Rocking Out in the Great Outdoors
The Summer Concert Season in Denver

Summertime in Denver is all about the outdoors. Denverites spend these months doing their best to enjoy the plentiful sunshine and copious fresh air -- hiking, biking, sunbathing, and of course, enjoying a host of live music extravaganzas. The city and surrounding areas are packed with places to see a wide array of musical talents under the stars. As you'll see below, 2008 is the Mile High City's biggest year yet for rocking out in the great outdoors.

No summer in Denver is complete without at least one -- or two or five -- trips out to the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre, just 15 miles from downtown Denver. 70 million years in the making, the 9,450-seat venue is flanked by enormous 300-foot red sandstone rock formations and always boasts star-studded musical schedule. This year is no exception, with R.EM. (June 3^rd), Rush (June 5^th), 311/Snoop Dogg (July 1^st) and Steely Dan (July 17^th) being just a few of the big names rocking Red Rocks this summer. Check the website for full details and tickets.

The Denver Botanic Gardens is a lush oasis located in the heart of the Mile High City, with hundreds of rare and lovely species of plants populating the grounds. But its also home to a stellar summer concert series, this year featuring such diverse talents as Cake (June 8^th), Indigo Girls (June 16^th) and Al Green (Aug. 31^st). The lawns surrounding the stage are general admission Ð bring a blanket or lawn chair along with a bottle of wine and a picnic dinner and enjoy the great music in an unparalleled setting. A word to the wise: virtually all Botanic Gardens concerts sell out Ð so get your tickets early!

Every Sunday night in June and July, the City Park Bandstand and Pavilion turns into a swinging, open-air jazz club as music lovers of all ages congregate for City Park Jazz. Bring a blanket or folding chair Ð but be prepared to spend plenty of time on your feet, too. City Park Jazz encourages dancing! This year's schedule includes local faves like the DKO Jazz Sextet (June 8^th), LC's Latin Groove (July 6^th) and Lisa Bell and Crescendo (July 27^th). Did we mention these concerts are free?

As you check out the shopping and dining options on the 16^th Street Mall, you may hear the sound of live music emanating from the adjacent Skyline Park. If so, you've stumbled upon the Audio Picnic, a free lunch-hour concert series held every Friday June through August around noon. It's a perfect way to enjoy a sunny summer afternoon in Downtown Denver. Check the website for a list of performers.

In maritime terms, a "fiddler's green" refers to a sailor's heaven that's a place "of wine and song." And that's just what Greenwood Village's Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre offers in the summer months, with an exciting and diverse schedule of performers in a classic open-air setting. This year's lineup includes the hard-rocking triple bill of Cheap Trick, Journey and Heart (July 9^th), teen phenoms the Jonas Brothers (July 19^th) and Channel 93.3's Big Gig featuring the Offspring and the Dropkick Murphys.

6/29/08
Invesco Field at Mile High, Denver, CO

Invesco Field at Mile High is the home of Denver's beloved Broncos, but for one day this summer, it'll transform into the home of punk rock, as the Vans Warped Tour sets up camp for what is sure to be a highlight of the summer concert season. Dozens upon dozens of bands, from million-selling acts to just-out-of-garage up-and-comers, will play on multiple stages. Bring the earplugs -- this one's going to be LOUD.

Get your required dose of Latino music and dancing at Sloan's Lake in the Highlands neighborhood during the annual Latino Rhythms festival. The entire 177-acre park will be filled with spicy foods, delicious drinks and vendors selling one of a kind items -- not to mention all varieties of music, from traditional mariachi to contemporary pop to hip hop. This is one fiesta you don't want to miss!

Last year's first annual Monolith Music Festival was a blast, featuring the hippest bands on the scene, and this year's lineup continues the tradition. Held over two days and two nights at Red Rocks, Monolith's headliners include tres cool Parisian techno act Justice, local Denver faves DeVotchKa, neo-soulsters Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, and dozens more. With multiple stages, a wide array of food and drink and thousands of fellow music lovers, you canÕt go wrong at Monolith. Check the website for a full schedule and ticket info.