7 Must See Acts: UMS 2023

As we embark on our 13th Underground Music Showcase’s an outlet, we wanted to celebrate the amazing Denver community and its vibrant music scene for allowing to capture and cover some amazing bands from the last decade.

Every year we scour our lineups and schedules to make a list of our top ten acts we recommend. While each year has its challenges, it also allows us to share bands some of you may not be familiar with.

Without further adieu…..

Seven Must See Acts

Spill Tab

Showcase Stage | Sunday, July 30th | 6:35-7:20 PM

Welcome to the world of Spill Tab, where musical boundaries are shattered, emotions run wild, and acoustic landscapes transport you to another dimension. With a unique blend of haunting melodies, soul-stirring lyrics, and ethereal vocals, Spill Tab offers a transformative acoustic experience that leaves audiences captivated and craving more.

Led by the enigmatic and immensely talented artist Spill Tab, this musical project invites listeners to embark on a journey through the vast depths of human emotions. Drawing from personal experiences and introspection, Spill Tab's music serves as a cathartic outlet, resonating with anyone who has ever felt lost, vulnerable, or overwhelmed.

Incorporating elements from various genres like indie-folk, dream pop, and alternative rock, Spill Tab weaves a sonic tapestry that is profoundly intimate yet universally relatable. Each song tells a story, inviting you into a world where heartaches and triumphs merge to create something truly extraordinary. The lyrics delve deep into the human psyche, exploring themes of love, pain, self-discovery, and the complexities of the human condition.

Air Dubai

Showcase Stage | Sunday, July 30th | 4:25-5:10 PM


Air Dubai is an American alternative hip-hop band formed in 2008 in Denver, Colorado. The band consist of five talented individuals who came together with a shared passion for music and an unwavering desire to create something unique and unforgettable. Combining elements of hip-hop, rock, and pop, Air Dubai quickly gained recognition for their energetic live performances and diverse sound.

Air Dubai disbanded in 2016, leaving behind a remarkable catalog of music that continues to inspire and captivate fans worldwide. Their legacy lives on through their unique fusion of genres, thought-provoking lyrics, and unforgettable live performances. Some of you may remember their reunion show during our 5th anniversary party at Pearls.

Air Dubai's influence can be seen in the countless artists that followed, incorporating elements of hip-hop, rock, and pop in their own work. Their ability to push musical boundaries and stay true to their artistic vision. Excited to see the band back together for this year, we could not be more excited.

Levi Double U

Oasis Stage | Friday, July 28th | 4:50-5:40 PM

Levi Double U, the incredible musical prodigy, is making waves in the music industry with his extraordinary talent and unique style. Levi's passion for music has been instrumental in various projects he has been part of. His ability to effortlessly switch and adapt to his music projects gives us a hint of his musical knowledge. His dj sets are always consistent with house bangers and carefully orchestrated dance floor starters. Wether its playing drums for Neoma or making us shake our ass to to his DJ moniker Levi Double U, he is a must see this week.

ROOTBEER RICHIE AND THE REVEILLE

UMS House | Friday, July 28th | 11:59-12:45 AM

We first came across this band a few years ago as our last act at UMS on a hot, sweaty, Sunday night at The Hi Dive. Our lives haven’t been the same since. A fusion of all the genres we love, the band manages to pull off a set inducing dance party with all kinds of elements at its disposal. From horns to infectious anthem cries, this band will steal the show this year, we guarantee it. Be ready to dance, be ready to sweat and be ready to talk about it the next day!

Virgi Dart

HQ Denver | Sunday, July 30th | 6:00-6:45 PM

In Colombia Virgi's musical prowess has afforded her the opportunity to perform on the most important + grand stages in her hometown, Cali, along with many respected venues throughout her home country. Prior to moving to the US, Virgi headlined at the most prolific disco group in Colombia for six years, granting her access to performances with some of the most well-respected artists in Latin America.

Virgi is excited to bring her professionalism, talent, and commanding stage presence to her newfound home in Colorado and in venues across the US. She looks forward to continuing to honor her influences of pop-rock/Latin music while delivering memorable performances for her crowds. Virgi recently released her first album, a versatile EP with 6 songs where the audience will be delighted with pop music, cumbia, bachata and electro-pop as well as a beautiful ballad with a symphonic orchestra.

She is currently working on the recording of her second album, she is also releasing music videos and performing throughout the US, Mexico and Colombia.

King Isis

Underground Stage | Sunday, July 30th | 5:40-6:15 PM

Born and raised in the cultural hub of Oakland, CA, King Isis shifts shapes and fuses sounds ranging from rock and R&B to jazz and blues, sweeping through pain, growth, and transformation.

Music has been in King Isis' blood for generations. They were taught on the piano of their great-great-grandmother Omega King, one of the first Black opera singers in Chicago. King Isis’ artist moniker pays reverence to Omega’s legacy of pursuing her passion of art and creation in segregated, post-slavery America. “Her name holds a lot of power in my house and in my family,” Isis reflects, “A big part of the reason my artist name incorporates hers is to remind me that there is power in my voice, that music has always been a deep-rooted part of me, and to keep going.”

