The former, 50,000-square-foot Celebrity Lanes site, at 15755 E. Arapahoe Road, will now become The Hall at Bourbon Brothers and Bourbon Brothers Smokehouse & Tavern — the latest location in Ford Amphitheater owner VENU’s ambitious national expansion.

VENU already operates the Phil Long Music Hall at Bourbon Brothers in Colorado Springs, as well as a location in Gainesville, Ga. Much like its newly built, $40 million Ford Amphitheater, the Centennial location will offer upscale food, drink and other perks, according to a statement.

Designers envision a “state-of-the-art indoor music hall, private event space, and restaurant, all rooted in VENU’s signature premium style,” with Luxe FireSuites (also at the 9,570-seat Ford Amphitheater) and other upgrades for those who can afford it, owners said.

“We have assembled a powerhouse team of architects, designers, and operators to deliver the ultimate destination in Centennial,” VENU founder and chairman J.W. Roth said in a statement. “It will set a new standard not just for Denver, but for the entire industry. Like everything else we do, this will be over the top.”

VENU expects to close on the property on June 1, with “fractional ownership opportunities” for luxury spots close behind. Its model relies on the growth of Front Range concert demand, which has expanded each year since 2021 as artists transform what would normally be a Red Rocks or Ball-Arena focused visit into multi-show stops at large venues in Loveland, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Dillon.

That’s because concerts at Red Rocks and other venues sell out so quickly that promoter AEG Presents, which books the majority of large Denver concerts, can sell additional venues and multiply the value for artists of visiting our relatively isolated tour-routing hub.

Being indoors also means Bourbon Brothers likely won’t see the same kind of friction that Ford Amphitheater has experienced from its close-by neighbors since it opened in 2024 — with more than 600 noise complaints registered in its first two weeks alone. VENU, the neighbors, and the city of Colorado Springs have had a monthslong back-and-forth over the issue has only partially resolved neighbors’ concerns.

VENU also plans to open upscale Sunset Amphitheater live-music venues — which is what Ford Amphitheater was called before Ford bought the naming rights — in Oklahoma and Texas, hosting between 12,500 and 20,000 guests, the company said.

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It doesn’t seem like it. While the world-famous Morrison venue is physically constrained by the calendar, open spots are filling quickly — with more to go. The spring-to-fall concert season started on March 8 with Icelantic’s Winter on the Rocks, but there are still dozens of shows and other events yet to be announced, including Film on the Rocks (expect a schedule soon).

Despite the potential hassle and expense of buying concert tickets, unpredictable weather and other ongoing concerns, audience demand continues to drive the seasonal expansion in either direction, turning it into one, months-long music festival, as AEG Presents Rocky Mountains president Don Strasburg called it in a recent interview.

Related: Every concert coming to Red Rocks in 2025

Here are the shows announced over the last couple of weeks that you might have missed. Most are all-ages and tickets for all are available at axs.com, the AEG Presents spinoff that acts as the city’s official ticket seller. Note that tickets for some shows are not yet on sale; prices for some may also not be available until the on-sale date.

New shows announced at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Tuesday, May 13 — Skrillex

Monday, June 16 — Lindsey Stirling with the Colorado Symphony

Sunday, July 6 — Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration with the Colorado Symphony, feat. Melvin Seals, Jacklyn LaBranch, Oteil Burbridge, Tom Hamilton, Duane Trucks, and Lady Chi

Monday, July 14-Wednesday, July 16 — Eric Church, Stephen Wilson Jr.

Monday, July 21-Tuesday, July 22 — Mumford & Sons, Madison Cunningham

Wednesday, Aug. 13 — LCD Soundsystem, TV on the Radio

Friday, Aug. 29 — Little Big Town, Carter Faith, Shelby Lynne

Wednesday, Sept. 24 — Jordan Davis, Mitchell Tenpenny, Vincent Mason, Mackenzie Carpenter

Monday, Oct. 20 — Flatland Cavalry

Friday, Nov. 7-Saturday, Nov. 8 — Deadmau5

Thursday, Nov. 13-Friday, Nov. 14 — Svdden Death, with Voyd, Alice Glass, Simula, Vampa + Jeanie Presents: Witching Hour, Mythm and Executioner (Nov. 13); and Zomboy, Prosecute B2B Nimda, Bejalvin, and STVG (Nov. 14)

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The Telluride valley will be alive with the sound of electronic dance music this summer when Denver-based producer Of The Trees stops by for a two-night run.

