As we begin to close out a very successful theatre season, we are riding these good vibes into the summer with this 2024 Summer Concert Playlist Vol. 1! Covering the first half of our summer concert series, we have a lot of upbeat music ahead that is going to sound great under the stars in our Outdoor Amphitheatre. Listen on and be on the lookout for Volume 2 later this summer. Get your tickets today!

Spin Doctors - June 21

One of the most radio-friendly and MTV-successful bands to come out of the 90s New York City/ Wetlands jam scene, Spin Doctors went from opening for Phish at Arrowhead Ranch in 1991 to becoming a household name and reaching the top of the Billboard charts the very next year with the catchy inescapable hits “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and “Two Princes.”

Cracker (Opening for Spin Doctors) - June 21

Former members of college rock favorite Camper Van Beethoven got together to create the underrated rock band Cracker, signing with Virgin Records in 1991 and releasing their self-titled album in 1992. Their 1993 hit “Low” shows the band's timelessness, popping up in soundtracks for movies like “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) and “The Wolverine” (2013) with Hugh Jackman. 

Orquesta Akokán - June 23

With their upcoming second appearance at the Arvada Center, Cuban powerhouse Orquesta Akokán promises a night of jubilation, plenty of drums, and a whole lotta mambo. Their second album, "16 Rayos," was released in 2021 on Daptone Records, has been a great success and comes complete with covers of two of Latin-pop star Rosalía’s hits.

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen (opening for Orquesta Akokán) - June 23

British-born and based in New Orleans, the funk and R&B pianist/multi-instrumentalist Jon Cleary who is greatly inspired by Professor Longhair has played with lots of greats including B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, and Eric Clapton, and his 2015 album “Go Go Juice” won the Grammy for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Fans of JazzFest and Tipitina’s may have seen this group play before, and fans of the TV show Treme may be familiar with Cleary who was featured frequently. Combined with Orquesta, this night promises to be upbeat and exciting!

Melissa Etheridge - July 7

Does this rocking woman even need an introduction?  While Melissa Etheridge will be playing a rock concert here at the Arvada Center, we couldn’t help but be so excited for her turn on Broadway last year with her show “My Window: On Broadway.” Warning - this will get stuck in your head!

Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder - July 9

Mandolin player, vocalist and bandleader Ricky Skaggs and his band Kentucky Thunder are no stranger to award-winning music. Skaggs was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2018, and has fifteen Grammys, and seven of them are with his band Kentucky Thunder. To say this will be a night of good music is an understatement. While bluegrass and country are their main repertoire, Skaggs has also recorded children’s music and can be found on the “Songs From the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers” album.