The Best Images Of The Westword Music Showcase 2016

June 27, 2016

This year's Westword Music Showcase brought out the big guns to headline their main stages. Not only were the two main stages packed all day with amazing bands, but the other venues in The Golden Triangle played hosts to some of Denver's best acts. Despite a mid-day power outage (rumors from thunder to Donald Trump setting it off) were rampant, not to fear as the bands took it to the streets and many improvised with acoustic sets. With record breaking attendance and music to satisfy every genre the Golden Triangle epicenter was bustling with music lovers. A sectioned off VIP area played refuge from the mild heat and brief showers. Headliners such as Black Pistol Fire, Cold War Kids and Dillon Francis gave the audience mesmerizing sets while locals such as 888, Brent Cowles, Eldren, One Flew West and more played to their own audiences at the various indoor venues spread out across Broadway. Luckily we had a slew of Ultra5280 shutterbugs covering ground to take these amazing photos. (Photo Credits: Robert Castro, Matt Smith, Andrew Rios and Amber Kaye)

Westword Music Showcase Photo Slideshow.

Music | SHOW ALERT: Dead Rocks Pre-Party | July 1st, Larimer Lounge

June 18, 2015

Denver, CO – On July 1, the night before Dead Rocks, Zeds Dead’s annual summer concert at Red Rocks, Hooks of Zeds Dead returns to Larimer Lounge to paint another one-of-a-kind mural for the venue. For a second year, the Official Dead Rocks Pre-Party will follow Hooks’ live painting at Larimer Lounge. The pre-party will feature a live DJ set by Hooks and DC of Zeds Dead along with some very special guests. Doors at 8 PM, Show at 9 PM.

To attend, fans must RSVP for free entry to: larimer.lounge.music@gmail.com. Please include full name. One RSVP per email.

A nod to the exploding street art scene in Denver’s River North (RiNo), Larimer Lounge has invited Hooks to create another mural to accompany the outdoor mural he painted last year. Over the past year, Larimer Lounge has continued to invite notable street artists and art collectives, such as SoGnar, to use the venue’s exterior as a canvas, turning Larimer Lounge into a street art centerpiece in RiNo. Larimer Lounge is thrilled for Hooks to create another electrifying mural on the venue’s back patio.

DC will join Hooks at Larimer Lounge that evening to play a live DJ set with special guests, celebrating their return to Red Rocks the following night. This year, Dead Rocks is poised to sell out and have its biggest year yet. The massive Dead Rocks performance also features Dillon Francis, Paper Diamond, Haywyre, Mija and Hunter Siegel.

Links:

Event page: http://www.larimerlounge.com/event_details.cfm?blogid=1930

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/847172808704331

Video: Live painting "Bombing Rooftops with Zeds Dead" by Thump - Vice

Skrillex and The Mothership Tour to land at Red Rocks This Weekend.

June 19, 2014

MAXIMALIST. This is the best way to describe Skrillex's first tour, the Mothership Tour, and everything he has done since. His music is aggressive, unrelenting and battle-ready. There's also the over-the-top stage production, which has been known to feature Skrillex perched within his spaceship, while a gigantic video game avatar mimicks his every movement on the screen behind him. Wild lights, roaring explosions, raging fires, thundering bass, overall chaos.

X Games Austin | Stadiums & Stampedes

June 12, 2014

Austin's first (and certainly not last) year as an X Games host was successful, to say the least. The weekend delivered—by hand, foot, two and four wheels, via ramp, a mighty stellar observation tower, by grass and amphitheater—a remarkable lineup, optimal weather (albeit a bit humid, though it's June in Texas), and back-to-back action sports that kept everyone dancin', taking illegal dips in the venue's pond, and on the edge of their seats.

Dillon Francis melting faces (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Dillon Francis | The Ogden Theatre | December 20

December 22, 2012

Before I begin I would like to share some keen observations from the Dillon Francis show at The Ogden on Thursday. First and foremost, the state of Colorado will be experiencing a baby boom here shortly judging by the fans of the EDM scene. I saw things taking place in that audience that would be banned in most states. The scene is something we have become used to since electronic dance has blown up. With school out and a sold-out venue, the crowd was in for a treat courtesy of Mr. Dillon Francis.

