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Aspen Times Weekly: What’s On for Off-season?

by Andrew Travers
Bright Light Social Hour plays Belly Up on Sept. 18.
Courtesy photo |

The hurly-burly of summer in Aspen has quickly calmed into the golden autumn of leaf-peeping and uncrowded (maybe just less crowded) streets. While the pace of life slows considerably here after Labor Day, the lineup of arts offerings is rich enough to keep you busy until the ski lifts start up Thanksgiving weekend. From annual rites of fall like Aspen Filmfest and Aspen Community Theatre to a mix of top-notch concerts (and many free ones) at Belly Up to Aspen Words author readings and workshops, there’s actually a lot going on this “off” season.

Here are some highlights:

Sept. 12



Dead Floyd at Belly Up

The Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd tribute band returns to the club for a free show, kicking off a fall packed with no-cover shows at Belly Up.




Sept. 15

Rich Robinson Band at Belly Up

The Black Crowes co-founder brings his solo project to town. If the crowds and the caliber of performance at his brother’s Chris Robinson Brotherhood appearances here are any indication, this will be a live-music high point of the fall in Aspen.

Sept. 18

Bright Light Social Hour at Belly Up

The Austin, Texas-based band serves up a party-friendly brand of throwback rock ’n’ roll that has impressed at past shows here.

Sept. 18-20

Gary Ferguson reading and workshops in Carbondale

Through Aspen Words, the wilderness author will give a reading at the Third Street Center and will teach a one-day writing workshop and another on “The Nature of Grief.”

Sept. 23

Kerry Egan at Woody Creek Community Center

Aspen Words’ September writer-in-residence and author of “Fumbling” gives a free reading and talk.

Sept. 25

Del the Funky Homosapien at Belly Up

The “underground” Oakland, California-based rapper and a group of special guests bring alternative hip-hop to town. At $15, no local hip-hop fan should miss this one.

Sept. 25

“The Mineola Twins” opening night at Thunder River Theatre

The Carbondale company opens its 2015-16 season with Paula Vogel’s satire of the women’s liberation movement. It runs through Oct. 10.

Sept. 25-30

Aspen Filmfest

The lineup includes highly anticipated features like “Room” and “Experimenter,” documentaries like the Colorado pot doc “Rolling Papers” and foreign offerings like “Son of Saul.” With the Wheeler closed for renovation, screenings will be at Paepcke Auditorium and the Isis Theater in Aspen and at the Crystal Theatre in Carbondale.

Oct. 1-3

The Meeting in Wagner Park

The annual snow-sports film festival and stoke-fest kicks off with the always-entertaining local fare at the NEPSA Awards and includes Teton Gravity Research’s new “Paradise Waits” and Transworld’s “Origins.” Screenings are back in Wagner Park this year due to the Wheeler’s renovation closure.

Oct. 6-13

John Denver Week

The international Denverheads make their annual pilgrimage to Aspen. Chris Collins and Boulder Canyon play their annual tribute show at Paepcke Auditorium on Oct. 10.

OCT. 9

“Steve Jobs” in theaters

Aspen Institute CEO Walter Isaacson’s Apple biography hits the big screen, with Michael Fassbender in the title role.

Oct. 14

Dark Star Orchestra at Belly Up

The Grateful Dead may have finally played its last show this summer, but the premier Dead cover band lives on.

Oct. 15

Moira Crone at Woody Creek Community Center

Aspen Words’ October writer-in-residence and author of “The Ice Garden” gives a free talk and book-signing.

Oct. 17

UB40 at Belly Up

The British reggae-pop band behind “Red Red Wine” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” is still at it. Best date night of the offseason.

Through Oct. 18

“Chris Ofili: Night and Day” at the Aspen Art Museum

If you haven’t gotten to spend time with the British painter’s monumental career survey, also featuring brand-new works, do not miss the opportunity to see it before it closes.

Oct. 20

Matisyahu at Belly Up

The rapper has shaved his beard and embraced a more laid-back sound that impressed on a stop in town last fall.

Oct. 30

Albert Hammond Jr. at Belly Up

The Strokes guitarist has set out on his own and recently released a fantastic solo album, “Momentary Masters.”

Oct. 23

Tony Prikryl at the Wyly Annex

The stand-out local artist gets a solo show in the Wyly’s downtown space. It runs through Nov. 21 and coincides with the annual Wyly Open at the main gallery in the old library, featuring juried work from artists throughout the valley.

Through Nov. 1

Spirit Photography at the Aspen Art Museum

Though it’s been overshadowed by the Chris Ofili retrospective that fills the rest of the museum, this fascinating exhibition of photos featuring (or allegedly featuring) ghosts and spirits is worth a visit before it ends.

Nov. 6

“Beauty and the Beast,” presented by Aspen Community Theatre

The beloved community theater group is tackling Disney’s beloved “Beauty and the Beast” for its annual musical production. It runs through Nov. 15.

atravers@aspentimes.com

Aspen Times Weekly

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