The Avett Brothers, Mac DeMarco and more make our list of best Colorado shows this week. We’ll be seeing you there, and if you don’t make it out, follow the music musings and our
4) Lauryn Hill — Boulder Theater and Ogden Theatre, July 12-13
What can Denver expect from post-prison Lauryn Hill? When the ex-Fugees member played in Colorado in November of 2012, she refused to play anything fans would recognize. Since then, then she’s served a three-month prison stint for failing to pay taxes and has begun her return with a few one-off shows and a small 15-date return tour that includes two stops in Colorado this weekend. Maybe the Hill we see this time will be reformed, humbled and not quite the diva that disappointed fans in 2012. Hill plays the Boulder Theater on July 12 and the Ogden Theatre on July 13. ($60, bouldertheater.com and $60-$125, ogdentheatre.com)
3) Ride Festival — July 12-13
The Ride Festival, which takes place in Telluride (get it?) on July 12-13, has once again built a solid indie-rock lineup for an event thatap only in its third year. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Spoon, the Hold Steady, White Denim, Delta Rae, Lucero all make their way through the San Juan Mountains for an event that is likely to bring a younger crowd than the area’s normal bluegrass festivals. The Hold Steady is coming off the March release of its sixth album, “Teeth Dreams,” and Spoon is prepping the much-anticipated new album, “They Want My Soul,” to drop in early August. ($87.50-$325, ridefestival.com)
2) Mac DeMarco — Gothic Theatre, July 14
The last time I saw Mac DeMarco he was hanging upside down from scaffolding while performing at SXSW 2013. Since then, DeMarco has released his excellent and mature new album, “Salad Days,” and toured the world, still spreading his class clown antics. But it’s not all chain smoking, drunkenness and public nudity with DeMarco. His music is relaxed, charming and has a playful heart. Live he showcases his tight guitar work, and will bring his thoughtful covers of Neil Young and Coldplay to Denver.
1) Avett Brothers — Red Rocks, July 11-13
With eight full length albums and four EPs, it would be impossible for the Avett Brothers to play all of your favorite songs in one show. But here’s the good news: The brothers will be with us in Colorado for three nights, making their home at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. This marks the band’s longest run yet at the legendary mountain venue, and the real Avett Bros diehards will be with them every night this weekend. As Reverb’s John Moore put it last year, “One minute the boys are standing in the breeze opening up their souls like a blood sea parted. The next they’re caterwauling and bounding up and down like Mexican Jumping Beans, with Seth shredding strings on his guitar like some kind of Joe Satriani.” The band plays on July 11 with Bob Weir and Rat Dog, July 12 with Lucero and July 13 with Shovels and Rope.
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