The artist – real name Tyler Coombs – visits the Western Slope Aug. 22-23 for back-to-back performances at Telluride Town Park where other renowned festivals take place throughout the summer. The event is expected to attract about 7,000 attendees and will include camping.

In addition to Of The Trees, electronic acts Tycho, Ott., EPROM, Jade Cicada, Thought Process (live band), Taiki Nulight, Curra and Air Castles are on the bill. Tickets go on sale via an artist presale on Thursday, April 17 before going on sale to the general public on Friday, April 18, via axs.com.

“My team and I are incredibly excited to bring a concert experience to a location where the natural beauty is perhaps an even bigger centerpiece to the experience than the show itself,” Of The Trees, who has previously sold out Red Rocks Amphitheatre, said in a statement. “This is the beginning of realizing the dream I’ve always had of hosting events that bring people together to a place where nature and music are intertwined in a way such as this.”

Of The Trees’ appearance marks the first large-scale EDM concert in Telluride since 2016, when homegrown producer Pretty Lights played the same venue. Pretty Lights also played in 2015 and both shows live famously in local lore because of how different the vibe was compared to the town’s signature events like Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Telluride Blues & Brews.

That was part of the appeal of booking a show with a single headliner, said Zach Tucker, vice president of production company Planet Bluegrass. The company throws Telluride Bluegrass Festival every year and wanted to offer a different kind of concert, in terms of format and genre.

In fact, the company had been in talks to bring Pretty Lights back to Telluride, but couldn’t get approval to use the venue quickly enough to make a competitive offer, Tucker said. (Pretty Lights recently announced a two-night stint in Buena Vista in late June.)

“It’s a challenge that a lot of people who have tried to bring events to Telluride have faced. How do you (the artist) commit without an event? But then how do you approve an event without knowing who’s playing? That is the constant back and forth struggle,” Tucker told The Denver Post in January.

Tucker was happy with the amount of faith the town council put into Planet Bluegrass, which was approved to use Town Park before securing an artist – perhaps a testament to its history running the bluegrass festival for more than 30 years. The idea of bringing a different kind of act also seemed to be appealing to local leaders and as did having a nighttime concert, which allows fans to enjoy the mountains, shops and restaurants throughout the day.

“I think there’s excitement for some fresh, new change,” Tucker said.

Though Of The Trees is projected to bring millions of dollars to Telluride, where the tourism economy is king, the pitch received pushback from some locals. Organizers of the Telluride Mountain Run, which is slated for the same weekend, said having thousands of concertgoers in and around Town Park would impede their event’s success, and maybe even end it altogether by introducing “a completely different and incompatible atmosphere,” the Telluride Daily Planet reported.

The reason Planet Bluegrass chose those specific dates was because almost every other weekend in Telluride is already booked with long-standing events, Tucker said. The company coordinated with the Telluride Mountain Run on camping and logistics to ensure both events could still happen. After August, Planet Bluegrass plans to work with its partners in town to evaluate if the event was successful and could be replicated in future years.

“We’re excited to have those conversations and hopefully they’re all positive and we prove ourselves,” Tucker said.

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Performers include saxophonist Joe Lovano’s Paramount Quartet, guitarist Bill Frisell, multi-Grammy winner and Denverite Dianne Reeves, who is unquestionably one of the most accomplished living singers, pianist Omar Sosa, saxophonist Charles McPherson teaming up with trumpeter Terell Stafford, vocalist Ganavya, Boulder-based piano legend Art Lande, emerging and incendiary saxophonist Isaiah Collier, the funk-drenched Ghost Note, The Headhunters and more.

There will be 30 shows total.

It’s encouraging to see the involvement of so many venues in Denver and Boulder, from Nocturne to the Newman Center, presenting such heartfelt music. This will be the first Denver Jazz Fest, and hopefully an annual Colorado tradition will be established. It’s time for the world to be reminded of our extraordinary musical history. Everything you need to know is at denverjazz.org.

Record Store Day

“You can never have enough records” is a statement I embrace. Luckily, Record Store Day is Saturday, April 12. That means your favorite local retailer will amass a stash of limited-edition vinyl for you to grasp excitedly. The archival jazz crop this time around is excellent: there are recently-unearthed live dates from trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (“On Fire – Live From The Blue Morocco”,) bassist Charles Mingus (“In Argentina – The Buenos Aires Concerts”,) and trumpet king Kenny Dorham (“Blue Bossa In The Bronx”) which is of particular interest, because there really isn’t a lot of Kenny Dorham music around in physical form.

