Ultra5280's Best Of 2018: Top Shows

2018 brought us some amazing shows. From comebacks to the unexpected to the rebirth of a local festival. Denver finally got it’s own big festival after months of rumors with Grandoozy. Red Rocks continued to impress with probably its best lineup in years. It’s hard task when asked to name your Top 5, but we sat down with some of our friends and finalized our lists. The consensus from our panel would be that David Byrne returned in 2018 with the best show of the year, landing number one on many lists. Taylor Swift toured with her amazing production landing a few spots on the list. Other notable shows were Janelle Monae, Childish Gambino and a few new faces such as CupcakKe and Jungle. With 2019 announcements already starting to roll in we expect it to be bigger and better. Thank you to our amazing friends at Live Nation, AEG Presents, Illegal Pete’s, Do303, The UMS, Levitt Pavillion, Open Air, Behind The Scene Podcast, without you we wouldn’t be able to attend so many amazing shows. Until next year…..

Robert Castro / Editor In Chief Ultra5280

14494751_10154623613153750_4694515903582625151_n.jpg

  1. Janelle Monae- Austin City Limits Music Festival

  2. Travis Scott- Pepsi Center

  3. David Byrne- Austin City Limits Music Festival

  4. Taylor Swift- Mile High Stadium

  5. Childish Gambino- Pepsi Center

Amy Osgood / Certified Peace Sign Thrower

741FC981-8D19-413C-81BE-BCAE36D846D4.JPG

  1. SZA- Coachella

  2. Taylor Swift- Mile High Stadium

  3. Beyonce- Coachella

  4. Janelle Monae- Paramount Theatre

  5. Florence and The Machine- Grandoozy

Bruce Trujillo / Programming Assistant at Open Air

28795651_945616016554_4534465813570125824_n.jpg

  1. Los Mocochetes/Pink Hawks/Vic N The Narwhals- Hi Dive

  2. Tammy Shine (of Dressy Bessy)- Sally Centigrade

  3. Ms. Lauryn Hill- Red Rocks

  4. Paul Simon- Fiddler’s Green

  5. Childish Gambino- Pepsi Center

Tobias Krause / Event Director at Underground Music Showcase

13102767_926377954126392_6890246741570381880_n.jpg

  1. DUCKWRTH- Underground Music Showcase

  2. PPL MVR- Underground Music Showcase

  3. Dragondeer (as Bowie)- Globe Hall

  4. Childish Gambino- Pepsi Center

  5. Madge- Underground Music Showcase

Zoe Lanterman / Marketing Manager at Live Nation Colorado

13507155_10208187198591099_7070618065572547640_n.jpg

  1. Jungle- The Gothic Theater

  2. Rolling Blackout Coastal Fever- Larimer Lounge

  3. Cold Cave- Marquis Theatre

  4. Sylvan Esso- Red Rocks

  5. BROCKHAMPTON- The Ogden Theatre

Peter Wallace / General Manager at Do303

45715544_10214539960665008_6677122708603404288_n.jpg

  1. David Byrne- Red Rocks

  2. Big Gigantic (Rowdytown 3D)- Red Rocks

  3. PHISH- MGM Las Vegas

  4. Travis Scott- Life Is Beautiful Music Festival

  5. Dave Chapelle- Summit

Joel Rekiel / Levitt Pavillion Denver

Joel+Profile+Picture.jpg

  1. David Byrne- Red Rocks

  2. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats- Levitt Pavillion Denver

