There are only three things you need to know about Colorado's best concert venue: 1) if you don't go there at least once before you die, you haven't lived a full life; 2) always wear comfortable walking/ hiking shoes ... this is a mountain venue after all, and that hill is steep; 3) the easiest way to get in and get good seats is to check out the summer movie series.

Oh, sure, there's probably at least one big time act you'll want to see this summer, but getting tickets to that show is likely to push you to the top of the stands with the rest of the peons. To really get to know Red Rocks, grab tickets for any one of the movie events. Each flick is opened by live music from a local band, and tickets are only $5 to $8 ... the same price you'd pay to see something crappy at United Artists! Here's your schedule:

• June 5: Opie Gone Bad presents Evolution
• June 12: Chris Daniels & The Kings presents Forrest Gump
• June 18: Colorado Symphony Orchestra presents Citizen Kane
• June 26: Emilio Emilio presents Mission Impossible II
• July 2: Brethren Fast presents Independence Day
• July 10: Opie Gone Bad presents Rocky Horror Picture Show
• July 16: Nina Storey presents From Here To Eternity
• July 23: Manuel Molina Y Su Sonida 2000 presents La Bamba
• July 31: Denver Brass & Bagpipes presents Braveheart
• August 14: Timothy P. & Rural Route 3 presents Blazing Saddles
• August 20: Hazel Miller presents Priscilla Queen of the Desert

People laughed a little when aging rockstar Ozzy Osbourne first put together this tour several years ago, but it's turned out to be the strongest summer circus extravaganza ever, sur-passing the late, great Lollapalooza. This year's got another Black Sabbath reunion and Marilyn Manson. Further proof metal ain't dead, and never will be.

FIDDLER'S GREEN
6350 Greenwood Plaza Blvd.,
303-220-7000

F ace it: if you're going to see a concert at Fiddler's, you're going to be sitting on the lawn. Sure, there are rumors that certain high-powered business folk, Qwest employees, and long-standing members of the Illuminati have enjoyed the seats at this thoroughly sucky venue, but it's grass stains and sore butts for the rest of us.

There are a few rules for squeezing enjoyment out of a concert at Fiddler's; follow them, and you won't be as pissed when a Greenwood Village cop pulls you over after the show for doing 32 in a 30.

#1: Get there early. It's the exact opposite of what you would do for any downtown concert, but the chaos of general admission demands it, and there's a city curfew that keeps the bands honest about their start times.

#2: Sit in the front half of the green. If you imagine the lawn being folded in thirds, you'll want to sit where the creases would be. These are the areas that seem to have the least slope. Sitting on the back half of the green will only give your ankles a work-out.

#3: Come drunk. I haven't seen scientific evidence yet, but beer at Fiddler's is more expensive than a tank of gas for an SUV, and security will confiscate your stash. Expect everything but a cav-ity search.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM. . .
Aaron Carter/ A* Teens at Magness Arena June 27

A frickin' white 14-year-old rapper (who's the little brother of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter) and a bunch of poster children who recycle Abba? It's no coincidence that Aaron and A* Teens and Abba and Apocalypse all start with the same letter. We're wondering if four giant inflatable horsemen will be part of the stage show.