There’s also an exhilarating four-hour vinyl box from big bandleader and keyboardist Sun Ra, “Nuits de la Fondation Maeght,” which includes a generous amount of previously unreleased sounds of joy from the summer of 1970. It’s as noisy as it is delightful. Locations and the definitive list are at recordstoreday.com. I hope you get what you want.

Guitarist Dave Devine will perform music associated with guitar hero Grant Green at Nocturne March 30, along with a six-course dinner…The Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra presents a tribute to Quincy Jones at Dazzle March 31…The Julia Keefe Indigenous Big Band will perform at DU’s Newman Center April 8…The Mike Marlier Quartet honors Chick Corea at Nocturne on April 9…the gifted saxophonist Miguel Zenon brings his quartet to Dazzle April 14…saxophonist-vocalist Brianna Harris performs “The Modern Songbook” at Nocturne Saturdays in April…NEA Jazz Master-saxophonist Gary Bartz, who has worked with legends from Art Blakey to Miles Davis, will take to the Dazzle stage May 1-2. Bartz is living history, and he doesn’t appear in Colorado very often…Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers appear at the Boulder Theater May 3…

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As befits the title of the mural, “Catalysts” features an overlapping display of 35 unsung local arts-and-culture heroes. But the reasons why they were chosen — and the fact that Denver recruited the world-renowned artist behind the cover of The Beatles’ 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” — is unusual even in the realm of giant bear sculptures, red-eyed horses, and other major pieces.

“Denver has made exceptional use of their natural resources, if you will, in the public art scene, and other cities should be jealous,” said Jann Haworth, the 83-year-old creator of “Catalysts.” “The Denver mural is in its own kind of camp from my (other work). It’s community-generated. It’s workshop-generated.

“And the problem of a portrait is the most difficult thing you can do in fine art,” she added. “It isn’t necessarily an accurate photographic portrait of someone. It’s just a joyous piece of art.”

The three-paneled “Catalysts” features stenciled portraits of behind-the-scenes arts drivers “who are integral to the success and vibrancy of Denver arts and culture,” according to a statement. That ranges from maintenance staff at venues to nonprofit leaders, dancers and writers (read about each one at catalystsproject.com/honorees). They hail from groups such as Art from Ashes, Union Hall, Japanese Arts Network, Wonderbound, Youth on Record and many others.

Its three 26-by-24-foot panels are viewable on the side of the Buell Theatre, on Champa Street between 13th and 14th streets. Crews finished installing the mural this month, with a formal unveiling on March 14. But unlike some public art pieces, it’s temporary and scheduled to come down in two years.

“When talking with Jann we realized a lot of synergy between her practice and highlighting underserved organizations and individuals,” said Annie Geimer, a curator and leader of the Denver Theatre District’s special projects, which span 16 blocks in downtown Denver. “I loved her women’s mural in Utah and thought, ‘Why don’t we expand on that project?’ ”

The stenciled and colored portraits in “Catalysts” recall Haworth’s “Sgt. Pepper’s” style, but necessarily widen the subjects. She takes her depictions seriously, having completed Salt Lake City’s “Work in Progress” mural that includes 250 women integral to the history of the town where Haworth currently lives.

As a British-American Pop Art pioneer, Haworth emerged from England’s early-1960s art scene and has for decades put herself at the intersection of art and politics. Her feminist themes, exploration of “soft sculpture” (sewn and fiber materials), and willingness to reinvent herself has led to hundreds of installations and shows worldwide, including simultaneous shows in the U.S. and Europe.

“It’s an honor to reflect certain things that really need saying, and this is a public platform to do that,” Haworth said, referring to the top-to-bottom efforts at arts nonprofits. “Sometimes you feel like your other work is not as out there as a mural on a wall that lots and lots of people are going past.”

Haworth sees her piece as overlapping with street art, and Denver’s history with the medium — from groundbreaking Latino artists to festivals such as Denver Walls — as uniquely indicative of it. It’s ever-evolving, just like the art scene, Geimer said.

“If you view it as a sample or a mid-way report on what’s going on, there’s always more to be said,” she noted of “Catalysts.” “We were really intentional about who we reached out to, these people doing behind-the-scenes work that allows organizations to function — volunteers, security guards, cooks. It recognizes the people who take extra time and dedication to help these groups.”

