesday through July 31; 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 1; 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Aug. 2. Pepsi Center, 1000 Chopper Circle; 303-405-1100. Tickets are $19.50-$65, prices vary by date. Tickets are available at ., or by calling 866-461-6556. For more information, go to . Kathleen St. John
All things blue, who knew?
The latest open-entry show at the Core New Art Space, 900 Santa Fe Drive, is devoted to everything blue. Given the word’s many shades of meaning, the offering’s abundant array of styles and approaches comes as little surprise.
Making the selections was Carlos Fresquez, a respected area artist who teaches at Metropolitan State College of Denver, and he clearly put an emphasis on such variety.
No one piece speaks more directly to blue as a color than Greg Mitchell’s elegant photograph, “Fog,” with its saturated, early- morning hues.
Of course, no exhibition of this kind in Denver would be complete without some reference to Lawrence Argent’s now-iconic downtown sculpture of a big blue bear. Jen Thario pays homage to the bruin in a whimsical drawing, titled “City Reflections.”
“The Blue Show,” which runs through Sunday, does not live up to Core’s last such offering, which was devoted to the figure and had a surprising number of stand-outs.
But like all open-entry exhibitions, it provides a look at little- known area artists and includes some solid efforts. Free. Noon-9 p.m. today, noon-6 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. 303-297-8428. corenewartspace.com. Kyle MacMillan
Do ya think he’s sexy? Stewart’s at Fiddler’s
Since his solo debut in 1969, Rod Stewart has never really fallen away from pop music.
While the British singer’s musical classification (and fan base) has undergone many changes — from rock to folk to blues to adult contemporary to the cringe-worthy “soft rock” — the voice has remained the same.
Like Hendrix’s guitar or Bonham’s drums, Stewart’s raspy voice has a signature of its own. He’s stamped it on some of the greatest songs of the last four decades, from Cat Stevens’ “The First Cut Is the Deepest” to Dylan’s “Forever Young.”
Even if greatest-hits collections, anthologies and live albums have defined most of Stewart’s recent releases, the fact remains that so few singers have remained relevant for so many years. This show isn’t a reunion tour, or a comeback tour, it’s a Rod Stewart tour.
Still think he’s sexy?
The show is 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Fiddler’s Green, 6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd., Englewood.
Tickets, $10-$99.50, are available through . John Hendrickson
