compiled by Meesh Deyden for the masses

Lorde photographed in 2014 by Ultra5280 Editor in Chief, Robert Castro

Mon 3/5 Lorde at Pepsi Center with Run the Jewels

Following her Grammy snub and a string of heartfelt and righteous comebacks, Lorde's North American leg of her Melodrama tour finds an equally fierce (if not more so) ally in openers, Run the Jewels. You may recall Killer Mike's moving speech at a music venue in St Louis, Missouri just a half hour after the Ferguson grand jury decided to not indict officers involved in the killing of Mike Brown. Unsurprising to fans, both acts are heralded for making emotionally and politically astute music that makes you wanna dance h a r d. To sweeten the deal, the seemingly disparate pair just released a remix of Lorde's "Supercut" featuring verses by Killer Mike.

Tix: At the time of publication, tickets are still available! // Pro-Tip: The Pepsi Center powers that be have ordered bartenders to stop serving about 3/4 through the show, so plan ahead for optimal buzz.

Sat 3/10 Lucius at Boulder Theater

When you move to Brooklyn to embark on your music career and move into a house that turns out to have been a music school and a recording studio, it seems destiny may be working an angle. Since the release of their 2012 EP, Lucius-- led by Berklee School alums Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig-- have toured with Jack White, had their song "Two of Us on the Run" streamed 30+ million times, garnered top nods from NPR & NY Times for their 2014 album, Wildewoman, and snagged a gig singing back up for the legendary Roger Waters. Instead of amping up the production after all this, Lucius is returning to the basics, releasing Nudes, an album of acoustic tracks coming this spring.

Tix: SOLD OUT // Pro-Tip: Take the bus from Union Station aka don't be a drunk idiot. But if you are drunk and have a case of the drunchies, the Taco Bell next to the theatre will be your best friend.

Sun 3/11 George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Ogden

George Clinton and P. Funk recently released a track (see video above) that is the 1st song under the Parliament name since the 80s. That's decades w/o an official new P Funk groove! "I'm Gon Make U Sick O'Me" is part of Medicaid Fraud Dog, an album that Clinton says will feature "P-Funk horn players Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis, Greg Thomas, and Benny Cowan." So if you missed their private show for Outdoor Retailer at Broadway's Temple in February, you can still grab tickets to their Ogden show.

Tix: $32 // Pro-Tip: Get funky before the show at the funkiest joint on the block-- Sancho's of course.

Fri 3/16 Portugal the Man at MCA

Turns out that Portugal the Man is pretty tight with current MCA exhibited artist, Cleon Peterson. The recent Grammy winners will be playing a private show at the museum for some lucky fans, and all ya gotta do to get a ticket (really, the only way to get a ticket) is give 'em the ole razzle dazzle, social media style. For full entry rules click here.

Tix: see rules for entry here // Pro-Tip: If you have time before or after the set, check out the exhibit in the basement-- it's a video collage matched up to Kanye's "Ultralight Beam" by renowned artist Arthur Jafa!

Tu 3/20 Kinky Fingers at Lion's Lair with Acid Tongue, Ancient Elk

Yo! Surf rock babes, Kinky Fingers, are ridin the wave these days with their latest release, Garbage Plate, hittin the streets and an upcoming Treefort Fest slot! They've been playing a bunch of shows around town, but we're particularly excited for their March gig at our beloved Lion's Lair! Doors are at 8:30 and we suggest getting there in time to check out some stellar opening acts!

Tix: $8 // Pro-Tip: Lion's Lair is one of our fave classic Colfax dives, so treat it with respect, damnit! And by respect we mean: bring cash, tip your bartender, cheer on the bands, and if you wanna talk during a set, don't do it right by the stage, ya twerp.

Tu 2/6 MØ and Cashmere Cat at Ogden

So you pride yourself on listening to the acts that eventually blow the fuck up, but you're also not a pretentious git who ditches the rush of the tunes soon as your makers make it big. I am talking to you, hip-hop/deejay head, with your eyes on producers who finally release their own ish! Cashmere Cat's been in the game for years, sonically sculpting hits for everyone from Ye to Grande, and now's your chance to catch him reppin entirely his own vibes. This co-headlining tour with Danish popstress, MØ (pronounced MUH), is sure to bring party from doors open til security sweeps you out the Ogden and onto cold ass Colfax.