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The nonprofit organization revealed its full schedule Wednesday and, as always, it includes a wide variety of artists with styles ranging from funk to soul to mambo. (You can see it below.)

Concerts take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the pavilion on the banks of Ferril Lake, but people stretch out in all directions, lounging on blankets and camp chairs, playing yard games, walking dogs, eating picnics, enjoying beverages, laughing, smiling and playing.

A few rules to remember at these rain or shine events: No glass (please use aluminum and plastic), no marijuana, no motorized vehicles, including motorcycles and scooters.

Once again, there will be food trucks and a bike corral set up. Check out descriptions of this year’s artists on City Park Jazz’ website.

City Park Jazz 2025 schedule

Sunday, June 1: Blessing Bled Chimanga, an internationally acclaimed artist renowned as a marimba player, singer, songwriter, and percussionist from Zimbabwe.

Sunday, June 8: Karen Lee Bridge and The Bridge 12 will perform and provide a tribute to Neil Bridge, a legendary local jazz artist and teacher who died in 2023.

Sunday, June 15: ATOMGA and its unique brand of afrobeat music infused with elements of jazz, rock, hip hop, and funk.

Sunday, June 22: The Colorado Mambo Orchestra, led by Dr. Raul Murciano Jr., is known for its high-energy mambo and salsa music spanning traditional Cuban music to R&B, American songbook standards, and Brazilian tunes.

The Buckner Funken Jazz band performs at the Five Points Jazz Festival. (Photo By Mahala Gaylord/The Denver Post)Sunday, June 29: Buckner Funken Jazz, an old-school funk band well known locally for performing at a wide variety of venues, including the former Five Points Jazz Festival.

Sunday, July 6: Chris Daniels & The Kings with Freddi Gowdy combines two Colorado Music Hall of Famers who are celebrating the release of a funk-and-soul record.

Sunday, July 13: Better Sensory Perception, formerly known as Byron Shaw Projex, will play reggae, ska, pop, jazz, covers and originals.

Sunday, July 20: The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra is an ensemble that blends classic, soul, and Latin jazz, along with its signature big band energy.

Sunday, July 27: Dzirae Gold uses her opera training to perform smooth jazz and soul.

Sunday, Aug. 3: The Rowdy Brass Band, Tivoli Club Brass Band and Guerrilla Fanfare close out the season with a brass band extravaganza.

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Thursday. It’s the end of the line and the end of the rhyme for the Mercury Cafe, which is closing after 50 years of leading Denver’s creative scene-making, from comedy to music to poetry to food. The venue, founded by Marilyn Megenity, will become The Pearl, a bar catering to LGBT women and nonbinary individuals — but open to everyone. The owners have said they plan to keep some of the Merc’s programming. The Mercury Cafe Farewell Party & Ballroom Open Mic starts at 7 p.m. on March 27, at 2199 California St. There will be cheap drinks and guest performances.

Bierock ‘n’ Roll

Saturday. Barquentine Brewing, located inside the Edgewater Public Market, 5505 W. 20th Ave., celebrates its fifth anniversary Saturday with a big party, live music, bouncy castles and a surprise announcement: the brewery has added food, wine and cocktails.

The food menu will be anchored by bierstock, savory potato-based pocket sandwiches from Eastern Europe, the brewery said. The recipe comes from brewery co-owner Ed Knudson’s family; Knudson has been making them himself for 35 years. Classic bierock is made with seasoned ground beef, fresh sauerkraut and mozzarella. Other varieties will include an Italian bierock, a Cuban bierock, a pesto chicken bierock and a vegetarian bierock.

Need more beer? Of course you do. One-year-old Wanderment Brewing, 800 E. 64th Ave. in Denver, hosts its first Kölsch release on Saturday. Inspired by co-owner John Flaherty’s trip to Cologne, Germany, the beer was brewed using traditional methods, Wanderment said. It will be served poured either directly from the tank “for a naturally carbonated, unfiltered experience” or filtered from the taps. Flaherty will be on hand to chat and lead tours of the brewhouse.

Sniffing success

Monday. An excellent and furious rock band, Amyl & The Sniffers blew the lid off The Underground Music Showcase in Denver in 2024, resulting in one of the most talked-about sets at the annual festival on Broadway. Now the Australian band — formed in Melbourne in 2016 — returns to play the much larger Mission Ballroom, a testament to their popularity locally.

