So many bands, so little time. I managed to see over 20 artists (in three days) at last week’s Triple A Radio Music Summit. The music ranged from hip hop and world beat, to indie pop and blues/funk acts. Locals got to see many of the shows, and I got a sneak-peak of some acts that played private showcases.

Most of the acts that played the Summit are going to be coming through the Boulder/Denver market this fall, so here are the artists that you should be saving your concert and CD dollars to support:

No doubt about it, the hit of the Summit was Michael Franti & Spearhead. The band had the audience waving their hands in the air and jumping up and down with the music from the very first note. Franti and the group played a solid set of their reggae/worldbeat mix of music and showed off some more acoustic-fused tunes from the upcoming album “All Rebel Rockers” – including the new single “Say Hey.” Here’s the wildest part of the deal: it was revealed after the show, that Franti had been under the weather when he performed. The way the Fox was levitating to the beats, you’d never have known. Save your pennies for the new Spearhead album.

Calexico proved that you can fuse atmospheric, south-of-the-border sounds within the realms of solid songwriting at its Fox showcase. You might want to pick up the band’s latest album “Carried to Dust.”

JJ Grey & Mofro won the award for college-fave band at the Triple A Summit. The band has morphed into slicker sounds, but Grey’s rough vocals and the group’s powerhouse horn section really proved this group has what it takes to make it to the next level. Check the band’s new tunes out on “Orange Blossoms.”

Mark this show on your calendar: Jenny Lewis from Rilo Kiley. She is going on tour as a solo artist, and I had the rare opportunity to see her play a private industry showcase last weekend. You will be kicking yourself if you don’t buy a ticket to her upcoming Fox Theatre show on Sept. 16. Lewis has a knack for wrapping her acoustic tunes around clever lyrics –and she proves it on her new CD “Acid Tongue.” Let’s just say, she could have a thriving solo career if she struck out on her own.

Newton Faulkner gets special kudos for answering my Club Notes request to perform his acoustic version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” at his Triple A Fox show. The young crowd went crazy when this Brit performer played all his unique guitar tunes. My bet, this will be the Triple A act that you’ll be seeing at Red Rocks next summer.

Other acts you should check out: Paul Doucette (Matchbox Twenty) and his band The Break and Repair Method made a valiant effort performing in the rain, and the group played a pretty decent set of indie-pop tunes. Danielia Cotton opened last Wednesday’s outdoor show, and her brand of soul-fused rock should put her music on the map.

The best new records that came out of the Summit’s Rate-A-Record session were new tracks by the Old 97’s (“My Two Feet”), and a horn-packed soul tune by Ray LaMontagne off his new CD “Gossip in the Grain.”

That was the best – now for the rest. There was a lot of hype about southern indie-rockers Wild Sweet Orange, but the band’s outdoor live show didn’t live up to all the supposed buzz on the band. And then there was Augustana. I wasn’t crazy about the band the last time they played a Triple A Summit, and they succeeded in putting on a sleeper of a showcase this time around. It was also the least attended of all the Triple A shows at the Fox. Let’s just say everyone left after Donavon Frankenreiter played his set – and never came back for Augustana.

The most unusual “blast from the past” moment at the Triple A Summit came when Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsay Buckingham actually played a private showcase for 150 people. Hard to believe that the Macs sold out CU’s Folsom Stadium back in the day with 66,000-plus people.

WHAT TO DO TONIGHT?

Catch a free blues and soul show on the Pearl Street Mall tonight with the Erica Brown Band; Redfish hosts its Wednesday Reggae party with UpRoot; “American Idol” winner, Jordin Sparks, plays the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver; and Bob Log III hits the Larimer Lounge in Denver.