Mission Ballroom Set For Takeoff With Initial Lineup Announcements

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AEG Presents is proud to announce a trio of concerts that will launch the opening of the highly anticipated Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado.

World-renowned hometown band The Lumineers officially open the venue on Wednesday, August 7. Trey Anastasio Band performs Friday, August 9 and Saturday, August 10. The celebration continues with co- headliners Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals and Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue on Monday, August 12.

"I love the idea of a venue being built from scratch by people who care so deeply about the live music experience. I'm honored and excited to be one of the first artists to break it in,” said Trey Anastasio.

“What an honor to be the very first band to be playing this beautiful new venue!” says The Lumineers.

The Mission Ballroom opening will be the culmination of years of strategic planning and effort by AEG Presents to bring Colorado one of the most unique live music experiences this town has ever seen.

“Mission Ballroom was designed with three core components that up to this point have not been fully integrated together in the club concert experience in the United States: flexibility in capacities, unrivaled sightlines and state-of-the-art in-house sound and lighting. Fans and the bands will love it,” says Chuck Morris, CEO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains.

The 60,000 SF concert space uses mobile-stage technology to create intimate experiences for events of varying sizes. The venue can accommodate 2,200 to 3,950 guests, allowing at least half of the capacity to have access to seating.

Mission Ballroom will anchor North Wynkoop, a new 14-acre mixed-use project by Denver- developers Westfield Company, located at the north end of River North (RiNo) neighborhood between 40th and 43rd Streets along Brighton Boulevard, 4242 Wynkoop Street, Denver, CO 80216.

North Wynkoop is a five-minute walk to the 38th and Blake A-Line Station (one stop to Denver Union Station and 30 minutes to Denver International Airport) and just minutes from the

intersection of Denver’s largest vehicular arteries of I-25 and I-70. Parking options include an underground garage for 240 vehicles, as well as other nearby surface lots. In addition, The Mission Ballroom will provide a convenient and well-coordinated shared pick-up and drop-off area and abundant bike parking. For more information visit www.northwynkoop.com.

AEG Presents also announced a groundbreaking ticketing program: Mission Fair Ticketing. The innovative system is designed to give equal access for tickets to all fans. By utilizing a registration system, automated ticket-buying programs and ticket brokers will be unable to book blocks of tickets, which prevents individuals from their opportunity to purchase tickets at face value.

This cutting-edge method is accessible and straightforward, and more fair than traditional ticketing platforms. There is no specific time and place one must be to buy a ticket. Guests will not have to constantly refresh a web browser, nor stand in line. Everyone who wants a ticket has an equal chance of obtaining one, and the process is user-friendly.

For Opening Weekend and Select Shows:

  • Mission Fair Ticketing begins on Tuesday, March 19 at 8 a.m. MDT.

  • Fans have until Sunday, March 24 at noon MDT to request tickets.

  • Ticket requests are processed in random order, if a purchaser’s request is selected, the credit card is automatically charged for the ticket. Guests can request up to 4 tickets per show.

  • Purchasers will be notified by Thursday, March 28 if their orders can be processed.

  • Everyone has an equal chance of being selected.

  • There are no presales, 100 percent of the available tickets are offered through Mission Fair Ticketing.

  • Any tickets unsold/unrequested are put on to standard AXS ticketing page on Friday, March 29 at 10 a.m. MDT.

Not all events at Mission Ballroom will use the Mission Fair Ticketing System. Shows using it will be clearly noted.

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Velorama: Bikes, Booze and Fun.

The 2nd annual Velorama Festival took over Denver last weekend with amazing music, brand installations, food, and amazing beer.

The festival was once again held in the parking lots off Blake Street in the Rino District. We were on hand to catch the music performances from some of the best acts in music today as well as some equally impressive local bands and dj's.

The first night saw things open up with local faves Slow Caves who set the tone of the night with a rather raucous performance with their usual chill rock vibes. Philly's own Hop Along was also on hand to perform an amazing set as the crowds started to fill in. It has been awhile since we saw the dynamic duo of Jamie Hince and Alison Moshart who form the rockcentric The Kills. Those unfamiliar with the band got a first hand dose of straight in your face rock and roll. The scheduled headliner for the night was Modest Mouse who unfortunately had to cancel due to travel issues, the decision left a bitter taste to those who came out just to see the band. We've been covering music for quite sometime now and realize that stuff like this happens all the time. The band did however get added to the following night's headlining slot.

Day two started off with local crooner Brent Cowles and his talented band. The band played a jubilant set that would have to rank as one of the best we have seen from the band. We weren't quite sold on Lo Moon who seemed like they killed a little of the buzz Cowles had left. A rather subtle set, the band just wasn't doing it for us or the crowd. The band that we had circled as a must see was Rainbow Kitten Surprise who blew our expectations as they probably had the best set of the weekend. Fronted by lead singer Samuel Melo, he channeled his inner Mick Jagger and Freddy Mercury dance moves as they gave life to the bands performance. The band is no stranger to performing in big festivals as they danced and swayed and encouraged the crowd to do the same. Cold War Kids (who seem like they play in Denver every other weekend) was on hand to deliver a nostalgic set for us as as they mentioned the last time they had performed in a parking lot was for the 2008 Democratic National Convention which we were also part of. The Growlers were another band who didn't seem to live to our expectations, not sure if it was the lack of our knowledge of their discography or that they followed Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Modest Mouse finally showed up and played an array of their amazing catalog that stretches back years. Frontman Isaac Brock did seem a little seem to banter a bit which at times made no sense to anybody but aside from that it was a great way to end the second night of the festival.

