The Westword Music Showcase is back…and bigger than ever. The city’s largest single-day festival celebrating Denver’s music scene has been transformed for 2021 and will take over the RiNo Art District and Mission Ballroom grounds with a two-day festival filling both indoor and outdoor venues with live performances by local and national musical acts, as well as visual and performing arts events, food and drink opportunities and more.
On Friday night, September 17, Denver will experience live music by over fifty of Denver’s best acts ranging from rock to hip-hop, indie, alternative, country, folk, bluegrass, electronic and more playing at multiple venues.
At Saturday’s main event on September 18, the celebration will continue with Young the Giant, Thundercat, Hippo Campus and Matoma, as well as more of Denver’s best bands than ever before on the outdoor stages.
After celebrating two nights of music, arts and culture, you’re then invited to the Mission Ballroom for the official finale, featuring Kaytranada and Duke Dumont.
Head to westwordshowcase.com/tickets to score limited presale pricing! Use promo code ULTRA5280
Westword Music Showcase Celebrates 25 Years
Bishop Briggs providing one of the best sets of the day. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)
Earlier this month we had a chance to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Westword Music Showcase here in Denver. The entertainment outlet has been putting on this amazing festival for years and lucky for us we have had a chance to cover a handful of them. Taking place in the Golden Triangle neighborhood of Denver, the festival went all out for this year’s lineup which featured everything from indie to electronic dance. With temperatures in the mid 90’s it was a perfect opportunity to grab a White Claw and Breck Brew Summer Pils to cool off. Festival goer’s were able to escape the heat taking refuge inside venues along Broadway to see some of the best local music bands from our area. From rockers Citra to up and coming star Bailey Elora, the lineup catered to the masses. This year Breckenridge Brewery took hold of the main sponsorship and their presence was felt as a “Breck Brew Camping” area adorned the parking lot between the main stages offering games, live art installations and a silent disco. Standout performances included main stage acts Yasi, Bishop Briggs, The Knocks, Slow Caves, Jai Wolf, and CHVRCHES. Local acts that shined included Adiel Mitchell, Los Mocochetes, CITRA, The Velveteers, Briana Straut, Corsicana, Vic N’ Narwals, as well as DJ sets by Erin Stereo and Polyphoni.
The festival itself has always been the unofficial kickoff to summer in the mile high and provides an amazing day with an amazing layout to be able to catch multiple stages. This years talent was as good as any of the previous years we have covered. Cheers and hopefully we get to celebrate the next 25 years with the Westword Music Showcase.
-Robert Castro
The elegant and dazzling Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES. (Photo Credit: Kate Rose)
Crooked Colours shined. (Photo Credit: Aly McClaran)
Ten "Must See" Acts At This Year's Westword Music Showcase
Westword Music Showcase crowd going crazy for Galantis last year. (Photo Credit: Aly McClaran)
This year the Westword Music Showcase is celebrating 25 years, an amazing accomplishment. Luckily we have been able to cover this festival for about half of that time. Each year while our staff is narrowing down their schedules we come across a few acts that you must see. Bands that have caught our attention and doing amazing things in the local and national scene. (In no particular order). If you haven’t purchased your tickets today is the last day before they go up in price. Use code: ULTRA5280 for your discounts.
Bailey Elora | 2:30-3:05 | 100% De Agave
Bailey is starting to put her stamp on the Denver music scene with a breakout year in 2019 so far. The singer-songwriter will touch your heart and evoke all the feels of a live performance. Look for her to be a household name in the up-coming year.
Adiel Mitchell | 2:30-3:05 | #VYBE Stage
2019 has been an amazing year for Adiel Mitchell and he is just getting started. With a slew of festivals on the horizon Mitchell brings his own unique sound to the masses. Evoking the persona of Bruno Mars while maintaining the cool of Khalid, Mitchell is set to breakout into one of Denver’s most versatile performers.
Corsicana | 4:10-4:45 | The Church
One of our favorite bands we have been listening to this year is Corsicana. The band is riding the wave of their recently released album and has our stamp of approval. Lead by lead singer Ben Pisano, the band pulls you into a world that evokes the feels of the song truly making a connection with the masterful songwriting.
Yasi | 12:25-12:55 | Breckenridge Brewery Main Stage
Ahhh fresh off the cover of this week’s Westword Magazine, YaSi has been having herself quite a year. The sultry singer has been traveling the country playing gigs in New York, Chicago, and Houston and returns to get things started off on the Breck Brew Main Stage. Her current single “Issues” has been on repeat for us and is sure to conjure up mutual feelings between her and her audience.
CITRA | 7:30-8:05 | The Church
While those of you who prefer your drinks stiff, make sure to catch CITRA headlining The Church. The rock band has become the staple band in the Denver rock scene the last few years and brings one of the better live sets of any band. Make sure you have your Jack & Coke ready!
SHAED | 1:20-1:55 | Breckenridge Brewery Main Stage
Electro-pop darlings SHAED is ready to shine on the main stage. Hailing from our nations capital the band is led by singer Chelsea Lee and rounded out by siblings Spencer and Max Ernst. If you are fans of Bishop Briggs or Marian Hill, you will enjoy their mid-day set at Westword.
The Hollow | 6:40-7:15 | The Church
What can we say about The Hollow? A band that has come into its own the latter part of the last few years along with CITRA has been hailed as one of the best rock acts to grace the Mile High. If you like your music hard, fast, and raw, The Hollow is for you. P.S……Bring your ear plugs.