Led by lead singer Amy Taylor, the pub rock/punk foursome performs a different high-energy set list every night on its North American Tour, including older favorites and new material from “Cartoon Darkness,” an album released in 2024. Tickets for the 7 p.m. show start at $59. Mission Ballroom is located at 4242 Wynkoop St. Get more information at axs.com.

Roll into NOLA

Tuesday. After leaving his job as executive chef at Bistro Vendome last fall, Jeremy Wolgamott has been working to open a new restaurant that reflects his upbringing in both Denver and Louisiana (where he spent 13 years cooking): Colorado ingredients to create family-style Southern meals, as he calls it. Since Restaurant Argot doesn’t have an address yet, though, he’s hosting a pop-up dinner on April 1 at Create Kitchen and Bar inside the Stanley Marketplace.

Tickets are $60 each and will likely include dishes like hushpuppies with butter and smoked trout roe, white barbecue chicken, field pea salad, pimento mac and cheese, cornbread and lemon icebox pie. Drinker purchases are separate. The three-course family-style dinner runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Stanley, 2501 Dallas St. in Aurora. Get tickets and information at restaurantargot.com.

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The same could be said for opening a restaurant in post-pandemic Denver, where things don’t always go as planned, said Terry Walsh, a restaurateur who owns Rolling Smoke BBQ and its four metro Denver locations (as well as one at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on concert nights).

“This is six years in the making,” he said about his latest venture. “We make barbecue, so we are used to that.”

Walsh’s new restaurant, though, won’t sell grilled meat. When it opens, probably in April, the Chubby Unicorn Cantina will instead offer tacos, nachos and other Mexican-American specialties just steps away from Mission Ballroom in the River North Art District.

“The city (government) doesn’t really like outdoor smokers, so it was tough to place one there in the neighborhood,” Walsh explained. “We love the area down there, and we know the long-term plans, so it was either not open anything or pivot to something new.”

The Chubby Unicorn, at 4180 Wynkoop St., will be in the plaza across from the entrance to the Mission Ballroom so that patrons walking out of the music venue will find Left Hand Brewing’s taproom on the left and Chubby Unicorn on the right. The restaurant will have close to 90 seats inside and another 40 on the patio, and the goal is to serve a slimmed-down menu on concert evenings and a slightly expanded menu on other nights.

“We want to be the go-to for the neighborhood on non-show nights,” Walsh explained.

To help get the concept started, Walsh recruited Mike Carlin from the now-closed Mikes 2 Cantina, who used to roll with Rolling Smoke when it started out as a food truck. He’ll also have help from some former employees who are bringing recipes from Mexico.

Business by the Mission Ballroom has been choppy over the past six years as development started, stopped and started again through the pandemic, resulting in some changing plans, Walsh said. But the process is moving again, and he is comfortable waiting.

“That is the beauty of having four other restaurants that are doing well … this one doesn’t have to be [at first],” he continued. “2024 was tough, but our ‘tough’ was better than what a lot of people are facing. Our locations inside food halls are really helping us.”

Rolling Smoke’s four permanent stores are at 7100 W. 38th Ave. in Wheat Ridge; 7470 S. University Blvd. in Centennial; 2501 Dallas St., inside Aurora’s Stanley Marketplace; and 1012 Ford St., inside the Golden Mill food hall in Golden.

But for a concert venue, business will be different, relying almost entirely on shows – and that’s another reason Mexican food may work better than barbecue, Walsh said. “We want to be fast and light. Eating a plate of barbecue before going into a concert isn’t the most appealing thing.”

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Well, every artist does. But while multiplatinum-sellers such as The Lumineers (headlining Empower Field at Mile High on Aug. 2) and DJ-producer Illenium (who headlined Empower Field in 2023) have no shortage of stages, gear and entertainment at their disposal, being based in Denver means tapping local services.

We asked several artists — The Lumineers, Illenium, jazz pianist Annie Booth, hip hop’s Trev Rich, Denver trailblazer Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Grammy-nominated Yonder Mountain String Band and more — about their favorite places to work and play in the metro area.

Whether you’re taking notes on their career success or just want to see the city through their eyes, now you can eat, play and rock out like your favorites. (Answers have been edited for length and clarity — and to prevent too much repetition.)