The last day of the festival had us scrambling to get to the grounds in time for Wildermiss, the local band who has been creating a huge buzz locally is starting to look more comfortable on stage as the band seemed more loose moving around the stage playing their customary indie pop sound. Another band we had been looking to perform was Cults. The duo of Brian Oblivion and Madeline Follin has been our playlist for years now and although we missed the last time they performed here, we were anxious to catch their set which had us reminiscing (older stuff) and excited to hear newer material. The night ended with a bang as Matt and Kim took to the stage and all hell broke loose. With a reputation for amazing live shows, the band did not let off the gas as they mingled and encouraged crowd participation throughout their set. The crowd of course ate it up and preceded to play along to the indie band hailing from Brooklyn.

Aside for a few minor quirks (beer lines, band rescheduling, water stations) the festival was an enjoyable weekend for music lovers as the bands that participated were a perfect pairing for a great weekend.

Day One: Levi Double U, Slow Caves, Hop Along, The Kills

Day Two: Brent Cowles, Lo Moon, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Cold War Kids, The Growlers, Modest Mouse

Day Three: Wildermiss, Cults, Matt and Kim

GOODNESS Block Party Set To Take Over Denver September 1st

Labor Day weekend just got a whole lot better here in Denver. Our good friends at Red Bull and DJ Low Key are putting together a block party of epic proportions here in the Mile High!

On September 1st, 2018, Red Bull Music presents a Goodness Block Party with DJ Low Key & friends.  A celebration of Denver music and community, the day-long event is inspired by DJ Low Key’s longstanding party “Goodness” a signature event of the city’s RiNo neighborhood since 2012. Taking over 27th Street between Larimer and Walnut, the Goodness Block Party will spill onto the space out front of its longtime home at The Meadowlark to feature a stacked lineup of hip-hop and soul inspired artists including DJ Low Key, DJ Jazzy Jeff, YaSi, CRL CRRLL, TiRon & Ayomari, Kayla Marque, and Sur Ellz. In addition, the event will host the debut of Goodness Greatness, an all-star band with Phonte, Exile and friends. Tickets are $10 in advance of the event, and are available HERE.

DJ Low Key has been an influential presence in the Denver hip-hop scene for well over a decade, with his summer series Goodness now in its 7th season and his weekly the Solution (with fellow Denver fixture DJ Lazy Eyez) turning 12 years old next February. Bringing celebrated DJs and hip-hop legends from Denver and beyond to perform, DJ Low Key has created a space to showcase Denver’s unique, independent hip-hop, soul and DJ culture. With the Goodness Block Party, Red Bull Music and DJ Low Key look to highlight and celebrate the uniqueness of Denver’s East Side/RiNo neighborhood, shining a light on the community that has continued to build the area’s renowned musical and artistic legacy.

“The name Goodness comes from the idea of featuring all the goodness possible at the party - from music to people to food to drink to art and beyond. Over time, that focus brought together a whole lot of interesting, like-minded people,” DJ Low Key explains.  “Everything starts with the love of the music and then expands out from there in different directions, with a lot of unexpected great things coming from it... it’s a party for everybody, but not just anybody."

Velorama Festival Set To Invade Denver Next Month

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In a little less than a month the Velorama Festival will be taking over RiNo with their finalized lineup. Modest Mouse will close out the first evening of Velorama on Friday, August 17 after performances by Slow Caves, Hop Along, and The Kills! Modest Mouse replaces Glass Animals, Glass Animals had to cancel their performance at the festival due to a serious accident their drummer was in. The seriousness of his injuries and long road of recovery ahead caused them to cancel all shows through the end of the year including ours. 

The final lineup will have Modest Mouse, The Kills, Hop Along, and Slow Caves on Friday night. Saturday will have headliner The Growlers, Cold War Kids, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Lo Moon and Brent Cowles. Rounding out the weekend will be Sunday headliner Matt and Kim, Cults, Wildermiss, Tracksuit Wedding and The Shacks.

As a loyal reader we are offering you a special discount code: 

Ultra5 for the single day Friday & Saturday passes

Ultra10 for 3 day & premium passes.

Sunday is only $10 so we aren't offing discounts on that day.

CLICK HERE

New Venue. Who Dis?

AEG Presents Rocky Mountains, one of the world's leading producers and promoters of live entertainment, announced today The Mission Ballroom, a scalable, state-of-the art concert venue scheduled to open in summer 2019. The 60,000 square-foot ballroom will anchor North Wynkoop, a new 14-acre mixed use project by Denver-developers Westfield Company, located at the north-end of the RiNo neighborhood between 40th and 43rd Streets along Brighton Blvd.