  3. Godspeed You Black Emperor-The Ogden Theatre

  4. MGMT- The Fillmore

  5. Rainbow Kitten Surprise- Velorama Music Festival

Shon Cobbs / Host of Behind The Podcast

46472510_10218713125445514_4852893615153741824_n.jpg

  1. The National/Sharon Van Etten- Red Rocks

  2. Jesus and Mary Chain/NIN- Red Rocks

  3. Ghostpulse-Syntax Opera House

  4. The Milk Blossoms- Lost Lake

  5. Beach House/Sound of Ceres- The Ogden Theatre

Virgil Dickerson / Fun Pusher at Illegal Pete’s

IMG_1062.jpeg

  1. David Byrne- Red Rocks

  2. Lizzo with Maggie Rogers and Haim- Red Rocks

  3. Janelle Monae- Paramount Theatre

  4. Cupcakke- Marquis Theater

  5. Shannon and The Clams- Crescent Ballroom

Ryan Garbarino- Marketing Manager at AEG Presents

35884779_10216839943936580_2529176330738597888_n.jpg

  1. David Byrne- Red Rocks

  2. Khraungbin- The Bluebird Theater

  3. The War on Drugs- Grandoozy

  4. John Prine with Nathaniel Rateliff- Buell Theatre

  5. Taylor Swift- Mile High Stadium

Rikki Aston / Talent Buyer at Live Nation Colorado

CD3BEE24-2A53-481B-B5A2-FD5C8B44BE67_Facetune_11-12-2018-11-15-12.jpeg

  1. David Byrne- Red Rocks

  2. Pearl Jam- Safeco Field

  3. Against Me!- Summit

  4. Janelle Monae- Paramount Theatre

  5. Sofi Tukker- Gothic Theater (can I have 5 more!!!)

Lina Skrzypczak / Lifestyle and Music Writer at Ultra5280

38136158_10157651053143574_6342792657462362112_n.jpg

  1. Black Moth Super Rainbow- The Bluebird

  2. Washed Out- 420 Block Party

  3. Childish Gambino- Pepsi Center

  4. Mac Demarco- Red Rocks

  5. Tycho- Summit

Danny Sax / Talent Buyer at AEG Presents

43828191_10106487399675943_9106714454443163648_n.jpg

  1. Bouncing Souls- The Bluebird Theater

  2. Highly Suspect- The Ogden Theatre

  3. Dropkick Murphy’s/Flogging Molly- Fox Street Compound

  4. Mac Demarco- Red Rocks

  5. Rancid/Bad Religion/Pennywise/The Interrupters/Mad Caddies/Potato Pirates - Fiddlers Green

Geoff Brent / Talent Buyer at Live Nation Colorado

Image-2.png

  1. Itchy-O Hallowmass- Summit

  2. Against Me!- Summit

  3. Turnstile & Culture Abuse- Marquis Theater

  4. BROCKHAMPTON- The Fillmore

  5. The Frights- The Bluebird

Ultra5280 Presents: The Best Albums Of 2017

kendrick-best-of.jpg

Every year we like to reach out to some of our closest friends in the industry and get their take on their favorite albums of the year. One name was pretty consistent on everybody lists and without any argument looks like Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." was tops. Other notables were SZA's "Ctrl", and The War On Drugs "A Deeper Understanding". Stay tuned later this week as we name our top shows of 2017.

14494751_10154623613153750_4694515903582625151_n.jpg

Robert Castro - Editor In Chief at Ultra5280

1. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

2. The War On Drugs - A Deeper Understanding

3. The National - Sleep Well Beast

4. Big Thief - Capacity

5. Portugal. The Man - Woodstock

19390924_10155504488828750_6630426653710000930_o.jpg

Kelly O'Keefe - Writer (Music & Fashion) Ultra5280

1. Harry Styles- Harry Styles

2. Kesha- Rainbow

3. Portugal. The Man- Woodstock 

4. SZA-Ctrl 

5. Kendrick Lamar- DAMN.

23231662_10156796849043574_6800727705291974255_n.jpg

Lina Skrzypczak - Writer (Music & Fashion) Ultra5280

1. Polo & Pan - Caravelle

2. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

3. Washed Out - Mister Mellow

4. Ariel Pink - Dedicated To Bobby Jameson

5. Bibio - Phantom Brickworks

22886168_10155909669478750_3789629931336304383_n.jpg

Michelle (Meesh) Deyden - Photographer & Writer (Music and Fashion) Ultra5280

1. Overcoats - Young

2. Son Little - New Magic

3. Noah Gundersen - White Noise

4. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

5. Arcade Fire - Everything Now

16406662_10210451075825971_1488018094482953553_n.jpg

Bridget Burnett - Photographer (Music and Fashion) Ultra5280

1. Odesza - A Moment Apart

2. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

3. SZA - CTRL

4. Lorde - Melodrama

5. JAY-Z - 4:44

Headshot_d.jpg

Tobias Krause - Events Manager at Two Parts / Booking Dude at The UMS

1. Parallelephants - Supply

2. Proz Taylor - Deadman Wonderland

3. Toro Y Moi - Boo Boo

4. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

5. GGOOLLDD - Teeth

 

18489598_10105104320906883_5219103092867423167_o.jpg

Danny Sax - Talent Buyer at AEG

1. King Gizard & The Lizard Wizard – Murder Of The Universe

2. Thundercat - Drunk

3. Myrkur - Mareridt

4. Dreadnought – Awake In Sacred Waves

5. Code Orange – Forever  

2017.03.23_SLEIGHBELLS_1295 (1).jpg

Amy Osgood - Program Director at Passport Program

1. SZA - Ctrl

2. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

3. Arcade Fire - Everything Now

4. The XX - I See You

5. Sylvan Esso - What Now

3A212A8B-0653-48E5-ACE9-1334CFB56FA3_Facetune_19-12-2017-21-12-07.JPG

Rikki Aston - Talent Buyer at Live Nation

1. Quicksand – Illuminant

2. Billie Eilish – Don’t Smile At Me

3. St. Vincent – Masseducation

4. SZA – Ctrl

5. Kehlani – SweetSexySavage

13900324_10208535118128870_6299832480253679827_n.jpg

Zoe Lanterman - Marketing Director at Soda Jerk Presents

1. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.

2. King Krule – The OOZ

3. Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile – Lotta Sea Lice

4. Gorillaz – Humanz

5. (Tie) Mac Demarco – This Old Dog
The War On Drugs – A Deeper Understanding

IMG_6423.JPG

Kendall Smith - VP of Sales and Events at Denverite

1. St Vincent - Masseducation

2. Beck - Colors

3. In/Planes - Everything

4. Aldous Harding - Party

5. Gary Numan - Savage

BLDGBLKS Team - 3.jpg

Joel Rekiel - Founder & Artist Manager at BLDGBLKS / Marketing & Hospitality Manager at Levitt Pavillion

1.  Brand New - Science Fiction

2. The National - Sleep Well Beast

3. Sylvan Esso - What Now

4. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

5. LCD Soundsystem - American Dream

19400520_10155504488923750_7210753681799500957_o.jpg

Virgil Dickerson - Marketing Manager at Illegal Pete's

1. Action Bronson - Blue Chips 7000

2. Portugal. The Man - Woodstock

3. Kendrick Lamar - DAMN.

4. St. Vincent - Masseducation

5. Thundercat - Drunk

Music | SHOW ALERT: Summer Ends Music Festival in Tempe, Arizona

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.