The Lumineers

Venues: “Red Rocks would be the preferred venue to play,” said singer-guitarist Wesley Schultz, “but I also love the Bluebird Theater, which is probably my favorite to see shows. I used to go to a lot of shows at the Hi-Dive, and when I saw Dope Lemon at the Ogden Theatre a few months back, it reminded me of the great vibe and fond memories of playing it. Also the Boulder Theater — that’s where my wife and I got married.”

Restaurants: “Marigold in Lyons is run by one of my dear buddies, Theo Adley, who I went to high school with. And my phenomenal buddy Kelly (Whitaker) runs Wolf’s Tailor, and I love Annette Scratch to Table. Caroline (Glover) is amazing. As far as dives, it’s Satchel’s on 6th, where you feel like you’re at Cheers — just with food.”

Bars: “For best drinks, it’s the PS Lounge, Steuben’s and the Thin Man, because I used to live over by there.”

Gear: “I’ve always used Denver Folklore Center. When we moved here in 2009 (from New York) I brought in an old Nippon Yamaha, an FG-350 — they call them the poor man’s Martin — which needed a fix because the tuner wouldn’t tighten. The guy who worked there took out a toothpick and ground it into the back of the tuner and was able to get traction. He didn’t charge me. So I’ve got classical guitars, mostly acoustic, from them and always go there to get (instruments) fixed. I even got my son a little starter guitar there.”

Studios: “Colorado Sound Studios is an unassuming place and we’ve done some producing and writing there. Jeremiah (Frates) and I have recorded some last-minute stuff there when we couldn’t fly out to do it. They’ve got some amazing sound engineers.”

Worthy cause: “My wife, Brandy, runs the Sound Future nonprofit. Typically every show we play we take a dollar off per ticket and donate it to charity, and a lot of bands are doing that. Right now they’re focusing on funding regenerative farming as well as kelp restoration along coastlines and farmland restoration.”

Illenium

Venues: “Red Rocks is one of my all-time favorites,” said producer-DJ Nick Miller, a.k.a. Illenium. “It’s such an awesome setting that I don’t think can be beat. For a small venue, I’d say the Bluebird Theater. It was my first ‘big’ sellout in Denver and is such an intimate space that holds a special memory for me.

“Colorado has some amazing outdoor venues but I think a lot of people aren’t familiar with Mishawaka Amphitheatre up near Fort Collins,” he added. “It’s right alongside a river and just a super cool spot that combines music with nature. When I was just starting out, I played it a couple of times. I haven’t been back since 2018 but would love to do it again one day!”

Restaurants: “I love Guard and Grace, and Temaki Den or Sushi Den.”

Worthy causes: “I have been working a lot with End Overdose. They provide free naloxone, test strips, and overdose response training and education to people. At almost every show of mine, we supply Narcan (and) teach fans how to use it in an emergency.

Annie Booth Trio

Venues: “Dazzle for its intimacy and Boettcher Concert Hall for (big shows),” said award-winning composer, arranger and jazz pianist Annie Booth. “I also love playing at Nocturne for its great energy, and I’ve always loved playing the Mercury Cafe, because I’ve been going there since I was 15.”

Restaurants: Cart Driver and Potager

Gear: I love Classic Pianos of Denver down on South Broadway. I bought my Yamaha U1, this gorgeous upright, there and I’ve been playing their (on-site) pianos at different venues for years and years.”

Studios: “It’s absolutely Mighty Fine Productions. I’ve made seven albums with tons of different projects over the past 10 years and they’ve all taken place at Mighty Fine. The owner, Colin Bricker, is truly a world-class engineer with people coming in from all over the world to make albums there.”

Worthy cause: “Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts. I participated as a high schooler and it totally changed my life. I would not be making music at the level I am today if it weren’t for this nonprofit, which provides mentorship and connection for young people and adults who are interested in learning to play jazz. I’m a board member and donor and they’re really close to my heart.”

Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Venues: “Of course Red Rocks is the finest large venue in the land.  It would be my favorite to both see and perform shows,” said leader Todd Park Mohr. “The Mission Ballroom is exquisite. For small venues, I will always be partial to (the now-closed) Herman’s Hideaway and the Soiled Dove.”

Restaurant/bars: Potager and The Cruise Room, respectively.

Gear: “My go-to for shopping would be Wildwood Guitars. I also love the Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor in Arvada, especially for repairs.”

Worthy cause: “I like Conscious Alliance a lot and have done work for them throughout my career.”

