Our Way Too Early Top Ten Must See Acts At UMS 2024
It’s that time of year once again, we are a few weeks away from this years Underground Music Showcase taking place on South Broadway. We have looked at the lineups and scoured their music to come up with an early top ten must see. In no particular order here they are. As we embark on another UMS we recommend you try and catch as many bands as you can, if a venue is at capacity, hop over to the next, fact is this is how we encountered many of the bands on our list this year.
MANNY
HQ DENVER | FRIDAY, JULY 26TH | 9:00-9:40 PM
Manny is a Chicano indie/alt band based in Denver, CO. Confronting the challenges of navigating a city that often overlooks the voices of its marginalized communities by delivering music inspired by a plethora of different cultures and music backgrounds including indie, rock, doo-wop, rnb, and a twist of punk. We discovered these guys at the Youth on Record Block Party a few years ago and instatly fell in love. Their sound can be described as bridging influences from artist like Cuco, Omar Apollo, with a slight twist of garage sound from The Strokes. A must see this year, be sure to check them out.
GRACE DEVINE
SKYLARK LOUNGE | FRIDAY, JULY 26TH | MIDNIGHT-12:40 PM
Hailing from the vibrant lands of Miami, Florida, and now based in Denver, Grace DeVine is a visionary pop artist who effortlessly fuses the scintillating sounds of disco, pop, and indie music into a captivating sonic experience. Her musical mission is clear: to craft a mystical brand of pop that transcends the ordinary and ventures into the celestial. Drawing inspiration from the cosmos itself—the moon, stars, and spirituality, her music is infused with an otherworldly quality.
Recently voted as one of Denver's Top 15 Local Artists by 303 Magazine and featured in Westword Magazine on three separate occasions, DeVine creates an ethereal listening experience that transports her audience to a world where the mundane meets the supernatural.
With each performance and release, she aims to whisk her listeners away on a journey beyond the boundaries of the known, leaving them spellbound by her celestial art-pop creations. A superstar in the making Grace commands the stage with the swagger of your favorite pop icon while maintaining her unique sound that differintiates her from the rest.
ESTEPHANYART
HORNET | SATURDAY, JULY 27TH | 7:00-7:40 PM
A wildcard in this years lineup is ESTEPHANYART, making her UMS debut the Juarez, Mexico native is quietly stirring up the Colorado underground music scene. Parts glam and parts indie queen, ESTEPHANYART delivers sultry takes on heartfelt lyrics matching her persona. A hidden gem nestled in Colorado Springs, its time for her to make her mark in the Mile High! Dont sleep on this set!
YASMINEEMANI
Skylark Lounge | Saturday, July 27th | 10:00-10:40 PM
A jack of all trades, YasmineEmani is an alternative soul and RnB singer/songwriter. Her soulful sound will captivate you from the opening note as her range extends to bring her music to life. A recent discovery from us at the Youth On Record Block Party, we highly suggest you make her set a priority at this years festival.
Born and raise in Colorado. She began releasing music in the fall of 2020 and has been sharing her captivating and explosive voice through out the Denver music scene ever since. She's passionate about creating cinematic and colorful music that paints pictures and story's for listeners to experience.
She's also an actress who's performed in various plays and musicals as well as short films. Her theatrical background creates for a moving and entrancing show experience for the audience.
IPECAC
Hi Dive | Sunday, July 28th | 8:00-8:40 PM
A band that has been making big waves in 2024 is another one of our must see. Ipecac has caught the attention of many and we stand firm when we say they are to the premiere rock band in the city right now. Add them to your list as its going to be hot and sweaty Sunday evening at the hi Dive.
As a hard working, hard rocking college band on the rise, Ipecac recently released their debut EP on Denver's time honored independent record label, Sailor Records and signed with Austin's boutique rock management company, Dead Rose Management. Sailor Records describes the band as "solid rock with a soul feel and a glam flair". The lyrics convey a message of hope, but in an emphatic "don't fuck with me" kind of way.
Their new self-titled EP promises a thrilling rock 'n' roll experience that begs to be replayed time and time again
Ipecac was voted Westword Magazine's Reader's Choice Best New Band in 2022 and Indie 102.3's Best Local Band of 2023 out of 144 Denver artists. With a super entertaining rock show, the band has played the Denver's Underground Music Showcase for the last three years, as well as the Westword Music Showcase and FOCOMX, and was Indie 102.3's featured performance artist for July 2023. Always inclusive in their support of everyone in the Denver scene, Ipecac has donated shows for Haseya Advocacy Program, Celebration of Pride, Marshall Fire Relief and Milestones for Maxwell to name a few.
FUYA FUYA
Hi Dive | Friday, July 26th | 8:00-8:40 PM
Baere Brewing | Saturday, July 27th | 4:00-4:40 PM
There is always one artist we catch every year that is part of several projects playing the festival. For Fuya Fuya it’s her solo project that brings her the most passion. We have had a chance to see her a few times and luckily for you, you get two chances to see her performing at this years Underground Music Showcase. You can also catch her playing with Neoma.
Fuya Fuya is a versatile artist, known for her skills as a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer, whose musical repertoire spans across genres from Hip-Hop/R&B to Latin-American Folk. Born in Ecuador in the 90s, she eventually made her way to Colorado in 2019.
