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Summer shows take shape

This year's Free Summer Concert Series, aka the best reason to live in Steamboat Springs, slowly is taking shape. Organizers recently added Cracker to the lineup, scheduled to play Labor Day weekend. There is still one more band to be announced for a July 14 show.

Other concerts planned for this summer are Steel Pulse, which will kick off the series June 24, Sonny Landreth on July 29 and Steamboat's perennial favorite, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, on Aug. 13.

Young band to watch

Tied for Last may have deservedly won this year's Teen Battle of the Bands, but the show stealers were a group of 13- and 14-year-old punk rockers called Noise Pollution.

Frontman Ian Noble already had the girls in the crowd swooning, even as he sang about what a bunch of nags they were. Noble was joined on stage by Jack Spady, Ryan Kelley and Nathan Walsh. Consider Noise Pollution a "band to watch."

Hitchhike back in time

There were a few moviegoers in the theater this weekend who were able to break free from the powerful tractor beam that was Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith. Instead, we went to "the other Star Wars" known to the three or four of us as "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Universe."

For anyone who read Douglas Adams' books and can't remember them, which was all of us, the movie gave us a chance to flashback to the time when we did read it. For most, it was a boring, boring time when we had nothing to do but get absorbed in a fictional character's wacky jaunt through outerspace and the bars and restaurants thereof.

Telluride Blues and Brews

The Telluride Blues and Brews Festival has announced its initial lineup. This year's musicians will include the Black Crowes, Susan Tedeschi, Maceo Parker, Mofro, The Subdudes and Sonny Landreth.

This year's Festival will be held from Sept. 16 to 18.

The Grand Tasting of more than 100 microbrewery beers will be Sept. 17 from noon to 3 p.m.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. June 1. Friday and Sunday passes can be purchased for $50; Saturday passes for $55, and three-day passes (currently available) for $140.00. Camping passes are still available for $35.00 a person. Tickets can be purchased online at www.tellurideblues.com or by calling 866-515-6166.

-- Autumn Phillips