Valentines, Astronomy and Jazz!
This weekend you can enjoy musicals and plays, classes and performances by comedians, musicians, and more — with various locations in Erie and nearby Boulder, Louisville, Lafayette and Longmont.
TODAY/TONIGHT, Thursday, January 9
ART AND SIP: POP-UP VALENTINES
Grab a drink and get creative with these Thursday night classes for adults. Instructor Brandy Coons will be on hand to teach a variety of techniques for creating different styles of pop-ups and then integrate them into handmade pop-up Valentine’s Day cards for all the people you love! Beer, wine and snacks will be available and classes are designed to guide beginners as well as bring new skills to experienced artists and crafters. Register online or by calling 303-651-8374.
Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $40
BIG ASTRONOMY
Big Astronomy: People, Places, Discoveries explores three observatories located in extreme environments and remote locations in Chile. Due to its special climate and location, which creates stable, dry air Chile is one of the best places in the world for astronomy. By 2022, 70% of the world’s optical and infrared collecting power will be located in Chile. With a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) the film highlights the multitude of careers needed to keep the great observatories working. The show is narrated by Barbara Rojas-Ayala, a Chilean astronomer.
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$12
WIND SYMPHONY
The CU Symphonic band and Wind Symphony are excited to start their spring semester with a visit by guest composer Kevin Day. Day is one of the premier composers for band, with his works being performed frequently by the world’s best concert bands. Both ensembles will be performing works by Day, including his “Concerto for Wind Ensemble” (2021) and “Dancing Fire” (2016).
This concert will also include works by composers Lili Boulanger, Arturo Márquez, Kimberly Archer, Ola Gjeilo and Donald Grantham. Join us for an evening of unforgettable music! From orchestras, bands and choirs to jazz, world music and opera to world-class faculty and guest performances, the CU Boulder College of Music brings hundreds of stunning performances to Boulder audiences throughout the academic year.
Presented in-person or streamed live at the CU Presents website.
Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Info: 303-492-8008
Thursday-Saturday, February 9-11
EXHIBITION: LASTING IMPRESSIONS
How do museums build art collections? Lasting Impressions answers this question with a close look at the CU Art Museum’s collection of American prints. Among the first artworks acquired by the museum in 1940, prints continue to be a focus of the museum’s art collection.
This exhibition features highlights from the museum’s 82 years of collecting prints, including new acquisitions on view for the first time.
CU ART MUSEUM, 1085 18th St., Boulder
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Admission: FREE
ART IN THE PARK
The bears are back! This year’s Art in The Park bear installation starts December 9 and continues through April 16 when you can bid on your favorite bear. Proceeds from Art In The Park benefit participating artists, Chautauqua community events and non-profit partners.
Chatauqua Park, 900 Baseline Rd., Boulder
10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Info: 303-952-1629
Thursday-Sunday, February 9-12
LOVE LETTERS BY A.R. GURNEY, JR.
The Upstart Crow Theatre Company continues its 42nd season with Love Letters by A.R. Gurney. Starting with a letter accepting an invitation to Melissa’s birthday party, this popular play follows the relationship between Andy and Melissa from childhood through middle age as life brings them together and pulls them apart, but always with a thread connecting them: the letters they exchange
Carsen Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Thurs./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $21-$25
Friday, February 10
PURNELL STEEN RETURNS!
Hot off a tour of France, Purnell Steen & The Five Points Ambassadors return to the Longmont Museum for an afternoon of jazz drawn from the Duke Ellington songbook. Transcending boundaries and filling the world with a treasure trove of music that renews itself through every generation of music-lovers, Ellington’s legacy continues to live on and will endure for generations to come.
Also known as LeJazz Machine, Purnell Steen and The Five Points Ambassadors are dedicated to playing and preserving the music of Denver’s legendary Five Points neighborhood. Their Blues-oriented Hard Bop music is basically Swing style. Denver’s own scintillating Myra Warren rounds out the ensemble. Purnell is a cousin to Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, George Duke, five-time Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves, and the legendary bassist Charlie Burrell.
