Good Friday: Neon Knights, Steve Miller Band, Rx Bandits and more this weekend

With the UMS in full-swing, Broadway's got dozens of bands both local and national to choose from throughout the weekend. But the rest of the city's venues have some good shows happening, too -- like tonight at Meadowlark, where the Neon Knights monthly throwdown has been keeping the dance floor...

By Bree Davies

July 22, 2011

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With the UMS in full-swing, Broadway's got dozens of bands both local and national to choose from throughout the weekend. But the rest of the city's venues have some good shows happening, too -- like tonight at Meadowlark, where the Neon Knights monthly throwdown has been keeping the dance floor heat high throughout the year. Resident DJ Shannon von Kelly is joined by local favorite DJ Tower for an evening of electro-disco future sounds. (9 p.m. doors, 21 & up, free.)

Also on Friday, Cervantes' is holding a mini-festival all its own with the Potato Pirates headlining Punk Fest 2011. Along with All Out Helter, The Repercussions and False Colours, the Pirates inject a little ska into this rowdy, punkish evening for all ages. (7 p.m. doors, all ages, $5-7.)

What is summer without a Steve Miller Band show at Red Rocks? Saturday, the rock and blues veteran visits Colorado once again and celebrates the evening with co-headliner and living guitar legend Buddy Guy. Together, the acts will bring decades of work and dozens of album's worth of material to what is sure to be a perfectly warm July evening. (6 p.m. doors, all ages, $54.50-64.50.)

Also on Saturday, the Gothic Theatre is home to the second annual Apocalyptic Ball, a night of burlesque, drag and dance performances. DJ AJ Kahn is in the house and drag diva Ginger Sexton hosts this Colorado AIDS Walk fundraiser. (8 p.m. doors, all ages, $15-$20.)

Sunday, RX Bandits brings its multi-layered rhythms to Summit Music Hall with Maps & Atlases and Zechs Marquise. Popping up on the musical radar over fifteen years ago as a ska outfit, the California band has fully evolved into an uncategorizable, progressive-rock band -- but still manages to pay rhythmic homage to its rocksteady roots. (7 p.m. doors, all ages, $16.50-20.)

Also on Sunday, Asleep At The Wheel brings its tried-and-true honky tonk sound to the Boulder Theater with Hayden Wofford and the Hi Beams. Led by singer-guitarist Ray Benson, the Grammy Award-winning country-swing group has been picking away at its multi-stringed sound for devoted fans since 1970. (7 p.m. doors, all ages, $32-48.50.)

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Bree Davies is a multimedia journalist, artist advocate and community organizer born and raised in Denver. Rooted in the world of Do-It-Yourself arts and music, Davies co-founded Titwrench experimental music festival, is host of the local music and comedy show Sounds on 29th on CPT12 Colorado Public Television and is creator and host of the civic and social issue-focused podcast, Hello? Denver? Are You Still There? Her work is centered on a passionate advocacy for all ages, accessible, inclusive, non-commercial and autonomous DIY art spaces and music venues in Denver.

Contact: Bree Davies

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Twitter: @cocodavies