MarchFourth Marching Band, Grouplove Play Outdoor Concerts in Aspen

It’s Spring Break in Aspen, and to celebrate two hip and happy bands take to the streets for free concerts this weekend. On Friday, the Portland-based group MarchFourth Marching Band brings big brass, stilt-walkers, drummers, and even fire-breathers to the outdoor concert on the corners of Galena and Cooper. They got their start as street performers in the Pacific Northwest, and have since gone on to play with No Doubt, Blink 182 and Fleetwood Mac. Don’t expect a high-school marching band: The sometimes 15-plus performers promise a high-energy show that’s very different from anything one has seen in the last 10 years.

Indie dance band Grouplove, known for hits like “Colours” and “Tongue Tied” (from an iPod Touch commercial), return to Aspen on Saturday after a debut performance here last May. The five-member band met at an artist-in-residency program over in Greece, and returned to the states with an album in the works. Gaining indie cred, they’ve played everything from Coachella to Outside Lands and smaller festivals in between. This show on the circuit is a must-see.

MarchFourth Marching Band starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 29 and Grouplove starts at 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 30. Both shows are presented by the Aspen Skiing Co. and are free. They take place at the corner of Galena and Cooper streets.