UMS Impact Days Is Upon Us!

We have been covering The Underground Music Showcase for many years now and one of our favorite things to see is how the festival has evolved over the years. With a huge emphasis on community, a staple through the years, the festival has introduced a few notable additions to the three day weekend.

Impact Days 2023 tickets are on sale now! If you're a musician or in the music industry, this two-day series of workshops at The Underground Music Showcase is for you. If skill-sharing workshops, professional development, networking with your fellow musicians, and coaching for the next phase of your career sounds like something you need, Impact Days is for you. Workshop topics will include finding/procuring funding for artists, securing radio airplay, utilizing AI for artists, and more! $30 for two days of workshops! Plus, if you bring a friend, we’re offering a buddy pass ticket (two tickets for the price of one, discount automatically applied at checkout) Get your tickets at www.undergroundmusicshowcase.com/impact-days

Taylor Swift Brings Her " The Eras Tour" To Denver

Taylor Swift performs in Denver during The Eras Tour (Photo: Robert Castro)

We had the pleasure of attending Taylor Swift's highly anticipated Eras Tour this weekend at Empower Field (night one of two) in Denver, and let me tell you, it was an unforgettable experience. Swift's ability to transform her performances into a captivating visual and auditory journey is nothing short of remarkable.

As the lights dimmed and the display screen showed a countdown, the crowd erupted with deafening cheers. Swift emerged on stage in a blaze of light and energy, ready to take us all on a nostalgic trip through her most iconic eras.

The stage setup was an absolute work of art, flawlessly designed to reflect the essence of each era she would take us through. From dreamy forrest, to colorful clouds and more.

The concert kicked off with tracks from Swift's country-pop era, reminding us of her humble beginnings. From her heartfelt ballads to her lively anthems, she effortlessly transported us back in time. The crowd eagerly sang along to beloved hits like "Love Story" and "You Belong with Me," their energy filling the arena.

Theatrics abound as Taylor Swift belts out the hits. (Photo: Robert Castro)

Then came the transition into Swift's pop era, and the atmosphere shifted with the stunning visual effects and vibrant stage designs. The choreography was on point, and Swift's vocals were as impeccable as ever. She brought a fresh twist to her familiar tunes, leaving the audience in awe. Highlights of the pop era included electrifying performances of "Shake It Off," "Bad Blood," and "Blank Space." The energy was infectious, and it was impossible not to dance along.

But the true standout of the evening was Swift's latest era, marked by her fearless exploration of diverse musical styles. The stage transformed into a spectacle of colors and theatrical elements, bringing her hits like "Lover," "Cardigan," and "Willow" to life. The crowd was captivated by Swift's raw emotion and vulnerable performances. It felt as though we were witnessing an artist in her prime, confidently embracing her growth and evolution.

Throughout the concert, Taylor Swift didn't simply perform her songs; she told a story. She shared anecdotes about her journey, offering insight into the creative process behind her music. This personal touch created a deep connection between Swift and her audience, making the experience even more intimate.

In addition to the incredible visuals and flawless vocals, Swift's attention to detail was evident in every aspect of the show, from the carefully chosen set. As the sequin dressed crowd exited the stadium, you could feel a buzz that continued with sing-a-longs as the masses exited into the night knowing they had got a chance to experience one of the best tours to ever come to Denver.

Words and Images: Robert Castro

Kilby Block Party Returns To Salt Lake This Weekend

One of the up and coming niche music festivals is set to take place this weekend in Sal Lake City. In only its fourth year the festival has grown leaps and bounds with this years lineup boasting an impressive lineup usually only seen with the bigger festivals across the country.

The Kilby Block Party is a music festival that started in 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Salt Lake City’s longest-running, all-ages venue Kilby Court. Keeping with the spirit of this iconic venue, KBP aims to bring together SLC’s music community with some of our favorite internationally renowned artists. The firstt two editions of this festival were actual block parties on Kilby Court’s adjacent street of 700 South in downtown SLC. KBP1 and KBP2 were headlined by longtime friends Death Cab For Cutie and Young The Giant who both performed at Kilby Court in the beginning of their careers. In 2022, they took a chance and moved KBP3 to Library Square to host a 2-day festival featuring headliners Phoebe Bridgers and Mac DeMarco. With thanks to the incredible Kilby community, the festival sold out both nights in less than a week and the KBP3 weekend proved to be one of the best large scale indie music festivals to ever occur in downtown SLC. We are excited to be expanding this festival once again in 2023 by moving to the Utah State Fairpark for a 3 full days of music, art, food, culture, and more.

Set Times:

Festival Map

Lights All Night Is Upon Us!

Lights All Night is the mother of all electronic music festivals, the longest running of its kind in the great state of Texas.

This year’s edition is a neon fueled, dance music paradise boasting a genre-bending Texas sized lineup across four different stages: The Watering Hole, Metroplex, The Lonestar, and Disco Rodeo. From dance music royalty like Porter Robinson and the hotly tipped DJ and producer Gordo (recently produced Drake’s ‘Honestly Nevermind’ album) to astonishing, larger than life art installations, including the debut of Moouis Vuitton, Lights All Night is the place to be to cap off 2022.