Optycnerd | 1:40-2:15 | The Church
Optynerd is set to take their act on the road next month but before they do make sure you check out the duo of Chris Kimmel and Chris Scott. Their music just makes you want to dance, even though if you don’t know how. Catchy beats and feel good lyrics makes this band a must see. Come cool off from the treacherous heat indoors for a wild set.
Plastic Daggers | 5:00-5:35 | Bar Standard
We had a chance to see these guys not long ago at Lost Lake and our ears are still ringing. Plastic Daggers consists of Keaton Kidder and Jordan Palmer. The duo has been making music for the last few years cementing themselves as one of the better live acts in our city. Three things, it’s going to be loud, it’s going to raw, and just like your favorite beer.. it’s going to be unfiltered. Get some!!!
CHVRCHES | 7:20-8:35 | White Claw Stage
I mean it CHVRCHES…..
Must See DJ’s
Hexkitten
Polyphoni
Erin Stereo
DJ Bedz
Always gotta give love to our city’s best DJ’s who week in and week out provide us the soundtracks to our weekend shenanigans.
New Headliners Announced For Westword Music Showcase!!! Tickets On Sale Now!
Westword Music Showcase presented by Breckenridge Brewery, is announcing two more co-headliners - CHVRCHES and Jai Wolf - joining previously announced co-headliners, JAUZ and Bishop Briggs! Plus announcing supporting National acts, The Knocks, Two Feet and The Wrecks - joining Crooked Colours, lovelytheband and Shaed.
This lineup is the biggest we've had in all of our 25 years of Music Showcase and we're letting *you* know first.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
About the Westword Music Showcase:
The Westword Music Showcase returns to the Golden Triangle on Saturday, June 29, 2019! For our 25th Westword Music Showcase, we’re cranking up the volume with national headliners JAUZ, Bishop Briggs, Crooked Colours, lovelytheband, SHAED + more to be announced, as well as more local bands than you can hear in a day, performing at venues throughout the neighborhood.
The Westword Music Showcase, the city’s largest single-day festival celebrating the music scene, will run from noon to 10 p.m. on June 29; tickets are on sale now! In honor of our 25th Westword Music Showcase celebrating local music in the Mile High, we’re selling the first 2,500 general admission tickets for just $25 each! A general admission ticket includes access to all participating venues, both outdoor stages and our merchandise village. The VIP experience includes access to all Showcase venues, a VIP entrance to the outdoor area, special viewing spaces by the two main stages, and a VIP lounge with VIP restrooms (VIP tickets are 21+ only).
New Headliners Announced For This Years Westword Music Showcase
The Westword Music Showcase has just added to its impressive lineup with the announcement of three new headliners including Treepeople, Phantoms, and St. Lucia. The three acts join an already impressive lineup that includes Galantis, Bonobo, Joywave and more. Tickets are currently on sale an as an added bonus if you use promo code ULTRA5280 you will score discounted tickets.
Treepeople was an alternative rock band from Boise, Idaho, although it spent most of its time and was officially based in Seattle, Washington. The band was composed of Pat Brown, Wayne Rhino Flower, Doug Martsch, and Scott Schmaljohn.
A Los Angeles-based EDM duo featuring the talents of Kyle Kaplan and Vinnie Pergola, Phantoms deliver icy/hot electro-dance beats with a dash of techno and heavy dose of pop hooks. Friends since the age of 15, the pair dabbled in the Disney side of the television and film industry -- Kaplan was featured in Hannah Montana and 10 Things I Hate About You while Pergola appeared in That's So Raven and Miss Behave -- before shifting all of their focus onto music. After honing their chops as DJs, the duo began producing their own music under the Phantoms moniker, releasing their eponymous instrumental debut EP via OWSLA in 2013-
-All Music
Essentially the solo vehicle for singer/songwriter Jean-Philip Grobler, the Brooklyn-based St. Lucia make shimmery, '80s-influnced, synth-driven pop. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Grobler grew up singing in the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, which found him touring and performing around Europe, Japan, and Australia. After leaving the choir, Groblerattended music school in England before relocating to New York City. Once there, he began writing his own pop songs and recording under the name St. Lucia. The band's self-titled EP appeared on Neon Gold in 2012. In 2013, St. Luciareleased their full-length debut album, When the Night, featuring the single "Elevate." The album entered the Billboard 200 and hit number six on Billboard's Top Heatseekers Albums chart. Grobler and his band then spent the better part of the next few years touring, playing summer festivals and opening for other artists including Charli XCX and Ellie Goulding. In 2016, St. Lucia returned with their sophomore full-length album, Matter, which included the singles "Dancing on Glass," "Physical," and "Love Somebody."
-All Music
Westword Music Showcase | Ticket Giveaway and more...
It's that time of year once again, time for one of Denver's best music festivals. The Westword Music Showcase is synonymous with summertime around the Mile High City, with Broadway's Golden Triangle playing host to some of the nations best as well as top local acts. This will be our fourth year covering and this years lineup is one for ages. Previous headliners have included Chromeo, Girltalk, Ghostland Observatory, The Dirty Projectors and more. Every year we have been able to give our readers a chance to win a pair of tickets to the event, this year is no different. We have two pairs of tickets that we want to give away. Rules are simple just comment on our Facebook Page "Why You Should Win," most creative answer will win a pair of tickets. We have two tickets to giveaway! Winners will be chosen Thursday morning!
Enjoy our Westword Music Showcase Playlist!