Ben Harper

Here's what we're all listening to right now. What's rocking your world this week?

As people who think about, talk about, write about, listen to and make music, it's not surprising that the most common (and favorite) topic of conversation among us is the same: "What are you listening to right now?" Stick a quarter in us, and, boy, wouldn't you know it, off we go, on and on about t ... More >>

Soccer moms of the world, unite: New Kids on the Block are coming to 1STBANK Center!

So this one summer before New Kids on the Block made all the girls (who are all middle aged moms now -- meditate on that for a minute) swoon like no other, the dudes did an in-store at the mall in Cheyenne. I was there. My best friend was a DJ at the station presenting the meet and greet, and so we ... More >>

New shows: Fall Out Boy, Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, Johnny Marr and more

A bunch of great shows announced this week: Fresh off a string of well received comeback shows, Fall Out Boy is back with a new record and a tour that will hit Denver in June. Vampire Weekend is due at Red Rocks with Of Monsters and Men, while fun. has announced a date of its own at Red Rocks with T ... More >>

La Rumba celebrates its 15th anniversary with a weekend-long celebration that kicks off tonight

Fifteen years ago, at the height of the swing craze, Jesse Morreale opened Ninth Avenue West at 9th and Acoma and brought in some of the top bands of the day, like the Royal Crown Revue and the Mighty Blue Kings. But around the turn of the century, as swing started to fade, he changed the name of th ... More >>

Ten best concerts in Colorado this weekend, Friday, August 24, through Sunday, August 26

Welcome to the weekend! If you haven't made plans yet, there's an unreal number of shows, from five different festivals to several CD release shows to old school hip-hop. Of course, we have them all listed in our massive concert calendar. If you're feeling industrious, print that bad boy out and bre ... More >>

Colorado's ten best camping festivals

Colorado will see more camping music festivals this year than ever before, and we've compiled a comprehensive and organized list so you know which ones to attend, if you can't make them all. We've even rated them based on several very important factors from location, to price, to music. Take a gande ... More >>

Mumford and Sons, Brother Ali, Henry Rollins and Melvins Lite lead this week's shows

While things are slowing down a bit somewhat with summer concert announcements, the fall show season is beginning to shape up nicely with new shows from (updated) Mumford & Sons, a trio of dates with Brother Ali in October, as well as the Melvins Lite and Henry Rollins in September and an October da ... More >>

Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller, Shinedown, Godsmack, Steve Vai and Kimbra lead this week's shows

A fresh batch of new shows announced this week, including Wiz Khalifa and Mac Miller at Red Rocks, the Head and the Heart and Blitzen Trapper at the Boulder Theater, Kimbra at the Ogden Theatre, Shinedown and Godsmack at Comfort Dental and Steve Vai at the Ogden. Page down for a full rundown plus lo ... More >>

Jane's Addiction, Swans, Aaron Freeman lead this week's shows

Things might be slowing down a bit with the bigger concert announcements, but there was still a fair amount of activity over the last week, including Jane's Addiction at the Pikes Peak Center in Colorado Springs, Swans and Xiu Xiu at the Gothic Theatre, and Aaron Freeman (aka Gene Ween) at both the ... More >>

Gotye, Silversun Pickups, 3OH!3, Matisyahu and Justin Bieber lead this week's shows

While the concert announcements have started tapering off a bit, there's still some big shows that have been announced, including Gotye's Red Rocks show in August, Channel 93.3's Big Gig in September featuring Silversun Pickups, 3OH!3, the Hives, the Wombats and others at Red Rocks. Also, Matisyahu ... More >>

Rise Against, Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, Passion Pit, Alabama Shakes lead this week's new shows

And it don't stop. Another batch of great shows announced this week, including Rise Against, who's due for a pair of back-to-back nights at the Fillmore in September, as well as Peter Gabriel, who will be performing his album So in its entirety a few nights later at Red Rocks. Wait, there's more: th ... More >>

The Ride Festival slated to make its debut in Telluride this August with Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Ben Harper and more

While America needs another festival like Denver needs another dispensary, this Triple-A-centric fest should be a big draw. The Ride Festival, which is being presented by Telluride's KOTO radio and headliner Big Head Todd & the Monsters, takes place in Telluride Town Park on Friday, August 25, and S ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, INXS is coming to the Ogden in July, Lil Wayne's coming to Comfort Dental in August and Steve Earle is due at the Ogden in September. On local radio, Force Publique, Signal Path and Bop Skizzum got some spins. Meanwhile, at our l ... More >>

Mile Highlights: This week's concert news, local radio playlists and top album sales

Here's what's good in the Mile High City this week: In concert news, KMFDM is due at the Summit Music Hall and Ellie Goulding is over at the Ogden, both in August, while Bone Thugs N Harmony is slated to stop by the Gothic in June. On local radio, Quiet American, Juno What and My Body Sings Electr ... More >>

SXSW Travelogue: Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp checks in from Austin

Photo Roadies​ Wednesday March 16, 8 p.m. Kalyn here from Wheelchair Sports Camp writing about our very first trip to South by Southwest in Austin, Texas! Sitting here in the back of my van while the girlfriend drives us to Austin from the town of Denton, where we played two nights ago. The ... More >>