Driven by themes of self-discovery, empowerment, and raw vulnerability, Fuya Fuya's music captivates audiences with its emotional depth and authenticity. Her live performances offer an immersive experience, forging a profound connection with the audience. Taking listeners on a transformative journey, her shows seamlessly blend nostalgic melodies with vibrant rhythms, evoking a range of emotions from introspective contemplation to high-spirited contentment.
Anticipation is high for Fuya Fuya's debut album set for release in 2024, following her singles Where Did U Go, Runnin, and Call U Back. Beyond her solo endeavors, she is a member of the Ecuadorian and Denver-based band Neoma, showcasing her talents on electric guitar and keys. Fuya Fuya played a part in the production of Neoma's Spotify single Running Up That Hill and the disco-reggaeton banger Lento.
With her dynamic blend of musical influences and her ability to craft deeply resonant experiences, Fuya Fuya continues to make an impact on her community, demonstrating that women and Latinx music producers are leaving their mark on Denver's bustling music scene.
VIRGI DART
Backyard Stage | Saturday, July 27th | 6:00-6:40 PM
We discovered Virgi Dart last year almost by accident, as we were scrambling around to fill a void for our last minute Selena Tribute party, a good friend recommended Virgi who kindly obliged and lets just say we fell in love. A vibrant penchant for charisma and a voice to celebrate cumbia roots, make sure you bring your dancing shoes to the Backyard Stage on Saturday, July 27th.
NuCumbia is how Virgi describes her music: a fusion of sounds that connects Latin Americans from Mexico to Argentina. Before moving to the United States, Virgi forged a prominent career in the Colombian music scene, the country where she was born. She shared the stage with renowned artists from Colombia and Latin America in stadiums, theaters, and venues in this country, thus solidifying her reputation in the music industry.
Her first EP, "AEROPUERTO," is an eclectic compilation that spans genres such as ballads, pop, and cumbia. This work is a tribute to the shared dream of exploration and overcoming challenges experienced in an airport, metaphorically represented as a starting point towards different destinations and realities.
Virgi is currently finalizing her second album, finding in cumbia that special call of vitality, energy, and connection that she loves to share with her audience. #NuCumbia is an album that promises to be a vibrant amalgamation of rhythms with cumbia as its main base, a genre born in Colombia and expanded throughout Latin America, becoming an identity and flag for Latinos. This album, produced by Latin GRAMMY® winner Larry Coll, includes collaborations with artists such as Latin Grammy® nominees Tato Marenco and Daniela Padrón, as well as the renowned Venezuela Strings Recording Ensemble, Valeria Cid, and Benavides. With 12 songs that fuse cumbia with a myriad of genres, Virgi hopes to take her music to her native Colombia, the United States and Latin America.
SHAE DISTRICT
Hi Dive | Sunday, July 28th (technically Saturday) | 12:00-12:40 PM
Who doesn’t like a good dance party? Usually reserved for hot sweaty rock to end our Saturday nights in the past, the Hi Dive will turn into an electronica dance party as Shae District closes out the night. Judging by recent success of Denver EDM artist launching huge careers from our fair city, Shae District is on the right path to come out of the Mile High as the “it” band for the genre, stay tuned.
Debjit and Andrew are the Alternative Dance group Shae District.
They combine elements of Trance, House, Rock, and Electronic, akin to the bands Rufus Du Sol and Bob Moses. The duo have released three EPs - their most recent self titled 'Shae District' EP was remixed by 20 producers from around the world and, came accompanied with a Deluxe Version and live performance video from Nederland, CO.
Their performance has lead them to tour with Jai Wolf, perform at the ODESZA Official Afterparty with Golden Features, and share the stage with Sofi Tukker, Bob Moses, Big Gigantic, Hayden James, Manila Killa and Phantoms.
SIEMBRA SOUNDSYSTEM FT, YUCASOUL AND SELECTA C
RHAPSODY | SUNDAY, JULY 28TH | 5:30-6:40 PM
One of the more unique acts you on our radar is Siembra Soundsystem (ft. Yucasoul and Selecta C). Combining elements of latin music, including cumbia, salsa, tropical, carribean and afro-latin the band reaches into early influences of the mash up of genres to make their live show one of a kind. Providing for a chill time slot on the last day of the fest, Rhapsody is the place to be for their set.
Siembra Soundsystem, led by the musical duo Selecta C and Yucasoul, is an energetic AfroLatin band based in Denver, CO known for producing bold sounds and energetic shows that fuse ancestral rhythms with contemporary urban influences. On a quest to elevate culture and spread joy, Siembra has established itself as a vital component of Denver's entertainment scene, creating a full-sensory experience that energizes audiences with creative and spirited performances.
NATIVE DAUGHTERS
Showcase Stage | Friday, July 26th | 5:25-6:10 PM
Hi Dive | Sunday, July 28th | 10:00-10:40 PM
Bruised, battered and satisfied is usually how we have survived a Native Daughters set. One of the most polished bands on the bill, Native Daughters will blow you away and keep you begging for more. Luckily the UMS gods graced us with not one, but two slots to get the see the band. We recommend the Hi Dive slot for the ultimate experience.
Native Daughters' sound packs many of the body blows from heavy, riff-based post-metal. But it also draws melodies and rhythmic tension from the cream of the mid-90s emo/postpunk crop. There are a few of the twinkly guitar leads and crushing breakdowns which are hallmarks of these divergent styles. Equal parts blunt force trauma and tense,you won't know what hit you, but you'll be glad that it did.
