Free for All: The Five Best Free Events This Week

Though Monday's arrival signifies a new week of workaday worries, artsy opportunists regard the days ahead as yet more chances to engage with Denver's creative community at the unbeatable price of free. While away the waning days of February and move into March at concerts, comedy shows and even a queer punk night, all without spending so much as a penny for admission. Here are the five best free events in Denver and Boulder this week.

God Save the Queens: Queer Punk Night
Monday, February 26, 9 p.m.
hi-dive
Mosh or mope your way into the dawning week at God Save the Queens: Queer Punk Night at the hi-dive, an epicenter of the local music scene. Queer punks and their Oi! Oi! allies can dance the night away to sets from Novelí and DJ Tocsin, who'll also be spinning proto-punk, electro-clash, goth, death rock and more. Visit the hi-dive's Facebook events page to learn more.


Faculty Tuesdays: Jennifer Bird and David Korevaar
Tuesday, February 27, 7:30 p.m.
Grusin Music Hall
The University of Colorado Boulder's College of Music is staffed with brilliant instructors, many of whom are celebrated musicians in their own right. CU shares this proud tradition with its students, as well as the general public, at Grusin Music Hall's weekly Faculty Tuesdays concert series. Join soprano Jennifer Bird and pianist David Korevaar for a stirring concert dedicated to soaring melodies this week at a program filled with beautiful compositions, such as Samuel Barber's "Départ," Henri Duparc's "L’invitation au voyage, "Antonin Dvorák's "Zigeunermelodien," and many more. Visit the CU Presents box-office page for details; viewers who can't make the trip to Boulder can visit the same page to watch a live stream of the performance.

The Ebert Test: Live From an Underground Bunker
Wednesday, February 28, 8 p.m.
El Charrito's Comedy RoomRoom
Ben Bryant, a devilishly prolific local comic and show-runner, is making a new foray into podcasting with The Ebert Test: Live From an Underground Bunker. The high-concept premise presages a dystopian future wherein an all-knowing robot overlord called "Ebert" has fully subjugated humankind, and it falls upon a group of imprisoned comedians to find humor in an automated world. Join Bryant along with guests Geoff Tice and Brandt Tobler as they wring laughs from the rise of the machines in one of the most inventive new shows on the local comedy and podcasting scenes. See the Comedy RoomRoom's Facebook events page for more details about the weekly show, and visit The Ebert Test's iTunes page to listen to previous episodes.


Sticks & Stones: Comedy Debate Show
Wednesday, February 28, 9:30 p.m.
Oskar Blues' Black Buzzard
The comedy debate show has evolved into one of the most enduring and mutable formats in standup, one that presents a unique challenge to comics on the dais and an evening of fresh material for savvy comedy nerds. Over her relatively brief tenure as a weekly showrunner at Oskar Blues' Black Buzzard, comedian and podcaster Christie Buchele has attempted to bring a variety of performers and comedic stylings to the newly anointed stage, a tradition that continues with her latest effort, Sticks & Stones. Reviving the locally lauded Arguments & Grievances comedy debate-show vibe, Buchele welcomes a cavalcade of local favorites to the stage, with debaters Brad Galli, Zach Reinert, Cody Spyker, Rachel Weeks, Harris Alterman, Janae Burris, Nathan Lund, Aaron Urist, Steve Vanderploeg and Emma Arnold squaring off in a gladiatorial battle of wits. Visit the Black Buzzard's Ticketfly page for more information.


Open Music Sessions
Friday, March 2, 7 p.m.
Denver Open Media
The Santa Fe Arts District's First Friday celebrations spread across various art galleries, dining establishments and watering holes at the beginning of every month, but artsy locals too often overlook the steadfast efforts of Denver Open Media, which celebrates the monthly art crawl by showcasing some of the finest voices in Denver's performing arts community at the televised Open Music Sessions. March's event spotlights hardcore favorites Colfax Speed Queen as well as local comics Allison Rose and Geoff Tice (who is admittedly overrepresented on this list, both as a comedian and a graphic designer). Guests can munch on complimentary beverages and slices from Sexy Pizza while they giggle and wiggle their way through one of Denver's artsiest evenings. Interested parties who can't attend in the flesh can also check out a live stream of the broadcast. Visit DOM's Facebook events page for more details.

Looking for more to do? Go to Westword's calendar online.