June Concerts

• Aaron Carter with A* Teens, Leslie Carter, No Authority. 27-Jun, Magness Arena
• Ani DiFranco with Sekou Sundiata. 27-Jun, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $31.25
• Beach Boys. 30-Jun, Greeley Stampede, $21-$ 36, Greeley
• Big Head Todd & The Monsters with Keb' Mo'. 19-Jun, Red Rocks, $30-$ 40
• Bob Log III with The Immortal Lee County Killers, The Jealous X-Lovers. 16-Jun, 15th Street Tavern
• Clandestine. 16-Jun, Rialto Theatre, Loveland
• Coldplay with Grandaddy. 13-Jun, Fillmore Auditorium, $20.00
• Diana Krall with Barbaritto Torres. 22-Jun, Wheeler Opera House, $20-$ 75, Aspen
• Dianne Reeves. 8-Jun, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Digital Bullet Tour featuring RZA, Wu Tang Killa Bees, Killarmy, Black Knights, A Shahiem, Man Child. 10-Jun, Fox Theater, $22.50, Boulder
• Dionne Warwick and Neil Sedaka with Colorado Symphony Orchestra. 24-Jun, Ritchie Center, $45-$ 65
• Emmylou Harris. 20-Jun, Denver Botanic Gardens, $40.00
• Evan and Jaron. 6-Jun, Colorado Music Hall, $10.00, Colorado Springs
• George Winston. 1-Jun, Boettcher Concert Hall, $15-$ 25
• Irish Tenors. 13-Jun, Magness Arena, $48-$ 68
• Jo Dee Messina. 29-Jun, Greeley Stampede, $21-$ 36, Greeley
• Jonatha Brooke. 7-Jun, Bluebird Theater, $17.50; 8-Jun, Colorado Music Hall, $17.50, Colorado Springs
• Jonny Lang with Susan Tedeschi, Blind Boys of Alabama. 24-Jun, Wheeler Opera House, $20-$ 75, Aspen
• Liquid Soul. 22-Jun, Bluebird Theater, $14.00
• Nelly with Ja Rule, Ludacris, Run DMC. 9-Jun, Fiddler's Green, $10-$ 35
• Ozzfest featuring Marilyn Manson, Black Sabbath, Slipknot, Linkin Park, Crazy Town, Papa Roach, Disturbed, Mudvayne, Cold, Taproot, Union Underground, Systematic, Nonpoint, American Head Charge, Drowning Pool, Hatebreed, Beautiful Creatures, Black Label Society. 21-Jun, Old Mile High Stadium, $40.25-$ 55.25
• Patti LaBelle with Delbert McClinton, Liquid Soul. 23-Jun, Wheeler Opera House, $20-$ 75, Aspen
• Paul Simon and Brian Wilson. 24-Jun, Fiddler's Green, $25-$ 59.50
• Radiohead. 20-Jun, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Robert Earl Keen with Junior Brown, Iris Dement, Todd Snider, Stacey Earle. 23-Jun, Fillmore Auditorium, $27.50-$ 30
• Rod Stewart. 18-Jun, Pepsi Center, $35.25-$ 125.25
• Samples. 12-Jun, Fox Theater, $17.75, Boulder
• Squirrel Nut Zippers. 22-Jun, Fox Theater, $24.00, Boulder; with Cabaret Diosa, 12-Jun, Fillmore Auditorium, $18.50-$ 20
• String Cheese Incident. 30-Jun, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $30-$ 35
• Telluride Bluegrass Festival featuring Shawn Colvin, Eliades Ochoa, Jerry Douglas, Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Sam Bush Band, Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Peter Rowan, Tim O'Brien, Boom Chicks, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, John Cowan Band, Dan Tyminski, and more. 22-23- 24-Jun, $125.00, Telluride
• Temptations. 22-Jun, Pikes Peak Center, $31-$ 101, Colorado Springs
• Travis Tritt with 38 Special. 22-Jun, Greeley Stampede, $15-$ 31, Greeley
• Vertical Horizon. 23-Jun, Fiddler's Green
• Widespread Panic. 22-23-24-Jun, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $37.00

July

HIT PICK

Founder Kevin Lyman promises this will be the best Warped ever, even if Weezer decided to ditch 'em at the last minute for a European jog. This year, teenage wannabe punkers can deposit their parents in an air-conditioned tent whilst they take in such odd-ities as Incredibly Strange Wrestling. This concert is the only reason you'll ever have to go to Brighton.

OLD MILE HIGH STADIUM

Yep, you've got three chances left to get into the old horseshoe to see some rock music: Ozzfest, N'Sync, and Area One. Trouble is, some idiot built a huge curvy stadium in the parking lot. Now, a lot of news organizations and official people are suggesting you try parking at Auraria Campus, or at Elitch's, or anywhere in the Platte River corridor. Sure, you could do that, but what will it cost? You don't even want to know.

Here's what you do: park at the lot on the north side of Colfax and Broadway (the entrance is to the right just as Colfax goes on its little tumor route around Civic Center Park). The fee is $3 or $4 on weekends and after hours, which is probably the cheapest rate in the city if you want to leave your car somewhere for more than two hours. From there, it's just a bus ride on the #15 to Federal Boulevard (75 cents each way), and then a short walk to the stadium. Incidentally, this little lot is a big money saver for Rockies games, too, when used in conjunction with the nearby free 16th Street Mall shuttle. Viva la bus!

