As you undoubtedly know by now, The Colorado Springs Independent is just a few years away from its teeny-bopper years. Yes, we're 10 years old and hosting a birthday bash to celebrate our pre-early-adolescence with the entire community this Friday downtown in Alamo Square Park outside the Pioneers Museum.

Just as we've grown bigger, better and more mature (wink wink) over the past decade, so has the Colorado Springs music scene. As such, we've invited a sampling of the best local musical talent to help us kick off our next decade. So here's some of the all-local music you can look forward to throughout the day.

On Stage 1 under the gazebo you will see:

· 11:30: Bonobos rocks and rolls, dude.

· 12:30: The Colorado Springs Conservatory shows off their multi-talented young musicians.

· 1:30: Zydeco jazz freaks Johnny and the Jukes go for broke.

· 2:30: Local metal mongers Gripped rock the park.

· 3:30: Hip-hop wunderkinds Idiolectic Conception take the stage.

· 4:30: It's more brainy and danceable hip-hop with Accumen.

· 5:30: Magic Dave and the New Mules featuring Smokin' Joe crank their harp-driven blues.

· 6:30: The Little London Winds wind things down with some classics.

On Stage 2 on the west side of the building you'll see:

· 2:00: Old-timer Spider Murphy pays his dues to the blues.

· 4:00: Young folk/country ingénue Summer Hartbauer gets geetarlicious.

· 5:00: Blue Sun rawks hard, real hard.

Along with the music, there will be hundreds of nonprofit and vendor booths including organizations like the ACLU, Citizens Project, Dreampower Animal Rescue, Pikes Peak Lavender Film Festival and the Independence Community Fund. There will also be children's activities by Joyrides and Everybody Loves Dinosaurs. To satisfy your hunger pangs and slake your thirst, there will be the Royal Thai Restaurant, Shuga's and The Maté Factor, and a beer garden featuring Bristol Brewing Company will be ready to sling suds.

At 12:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. there will be tours of our new building at 235 S. Nevada Ave. (right across the street from the party) as well as a contest to name it.

Finally, there will be workshops inside the Pioneers Museum by our very own editorial staff including A&E Listings: How to submit a press release at 2 p.m., How to freelance, submit letters to the editor or an op-ed piece at 2:30 p.m. and 10 years of the Independent: War stories with Q&A and discussion featuring Editor Cara DeGette and Contributing Editor Kathryn Eastburn.

Don't miss the biggest party of the year, or you'll be, like, totally lame, dude.

-- Noel Black

capsule

The Colorado Springs Independent's 10th Birthday Bash

On the lawn of the Pioneers Museum 215 S. Tejon St.

From 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Call 577-4545 for information.