Part two: Chef and Tell with Jennifer Jasinski from Rioja and Bistro Vendome

Lori Midson ​This is part two of Lori Midson's interview with Jennifer Jasinksi; to read part one of that interview, click here. Best food city in America: San Francisco Bay. I love the growing capabilities of the area and how you're so closely tied to the land. Restaurants there have the opp ... More >>

Conan O'Brien "Freebird" makes you want to flick your Bic

Now this is what you call going out on a high note. In case you missed it, Conan O'Brien ended his stint at NBC on Friday night by strapping on a Les Paul and playing "Freebird" with Will Ferrell, Ben Harper, Beck and ZZ Top's Bill Gibbons. Ferrell actually does a pretty mean Ronnie Van Zandt an ... More >>

Update: Ben Harper & Relentless 7 bows out of FMBQ Triple A conference

Update: We just received word that Ben Harper & Relentless 7's performance at the Fox slated for next Wednesday has been canceled and will not be rescheduled. Refunds are available at the box office and will be automatically administered for those who purchased tickets but haven't picked them up ... More >>

Relive the Mile High Music Fest on YouTube

Joe Tone If you missed the Mile High Music Fest -- and I did too, thanks to a wedding that was occurring simultaneously -- or if you were there, but were just so trashed your memories are hazy, you can relive it in glorious lo-fi, shaky-cam glory on YouTube. A quick search for "Mile High Music Fes ... More >>

Green Day top seller at Twist and Shout

After coming in second to Steve Earle's Townes last week, Green Day moved took over the top spot with 21st Century Breakdown at Twist & Shout for the week ending May 24. New releases by Tori Amos, Eminem, Iron & Wine and Eric Clapton & Steve Winwood rounded out the top five. See the full ... More >>

Steve Earle grabs top spot at Twist and Shout

Steve Earle, who performed songs from his new Townes Van Zandt tribute album at Twist & Shout last Friday, beat out Green Day for the top spot on the store's best seller list for the week of May 17. Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, Iron & Wine and Conor Oberst continue to hold down spots in the top te ... More >>

Tech N9ne top seller at Independent Records

For the second week in a row, Tech N9ne's Sickology 101 and Rick Ross' Deeper Than Rap grabbed the first and second slots at Independent Records for the week ending May 10. Keri Hilson, Gorilla Zoe and the Dream continue to hold on to slots in the top ten. See the full breakdown after the jump.

Bob Dylan grabs top spot at Twist and Shout

Bob Dylan's latest disc, Together Through Life, was the top seller for the second week in a row at Twist and Shout, while new releases from Ben Harper, Isis, Peaches and St. Vincent rounded out the list for the week ending May 10. See the full breakdown after the jump.

New Kids on the Block, Boz Scaggs, Loretta Lynn shows announced

A number of shows were announced this week, including New Kids on the Block (Wednesday, July 15, Fiddler's Green), Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald (Monday, July 6, Paramount Theatre), Loretta Lynn (Wednesday, June 10, Paramount Theatre) and Reggae on the Rocks featuring Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squa ... More >>

Tool, Widespread Panic and the Fray to headline Mile High Music Festival

Moments ago, the folks at AEG announced the line-up for this year's Mile High Music Festival. This year looks like it's going to be a doozy. Here are just some of the acts that you can look forward to seeing this summer on the two main stages at either end of the park or a number of smaller stages i ... More >>

3OH!3 SXSW tour diary by Kam from Chain Gang of 1974

JensenFriday, March 20: I arrived in Austin on the evening of Wednesday, March 18th. I had played SXSW last year so I knew what to expect. But this time around, I am hired to play bass for 3OH!3 -- you know, that small band from Boulder? The band who still aren't super stars in the eyes of a Colora ... More >>

The Westword.com blog shortcut, October 27 edition

Ben Harper to play Obama rally in Civic Center Park on Saturday

Ben Harper and John Butler Release CDs Cut at Twist & Shout

Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals

Lifeline

Ryan Key Plays a New Yellowcard

Yellowcard’s Frontman Breaks His Silence

Ryan Key on his persistent throat problems and his band’s new disc.

Time for a Bolder Bolder Boulder

Piers Faccini

Sunday, January 28, Boulder Theater, Boulder, 303-786-7030; Thursday, February 1, Walnut Room, 303-292-1700.

Coping Skills

Citizen Cope has built a loyal following without much help.

Have Guns, Will Travel

Ben Harper takes his best shot on Both Sides of the Gun.

Listen Up

Fast reviews of recent releases

Battery Park

Scattered Pictures (ICU)

The Pleasure Bus

Being on the band’s bus isn’t always a joyride.

Discmania

Backbeat writers revisit their favorite albums of the year.

The Blind Boys of Alabama

Spirit of the Century (Real World)

Feedback

Feedback

The Gospel According to Ben Harper

A gifted performer reveals how to become a better musician: Work at it.

Thrills for the week

Thrills for the week

BEN AT WORK

THRILLS

PLAYLIST