Fun in the Fort

summer events calendar

by Tadar Puakpaibool

Summary: Giving a heads up that just because school is out doesn’t mean Fort Collins is dead. Plus we will give a list of concerts and events for May and July.

When the last final is handed in, the sounds of books closing, packing tape, and words of summer farewells fill the air. Since nearly 19,000 Rams leave CSU for summer vacation, which is a huge chunk of our campus’s population, what is left? Some may think Fort Collins turns into a ghost town, with only the silence of vacant dorms and class rooms left to occupy the atmosphere.
   
But listen a little closer and you will hear the whoo-rahs of those who stay to enjoy the many lively events that continue to thrive throughout the summer months. School may be out, but Fort Collins is still alive and in session.
    
“During the winter we’re open inside only on weekends, with mostly local bands and only a couple hundred in the audience,” said representative of Mishawaka Ampitheatre, Robin Jones. “But in the summer the shows are outside with both national and local bands, and we’re open seven days a week with a couple thousand in the audience.”
   
Places like Mishawaka never get a vacation, and this summer is no exception. Visitors and citizens of the Fort will remain entertained by the numerous music events of all genres from artists both locally and nationally known.
   
“Music is a huge piece of Downtown, with all the great venues and local and regional talent we have makes it easy to always know that we have several music related options to choose from, almost any given night you come Downtown especially over the summer,” said  Executive Director of the Downtown Business Association, David Short.
    
This summer’s entertainment can only be made possible thanks to three elements: the performers, the audience and the venue – luckily, Fort Collins has all three. Entertainment seekers can enjoy music and performances from any setting they want. From Hodie’s Half Note and Sundance’s laid back country feel to Aggie Theatre’s more upbeat party atmosphere, people can pick where they want to listen to their favorite tunes. Or if you want more than just music, simply visit the Lincoln Center or Downtown to satisfy all aspects of your entertainment needs.
  
“As always we try to schedule entertainment events throughout the week and weekends Downtown so that there is always something entertaining going on in the Downtown area,” said Short. “Not only will we have our regular concert series and events we are adding a Jazz festival in July a World Music and food festival as part of the Peace Corp Reunion the end of August, and in the Fall we are now producing the Oktoberfest.”
     
Even if there is a place and performers, an event is just not an event without an audience. And having thousands of Rams gone for the summer does impact the entertainment scene.
    
“We do see differences [when students leave for the summer] especially in the nightlife downtown things are a little slower,” said Short. “CSU and the students are a tremendous asset to Fort Collins and the Downtown and we are always happy to see them back at the end of the summer.”
     
Be certain that although the summer is here, silence does not take over, Fort Collins has no time for breaks, there is just too much jamming and entertaining to do.

MUSIC

Aggie  Theater http://www.aggietheatre.com/
Moving Matter: Friday May 2nd
Prism: Saturday May 3rd
Victor Wooten: Friday May 9th
Reverend Horton Heat: Thursday June 19th

Red Rocks http://www.redrocksonline.com/index.asp
Sugarland: Saturday May 10th
Insane Clown Posse: Saturday May 17th
The Cure: Wednesday May 21st
Death Cab for Cutie: Wednesday May 28th
Rush: Snakes and Arrows: June 5th
Emmylou Harris / John Prine/John Prine / Emmylou Harris: June 6th
Big Head Todd & The Monsters/Big Head Todd and the Monsters: June 7th
The Australian Bee Gees Show: June 13th
Robert Plant and Allison Krauss: June 21st
Mark Knopfler: June 24th
True Colors Tour: July 5th
Foo Fighters: July 14-15th
The Police: July 21-22nd
Carlos Mencia July 26th
Steve Miller Band: July 31st
 
Mishawaka http://www.mishawakaconcerts.com/
Rage 1.0 Music Fest: Saturday May 10th
Cross Canadian Ragweed: Friday May 16th
Head for the Hills: May 17th
Kan’nal: June 20th
Motet: July 11th
Sam Bush Band: July 12th
Poudre River Reggae Fest: July 25th-26th

Sundance http://www.sundancesteakhouse.com/
*Triple Nickel Band: May 6, 9, 10th
*Chute Nine Band: May 13, 16, 17th
*Kelly J. Band: May 20, 23, 24
Woodie Procell and the Snowy River Band: May 27, 30, 31
*Eric Johnson Band: June 17th, 20-21
Chugwater Band:June 24, 27,28
K.C. Yates and the Morningstar Band: July 15th, 18-19

Ogden Theatre http://www.ogdentheater.net/
The Twisted Conspiracy Tour: May 10th
Atmosphere: May 17-18
Rilo Kiley: May 19th
Thrice May 20th
Mason Jennings/Brett Dennen/Missy Higgins: May 22nd
Nightwish: May 26th
The Breeders: May 28th
The Kooks: May 29th
Railroad Earth: June 13-14th
Reverend Horton Heat/ Supersuckers: June 18th

The Fillmore Auditorium http://www.livenation.com/venue/getVenue/venueId/1380
NOFX: May 2nd
Pennywise: May 7th
Phil Lesh and friends: May 8-9th
M.I.A.:  May 17th
Honda Civic Tour: June 3rd
Panic at the Disco, Motion City Soundtrack, the Hush Sound, Phantom Planet
An evening with Ween: July 16-17th

Hodi’s Half Note http://www.hodishalfnote.com
Black Apples and the Jimi Austin: May 2nd
Tejano Music Showcase: May 3rd
*Mug Night with Alan Vasques: May 5th
It Prevails, Means, Farewell To Freeway, & The World We Knew: May 7th
The Grip with Yawn:  May 8th
Motorhome: May 14th
Arcanium CD release party: May 23rd

PERFORMING ARTS

Lincoln Center
Annie: April 29th- May 2nd
Boy Gets Girl: May 2nd-18th
Chanticleer:  May 5th
Sleeping Beauty: May 9th-17th
The center of attention-Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra: May 10th
Ethos West Chamber Orchestra: May 18th
Iyanla Vanzant-Bella Spark Speaker Series: May 19th
Clownbox: May 29th
Man of La Mancha: May 24th- June 21st
Explorations: A Celebration of Latin American Music-Lafayette Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra: June 1st

FESTIVALS

Downtown

Links
http://fcgov.com/lctix/
http://www.downtownfortcollins.com/

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