Music
Fort Collins’ New West Fest
Today-Sunday. Fest at the Fort. Fort Collins will be rockin’ all weekend long for New West Fest, featuring the Bohemian Nights music festival. Nine stages of music will be running every day, featuring top talent from Colorado. Flobots; Earth, Wind and Fire; and Earl Scruggs headline the festival, each capping off a day of activities with a full set. While the music plays, take a walk through arts and crafts booths and grab a beer in one of two beer gardens. Youngsters can party, too, in a special kids’ area and get silly in the children’s carnival. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Downtown Fort Collins. Admission is free. Visit for more information and a full schedule of bands. Kathleen St. John
Theater
Beautiful and beastly
Thursday and Friday. Love story. It may be the tale as old as time, but you’ve never seen “Beauty and the Beast” the way it’s being staged this summer by PHAMALy, the nation’s foremost handicapped theater company. Fresh off its four-star staging at the Denver Center, the company presents an encore of sorts for two nights only, Aug. 26-27, on the Arvada Center’s outdoor amphitheater stage at 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. $10-$28. 720-898-7200 or . John Moore
Off-Broadway preview
Wednesday and Thursday. Drama. “The Maria Project,” a solo theater performance written, developed and performed by touring artist Marcella Goheen, begins in 1906 and shows the impact of a family secret over three generations. Two performances only, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 25-26, at the Bindery Space, 2180 Stout St. The play, which will debut in an off-Broadway theater in October, incorporates documentary footage, text and percussion. $18-$35. 720-221-3821 or themariaproject. com. John Moore
Pop music
Metal, unplugged
Tonight. Flamenco-inspired acoustic metal. There’s a certain passion inherent in most Latin music. Whether it’s the sensitive nudge of a certain crescendo or a raging push on a particular riff, Latin songwriters know how to play with emotion. And that’s one of the many reasons Rodrigo y Gabriela have become so popular over the last few years. The Mexican duo work their acoustic guitars into a frenzy like no others, often emulating the unbridled sensation of heavy metal. It’s a basic concept, but the fervor these musicians wield cannot be taught — and that’s why they’re big enough to headline Red Rocks Amphitheatre tonight. Xavier Rudd opens the show. Tickets, $49-$60, are available via Ticketmaster. Ricardo Baca
Do do that Goo Goo
Tuesday. Soft-rock hitmakers. If you think the Goo Goo Dolls are a thing of the past, think again. The band best known for multiplatinum hits “Name” and “Iris” is touring big venues and releasing a record at the end of the month. Judging from the album’s first single, “Home,” the band is still pushing its straightforward, power- chord-fueled rock to the masses. When the Goos headline Red Rocks on Tuesday, Switchfoot and Green River Ordinance will open the show. Tickets, $34.50-$54.50, are available at Ticketmaster. Ricardo Baca
Family fun
Peachy keen
Saturday. Have a peachy day. Lafayette will be rolling in peaches during the 2010 Peach Festival. The day-long celebration salutes one of Colorado’s sweetest cash crops, the juicy peach, with peach pies, peach smoothies, peach cobblers and more. More than 30,000 pounds of fresh peaches will be trucked in from Palisade, too. Snag one and settle in for live music from Wendy Woo, the Informants and Triple Nickel. Kids entertainment includes Mr. Shine Music, Jim Jackson and Mary Sue and Cari, plus dance performances and face painting. Once you’ve had your fill of peaches, grab a snack at the farmers market or from a tasty food vendor. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. South Public Road between Kimbark and Cleveland streets, Lafayette. Admission is free. Information: . Kathleen St. John
More than a flea market
Saturday. Flea for your life. The Hill Flea isn’t your average flea market. It’s an “interactive marketplace and community edu-tainment playspace,” and it’s taking over the University Hill neighborhood of Boulder. Anchored by a good, old-fashioned flea market, the Hill Flea also features live entertainment and demonstrations. The day starts off with a free vinyasa yoga class with Corepower Yoga, followed by an afternoon of shopping. Take a break with storytelling, music and kid-friendly performances from the Boulder Fringe Festival. Grown-ups can also stop in at the Flea Tent for workshops on a variety of subjects from “Sustainable Weight Loss” to “Preparing Your Garden for Winter.” 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Boulder. Admission is free. Info: . Kathleen St. John
Gunnison cruise
Today-Sunday. Start your engines. Engines are revving for the 23rd annual Gunnison Car Show. The mountain town will be overrun with super- cool vintage cars all weekend, starting with an old-school “cruise-in” tonight. Rockabilly group the Rev-Tones will rock out as the cars come into town. The show starts in earnest Saturday morning, when the cars are on display and ready for judging — though anyone can stroll through and tour the cars. Sunday starts early, when the car show takes a “breakfast cruise” to nearby Crested Butte. Elk Avenue will be closed to traffic so car lovers can scope out the vehicles while the owners enjoy breakfast. 5-9 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. Sunday. Main Street, Gunnison, and Elk Avenue, Crested Butte. Admission is free. Visit for more information. Kathleen St. John
Westminster Faire
Saturday. Faire thee well. The city of Westminster is showing off at the 20th annual Westminster Faire. The day starts with the Holy Cow Trail Stampede, a 10K trail run and 5K run/walk. Register on site for $25 to join the fun. After the race, everyone’s invited to explore the festival. The eclectic entertainment lineup includes belly dancers, a dog show and music from local tropical-rock band Jersey Shore. Plenty of cool stuff will be on display, too, like a NASCAR race car, a Flight for Life helicopter and creatures from the Butterfly Pavilion. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Westminster City Park, 10475 Sheridan Blvd. Admission is free. Visit to learn more. Kathleen St. John
Fine art
Get some Moore, free
Wednesday.Sculpture. Still haven’t seen “Moore in the Gardens”? Here’s another great opportunity to take in this blockbuster show, which features 20 monumental, primarily bronze sculptures by celebrated British sculptor Henry Moore. The Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., is waiving all admission charges from 9 am. to 9 p.m. This first major open-air display of his sculptures in the Western United States is also the largest and most ambitious art exhibition ever mounted by the gardens. 720-865-3500 or . Kyle MacMillan
