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Youth on Record (YOR), a Denver nonprofit focused on music education for at-risk youth, is a perfect example of using innovative thinking to fuel community growth.

Through the collaboration of the local music community and the philanthropic/public sector, Youth on Record provides intensive, for-credit music classes and fosters mentorships to empower youth to graduate and develop the skills  needed to work or pursue a post-secondary education. Today it serves over 700 young people in five Denver Public Schools, two local residential treatment centers and at their Youth Media Studio, opened in partnership with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) in La Alma/Lincoln Park in 2014.

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Labor Day weekend marks the end of another beautiful, sunny summer and one of the last three-day weekends for a while. So, it’s only appropriate that you go out with a bang – which you can do by checking out a Taste of Colorado 2015. It’s four days of stuffing your face with incredible food, listening to live music by award-winning musicians and being in the presence of half a million other people looking to close out the season right.

A Taste of Colorado kicks off on Friday, September 4, at 11:30 a.m. at the Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver. We’ll definitely be heading down, mostly because we don’t want to miss:

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Alright people let’s get this over with, we have weekends to plan. It’s Thursday, we’re tired, we’re hungry, and we’ve just about had enough of all this work stuff.

We at The Denver Lowdown and EveryBlock know you don’t always have the time to search around the vast, expansive internet for your weekend activities. So, we’ve done this clever little thing and rounded up a bunch of totally sweet things to do.

Why don’t you sit back and check out what’s going down at the Lowdown.

Friday:

Mobile App Hackathon

Got an idea for an app? Do you need an app built for your business? Do you like all apps all the time? Well, Mobile App Hackathon, an event produced by the AT&T Developer Program, is designed for attendees to build apps, compete for prizes across different categories, network with other app developers, and most importantly, get fed. Be sure to bring your laptop, skills, and ideas and be ready to collaborate with some smart cookies. (photo) // Day One 6 p.m., Day Two 10 a.m., Free, Galvanize Boulder, 1035 Pearl St., 5th Floor.

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What do you get when you mix a Paul Simon classic and an out-of-the-box, Denver indie math-dance band? Survey says: one hell of a cover.

Confluence is made up of four dudes from Denver. After a 10-month hiatus and a new guitarist, they’ve come out of hiding with a tasty cover of Paul Simon’s classic, “Graceland”. Confluence’s modern progressive sound and finger-tapping guitar riffs give their cover of the American classic a hint of technicality and psychedelia. This song was recorded for an ‘80s covers compilation by Act So Big Forest, an artist’s collective based out of Fort Collins.

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When compared to cities like Austin or Nashville, Denver isn’t nationally recognized for its music scene. The biggest acts in pop, folk, and EDM usually play in our Texas sister city before heading off to play sold out shows in LA, but that doesn’t mean Denver is devoid of talented musicians. The truth is, the mile high city boasts a flourishing local music scene emerging with a loud crescendo.

Here, six Denver bands explain what it means to be a musician in this burgeoning western city. From dreamy electronica to soul-lifting folk, I’ve chosen my favorite songs for blasting on your stereo, adding to your road trip playlist, and listening to live this summer.

1) Inner Oceans

This ethereal song has dreamy beats and ghostlike vocals that induce a deep sense of contemplation. Play it while you’re cruising along an endless mountain road—the fluid instrumentals make it a good fit for being in motion.

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Lesley Fram, Angaleena Presley, Braelynn, Kelsea Ballerini, Danielle Bradbery, Cam and the CMT crew backstage before the CMT Next Women in Country event.

“Today, we possibly won’t address and fix the gender gap, but we will hear women who step up to those challenges,” CMT Senior Vice President Leslie Fram announced onstage from the Country Music Hall of Fame’s CMA Theater.

At CMT’s Next Women of Country, a panel devoted to exposing diverse voices in popular country music, Fram candidly interviewed RaeLynn, Angaleena Presley, The Voice’s Danielle Bradbery, Kelsea Ballerini.

The audience roared in applause as Fram introduced each panelist onstage.

RaeLynn, who performed at the CMT Awards Wednesday night in downtown Nashville, took the first seat and admitted she was nervous at the CMT awards, but was glad she made it through it. She seemed relaxed onstage sitting between Fram and Presley.

After greeting herself and entertaining the audience with her bubbly personality, Raelynn entertained the audience with her new song, “For a Boy.”

Lesley Fram announces the panel of CMT’s Next Women of Country.

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Good morning everyone, and welcome to a brand new weekend in a brand new month, which means it’s time for a brand new Denver Lowdown. Who’s excited? I’m excited. Are you excited? Well you better be.

Let’s check out what’s going down at the Lowdown.

Friday

Auraria Campus Taijiquan (“Tai Chi”)

It’s a little cliché to run straight for happy hour once your workweek ends, so why not relax on a Friday? When’s the last time you did some Tai Chi? Doesn’t matter, because Auraria Campus Tajiquan will work on the first Chen style form, spine and hip alignment, as well as drill movement while rooted. Don’t know what any of that means? That’s OK: This course is for all skill levels.
Whether it’s Tai Chi or Chai Tea, kick your shoes off this Friday and relaaaaaaax. (photo) // 5 p.m., Free, Confucius Institute, 1030 St. Francis Way.

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If you’re Denver based (and not just a self-proclaimed foodie) you know Justin Cucci. Or, you know his two premier restaurants – Root Down (1600 W. 33rd Ave.) and Linger (2030 W. 30th Ave.). Root Down opened in 2008 and very quickly set the stage for Denver’s food scene focusing on a farm-to-table approach spotlighting exceptional seasonal, local ingredients. 

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Food aside, the space Root Down occupies and what set the stage for the theme of Cucci’s following restaurants is fantastic. An old 1950s garage that emulates the old school, original feel of Denver’s Highland neighborhood brings diners back to a simple, working class feel despite the high-class vibe of the restaurant itself.

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