Scene Stealers | July 2021

There’s still a huge part of summer left, meaning there’s still a lot more things you can do. Check out these upcoming shows and attractions!

DJ Greyboy at Fox Theatre

When it comes to the Greyboy All-Stars, saxophonist and co-founder Karl Denson waxed poetically on the lightning-in-a-bottle that is the group’s unique genius. “Greyboy Allstars is kind of a freak of nature, so writing tunes for me tends to be a lot easier because of the input, but it also tends to be a lot more pointed in terms of what you can get away with,” he said in an interview with YS in 2015. So we’re really interested to see how — if at all — that compositional spirit bleeds over into DJ Greyboy’s (a.k.a. Andreas Stevens) solo set.

Check him out at the Fox Theatre at 8 p.m. on Aug. 21. Tickets start at $20 and are available at axs.com.

Head for the Hills at Levitt Pavilion

Sure, Yonder Mountain String Band’s the headliner, and they’re a great group, but can we talk about Head for the Hills for a minute? There’s nothing it seems they can’t accomplish — especially when they add a horn section — as evidenced in their 15 years touring and recording together, even charting on the CMJ Top 200 twice. They write punchy songs with great hooks and outstanding vocal harmonies that seem to transcend the “string band” genre without warping into a commoditized radio-pop  miasma.

See them at Levitt Pavilion in Denver on Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. Admission’s free, but you have to RSVP prior at levittdenver.org/freeevents/yonder.

Simphiwe Ndzube at the Denver Art Museum

South African contemporary artist Simphiwe Ndzube is celebrating his first solo museum exhibition – now on display at the Denver Art Museum. Titled Oracles of the Pink Universe, the exhibit is a collection of eight new works that explore the relationship between history and magical realism. His works are vibrant paintings and sculptures, some of which even transform from two to three-dimensional pieces, enhancing his magical exploration — all of which confront the viewer’s perception of what is and is not possible. This exhibit runs through Oct. 10.

Museum admission ranges from $8 to $13 at 100 W 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver. 720.865.5000 or www.denverartmuseum.org.

JQA at various locations

Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado (formerly Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company) takes its show on the road, bringing a compelling new work to audiences all over Colorado thanks to its genius new “Theatre Truck.” This free, outdoor production invites you to bring a picnic and join them for JQA by Aaron Posner – a compelling new work in which the author imagines conversations between John Quincy Adams and George Washington, Frederick Douglass, and Abigail Adams, as well as several other historical figures in U.S history.

The Theatre Truck brings JQA to locations from Boulder to Longmont and Denver, with performances through August. Free to attend. Get all the information at www.betc.org.

Tales from the Tipping Point at the Dairy Center for the Arts

If you’re looking for something totally unique, you’ll want to check out Tales from the Tipping Point from Now or Never Theatre, playing Aug. 12–15 at the Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder. This show, written and performed by Betsy Tobin, includes the use of shadow puppets, plastics, hand puppets, and more to provide a brief history of consumerism. You’ll travel with the author through the cosmos using sets and costumes created from upcycled materials and homemade instruments to learn about sustainability through immersive shadows and video imagery.

Tickets range from $14 to $24 at the Grace Gamm Theatre at the Dairy Center for the Arts. 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder. 303.440.7826 or www.thedairy.org.