TIX: $30ish // Pro-Tip: Don't be an asshat to the X-hands (aka Under 21) that'll surely be there not so sneakily smuggling shooters to each other. You were a teen once, too, old man.

The Velveteers photographed by Robert Castro

F 2/9 The Velveteers EP Release w/Bud Bronson & The Good Timers, Plastic Daggers at Hi Dive

Rock and roll is not dead. In fact, some of it is alive and creepy af and from Boulder?! The Velveteers "Death Hex", as Dylan Owens of Denver Post's The Know writes, is a "cut-to-the-bone single" and we quite agree. They have limited songs accessible online, so head to show and grab their tunes an old fashioned way-- buy the album at the merch stand.

TIX: // Pro Tip: Keep your eyes peeled for Karl Christian Krumpholz's next comic for Westword featuring The Velveteers. PS we <3 this band, and you can check out our previous coverage here.

Sa 2/10 Black Star at Ogden

"Hard knuckles on the second hands of working class watches / Skyscrapers is colossus, the cost of living is preposterous." As Denver small talk now also includes anyone's best guess of the number of cranes along the Mile High skyline, it couldn't be a better time to hear two of raps most pioneering political figures, Mos Def (aka Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli, rage face. This last minute booking has hip hop fans ready and anticipating, but the $65 price tag may lure away the very people our conscious MCs are rhymin for.

TIX: $65 // Pro-Tip: Your friend bails and you have an extra ticket? Hand it to a fan outside the gates and make someone's night.

F 2/16 Rostam @ Globe Hall

Yep, he was in Vampire Weekend. No, he's not Jack Antonoff. He's a dude who NPR writes as "helping to reshape pop music with West African guitar licks crossed with unusual polyrhythms and joyful melodies." Collaborating with acts like Ra Ra Riot, Haim, RAC, and Discovery, you can expect a lot of bubbly beats and billowy vox tracks during his set at Globeville's Globe Hall. Unfortunately, the show is sold out, but we're sure our readers now how to navigate that lil obstacle, legally, of course.

TIX: SOLD OUT-- buena suerte // Pro-Tip: Head to the gorgeous Fort Greene bar across the street for happy hour, then p/u some bbq from Globe Hall, and gorge on cheap beer til openers Joy Again take the stage.

Sa 2/17 Classixx DJ Set @ Vinyl

GO IF: you love indie rock but kinda hate dancing, but you resolved to give less fucks in 2018, and just wanna move, man. Vinyl is a sweaty club off Broadway, and no one's gonna be worried about your two step. These LA DJs got you.

TIX: $16ish // Pro-Tip: Avoid wearing that Classixx tee you copped from H&M. It ain't them and they're suing. No, really.

Su 2/18 Majid Jordan at the Gothic

If Majid Jordan hasn't secured a spot on every playlist you've made for bae, you're doing it wrong. The Toronto duo first caught our attention when Drizzy featured them on "Hold On, We're Going Home" and later signing them to his OVO Sound. Now, fair warning-- this show's gonna be sexy af. Like, baby makin music. Like, people feelin themselves maybe not so metaphorically kind of vibes. Like, maybe you do want that shot of tequila.

TIX: $30ish // Pro-Tip: Parking can suck around the Gothic-- careful of side streets that only allow resident permit parking.

W 2/21 Brent Faiyaz @ Lost Lake

I mean, we don't wanna say he's a good place holder for your Frank Ocean fix, but he hits that nerve-- eclectic, tender & sincere, classic yet new. Faiyaz, one of the trio Sonder, and Maryland made former rapper, kicked off his solo tour in Chitown at the end of January. Seeing him at an intimate venue like Lost Lake is sure to be a moment fans will refer to years from now when he's playing global festivals and showing off his friendship with Solange-- oh wait, that's sorta already happened.

TIX: SOLD OUT // Pro Tip: Post up outside Lost Lake with your best puppy dog eyes and get yourself a damn ticket.