Austin's own Shakey Graves headlined The Westword Music Showcase (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The Westword Music Festival proved you don't need an EDM headliner to pack in a full house. Such was evident this past Saturday as the annual one day music festival once again invaded the Golden Triangle in Denver. With a heavier influence on folk rock this year bands such as The Revivalist and headliner Shakey Graves entertained the masses without missing a step.

Trev Rich giving his hometown an amazing performance. (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The festival once again played host to numerous local bands all along the various bars and venues spread out. Some of our favorite performances included sets from Kayla Marque, Cheap Perfume, The Other Black, Altas, and IZCALLI. The two main stages had us hopping back and forth to catch sets from Edison, Arizona (not the state), Coin, and hometown favorite and Cash Money Recording artist Trev Rich.

Wesley Watkins of The Other Black (Photo Credit: Aly McClaran)

Australian outfit Cut Copy have been around for quite sometime now and still managed to have the whole festival dancing (the only dance/electronic act) on the main stage. Hits like "Lights and Music" created a rather sweaty dance party before we headed over to The Revivalist for some knee slapping fun.

Cut Copy still making us dance after all these years (Photo Credit: Aly McClaran)

This years headliner came to us all the way from Austin, Texas and has been spending some time up in the mountains recording what we hope is a new album. The last time we had a chance to see Shakey Graves was for a Budweiser event this past summer. Always a huge draw in Colorado, he managed to give us an amazing performance that had the crowd singing and clapping no more evident than his big hit "Dearly Departed" coincidentally performed by him and Denver artist Esme Patterson (we didn't get no Esme unfortunately). This years festival was packed once again as it always is, we just wish more people would flock to the smaller venues to see some of the best Colorado bands play, bands like Edison, Redlands, and other main stage acts got their start by playing these smaller stages and as you can see the hard work has paid off. Kudos to the amazing team behind the scenes who put this together and allow us to be a important player when it comes to helping support the festival. Until next year...

Photos by Ultra5280's Robert Castro and Aly McClaran (Do not use without permission)

not quite ready for summer to be over? We aren’t either. That’s why next weekend we’re escaping down into the heat of Tempe, Arizona to end the season with a bang at the Summer Ends Music Festival. Taking place at the Tempe State Beach Park just off the Arizona State University campus, there’s never been an end-of-summer celebration quite like this. With headlining acts ranging from Hozier to Kanye West, this 4-day festival has something for everyone.

As much as we love Colorado’s music scene in the summer, traveling for other festivals happening outside our beloved state isn’t the easiest when you’re based here, which leaves us feeling a bit left out of all the fun. A trip to Lollapalooza, Firefly, Bumbershoot or Coachella can only be reached by expensive plane rides and the treacherous planning of vacation days. It’s safe to say that many wish it was easier to make a quick “vacation” out of a festival, rather than an extended trip through clogged airports.

Until now, we didn’t think there was an easy solution to this sad summer situation. But what many Coloradans have seemed to forget (even us!) is how surprisingly close Phoenix, AZ really is. Only a short 12 hours away, this easy drive southward gives you the opportunity to turn your festival-going dreams into a fantastic road trip through Colorado's backyard. Stops along the drive could easily include the gorgeous Taos, New Mexico, Salida, Colorado, or even a break at the Four Corners Monument or Mesa Verde National Park if you plan your drive right. A longer route allows for a night’s stay in Telluride, or even a cross through the scenic Moab and Arches National Park on your way to or from Denver. If you’re looking for a quicker trip down, Southwest Airlines offers tickets to Phoenix for about $60/way on a consistent basis, allowing for a quick, warmup getaway during chilly Colorado winters.

Ultra5280 isn’t the only Denver outlet to be treating Phoenix like our sister city these days. In 2013, Denver’s favorite breakfast eatery, Snooze, opened their first of three locations in Arizona, one just a stone’s throw away from the Summer Ends Music Festival grounds in Tempe. Another one of our favorite restauranteurs, Illegal Pete’s, are preparing to open their first location outside of Denver later this year in Tucson, a mere 2hrs north of Phoenix. The Summer Ends Music Festival is even produced by Phoenix independent promoters Lucky Man Concert, who feel surprisingly similar to our favorite Denver-based independent promoter, Soda Jerk Presents, who own the Summit Music Hall (among others) and promote their own major music festivals like Riot Fest Denver each year. Bringing in acts big, small, local, and everything in between, Lucky Man has worked hard to make Phoenix a must-stop musical city, and we at Ultra5280 believe that it’s time we celebrate our closest major market, and share in their summer fun.

Tickets are shockingly cheap to join in on the Summer Ends fun, and each day of the festival fits a different genre, making it a well-rounded music festival for any listener. Ultra5280 is proud to help continue to foster this Denver/Phoenix friendship that’s only beginning to blossom, and hope to put Phoenix roadtrips on the map for music-goers looking to turn their concerts into more of an adventure. Looking for your next show to attend? Maybe this time you should look at concerts hitting Phoenix as well.