MUSIC
City Park Jazz: The Dave Watts Ensemble of Deepness, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., Sunday, City Park, Colorado Blvd. and 17th Ave., Denver. Free admission. Information: cityparkjazz.org. Squeeze the last drops of life out of your summer weekend by spending your Sunday night outside with one of the jam-band genre’s prodigal sons. A Berklee College of Music grad and former Boulder resident, Dave Watts has spent the better part of the past two decades touring North America and introducing the world to his progressive, improve-based style. Expect to hear an array of arpeggios and a fascicle of fills in this technical performance sure to flirt with any combination of jazz, funk and world. Oh, and be sure to come hungry so you can indulge in any of the many local food trucks that often frequent the premises.
FESTIVALS
Colorado Black Arts Festival, All weekend, City Park West, Colorado Blvd. and 17th Ave., Denver. Drop by City Park in Denver at any point during the day this weekend and you’re sure to see and hear an extensive assortment of African-American cultural pleasures. Offering a packed schedule of musical acts ranging from R&B to jazz ensembles, the 28th annual festival will also host a diverse variety of local art, spoken word performances and artisanal goods like handmade Shea butter and soaps. Saturday’s schedule boasts the most entertainment with a parade in the morning and R&B singer Howard Hewett taking the Kuumba stage in the evening.
ONSTAGE
“Sideways Stories from Wayside School,” 10 a.m., Friday, 1 p.m., Saturday, Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave., Aurora Tickets start at $7, $5 for groups of 10 or more. Information: 303-739-1970 or aurorafoxartscenter.org Details: If you’re looking for a healthy does of cuteness this weekend, check out the opening of this production completely staged, organized and starring a group of thespians not yet out of high school. Known as the Little Foxes, the troupe features local actors and production assistants ages 7-17. But don’t be fooled, what they lack in years, they more than make up for in theatrical enthusiasm and bona fide acting chops. Directed by Lisa Mumpton, the show tells the tale of a gang of youngsters whose school classroom is located on the 30th floor of a school accidentally built 30 stories tall with a classroom on each floor instead of one story high, with all of the classrooms in a row. If you can’t make it this weekend, the show runs almost daily through July 24.
ONSTAGE
“Robert Dubac’s The Book of Moron,” Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m., Sunday matinee starts at 2 p.m., Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St., Aurora. Tickets are $22 in advance, $25 at the door. Information: vintagetheatre.com. Details: If you’re looking for a casual night out for a bite and a show, consider skipping out on this high-octane, comedic soliloquy. Comic, actor and master satirist Robert Dubac is a tour-de-force in this one-man act packed with biting political commentary and a seemingly endless flurry of line-toeing zingers. Dubac’s performance bobs and weaves around just about every water-cooler convo and daily headline, leaving no stone unturned and no feather un-rustled.
MUSIC
Bob Weir and Ratdog, 9 p.m., July 12, Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver. Tickets start at $49.50. Information: ogdentheatre.com. Details: Dark Star Orchestra served as an adequate appetizer for many local dead heads last weekend, but buckle up for the real thing as one of the founding members of The Grateful Dead storms into town. Teamed up with the most current incarnation of his post-Dead group Ratdog, Weir is back to provide fans with yet another shot of the dancing bears. The semi-intimate Ogden provides a unique venue in which to soak in the unique tones of Weir’s classics “Truckin’” and “Sugar Magnolia.” Those intimated by the Dead-centric Furthur experience will relish this chance to see Jerry’s right-hand man do what he does best: rock.