Ready or not, Colorado is in front of its biggest summer concert season in years. The players are as big as they get in 2010: U2, Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Rihanna, Jack Johnson, Justin Bieber. But the ticket revenues could also out-gross previous summers’ tallies.
It’s more coincidental than anything else. U2 happens to be touring through Colorado this summer — playing a Denver football stadium for the first time since 1997’s PopMart Tour, no less. This year’s Mile High Music Festival lineup is stronger than ever, with Matthews and Johnson headlining the two August nights.
Denver-based DJ/producer Pretty Lights will head his first-ever Red Rocks date. Artists as varied as Tim McGraw and Rihanna will pack the newly renamed Comfort Dental Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village. And Sting (backed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra), String Cheese Incident and a host of others will settle into Red Rocks for multinight stands that could prove to be among the year’s most-remembered concerts.
Here are our dozen picks for the summer’s mammoth shows.
Carrie Underwood is the face of pop-country in 2010, and the “American Idol” champ is not afraid to prove her chops again in the live arena. Underwood is known for her powerful voice and unabashed touring, which acts as a showcase for her melody-driven, radio-friendly songs. (June 3: 1stBank Center in Broomfield, $35-$55, tickethorse.com; June 4: World Arena in Colorado Springs, $35-$55, worldarena.com)
Sting, playing with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, is primed to contribute a two-night spectacle to Red Rocks’ season. The Police frontman is rejuvenated after multiple reunion runs with his old band, and now he’s back to performing hits, old and new — with an even more prestigious backing band. (June 9-10: Red Rocks, $50.50-$180.50, ticketmaster.com)
U2 is on the receiving end of its best reviews in more than a decade for its in-the-round 360 Tour, which finally comes to Denver in June. And that’s saying something given that the Dublin band’s latest CD, “No Line on the Horizon,” is an artistic disappointment and a commercial let-down. Still, the 360 stage looks rad, and we can’t wait to see and hear Bono, the Edge, Adam and Larry. (June 12: Invesco Field at Mile High, $33-$253, ticketmaster.com)
Justin Bieber is taking the Mi chael Jackson route to stardom. And while that could mean a lot of things, the teenage phenom — who was signed by R&B star Usher — is winning fans over with his smooth, prepubescent vocals and his knack for a pop melody. Heck, the 16-year-old Canadian even co-wrote the majority of the songs on his latest offering, “My World 2.0.” (July 8: 1stBank Center, $43.50-$53.50, tickethorse.com)
Rihanna is one of the biggest R&B stars of the past five years, and her success is easily explained. Start with first hit “Pon de Replay” and close with mega-smash “Don’t Stop the Music” — which are, aesthetically, the same song — and you have a hit-making artist in her prime. (July 15: Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, $19.75-$89.75, ticketmaster.com)
The String Cheese Incident is back from a brief hiatus, and apparently the Colorado band — and its fans — still remember how to sell out multinight jams at Red Rocks. (July 23-25: Red Rocks, sold out)
Lady Gaga has done a lot with very little. It’s been less than two years since she released her pop culture-defining “The Fame,” and her EP follow-up “The Fame Monster” has only added to the legend. Less than two records into the game, and critics are already calling her the next Madonna. And they might be right. (July 28: Pepsi Center, $49.50-$175, tickethorse.com)
Tim McGraw has written better records than last year’s “Southern Voice,” but the country artist has enough hits to fill a two-hour set — even on an off-record cycle. A fun fact about McGraw’s latest CD: Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger co-wrote “It’s a Business Doing Pleasure With You” for McGraw. (July 31: Comfort Dental Amphitheatre, $23.75-$67.50, ticketmaster.com)