Getting the night started was Aviva, whose opening set already had the venue pretty packed. She interacted with the crowd between sets, getting the venue warmed up for the night’s headliner. The second opener was Kill Paris and let me just say, if there was ever an opener that rivaled the intensity of a headliner it would be Kill Paris. He dropped massive tracks including his dub-version of Player’s “Baby Come Back” and the Force MD’s “Tender Love”. Worthy of headline status Kill Paris, aka Corey Baker, produced and delivered his set.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dillon Francis, he is an up and coming DJ built from the same cloth as peers A-Trak and Diplo. Hailing from LA, the 24 year old dj/producer created big waves in 2012. What makes Dillon popular, aside from his jaw-dropping sets, is his fan interactions via social media. Follow his Twitter, @dillonfrancis, to see what I’m talking about.

As the opening number, our Star Spangled Banner, blared out the venues speaker Francis made his way up the stage and asked the audience to repeat after him.

“I pledge of allegiance, to Dillon Francis, and everyone else can go fuck themselves...”

Truly showcasing his talent, he goes full force from beginning to end dropping hot remixes that send the crowd into an all out frenzy.Truly a favorite amongst the crew here at Ultra5280, we will continue to see Dillon Francis grow in 2013. He has already arrived on the scene (none more evident than a sold out show) and we can’t wait to see what else he brings.

Castro

Ready to drop the bass (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Big Gigantic (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Big Gigantic | Rowdytown | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | September 29

October 1, 2012

Dubbed simply as “Rowdytown”, Red Rocks Amphitheatre played host to a slew of talented musicians on Saturday night. Headlined by the duo from Boulder known as Big Gigantic, the night was full of dancing, raging, perputual drug use (I’m assuming, of course) and all out partying. This was our last show of the season at Red Rocks and what a way to go out. The night got started by strong DJ sets from Raw Russ, followed by the talented Griz. Next up was a DJ who has been tearing up the blogosphere and DJ circuit. In fact this dude probably has the best biography on Facebook one could ever ask for:

I'm Dillon Francis, I'm from Los Angeles and I'm 24 years old. If you want to know more about me you can follow me @DILLONFRANCIS or go to Facebook or my Tumblr 666fuckingdie.tumblr.com. I probably won't do an interview or photo shoot but here is an amazing picture of a cat. http://instagr.am/p/ZIgPg/ I love the Internet and pissing off your Mom and Dad (especially if they’re hippies).

Love You. Dillon Francis

With that being said, he managed to play one of the stronger DJ sets I have seen all year. With no light-show or elaborate production, he got right down to business and hit us with an assortment of genre-bending remixes and masterful beats of all kinds. If you get a chance please make sure you catch the dapper Mr. Francis if he makes a stop in your town. Also hitting the stage was Colorado favorites, hailing from The Emerald City of Seattle, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. For some reason Coloradoans have adopted Macklemore as one of their own, it was apparent this past summer during the Westword Showcase and Saturday night as well. The underground hip hop duo graced us with dance friendly numbers and energy that only fed the crowd for the nights headliners.

Dominic Lalli hyping up the sold out Red Rocks crowd (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Projection mapping during big Gigantic's set (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

The night though truly belonged to Dominic Lalli and Jeremy Salken. With their customary beehive stage setup it was clear who the sold out crowd came to see. To enhance the listening experience they managed to do something never done before at Red Rocks. They lit up “Creation Rock”, and “Ship Rock” with full on projection mapping courtesy off Ghost Pixel. It was truly something to see these enormous rocks changing with visuals that complimented the “livetronica” sound. At one point an image of the Colorado state flag adorned the rocks driving the masses in to all out hysteria. Big Gigantic continues to grow right in front of our eyes. With an upcoming tour and performance at Austin City Limits next week, the duo will bring their Uprising Tour all across the states.