Big & Rich’s John Rich won the latest — and perhaps craziest — season of “Celebrity Apprentice” on Sunday, so it makes sense that the duo would start pushing its Denver show this week. The Nashville bad boys will bring their unconventional pop-country to the Wells Fargo Theatre on July 2, with longtime friend Gretchen Wilson and openers Cowboy Troy and Two Foot Fred. Fans who buy tickets before June 17 will be entered to win VIP treatment and passes to sold-out shows around the city (including Kenny Chesney) as part of a benefit for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Tickets are on sale ($69-$99, ).
Vail Soul Music Fest is an admirable attempt to bring soul to a town best known for its ski-fashion parades and pricey wine lists, but it’s got a fighting chance with names like Ledisi (a four-time Grammy nominee), Lalah Hathaway, Alex Cuba, Ryan Shaw, Liv Warfield, Lee England Jr. and Natalie “The Floacist” Stewart. Tickets for the Aug. 19-21 event at Ford Amphitheater are on sale ($25-$75, ).
Explosions in the Sky will swing by the Fillmore Auditorium on Sept. 13 on its North American tour promoting its head- bobbing new album of epic instrumentals, “Take Care, Take Care, Take Care.” Tickets for the Austin, Texas, act’s show are on sale at 10 a.m. today ($25-$30, ).
Cake announced a pair of back-to-back shows at the Ogden Theatre on June 13-14 in the wake of its typically cheeky, eclectic new album “Showroom of Compassion.” Tickets are on sale ($35, Ticketmaster).
INXS is still kickin’, as evidenced by its star-studded disc “Original Sin,” a collection of reworked older material featuring guest vocals from Rob Thomas, Pat Mona han (of Train), Tricky and others. Its tour stops at the Ogden Theatre on July 25, with tickets on sale June 4. Check back here for prices.
Dave Foley went from cult sketch-comedy hero in Kids in the Hall to endearingly nerdy leading man on “NewsRadio,” but we’re excited for his latest incarnation as a stand-up, which he’ll show us at Comedy Works on Larimer Square on July 22-23. Tickets are on sale ($25, ).
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642 or jwenzel@denverpost.com
