A&E agenda: May 10-17

8th St. Bus Stop dance party at Belly Up Aspen, May 10

8th St. Bus Stop is playing from 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., May 10 at Belly Up Aspen.

Some say they’re more than just a band — they are a musical adventure that began on the final open mic night at the storied Red Onion in Aspen. The ensemble instantly creates dance-floor-ready melodies that get audiences moving and their hearts racing by fusing rock, funk, folk, and blues. 8th St. Bus Stop aims to transform every performance into a celebration of friendship and music by incorporating love, spontaneity, and the thrill of celebration into each presentation.

Tickets are $10 for general and $20 for reserved, with a nominal processing free. Show is for 18 years old and older, with a valid ID. Belly Up Aspen is located at 450 S. Galena St. For more information, visit bellyupaspen.com/events/8th-st-bus-stop-6.

Seun Kuti and Egypt 80 will sizzle at The Arts Campus at Willits, May 10

Grammy-nominated artist Seun Kuti and his incendiary band Egypt 80 will perform at 8 p.m., May 10 at The Arts Campus at Willits in Basalt.

This legacy band is known for its electric performances, mixing Afrobeats, funk, reggae, rap, and jazz. Meanwhile, the lyrics unleash themes of “resistance and revolution.” Son of the influential Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, Seun is now the lead singer of Egypt 80, the band his father founded. It’s truly a rare opportunity to see this band coming all the way from Lagos, Nigeria, for their current tour at TACAW.

Tickets are $30 for members, $35 in advance, and $45 same day. All sales are final. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the standing room show, which is for ages 21 and older. For info, visit tacaw.org/calendar/seun-kuti-and-egypt-80.

The Colorado Plateau Chamber Music Society plays, May 11

Celebrate Mother’s Day with an afternoon of exceptional chamber music as The Colorado Plateau Chamber Music Society presents its spring concert at the Third Street Center from 4-5:30 p.m., May 11. The program showcases two masterful piano quartets: Mozart’s emotionally rich G minor quartet and Faure’s “lush and romantic” quartet in C minor. This intimate performance marks one of the Society’s first performances as the newly-formed organization brings high-caliber chamber music to Western Colorado. It features outstanding musicians who call this region their home. This concert will feature Camille Backman on violin, Charles Hebenstreit on viola, Sarah Graf on cello, and Tamara Goldstein on piano.

Free, $20 suggested donation.

Steel Pulse at Belly Up, May 11

Steel Band is marking its 50th anniversary tour by launching its 12th album, “Mass Manipulation.” The band will perform 8-9:30 p.m., May 11 at Belly Up Aspen.

Steel Band has dedicated 40 years of using music to advance humanity. It addresses contentious issues like racial inequality and human rights globally. They believe that conceptualizations and musical positions are just as powerful now as when they launched their career. The album’s distinctive thematic approach encourages reflection as it advances the unification of the humanities. It advocates that a New World Order is ruling humanity and has influenced mental distortion, and they are creating a rally cry for people to abandon false ideologies.

Tickets are $50, and Belly Up Aspen is located at 450 S. Galena St. Visit: bellyupaspen.com/events/steel-pulse-2.

Aspen City Hall exhibitions marks its third year, May 16

Aspen Public Art program returns to City Hall to feature local and regional artists. The theme is a reflection of contemporary life and the essence of the mountain experience.

For the exhibition’s third year, it will showcase large-scale photographs of snowflakes by Jeremy Swanson, abstract mixed media painting by Christie Helm, a local landscape watercolor by Nika Meyers, and Wally Graham’s wood sculptures out of trees affected by wildfires. Other featured artists include Marilyn Lowey, Leah Potts, Tamara Susa, Jenny Welden, Lara Whitley, Chloe Wilwerding, and Lindsey Yeager. It will also display political posters by Tom Benton, represented by DJ Watkins and the Aspen Collective Gallery.

The exhibit can be seen from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. It is located at 427 Rio Grande Place.

Ride for the Pass rolls out, May 17

Cyclists can take part in the Ride for the Pass from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 17.

The popular spring tradition will begin at the winter closure gate on Highway 82, offering riders a chance for a scenic, car-free route before Independence Pass opens for the season. Three alternative routes are offered for the ride. The full route climbs up to about 2,300 feet and ends at an elevation of roughly 10,800, about 10 miles from the beginning to the end. A shorter, more family-friendly route concludes at Weller Lake, which is just over two miles from the starting line and climbs about 500 feet up from the start. The other option is to use an e-bike (pedal assist only).

The 31st year of the Ride for the Pass supports the Independence Pass Foundation, which works to preserve this Colorado corridor. If the weather permits, there will be a barbecue and raffle at the winter gate after the ride.