Longmont Museum, Stewart Auditorium, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $8-12
LASER SHOW: MUSIC BY ELTON JOHN
Elton John has sold 300+ million records over 6 decades — making him one of the biggest selling artists of all time. Celebrate his larger than life persona and the Rocket Man’s powerful music in gorgeous laser light at Fiske!
This is not your parent’s laser show! Our cutting edge projection system from Laser Fantasy mesmerizes your eyes with vibrant colors cutting their way through the fog to our 360-degree wrap around screen – all while our laser engineers fly you through the universe in beat to your favorite jams!
Fiske Planetarium, 2414 Regent Dr., Boulder
7:00-8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $8-$12
JANE AND MATTHEWS
Jordan “Jane” and Jarrod “Matthew” formed the group in December of 2019 in pursuit of blending “popular” music genres with musician virtuosity. The group has influences from a variety of genres, Americana, Country, Pop, Rock, Prog, Classical, Jazz, Funk, Blues, Bluegrass, Metal, and the list goes on. With such a variety of influences, the group is calling their sound “Colorado Rock”, acknowledging the influence the extraordinary state has had on them.
Relatable to groups like Tedeschi Trucks, Umphreys, Zac Brown Band, and the Allman Brothers, Jane and MatthewS maintains an overall sense of amicable familiarity, keeping it catchy, simple, fun, yet undeniably and impressively musical.
The Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St., Boulder
9:00 p.m.
Tickets: Start at $37
Friday-Sunday, February 10-12
ANNIE, JR.
With a perfect combination of street-smarts and optimism, Annie warms the hearts of the audience as we witness her rise from next-to-nothing in New York City. She is determined to find her parents, who left her at the orphanage years ago. However, things don’t quite work out the way she has planned. She does however thwart the plans of the evil Miss Hannigan and find a new family with billionaire Oliver Warbucks, secretary Grace Farrell, and her lovable pooch, Sandy.
Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15 show only; $20 additional for dinner
MONSTER JAM FAN ALERT
With the 2023 Monster Jam Denver event returning to Ball Arena for four incredible shows this February, there will be plenty of seats for you to catch the world’s biggest, most powerful monster trucks in action – although you’d better act fast if you want to score the best tickets around! That’s because monster-truck fans can’t get enough of the Monster Jam’s signature blend of old-school racing and new-school free-style competition, and they pack the stands wherever the automotive juggernaut performs. So check out the rally schedule below to learn about the upcoming event, and score your Monster Jam Denver Tickets while you still can!
Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Cir., Denver
Fri., 7:00 p.m.; Sat., 1:00 & 7:00 p.m.; Sun., 12:00 p.m.
Tickets: $38+
Saturday, February 11
FREE YOUNG PEOPLE’S CONCERT
This year’s performance for young people: It’s a Bird’s World! Created as a first-time concert experience, the ASO’s Young People’s Concerts are bilingual English/Spanish events designed to give younger audiences a shorter music presentation that’ll entertain music lovers of all ages!
The program repertoire includes works by Rossini, Haydn, Sousa, Tchaikovsky and Respighi.
Aurora Symphony Free Concert, 300 Strong St., Brighton
3:00-5:00 p.m.
Cost: Free
Info: 720-262-3850
ROBERT JOHNSON: NAT KING COLE
Robert Johnson is an entertainer who is equally at home in every arena of performance. His voice can be heard on countless national and regional commercials from United Artists Theaters, IBM and Toyota to Mr. Squirrel on the PBS Saturday Morning Series “The Big Green Rabbit.” He’s shared the stage with Bob Hope, Stevie Wonder, Chuck Mangione and Stan Getz. Appeared in national and regional productions of Porgy and Bess, Ain’t Misbehavin, A Brief History Of White Music, Showboat, The Full Monty, and as the voice of the plant in Little Shop Of Horrors. Since making his home in Denver, Colorado Robert has been named Best Male Vocalist in the Denver Posts Readers Poll, Best Jazz Vocalist by the Colorado Black Artists Association, was honored as Colorado’s Best Male Singer by the News and Radio Media and Best Male Vocalist by the Colorado Songwriters Association.