Ogi

Underground Stage | Saturday, July 29th | 9:00-9:40 PM

Our voices indicate how we feel. Joy, sadness, trepidation, and truth filter through the tone and timbre. For as pensive and reserved as Ogi may be in everyday life, the Los Angeles-based Nigerian American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist speaks her mind when she sings. After captivating audiences on social media and earning the endorsement and support of iconic GRAMMY® Award-winning producer No I.D. [JAY-Z, John Mayer, Kanye West], she expresses who she is through every note on a series of singles and her 2022 debut.

Blink 182 Shine On Their World Tour in Denver

Blink 182 perform at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado (Photo Credit: Robert Castro)

Pop punk legends Blink 182 made a stop in Denver in the midst of their current world tour. The Denver date sold out in seconds when tickets went live and the anticipation has been building ever since.

The band tore through a collection of hits sending us back all the way to 1992. Legends among the punk scene the band has blessed us with decades worth of music that we have grown to love and admire. The trio of Mark Hoppus, Tom Delonge and Travis Barker have instilled a sound that is unique to the band with a slapstick appeal and lyrical homage to everyday life we can associate with.

The band have recently won Denver over within the last couple years as the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche had adopted “All The Small Things” as the teams anthem most recently during their Stanley Cup run last year. Carrying over that buzz the band slayed through an entire catalog of sing-a-longs as the sold out crowd ate up every note and belted out lyrics from “Rock Show”, “What’s My Age Again”, and concluding with “Rocky Mountain High” by John Denver. A perfect ending for a perfect evening.

Words and images Robert Castro

The 2023 Underground Music Showcase Lineup Announcement

The lineup for this years Underground Music Showcase has arrived. The annual gathering of music is set to take place once again along South Broadway to the tune of some of the best local and national acts. Our favorite weekend of the year boasts headliners Jamila Woods, Emmit Fenn, Crumb and more. Tickets are available now by clicking link below.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Austin City Limits Music Festival Announce Lineup and Daily Lineups

Our favorite festival is set to take its annual two week residency at Zilker Park once again this year. This years lineup boasts an array of some of the best acts in music, from Kendrick Lamar to Shania Twain. The festival is one of the premier festivals in the country well known for amazing music and the hospitality the fest and state brings to its visitors.

Tickets for the festival sell pretty quickly and the fest has many tiers to chose from. Another one of the amenities the fest has to offer is in the form of amazing food and drinks. Austin Eats focuses on locally owned restaurants to fulfill any festival appetite. The craft beer hall gives many options under a shaded tent to beat the heat.

TICKET INFORMATION


Kilby Block Party Returns To Salt Lake This Weekend

One of the up and coming niche music festivals is set to take place this weekend in Sal Lake City. In only its fourth year the festival has grown leaps and bounds with this years lineup boasting an impressive lineup usually only seen with the bigger festivals across the country.

The Kilby Block Party is a music festival that started in 2019 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Salt Lake City’s longest-running, all-ages venue Kilby Court. Keeping with the spirit of this iconic venue, KBP aims to bring together SLC’s music community with some of our favorite internationally renowned artists. The firstt two editions of this festival were actual block parties on Kilby Court’s adjacent street of 700 South in downtown SLC. KBP1 and KBP2 were headlined by longtime friends Death Cab For Cutie and Young The Giant who both performed at Kilby Court in the beginning of their careers. In 2022, they took a chance and moved KBP3 to Library Square to host a 2-day festival featuring headliners Phoebe Bridgers and Mac DeMarco. With thanks to the incredible Kilby community, the festival sold out both nights in less than a week and the KBP3 weekend proved to be one of the best large scale indie music festivals to ever occur in downtown SLC. We are excited to be expanding this festival once again in 2023 by moving to the Utah State Fairpark for a 3 full days of music, art, food, culture, and more.

Set Times:

Festival Map

First Listen: Elektric Animals "Constant Static Noise"

One of our favorite Denver locals Elektric Animals have dropped their latest project and we have the “First Listen”. The band approached this one with a whole new perspective and delivers with a catchy and unique production that will see the single take on several variations in the coming weeks.

For this track we decided to go outside our usual Garage Rock/Blues Rock sound and work with producer Stayloose (fka Stelouse) who is mostly known for his EDM work. We recorded the bare bones of the track then handed him the keys to produce and mix however he saw fit. After the release of this version we are also releasing another mix from our usual producer Eric Everhart who took it in a more live band direction. We also will be doing a stripped piano version with local legend Aaron Rothe and releasing them all together.

As far as lyrical content on the surface it feels as if it could be a typical love song. But, as it digs deeper it is more a song of trying to hold on for something or someone to change. Knowing that it will not and they will not and eventually you’ll have to let go. But, at the moment you don’t know when that time will be and your heart still says … forever 

Influences include: Cage The Elephant, The Black Keys, Royal Blood, Arctic Monkeys, Young The Giant, Glass Animals, Alt Rock of the 90s, Pop of the 80s.