Ashnikko Takes Over Red Rocks | Oct. 29th, 2024
With a new moon on the horizon and Halloween impending, Ashnikko came to put on a show for the crowd at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre this past Tuesday. The show marked Ashnikko’s first performance headlining Red Rocks and the artist was overcome with gratitude, tearing up between songs and expressing gratitude for the support of their fans.
Discussing their journey into music from the age of fifteen and its ability to give them a space for expression when they felt like they had no autonomy, Ashnikko thanked the crowd for being a part of their musical universe.
And we have to say, there isn’t anyone we could think of that could’ve been more suited to put on a show that brought on the anticipation for Halloween. The rap and hip-hop enigma, known for their ghoulish, outside-the-box concepts and sex-positive music was more than we could’ve asked for to delight our senses.
Coming out with a bold start, Ashnikko emerged on the stage following an energized intro from her backup dancers, who were adorned in ripped red garments for their cannibalistic theme. Ashnikko herself also wore an outfit she self-described as a “cannibal fawn” costume and she confidently opened her performance with “You Make Me Sick!”, a raw and scream-heavy pop song that expresses feminine rage.
The high-strung music melded together seamlessly with their stellar choreography to set the tone for the evening, and the audience was delighted by Ashnikko’s quirky theatrics and side comments.
Engaging with the crowd throughout the night, Ashnikko had plenty of fun gallivanting and telling elaborate fairy tales with their own twist, earning laughs and cheers from the packed crowd. At one point, they even got the audience to partake in a group howl at the moon, declaring that they like to do one little unspeakable act during all of their shows before leading the way for everyone to fulfill their inner werewolf dreams.
To say that everyone was having fun would be an understatement, and we’ll definitely be smiling about the little acts we all giddily partook in throughout the week.
At times gory, always silly and maintaining a degree of rawness – Ashnikko’s first Red Rocks performance truly highlighted their ability to be vulnerable and express themselves through their unique vision. The magnitude of their growth since the last time they visited the Mile High City at Mission Ballroom spoke volumes to the dedication they have for their craft.
And although it's incredible to see them continue to transform as an artist, let’s be clear – Ashnikko has always been a phenomenal performer with a distinct, bratty edge that’s easy to love and we were incredibly fortunate to have them join us for this spooky week.
Words and images: Juli Yanai