DeVotchKa

Venues: “The Bluebird and the Gothic are still my two favorites,” said drummer and multi-instrumentalist Shawn King. “Can’t deny the mighty Mission (Ballroom) though — I was at the Smile and Thee Sacred Souls and both sounded perfect.”

Restaurants: “Pochito’s Tortilla Factory — pick up rice and beans and tortillas, and then go to Carniceria La Guadalajara and pick up something to grill.”

Gear: “My go-to fixer is Al Scholl, who works out of Mighty Fine Productions. He really cares about anything with strings. And Rupp’s Drums has always been helpful, never trying to push anything on you, just there to help your situation.”

Yonder Mountain String Band

Venues: “Probably the Fox (Theatre) or the Boulder Theater if I were to tally the numbers up, Red Rocks for large venues,” said guitarist Adam Aijala.

Restaurants: “You can’t go wrong with Sushi Den. I really love the food at the Gold Hill Inn … and Bagel Deli!”

Gear: “For repairs, I go to Woodsong’s Lutherie in Boulder. Those guys are awesome folks.”

Studios: “Yonder Mountain has recorded our last four records at Cinder Sound Studio with John McVey in Longmont.  For mastering, we work with David Glasser at Airshow Mastering.  Some of the best dudes in the business.”

Worthy cause: “The Future Arts Foundation. They put on concerts and festivals and the proceeds provide things like musical instruments and art supplies for Colorado schools.”

Trev Rich

Venues: “My favorite venue big would have to be Red Rocks and smaller would be Gothic,” said the Grammy-nominated rapper, songwriter and producer Trev Rich. “That’s where I had my first headline and (sell-out) so that will always be my favorite.”

Restaurant: “That’s a tough one but right now Nola Jane has a hold on me.”

Studios: “For rehearsal, it’s RocketSpace and recording it’s DreamSpace Studios. Every now and then Side 3.”

Worthy cause: Ktone Cares Foundation and Celebrate Life Foundation both do really good things in the city, especially when it comes to the kids from the neighborhoods we come from — but open to all kids for sure.

bellhoss

Venues: “The Hi-Dive. It feels like home, and (my husband) and I finally live within walking distance,” said singer-songwriter and guitarist Becky Otárola. (Full disclosure: Her husband is Denver Post restaurant/food reporter Miguel Otárola.) “It feels really cozy, and really cool, like some of the venues that I grew up around in L.A.”

Restaurants: Ohana Island Kitchen

Bars: “If I want to be fancy and have a nice drink, it’s Hudson Hill.”

Worthy cause: Girls Rock Denver and Youth on Record

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Unhinged Fest will play the National Western Stockyards July 26-27, with a roster of metal, hardcore and post-punk bands like Knocked Loose, Lamb of God, In This Moment, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Body Count, Power Trip, and more (full lineup and tickets available at axs.com).

Despite a sleepy period just after the holidays, the Denver festival scene has ramped up in recent weeks with news of Unhinged and other large events debuting in or returning to Denver; see the retooled, three-day Punk in the Park (July 18-20, also at National Western Stockyards) and the 5th annual Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree (Zeds Dead & Friends, July 4 at Civic Center park).

Englewood, which has seen an inflow of Denver businesses over the past year or two, will also host a music festival, Swallow Hill Music’s first Indiewood Street Festival on June 7. The day-long party, headlined by Kiltro, will takes place near South Broadway and West Hampden.

The announcements belie a wary festival circuit that has gone increasingly niche to attract crowds. Denver does not have a Coachella or a Bonnaroo — two national festivals that feature a wide range of genres and music lovers — but we do have the 25th, indie-focused Underground Music Showcase, which highlights 200-plus up-and-coming acts (July 25-27 along South Broadway), and further afield, the FoCoMx Music Festival, with a whopping 420 performances on 40 stages (April 18-19 in Fort Collins).

Denver has not supported many new, mainstream festivals in recent years, with examples such as Grandoozy and Vertex coming and going after only one year. Rolling Stone this week asserted “No, the SXSW Music Festival Is Not Dead” as organizers vowed that the sprawling, Austin event would return in 2026 with a single week of scaled-back programming (instead of two, as usual).

While it appeared that Colorado was facing some festival fatigue, with individual bookings at amphitheaters and venues such as Mission Ballroom, replacing larger events, that may not have been the case as stalwarts such as Telluride Blues & Brews, JAS Aspen Snowmass Experience, Bravo! Vail and Country Jam joining the new(er) events.

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