Today and Saturday. Blues/R&B. Susan Tedeschi is living a charmed life. The well-loved blues musician swings through Colorado this weekend and gets to play two of the most alluring venues in the state. On Friday, Tedeschi will headline a show at the Denver Botanic Gardens, a venue known for its grassy bowl, chill vibes and wine-and-cheese parties. On Saturday, she will play a prominent slot (7:15 p.m. before headliner Don McLean) at the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival’s main stage, nestled against the scenic St. Vrain River in Lyons. Great music, gorgeous environs. What more do you need? More info: botanic and . Ricardo Baca
ROCK
Green Day’s latest win
Saturday. Pop-punk. Green Day is high art compared with most of its FM radio/pop-punk/mainstream rock colleagues. Its past two records, “American Idiot” and “21st Century Breakdown,” have been hailed as intelligent, thought-provoking rock operas. The songs from those records are the backbone of “American Idiot,” a stage musical that will open at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in early September. And yet Green Day is still on top of its game in the live-rock arena. Reviews for the band’s current “21st Century Breakdown” tour have been unusually positive. Denver gets its own chance to see the group on Saturday at the Pepsi Center, so check Sunday’s Denver Post for the scoop on the show — and snag a ticket if you want to experience it firsthand. Tickets, $21-$45.50, are still available via . or 303-830-8497. Ricardo Baca
A quieter Alaska export
Tonight. The small town of Wasilla, Alaska, made global headlines last year. No, not for indie rock — that’ll be this year. Portugal. The Man’s John Gourley is not quiet about his disdain for the former governor of his state, nor is he shy about the details of his backcountry upbringing and the influence it had on his music. Gourley and company’s compositions are spacey, jammy, somewhat psych-y, all the while maintaining roots in ’70s soul and offering lush vocal harmonies. Picture a more clean-cut MGMT, or a non- Bee Gees montage in “Saturday Night Fever,” or more simply, driving the California coastline at the end of summer. 8 p.m. at the Hi-Dive, 7 S. Broadway. Tickets, $12, are available through . John Hendrickson
Sonnenblume in bloom
Saturday. Indie rock. If you’re into dizzy atmospherics, sweeping rock blooms and Hope Sandoval-style lead vocals, you’re likely already a fan of Denver-based Sonnenblume. The engaging rock trio has grown a lot over the past few years, and on Saturday it will release its first-ever full-length album with a show at the Hi-Dive. The self-titled record is a triumph of home recording, a sonic blast of life and beauty in the context of gauzy, shoegaze-y rock ‘n’ roll. Saturday’s bill is fittingly great for such an occasion, as the Overcasters, Blue Million Miles and Gangcharger will be present for the celebration. Tickets, $6, are available at hi-dive.com. Ricardo Baca
FAMILY FUN
Music, kids, more music
Today-Sunday. Concert and festival. Fort Collins will be rockin’ all weekend long at New West Fest. The fun starts tonight with a concert from roots rockers 3 Twins, followed by two full days of live music and festival frolicking. Before this year’s Bohemian Nights headliners (Melissa Etheridge Saturday and Ozomatli Sunday) take the stage, families can stop by the Kids’ Music Adventure, a musical playground with kid-friendly performance. Kickoff concert, 7 tonight. Old Town Square, Walnut Street and Mountain Avenue, Fort Collins. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Kids’ Music Adventure, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Fort Collins Museum courtyard, 200 Mathews St. Admission to all events is free. Visit . for more information. Kathleen St. JohnPearls from the East
Saturday-Sunday. Festival. Boulder celebrates its Asian Pacific American community this weekend at the Boulder Asian Festival. The Pearl Street Mall is the place to sample Asian music and dance, including Bollywood-style dancing, taiko drumming, a Chinese lion dance, hula and more. Of course, there’s also shopping and food. There’s a special area for kids, too, with storytelling, kimono dress-up and craft projects. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Pearl Street Mall, Boulder. Free. Kathleen St. JohnA beachy building project
Saturday. Sand sculpture. Play on the beach at Bear Creek Lake and watch sand sculptors at work during Engineers Without Borders’ third annual Sand Sculpture Contest. The competitors’ entry fees help the Denver chapter fund the group’s overseas projects. Kids can vote for the Kids’ Choice sculpture for free, however, and after the contest, there’s lots of fun to be had at the park. 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road, Lakewood. Admission to the park is $5 per vehicle; watching the contest is free. Kathleen St. JohnFor dog paddlers only
Sunday. Swimming for dogs. If the summer heat is uncomfortable for humans, imagine how it must feel to the furry family members. Lucky for some of them, there’s relief in sight: Denver Parks and Recreation is opening two of its pools to pups for DogaPooLooza. The pools at Berkeley Park and Cook Park are closed to humans for the rest of summer, so on Sunday, dogs can splash around and cool off. Dogs must be licensed and vaccinated to participate. Show up early, too: It’s first-come, first-serve and capacity is about 100 dogs. 9-10:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Berkeley Park, 5031 W. 46th Ave. and Cook Park, 7100 Cherry Creek South Drive. Admission is $5 per dog, per session. For more information, call 720-865-0660. Kathleen St. JohnFILM
Mining a loss of land
Friday.Documentary. There are 47 square miles of reasons why local documentary filmmaker Matt Myers tapped bluesman Watermelon Slim to provide music for his debut film, “Tar Creek.” The mining practices that rendered a wide swath of northeastern Oklahoma a Superfund site are worthy of the blues. Doors open at 7 p.m., screening starts at 7:30 p.m., at the Oriental Theater, 4335 W. 44th Ave. Watermelon Slim will perform afterward. Tickets available at the door, $10. 303-455-2124. Lisa Kennedy
VISUAL ARTS
Two from up north
Thursday. Mixed media. Two members of the Colorado State University art faculty will be showcased in an exhibition opening Thursday at the Translations Gallery, 1743 Wazee St. James Dormer, who heads CSU’s printmaking program, specializes in abstract lithography. The allusive works of Paul Flippen combine painting, drawing and printmaking. A public reception is set for 5 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. The show will remain on view through Sept. 15. Viewing hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Free. 303-629-0713 or . Kyle MacMillan
CLASSICAL
Mozart in the mountains
Sunday. Symphonic music. Jeffrey Kahane is one of the rare classical musicians who has managed to become successful as both a conductor and instrumental soloist. It is in the latter capacity that he will return to the Aspen Music Festival at 4 p.m. Sunday, joining conductor David Zinman and the Aspen Festival Orchestra in Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27 in B flat major. The nine- week mountain festival is set to end Aug. 23, with concerts scheduled every day next week. $72. 970-925-9042 or aspenmusicfestival . Kyle MacMillan
READING
Tell me a mind-bender
Today. Fiction. If you’ve picked up a copy of Westword or the Onion’s A.V. Club, you’ll instantly recognize Denverite Jason Heller’s name as a stamp of quality. You may not know he’s also a prolific (and successful) fiction writer in addition to being a critic, musician and DJ. After a well-received appearance at Boston’s Readercon last month, Heller and fellow speculative fiction writer Vylar Kaftan will read stories published in magazines such as Sybil’s Garage and Brain Harvest at Kilgore Books. At 6 p.m. at 624 E. 13th Ave.; free. . John Wenzel
