Just how do Coloradans get through the dog days of summer? With a concert, a rock show or a music festival — under a pale blue sky, thank you very much.
Now that the Mile High City (and its surroundings) are in the thick of the heat, not to mention the summer concert season, options for live music in the great outdoors abound. Not only are we home to the world’s most legendary natural outdoor amphitheatre, we also claim a population that values live music more than most other mid-sized American cities.
August arrives on Sunday, and here are a dozen selections to get you through one of the most blistering months in the metro area. (All tickets are available via Ticketmaster unless otherwise noted.)
Jackson Browne co-wrote “Take It Easy” with the Eagles and he wrote “These Days,” which enjoyed noteworthy covers by Nico and Gregg Allman. And he’s also written a whole catalog of hits for himself. Browne’s introspective brand of songwriting has made him a consistent draw, even if he hasn’t released a studio album since 2008. Thursday, Red Rocks, $40.50-$76
Pretty Lights is the pseudonym of Denver-based DJ/producer Derek Vincent Smith — a man who has caused a ruckus in the music industry in Colorado and abroad. Smith offers his music on his website for free — every song he’s ever produced. It seems to be working for the producer, who sold out a string of five Colorado theater dates only to announce his plans for a Red Rocks headlining slot this summer. Aug. 7, Red Rocks, $35
Toby Keith makes music on his own terms. The Oklahoma-reared country boy has been self-releasing his records since 2006’s “White Trash With Money,” and in doing so he’s become one of the most outspoken — and fiercely independent — voices in modern pop-country. Aug. 13, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, $25-$75.50
The Mile High Music Festival is now in its third year, and like any other festival, it’s only as solid as its lineup — from the headliners to the early players. Mile High hardly gets points for creativity; Dave Matthews is headlining again this year after filling the same role in 2008. But the lineup is unquestionably strong, with Jack Johnson, Weezer, Steve Miller Band, My Morning Jacket, Phoenix and more. Aug. 14-15, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, $99.50 for single- day, $175 for two-day pass,
Rush released “Moving Pictures” in 1981, and many fans still claim the record, home to “Tom Sawyer” and “YYZ,” is the band’s best offering. The Canadian trio is playing the record in its entirety on its latest tour, which stops at Red Rocks for a couple of big dates. The shows are getting high marks from fans and critics alike. Aug. 16 and 18, Red Rocks, $55.50-$110.50
Norah Jones broke through with listenable songs, soft-tinted vocals and a famous father. We loved her. But now that Jones has lived in her career a little bit, her story is far more fascinating. She’s a more compelling protagonist after 2007’s “Not Too Late,” which wasn’t all that polished for radio. And last year’s “The Fall” posits her as a more mature, more musically interesting figure on the FM band. Aug. 19, Red Rocks, $39.75-$65
Rodrigo y Gabriela brought their rock-infused brand of flamenco to the masses a couple of years ago, and it says something about their captivating if odd live shows that they’re now playing venues the size of Red Rocks. Their shared history, in Mexico and Ireland, is strange. But their success is understandable. One listen to “11:11” and you’ll feel their infectious energy. Aug. 20, Red Rocks, $39.75-$49.75
American Idols Live allows the pop stars to meet their makers — the fans who voted for them throughout the last season of the popular TV show. The tour features the top 10 finalists, including Aaron Kelly, Andrew Garcia, Casey James, Crystal Bowersox, Didi Benami, Katie Stevens, Lee DeWyze, Michael Lynche, Siobhan Magnus and Tim Urban. Aug. 23, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, $32-$76.50,
B.B. King and Al Green are two of the greats — even the kids know that. King and his history playing the blues is as legendary as Green’s decades spent spreading the gospel of R&B. The fact that the two of them are touring together this summer is cause for celebration, especially since nobody knows how long King will stay on the road. Aug. 25, Red Rocks, $49-$89
Yonder Mountain String Band made a wonderful crossover record in “The Show.” We’ve not hidden our praise of tracks such as “Complicated” and “Fingerprint,” songs that open up a new audience to the Colorado-rooted jamgrass group. If you’re a fan of the Avett Brothers, Hoots & Hellmouth or Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder is worth a listen. Aug. 27, Red Rocks, $37.50-$42.50
Green Day is widening its appeal via its Broadway musical “American Idiot,” named after the Bay Area pop-punk band’s hit CD from 2004, but it’s also touring rabidly in support of last year’s follow- up to “Idiot,” “21st Century Breakdown.” More impressive than its success on Broadway is the band’s ability to play the same mammoth venues it was playing on its “Dookie” and “Insomniac” tours in the mid-’90s. That’s staying power. Aug. 28, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, $20-$85,
Sheryl Crow has been a consistent force in pop music since her illustrious early-’90s debut. With this year’s release of the ambitious “100 Miles From Memphis,” Crow announces that she’s not stopping any time soon. The new record is a lofty mixture of roots and R&B that puts the title in perspective, and Crow makes it work. Aug. 31, Red Rocks, $45.50-$75.50
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@ ; @RVRB on Twitter