Pretty Lights is the latest musician to solidify Colorado’s very potent place on the pop-music map. DJ/producer Derek Vincent Smith, originally from Fort Collins and now based in LoDo, rocks house parties in music venues. And while the partying, young crowds at his sample-heavy shows get old quick, his beats are the perfect makings for a dance party. (Aug. 7: Red Rocks, $35, ticketmaster.com)
The Mile High Music Festival had an off year in 2009 with the Fray and Tool as its headliners. That’s why it’s featuring KBCO bread- and-butter artists Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson this year. The festival could reach record heights with its safe, brilliantly mainstream 2010 lineup. (Aug. 14-15: The fields surrounding Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, $175-$200, tickethorse.com)
Green Day has graciously transitioned into an arena rock band — what with its dramatic rock ballads and epic stage-and-light shows. But at its core, the northern California rock band is still doing what it’s always done. Its members are having a good time, and making people think, and laugh, via music. (Aug. 28: Comfort Dental, $20-$85, ticketmaster.com)
Pavement won’t likely match any of the bands on this list in ticket sales — not in Colorado, at least. But this mid-sized arena concert from indie rock’s elder statesmen is important in a different way — not unlike the Pixies’ recent reunion, which had the influential band playing similarly sized rooms. Pavement, which broke up in 1999, is a building block for so much of the music you’ll hear today, the songs rising on college charts and Billboard alike. So this will be a special concert because many of the band’s fans have yet to ever see them. (Sept. 9: 1stBank Center, $30, tickethorse.com)
Ricardo Baca: 303-954-1394 or rbaca@denverpost.com; @RVRB on Twitter
May
Today-Monday Conan O’Brien, Mackey Auditorium in Boulder (tonight) and the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver (Monday) (both shows are sold out)
* 20 The Eagles, Pepsi Center ($60-$185, tickethorse.com)
* 22 Angels and Airwaves, Fillmore Auditorium ($26, ticketmaster.com)
* 21 3OH!3, Fillmore ($25, ticketmaster.com)
25 Pitbull, 1stBank Center in Broomfield ($23.50-$45, tickethorse.com)
29 The Disco Biscuits, Red Rocks Amphitheatre ($39.75, ticketmaster.com)
30 Styx/Foreigner, Red Rocks ($36.50-$76.50, ticketmaster.com)
June
1 50 Cent, Fillmore ($37.50, ticketmaster.com)
1 & 3 Tom Petty/Joe Cocker, Red Rocks ($49.50-$105, ticketmaster.com)
2 Crosby, Stills and Nash, Red Rocks ($49.50-$101.50, ticketmaster.com)
* 3-4 Carrie Underwood, 1stBank Center on the 3rd and the World Arena in Colorado Springs on the 4th ($35-$55, tickethorse.com for Broomfield; $35-$55, worldarena.com for Springs)
4 John Butler Trio, Red Rocks ($35-$37.50, ticketmaster.com)
5 Big Head Todd & the Monsters, Red Rocks ($37.50-$59.50, ticketmaster.com)
7 Dweezil Zappa Plays Zappa, Paramount Theatre ($29.50-$56.50, tickethorse.com)
9-10Sting with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, Red Rocks ($50.50-$180.50, ticketmaster.com)
* 11 MGMT, Red Rocks ($39.50, ticketmaster.com)
11 SummerJam featuring Ludacris, Trey Songz and others, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($24-$59, Ticketmaster)
* 12 U2, Invesco Field at Mile High ($33-$253, ticketmaster.com)
14 Iron Maiden, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($25-$95, ticketmaster.com)
15 Steve Martin, Denver Botanic Gardens (sold out)
22 Backstreet Boys, 1stBank Center ($34.50-$65, tickethorse.com)
25-27 Widespread Panic, Red Rocks ($47.50, ticketmaster.com)
July
*1 Natalie Cole, Denver Botanic Gardens ($65-$70, botanicgardens.org)
3 Umphrey’s McGee/Galactic, Red Rocks ($36, ticketmaster.com)
8 Justin Bieber, 1stBank Center ($43.50-$53.50, tickethorse.com)
10 Modest Mouse, 1stBank Center ($35, tickethorse.com)
* 11 Serj Tankian with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield ($30-$54, botanicgardens.org)
14 James Taylor/Carole King, Pepsi Center ($39.50-$125, tickethorse.com)
* 15 Rihanna/Ke$ha, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($19.75-$89.75, ticketmaster.com)
