Ruin: A New Play at Dairy Center for the Arts

Take a historic look into Colorado’s past via Blunt Force Drama and its premiere of Ruin: A New Play by Aaron Klass. It takes place in the Colorado territory during the spring of 1865 (many years prior to Colorado achieving statehood), in the ruins of old Fort Vasquez. A woman enlists the help of two frontiersmen to find her missing husband and the investigation leads them through an unexpected journey. Drawing on historical source material, this script paints a fictional portrait of the early years of Colorado’s history. Tickets start at $24; Ruin runs June 30–July 2 at the Carsen Theatre at the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder. Visit www.thedairy.org for more information.

The Flobots at Levitt Pavilion 

“For us, the question remains the same. How do we use our music to speak to inspire positive transformation? And the answer is the same: we have to reach people deep down — in unexpected, visceral ways.” That quote is from Flobots frontman Jamie “Jonny 5” Laurie’s interview with YS back in 2017, while the band was touring in support of that year’s release NoEnemies, a double-EP of original and well-known protest songs. Since then, they’ve continued to tour heavily and released several new singles, all featuring their patented style of politically relevant activist hip-hop. Catch them at a special free show at Levitt Pavilion in Denver on July 1. Doors open at 6 p.m., visit www.LevittDenver.org for more information. 

Original art by Luis Eades at Dairy Center for the Arts

The Dairy Center for the Arts is home to a few visual arts galleries. Beginning July 7 is an exhibition of original paintings by Luis Eades, with an opening reception on July 8 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eades was born in Madrid, Spain in 1923. His artistic career spanned nine decades and brought him to teach painting at the University of Colorado at Boulder for 38 years. “I make allusions in my work to the art of the past, as well as to cultures other than my own; I do so out of respect and because they have produced images and ideas that endure and enrich the way we perceive the world we live in,” Eades says in an artist statement from a previous exhibition at the William Havu Gallery in Denver. At the Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut Street, Boulder. Visit www.thedairy.org for more information.

Los Lobos with Ozomatli at Chautauqua Auditorium 

Iconic American rock band Los Lobos is an unparalleled celebration of American cultural diversity, drawing from a deep well of influences including rock, folk, blues, and traditional Mexican music that spans across a career of more than four decades. They’ll be joined by LA-bred Grammy Award winners Ozomatli for what promises to be an unforgettable show at Chautauqua Auditorium on July 8. Ozomatli’s eclectic sound blends Latin, hip-hop, reggae, funk, and rock influences into a wholly unique and stunning conflagration of musical genius. Don’t sleep on this one — it’s also the 135th Birthday Bash for the celebrated venue. Tickets start at $50, visit www.chautauqua.com for more information.

agriCULTURE: Art Inspired by the Land at various locations in Boulder

In agriCULTURE: Art Inspired by the Land, 18 local and national visual artists, in collaboration with Boulder County farmers, are exhibiting their works to showcase the connections between art and agriculture. These artists were commissioned to collaborate with farmers to shed light on the practices being used by the farming industry throughout the Front Range. The multi-venue exhibit includes work on view at two museums and site-specific installations at three local farms, including Ollin Farms in Longmont, the. Boulder JCC Milk & Honey Farm, and the Agricultural Heritage Center in Longmont. For details on all the locations, visit agriculture.stqry.app. These exhibits are now open through October 1, 2023.

The Book of Mormon at Buell Theatre 

One of the biggest and most extravagant musicals to tour the country is back in Denver for a few weeks – and tickets will surely be hard to come by. Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s hit musical The Book of Mormon returns to the Buell Theatre from June 21–July 2. The mega-hit musical follows the story of a pair of missionaries sent to the other side of the world. The original Broadway musical won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the New York Times has called it, “the best musical of this century.” Tickets range from $35 to $130. Visit denvercenter.org for more information.