Bruno Mars prolonged his personal shooting star’s longevity with a captivating black-and-white performance at the Grammys last weekend, and the versatile singer-songwriter-producer isn’t missing out on cashing in on all that water-cooler conversation. Mars announced a big tour this week, and the R&B show — which features Janelle Monáe in an opening slot — will rock a Colorado date at Broomfield’s 1stBank Center on May 29. Mars, who co-wrote/produced some of 2010’s biggest hits (including Cee-Lo’s “F— You” and B.o.B.’s “Nothin’ on You”), will be playing primarily from his own hit record, “Doo-Wops and Hooligans.” Tickets for the show will go on sale Feb. 26 at (prices to be announced).
Chelsea Handler isn’t afraid of the big rooms. Now that the comedian has her hit E! show “Chelsea Lately” on lockdown, she’s bringing her “Lies That Chelsea Handler Told Me” tour to bigger venues than ever before — including the Wells Fargo Theatre (inside the Colorado Convention Center) on May 12. (The tour is named after her latest book, natch.) Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. today. ($74-$84.25, )
John Denver’s Rocky Mountain High Earth Day Celebration will bring together many of the late Colorado-based singer-songwriter’s friends and collaborators for a night of tribute — a performance that will also double as the artist’s induction into the newly formed Colorado Music Hall of Fame. Yes, ’80s icon Olivia Newton-John will host the event — and sing! Also performing with Denver’s original band and the Boulder Philharmonic: country star Lee Ann Womack, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Oates (of Hall & Oates) and others. The tribute show is on April 21 at the 1stBank Center. Tickets are on sale at 10 a.m. today. ($29.50-$79.50, )
Queens of the Stone Age are releasing an expanded, remastered version of their self-titled debut record in March, and to mark the occasion they’ve scheduled 14 dates where they’ll play the entire record — plus more from the band’s early days. Denver is included in this swing, and the April 8 date at the Ogden Theatre should drag out the band’s hard-core fans. Tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday, but you can easily find presale info (to snag them 24 hours earlier) at . ($29.75, )
Broken Social Scene released its fifth record last year, and “Forgiveness Rock Record” is a triumph. The record is all the proof haters needed: This Canadian indie rock collective still has it going on. The collection of songs is as clever as it is traditional — given the Juno-nominated band’s history — and the group brings the new music to the Boulder Theater on March 19. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today. ($32-$37, )