THINGS THAT MAKE YO GO HMMM. . . Journey/ Peter Frampton at Red Rocks July 24

Well, since Cher repopularized the mouth guitar (just another sin she'll burn in Hell for), it sort of makes sense that Peter Frampton would once again mount a comeback. But Journey? They've put out a new CD (Arrival) and, whether you knew it or not, their fans never went away. Seeing these two acts on one bill makes me think of bad fashion more than good music, but I'm sure Red Rocks will be packed with people wanting a second taste of prom night, even if Steve Perry has been replaced by Steve Augeri.

July Concerts

• Aerosmith with Fuel. 23-Jul, Fiddler's Green
• Air with Sebastien Tellier. 3-Jul, Ogden Theater, $22.50-$ 25
• Area One Music Festival featuring Moby, Outkast, Incubus, The Roots, Nelly Furtado, Paul Oakenfold, Orb, Carl Cox, Rincerose, and more. 28-Jul, Old Mile High Stadium, $40-$ 55
• Ben Harper and String Cheese Incident with Charlie Hunter. 4-Jul (street party), $35.00, Steamboat Springs
• Blues Traveler and String Cheese Incident with Israel Vibration. 3-Jul, (street party), $35.00, Steamboat Springs; (solo) 4-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $32.50
• Brian Setzer 68 Comeback Special. 31-Jul, Fox Theater, $27.75, Boulder
• Dan Fogelberg. 16-Jul, Paramount Theater
• Dave Matthews Band with Macy Gray. 11-Jul, Folsom Field, $49.50, Boulder
• Depeche Mode. 21-Jul, Fiddler's Green, $25-$ 57.50
• Eric Clapton with Doyle Branhall II, Smokestack. 30-Jul, Pepsi Center, $50-$ 75
• G3 featuring Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci. 3-Jul, Fillmore Auditorium
• Godsmack. 25-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Indigo Girls. 13-Jul, Denver Botanic Gardens, SOLD OUT
• Journey with Peter Frampton, John Waite. 24-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $37.50-$ 42.50
• Kenny Rogers. 4-Jul, Greeley Stampede, $15-$ 31, Greeley
• Lyle Lovett with Shawn Colvin. 26-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $39-$ 49
• Mary Chapin-Carpenter. 29-Jul, Fillmore Auditorium
• N'Sync. 13-Jul, Old Mile High Stadium, $29.50-$ 65.50
• Pantera with Slayer, Static-X, Skrape, Morbid Angels. 11-Jul, Denver Coliseum
• Phil Lesh & Friends with Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade. 6-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $32.50; with The Disco Biscuits, 7-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $32.50
• Reba McEntire with Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Jamie O'Neal, Carolyn Dawn Johnson. 29-Jul, Fiddler's Green, $25-$ 70
• Rocky Grass featuring Sam Bush Band, Peter Rowan & Tony Rice, Del McCoury Band & David Grisman, Lynn Morris Band, Mark Schatz & Friends, Missy Raines & Jim Hurst, Single Malt Band, 27-Jul, $35-$ 90, Lyons; featuring Del McCoury Band, David Grisman Quartet, Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, The Seldom Scene, Chris Thile & Mike Marshall, Dave Evans & River Bend, Cheyenne Lonesome. 28-Jul, $40-$ 90, Lyons; featuring Tribute To Old And In The Way, Tony Rice Unit, Nickel Creek, Lonesome River Band, Mandolin Army, Bluebrass Etc., Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, 29-Jul, $40-$ 90, Lyons
• String Cheese Incident. 1-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $30-$ 35
• Tim McGraw with Kenny Chesney. 4-Jul, Fiddler's Green
• Trey Anastasio. 17-18-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Warped Tour featuring 311, Rancid, Pennywise, Rollins Band, New Found Glory, Fenix TX, Alien Ant Farm, Good Charlotte, Less Than Jake, Me First & The Gimme Gimmes, Fat Mike, Chris Shiflett, Misfits, H2O, Kool Keith, Vandals, AFI, Ataris, Big Wig, Distillers, Grand Theft Audio, Dub Pistols, Guttermouth, Julianna Theory, Kill Your Idols, Madcap, Jepetto, Midtown, Morgan Heritage, River City Rebels, No Motiv, Saves The Day, Sugarcult, Esham, Userfriendly, and more. 8-Jul, Brighton
• Willie Nelson with Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. 14-Jul, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $45.00
• Winter Park Jazz Festival featuring Craig Chaquico, Warren Hill, Jeff Golub, Jeff Kashiwa, Spyro Gyra, Kevin Eubanks, Hazel Miller Band. 14-Jul, $32.50, Winter Park; featuring W. A. R., Kirk Whalum, Wayman Tisdale, Deep Banana Blackout, Yellowjackets, Dotsero. 15-Jul, $32.50, Winter Park