Boulder Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $65-$70
Info: 303-449-6000, ext. 4
BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET
“The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul’ is as immediately intimate as it is infinitely expansive, reflecting a deep interconnectedness between the players.” —DownBeat
Supercharged, daring, delightful. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis is one of the most influential and revered figures in music. The NEA Jazz Master, Grammy winner and Tony nominee is equally at home performing concertos with symphony orchestras and sitting in with the Grateful Dead, but the core of his musical universe remains the Branford Marsalis Quartet. With more than three decades of collaboration, this ensemble is celebrated for its kaleidoscopic range of both original compositions and jazz and popular classics. In the Grammy-nominated “The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul,” the quartet performs its most emotionally wide-ranging and melody-driven collection of music to date.
Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St., Boulder
7:30 p.m.
Cost: $24-$94
Info: 303-492-8008
Next Week: Tuesday, February 14
HAZEL MILLER AND THE COLLECTIVE
What could be better on Valentine’s Day night than dinner and a show with Hazel Miller? One of the tightest and most versatile bands on the scene, Hazel Miller & The Collective performs an eclectic blend of jazz, R&B, blues, soul, and original music that’s guaranteed to rock the house!
Colorado-based music icon Hazel Miller has a reputation for “bringing it” whether the event is a club setting, concert, festival, or non-profit fundraiser. She is not just a great singer; she is “a force of nature!” (Rocky Mountain News). A sought-after performer in Colorado and beyond for over three decades, Hazel has toured North America, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, and Central America. Wherever she performs, her powerful voice stands out and her beautiful spirit shines through, to the delight of her loyal fans.
Boulder Dinner Theatre, 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO
6:00 p.m.
Tickets: $65-$70
Info: 303-449-6000, ext. 4
Wednesday, February 15
HOUSE CONCERT: INGOLFSSON
The Longmont Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1966 as the Longmont Symphony Society, Inc. Its mission is to foster and promote the appreciation and understanding of symphonic music through performances and educational programs. On this night, violinist Judith Ingolfsson is internationally recognized for her intense, commanding performances, uncompromising musical maturity and charismatic performance style.
Longmont Symphony Orchestra, 519 Main St., Longmont
6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $75
info@longmontsymphony.org
Wednesday-Sunday, February 15-19
THE SECRET COMEDY OF WOMEN: GIRLS ONLY
“A two-woman, interactive masterpiece.” – Broadway World
“Truly brilliant.” – The Denver Post
You are invited to laugh with the women in your life until you cry…or pee. Experience this truly brilliant and uplifting female comedy that explores the woman’s world with joy, heart and intelligent wit. This fast-paced journey from girlhood to womanhood will reawaken the connections between you and your fellow gal pals. It’s no secret that every woman deserves a laugh like this.
Garner Galleria Theater, DCPA COMPLEX, 14th and Curtis St., Denver
Wed.-Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sat./Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $55
Thursday, February 16
ART AND SIP: POND PAINTING
Grab a drink and get creative with these Thursday night classes for adults. Instructor Leigh Putman will help you practice your acrylic painting techniques in this soft Impressionist-style pond painting. Find inspiration in the quiet moments of dusk and dawn over the water as we learn about acrylic paint application and blending! Beer, wine and snacks will be available, and classes are designed to guide beginners as well as bring new skills to experienced artists and crafters. Register online or by calling 303-651-8374.
Longmont Museum, 400 Quail Rd., Longmont
6:30-9:00 p.m.
Cost: $40
Friday, February 17
JERRY HARRISON & ADRIAN BELEW
Jerry Harrison is the keyboardist and guitar player for legendary band Talking Heads. He is a member of the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in 2021. He has multiple critically acclaimed solo albums, including Casual Gods. Additionally, he has an illustrious career as a record producer, working with everyone from Foo Fighters, No Doubt, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Live, amongst many others. Prior to joining Talking Heads, Jerry was a member of proto-punk pioneers The Modern Lovers.