16 Jamie Cullum, Denver Botanic Gardens ($52-$57, botanicgardens.org)
20 311/The Offspring, Red Rocks ($49.50, ticketmaster.com)
23-25 The String Cheese Incident, Red Rocks ($47.50, ticketmaster.com)
* 28 Lady Gaga, Pepsi Center ($49.50-$175, tickethorse.com)
30 Vicente Fernandez, Pepsi Center ($29.50-$175, tickethorse.com)
* 31 Tim McGraw/Lady Antebellum, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($23.75-$67.50, ticketmaster.com)
August
5 Jackson Browne, Red Rocks ($40.50-$76, ticketmaster.com)
7 Pretty Lights, Red Rocks ($35, ticketmaster.com)
7 Chris Isaak, Arvada Center ($52.50-$75, arvadacenter.org)
9-10 Phish, Telluride Town Park (sold out)
* 16 & 18Rush, Red Rocks ($55.50-$110.50, ticketmaster.com)
20 Rodrigo y Gabriella, Red Rocks ($39.75-$49.75, ticketmaster.com)
* 25 Slayer/Megadeth, Magness Arena ($39.50-$49.50, ticketmaster.com)
25 B.B. King/Buddy Guy/Al Green, Red Rocks ($49-$89, ticketmaster.com)
27 Yonder Mountain String Band/ Leftover Salmon, Red Rocks ($37.50-$42.50, ticketmaster.com)
* 28 Green Day/A.F.I., Comfort Dental ($20-$85, ticketmaster.com)
* 29 Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield ($60-$65, botanicgardens.org)
31 Sheryl Crow, Red Rocks ($45.50-$75.50, ticketmaster.com)
September
1 John Mayer/Owl City, Red Rocks ($49.50-$69.50, ticketmaster.com)
4 Gov’t Mule/The Avett Brothers, Red Rocks ($39.50-$4 4/75, ticketmaster.com)
* 9 Pavement, 1stBank Center ($30, tickethorse.com)
10-11 STS9, Red Rocks ($42.50, ticketmaster.com)
* 13 Paramore/Tegan and Sara, Red Rocks ($26-$36, ticketmaster.com)
The Dozen: Summer music festivals
May 29-30: MeadowGrass Music Festival featuring Grant-Lee Phillips, Great Lake Swimmers and others, La Foret Conference Center in Black Forest ($20-$50, laforet.org)
June 17-20: Telluride Bluegrass Festival featuring Lyle Lovett, Alison Krauss & Union Station and more, Telluride Town Park ($60-$185, bluegrass.com)
June 19: Westword Music Showcase featuring Ghostland Observatory, Superchunk and others, Golden Triangle neighborhood ($15- $50, brownpapertickets.com)
July 13: Lilith Tour featuring Sarah McLachlan, Kelly Clarkson and others, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($41.50- $252, ticketmaster.com)
July 18: Mayhem Festival featuring Korn, Rob Zombie and others, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre ($25-$69.50, ticketmaster.com)
July 22-25: The Denver Post Underground Music Showcase featuring Lilly Scott, Paper Bird and others, baker neighborhood ($25-$60, theums .com)
July 23-25: RockyGrass featuring Doc Watson, Patty Loveless and more, Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons ($50-$130, bluegrass.com)
Aug. 8: Vans Warped Tour featuring the Dropkick Murphies, Alkaline Trio and others, the parking lot at Invesco Field at Mile High ($33.50, livenation.com)
Aug. 13-15: Rocky Mountain Folks Festival featuring Ani DiFranco, the Swell Season and more, Planet Bluegrass Ranch ($110, bluegrass.com)
Aug. 14-15: Mile High Music Festival featuring the Dave Matthews Band, Jack Johnson and others, the fields surrounding Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City ($175-$200, tickethorse.com)
Aug: 27-29: NedFest featuring Steve Kimock Crazy Engine, Holy Kimoto and others, Nederland ($20-$120, nedfesttickets.com)
Sept. 3-5: Jazz Aspen featuring Wilco and others, Snowmass Town Park ($56, jazzaspen.org)
Ricardo Baca
The Dozen: Summer club shows
Saturday: Talib Kweli, Fox Theatre
May 17: Drake, Ogden Theatre
May 19: Landon Pigg, Hi-Dive
May 21: Local Natives/Suckers, Larimer Lounge
May 29: Broken Bells, Gothic Theatre
June 15: The Mountain Goats, Gothic Theatre
June 25: John Wesley Harding/Kristen Hersh, Daniels Hall at Swallow Hill
July 4: Monotonix, Rhinoceropolis
July 7: The Hold Steady, Ogden Theatre
July 17: The Dead Weather, Ogden Theatre
Aug. 6: Warlock Pinchers, Gothic Theatre
Aug. 11: Social Distortion, Boulder Theater
Ricardo Baca
TO ORDER TICKETS
Ticketmaster, 303-830-8497, ticketmaster.com
TicketWeb, 866-468-7621, ticketweb.com
TicketsWest, 866-464-2626, ticketswest.com or King Soopers stores
TicketHorse, 866-461-6556, tickethorse.com
Ticket service charges are additional.