Chuck Morris, CEO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains, said of the new venue, “Our entire AEG Presents Rocky Mountain team spent the last 11 years searching for the perfect location and the right design to build one of the finest venues this town has ever seen. With features including a moving stage that provides The Mission flexible capacity from 2200 to 3950 guests, unrivaled sight lines and state-of-the-art sound and lights, The Mission will bring Colorado the most cutting-edge concert experience in the world.” 
 
AEG Presents Rocky Mountains, the leading promoter in Denver, CO who operate the Bluebird Theater, Gothic Theatre, Ogden Theatre, 1STBANK Center and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, as well as book the majority of the shows at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, bring decades of experience to the development and design of The Mission Ballroom.  The Mission features tiered rows that provide unobscured views at every level, sight lines from every vantage point and a large dance floor that allows standing or seating. Full-service bars conveniently placed around the venue maximize flow, efficiency and patron experience.

“We blended the ballroom experience on the floor with a tiered-riser configuration similar to Red Rocks. Beyond offering incredible sight lines, this design creates the finest sonic experience that Colorado concertgoers expect and deserve,” said Don Strasburg, co-president for AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. 

AEG Presents Rocky Mountains sought the perfect location for this unique venue and ultimately ended up partnering with Westfield Company on its North Wynkoop development in Denver’s transformative RiNo neighborhood and arts district.  Encompassing three city blocks from 40th to 43rd streets along Brighton Boulevard, North Wynkoop is a five-minute walk to the 38th and Blake A Line Station (one train stop to Union Station and 30 minutes to Denver International Airport) and just minutes from the intersection of Denver’s largest vehicular arteries of I-25 and I-70. 

“We’re so excited with the vision that Westfield Company has for North Wynkoop. The Brighton Boulevard corridor and the entire River North area is exploding with vibrancy.  This location is a perfect fit for The Mission Ballroom with parking, easy access to light rail, and only a stone’s throw from downtown, it is the right place for us to be.” said, Brent Fedrizzi, co-president and COO of AEG Presents Rocky Mountains. 

Westfield and its development team; which includes leasing agents Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Legend Partners; architect Works Progress Architecture; general contractor M.A. Mortenson; and financing provided by FirstBank, Guaranty Bank and Trust and Citywide Banks; will transform North Wynkoop into an arts and entertainment hub attracting creatives across all industries. In addition to The Mission Ballroom, a 90,000 square foot office and retail building is under construction as well as the renovation of 80,000 square feet of 1950’s-vintage warehouse buildings transforming them into synergistic restaurants, bars and retail.  Future phases of North Wynkoop include market rate and affordable housing, a hotel, as well as the potential for an additional one million square feet of residential and commercial uses. 

“We are fortunate to have the opportunity of working with AEG Presents on this innovative concept,” said Kevin McClintock, senior partner for Westfield. “The talents and experience of their team are unparalleled, and their dedication to the highest-quality musical experience aligns with our own long-term vision for North Wynkoop. The Mission Ballroom is the ideal anchor and will serve as the heartbeat for our project.”

The Mission Ballroom is not only a premiere concert facility, but also serves as a unique special event space for corporate meetings and other functions, award shows, galas, weddings, receptions, launch parties, trade shows, private events, and more.  
 
In addition to its incredible access to rail, parking options for the site will include an underground garage as well as nearby parking options. The Mission Ballroom will also offer a shared-ride pick-up and drop-off area and an abundance of bike parking.

Visit www.northwynkoop.com, www.missionballroom.com and click here for a video featuring more information and comments from Colorado Governor John W. Hickenlooper.

303 LIVE Summer Series Set To Return This Week

One of the great things about living in this city is the amount of live music events that help promote our growing music and art community. Our friend Christina Lundell is heading up an amazing venture that is helping the thriving scene thanks in part to this amazing series that kicks off it's Summer Series edition later this week.

In a monthly installment, 303 Live has announced their second event which will be held at Fice Gallery on Thursday, July 27th from 7:00 pm- 11:00 pm. With talent brimming at the seams in Denver, Colorado, 303 Live's mission is to support the local music and art community. 

The nature of this showcase is to promote all things creative, local and non-profit based. "My goal for this is to highlight the culture that has always been here, while bridging the gap of all things new in this town," says Christina Lundell, Founder.

"We see the changes taking place daily, so I want to show that there is so much more than what's on the surface. I've been in the music scene here since I was 16 years old, hanging out at the Marquis Theater every weekend throughout my youth (sorry mom), so it only made sense for me to expose the true creative pulse of Denver." 

The first installment was on May 16th at Mile High Spirits which included acts such as Motion Trap, YaSi and CRL CRRLL. On July 27th at Fice Gallery, the lineup consists of Wushu, Habs, Kayla Marque, Secs Peterson and Joseph A.M. There will be live art from MayG and other local artists, all you can eat and drink and ways to check out local brands. Purchase tickets here-- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/303-live-tickets-35902538459?aff=es2