Outdoor Music festivals

Summertime in Denver is all about the outdoors. Denverites spend these months doing their best to enjoy the plentiful sunshine and copious fresh air - hiking, biking, sunbathing, and of course, enjoying a host of live music extravaganzas.

Red Rocks Summer Concert Series

No summer in Denver is complete without at least one — or two or five — trips out to the awe-inspiring Red Rocks Amphitheatre, just 15 miles from downtown Denver. 70 million years in the making, the 9, 450-seat venue is flanked by enormous 300-foot red sandstone rock formations and always boasts a star-studded musical schedule.

Just a few of the highlights include:

Barenaked Ladies with Violent Femmes and Colin Hay, June 10
Peter Frampton with Cheap Trick, June 16
The Avett Brothers, July 10 and 11
Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson, July 13
Death Cab For Cutie, July 15
Van Halen, July 20
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band, July 28
Hozier, August 2
Florence + the Machine, August 3
Sam Smith, August 4
Diana Krall with Pink Martini and the Colorado Symphony, August 12
Jackson Browne, August 18
Tim McGraw, September 9 and 10
Mark Knopfler and Band, September 23

Elway's Summer Music Series

WHEN: Wednesdays, mid June-mid August, 2015 (doors open at 5 p.m., music runs from 6:30-9 p.m.)
WHERE: Elway's Cherry Creek, 2500 E. First Ave., Ste. 101

Head to the Backyard at every Wednesday this summer for the 10th annual Elway's Summer Music Series. Enjoy free music from some fantastic bands (including some of the area's best tribute bands), cocktails, the restaurant's signature menu and beautiful Colorado evenings.

Elway's Summer Concerts lineup:

Funkiphino, June 17
Forever In Blue Jeans, June 24
Moderators, July 1
The Long Run, July 8
The Samples, July 15
That Eighties Band, July 22
Railbenders, July 29
Message In A Bottle, August 5
Freddy Jones Band, August 12
Under A Blood Red Sky, August 19

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park Summer Concerts

Elitch Gardens Theme & Water Park is not only a great, family friendly attraction with roller coasters, water slides and more — it also offers an excellent concert series. All concerts are free with admission to the park.

Summer Concerts lineup:

Jake Miller, May 30
Debby Ryan & The Never Ending, June 6
Intocable, June 14
Dove Cameron & Ryan McCartan, July 11
Tenth Avenue North, Britt Nicole, and The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, July 25
Sabrina Carpenter, August 1
R5, August 8

Westword Music Showcase

Spread across ten stages in the Golden Triangle Museum District, the Westword Music Showcase is a favorite among locals who want to dig dozens of the latest Denver rock stars, along with some of the hippest national acts. This year's headliners on the outdoor stage include the DJ and multi-instrumentalist Flume.

Denver Botanic Gardens Summer Concert Series

The Denver Botanic Gardens is a lush oasis located in the heart of The Mile High City, with hundreds of rare and lovely species of plants populating the grounds. But it's also home to a stellar summer concert series. The lawns surrounding the stage are general admission — bring a blanket or lawn chair along with a bottle of wine and a picnic dinner and enjoy the great music in an unparalleled setting. Word to the wise: virtually all Botanic Gardens concerts sell out — so get your tickets early!

Shovels & Rope, June 17
Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers, July 15