We will be in attendance and check back next week for our full review and photo gallery.

Tickets

Ticket Link

Hours

Festivities take place this New Year's Eve Weekend on Thursday, December 29th and Friday, December 30th, with performances beginning in the evening and running all night.

Day 1: Thursday, December 29th

  • Parking lots open at 5:00 PM

  • Box office open at 5:00 PM

  • Gates open at 6:00 PM

  • Event ends at 2:00 AM

Day 2: Friday, December 30th

  • Parking lots open at 5:00 PM

  • Box office open at 5:00 PM

  • Gates open at 6:00 PM

  • Event ends at 2:00 AM

Map

Parking

If you plan to drive, there will be ample parking at the venue.

Parking lots open at 5:00 PM on Thursday and Friday. Parking is $25 plus tax, per day.

NO CASH! Credit and debit cards, and Android and Apple Pay payments are accepted.

BRECKENRIDGE BREWERY IS SET TO HOST ITS ANNUAL HOOTENANNY FESTIVAL

Breckenridge Brewery is celebrating the return of the Hootenanny, a two-day annual festival hosted in celebration of craft beer & live music. This year’s event marks the brewery’s 32nd anniversary since its humble beginnings in the mountain town for which it’s named. 


Hosted on Breck’s iconic and family-friendly Littleton Farm House campus, the end of summer extravaganza will include rare tappings, food and beer pairings, life-size board games, local vendors and a Never Summer snowboard hill. With two days of fun featuring national and local bands, the festival runs October 8 and 9 from 12:00pm to 7:00pm, rain or shine. Grab your tickets on Breck’s website to secure your spot as we raise a toast to the last taste of summer. Single day and Two Day bundles are available. 


This year’s music lineup features Railroad Earth, Spin Doctors, and more, playing their most iconic albums in full.! Looking for a sneak preview to jam out to? Enjoy songs from both festival days when you check out our specially curated Spotify playlist – perfect for cracking one open as you crank up the tunes.  


The Littleton Farm House gates open at 12:00pm for concert-goers to enjoy live music in the beer garden. The main stage will open promptly at 1:30pm, so don’t forget to grab a beer in the beer garden while you wait!


Follow along on Instagram and Twitter to stay connected with the festival fun. Hootenanny media assets are available here.


The Lineup

  • Day 1 - October 8

    • Railroad Earth “The Black Bear Sessions” (Set 1) “All for the Song” (Set 2)

    • Anders Osborne “Coming Down”

    • Steve Poltz “One Left Shoe”

  • Day 2 - October 9

    • Big Head Todd and the Monsters “Sister Sweetly”

    • Spin Doctors “Pocket Full of Kryptonite”

    • Bill & Jilian Nershi “Partnership”

The Weeknd Lights Up Denver

The Weeknd performs in front of a sold out Denver crowd. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The Weeknd, Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, FINALLY made it to Denver's Empower Stadium, August 18th after COVID caused his 2020 After Hours to be cancelled. Instead of disappointing concert goers with a performance based solely on his newest album, Dawn FM, Abel did what any smart artist would do and combined these two beautiful albums into a worldwide stadium tour for the masses!

Mike Dean and Kaytranada opened up for The Weeknd in place of Doja Cat who was on the original lineup, and really set the tone for the party we were in for. After maybe the longest set change of my life, Abel rose initially from a partially destroyed skyline set that morphed throughout the production, telling a story between the first two parts of his Trilogy through pyrotechnics, flashing lights and a giant luminescent moon that made the stadium feel otherworldly. Red fabric clad backup dancers moved in synchronicity and gave off eerie Handmaid's Tale vibes while The Weeknd performed hit after hit in front of the changing post apocalyptic scene. The sold out show audience got to enjoy bangers like "Or Na"Can't Feel My Face", "Crew Love",Or Nah", "Starboy", "Blinding Lights" and by the sound of it, enjoyed every moment of it.

Wrist bracelets equipped with lights were given out upon entry (but not collected, WASTEFUL) and added to the ambience through color coordination with the set, and allowed guests to not have to mess with their phone flashlights in the middle of the show. Although stadium sound isn't the ideal way to experience one of your favorite artists, the production definitely made up for anything that the sound was lacking. If you weren't there, you should be feeling pretty square because this tour was one for the books.

Words: Lina Skrkydczak | Photos: Robert Castro

Setlist:

  1. Alone Again

  2. Gasoline

  3. Sacrifice

  4. How Do I Make You Love Me?

  5. Can’t Feel My Face

  6. Take My Breath

  7. Hurricane (Kaye West Cover)

  8. The Hils

  9. Often

  10. Crew Love (Drake Cover)

  11. Starboy

  12. Heartless

  13. Low Life (Future Cover)

  14. Or Nah (Ty Dolla $ign Cover)

  15. Kiss Land

  16. Party Monster

  17. Faith

  18. After Hours

  19. Out of Time

  20. I Feel It Coming

  21. Die For You

  22. Is There Someone Else?

  23. I Was Never There

  24. Wicked Games

  25. Call Out My Name

  26. The Morning

  27. Save Your Tears

  28. Less Than Zero

  29. Blinding Lights