Michael Weintrob
Adrian Belew was the long-time lead singer and guitarist for legendary prog rock giants King Crimson. Adrian has also recorded with, performed alongside, and toured with Bowie, Zappa, Talking Heads, Nine Inch Nails, Tori Amos, Paul Simon, Cyndi Lauper, and more. Additionally, he has released over 20 solo albums and was a 2005 Grammy Nominee.
Adrian and Jerry, with their all-star backing band, bring you powerhouse renditions of Talking Heads classics like Once in A Lifetime, Psycho Killer, Take Me To The River, and selections from their respective solo careers. This is a must-see performance.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $36-$46
Phone: 303-786-7030
February 17-19, Friday-Sunday
FEED APRÉS!
The Catamounts present FEED: Aprés, a theatre adventure for all of your senses. On the heels of terrible calamity in both the larger world and our own Boulder backyard, The Catamounts have commissioned four of Colorado’s best theater writers to answer the question: What comes after? FEED: Aprés will investigate through a multi-sensory experience how we emerge from relentless difficulty into something more hopeful.
This will be the 27th installment of The Catamounts’ original FEED series where we collaborate with local chefs, brewers, distillers, and musicians to create a multi-course meal that pairs food, drink, and performance while exploring a central question. The Catamounts will turn the Dairy’s Carsen theater into a ski lodge, satirizing the Colorado cliché of the aprés gathering as a lighthearted framework to bring audiences into an intimate, immersive, art-filled communal experience.
Carsen Theater, 2590 Walnut St., Boulder
Thurs./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $21-$25
DINNER SHOW: THE FOREIGNER
The Foreigner is a fun, two-act comedy by American playwright Larry Shue. The story takes place in a fishing lodge in rural Tilghman County, Georgia where two Englishmen, Froggy and Charlie, arrive as guests. The shy Charlie agreed to accompany Froggy on the trip after his sick wife begged him to go. When people at the lodge try to talk to Charlie, however, he remains silent: he is terribly shy, depressed about his wife’s illness, and cannot find the words to reply. Froggy claims that Charlie cannot talk because he is a “foreigner” from an exotic country, and does not understand English. Taking the explanation that he’s a non-English speaker as fact, the lodge’s guests quickly begin revealing their secrets, and Charlie soon discovers scandals amongst some of the residents of the lodge.
Jesters Dinner Theatre, 224 Main St., Longmont
Fri./Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2:00 p.m.
Tickets: $15 show only; $20 additional for dinner
Saturday, February 18
MARTIN SEXTON
Martin Sexton returns with what Rolling Stone calls a “soul-marinated voice,” acoustic guitar, and a suitcase full of heartfelt songs. The 2023 Tour takes Martin across North America in support of his latest ep 2020 Vision (produced by three-time Grammy nominee John Alagia (Lukas Nelson, John Mayer, Dave Matthews) as well as reinventing his own classics for these critically-acclaimed solo performances.
Still fiercely independent and headlining venues from The Fillmore to Carnegie Hall, he has influenced a generation of contemporary artists. His songs have appeared in television series such as Scrubs, Parenthood, Masters of Sex, Sprung, and in numerous films, though it’s his incendiary live show, honest lyrics, and vocal prowess that keep fans coming back for a new experience every time.
Boulder Theater, 2032 14th St., Boulder
8:00 p.m.
Tickets: $25-$40
Phone: 303-786-7030
Small Town Life, With Big City Access
There’s lots to do near the master-planned community of Colliers Hill, whether it’s right in Erie, or 20 minutes away in Boulder. If you don’t live here yet, check out the stunning model homes from KB Home, Richmond American Homes, and Boulder Creek. Priced from the $600s, this fast-growing new home community in Northern Colorado has lots of exciting amenities to offer new home buyers, too!