August - September

HIT PICK

Hells yeah, this is a hit pick. Of all the ancient rockers who get disembalmed and run around in the summer, Stevie is the most welcome comeback. The ex-Fleetwood Mac vocalist has quietly contributed a ton to the American ballad songbook, and is in the midst of a Blondie-style revival with a new album and a budding new generation of fans. Now, sing "Go Your Own Way" like you mean it.

DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Denver's best kept secret as far as outdoor music venues, the Botanic Gardens is featuring such acts as the Indigo Girls (sorry, sold out already), Nanci Griffith, and Art Garfunkel this summer. The tickets are a wee bit pricey--$ 28 to $40-- but you get a wee bit more scenery than usual (unless you're impressed by the grass at Fiddler's).

Unlike the other big summer venues, parking and distance aren't a huge problem. Even if you have trouble nabbing a space across the street from the entrance on 10th and York, there's plenty of meter-free street parking in the area to the north and south.

If you can't get in for a concert, check it out just for the foliage and walking paths-- every third Monday of the month, admission is free.

THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO HMMM. . .

Quiet Riot/ Poison/ Warrant at Fiddler's Green August 23

Everything comes back eventually, sure, but don't we need just a few more years before this stuff is cool again? If you think this could be campy fun, just imagine sitting through "Cherry Pie," "Unskinny Bop," and "Party All Night" all in one evening. Remember, folks, Quiet Riot is the band they were making fun of in This Is Spinal Tap.

August -September Concerts

• Al Jarreau with George Duke. 21-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• Allman Brothers Band with Susan Tedeschi. 11-12-Aug, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Art Garfunkel. 1-Aug, Denver Botanic Gardens, $40.00
• Backstreet Boys with Shaggy, Krystal. 23-Aug, Pepsi Center, $49.50-$ 85
• Barenaked Ladies with The Proclaimers. 10-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• B. B. King Blues Festival featuring B. B. King, Buddy Guy, John Hiatt. 14-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• Folks Festival featuring Greg Brown, Patty Larkin, Todd Snider, Cliff Eberhardt, Vance Gilbert, Steve Seskin, Chris Rosser. 17-18-19-Aug, $65.00, Lyons
• Herman's Hermits featuring Peter Noone. 17-Aug, Arvada Center, $16-$ 26
• James Taylor. 1-2-Sep, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $47.50-$ 57.50
• John Melloncamp with The Wallflowers. 6-Aug, Red Rocks Amphitheater
• Kool Keith and Esham. 15-Aug, Fillmore Auditorium
• Leftover Salmon. 30-Aug, Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder
• MTV's TRL Tour with Destiny's Child. 9-Sep, Fiddler's Green
• Nanci Griffith. 15-Aug, Denver Botanic Gardens, $35.00
• NedFest 2001 featuring Nederland Acid Jazz, Charlie Hunter Quartet, The Motet, Blackdog, 4-Aug, Nederland; featuring Nederland Bluegracid Jazz All-Stars, Runaway Truck Ramp, Hanuman, Jaka, 5-Aug, Nederland
• Plus One. 2-Sep, Fiddler's Green
• Quiet Riot with Poison, Warrant, Enuff Z'Nuff. 23-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• Reggae on the Rocks featuring Burning Spear, Yellowman, Dave Wakeling, Mutabaruka, Wailing Souls, Mighty Diamonds, Worl-A-Girl, Judge Roughneck. 25-Aug, Red Rocks Amphitheater, $30.00
• Ringo Starr with Roger Hodgson, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., Ian Hunter. 25-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• Stevie Nicks. 8-Aug, Fiddler's Green
• Yes . 5-Aug, Fiddler's Green