I want to say it’s a great week for Denver concerts with over 100 artists performing across more than 30 venues the next seven days—but it’s honestly just like any other week in the Mile High City. Our music scene never lets us down, so take advantage of some of these exciting local and national shows taking over the city this week.
Monday, August 15
Recommended: Lil Yachty @ Bluebird Theater
Eclectic and bizarre rapper Lil Yachty is mixing things up this Monday at the Bluebird Theater. Yachty, or Miles Parks McCollum is still very young at the age of 18. As a matter of fact his birthday is just under two weeks away, so consider this an early birthday party for the up-and-comer. Though young and quite fresh, his popularity is guaranteed to skyrocket soon, easily fitting into a rising genre and having a feature on Chance the Rapper’s acclaimed Coloring Book.
Also see:
Breaking Benjamin w/ Disturbed, Alter Bridge, Saint Asonia @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Sarah Simmons @ Lost Lake Lounge
Jared James Nichols w/ Tyler Bryant, The Shakedown @ Summit Music Hall
Hunny w/ The Frights @ Larimer Lounge
Lisa Prank w/ Petite Garçon @ Hi-Dive
Telekinetic Walrus @ Cervantes Other Side
Ryan Jalbert (of Motet) @ Quixotes True Blue
Tuesday, August 16
Recommended: Digable Planets w/ Camp Lo @ The Gothic Theater
Since their disbanding in 1995 and again in 2011, Digable Planets have remained heavyweights in the hip hop community. With iconic hits such as “Nickel Bag,” “Where I’m From” and “Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” the Brooklyn-based trio has been missed by fans from all over. They have made an official comeback this summer and are landing at the Gothic in Denver this Tuesday, August 16th. Tickets are $25 until the day of show, when they will jump to $30. Show starts at 8 p.m.—Denby Gardiner
Also see:
Boys Like Girls w/ The Old Fashioned @ The Ogden Theater
Dirty Heads, Kongos, Katastro, The Expendables @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Digitour Summer w/ Crawford Collins, Baby Ariel and more @ Bluebird Theater
Lion Babe @ Fox Theater (Boulder)
The Fall of Troy w/ 68, Illustrations @ Marquis Theater
Owleye w/ Funeral for a Madman and more @ Moon Room
DJ Digg @ Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
Plastician w/ Caustik @ Cervantes Other Side
Famous October @ Larimer Lounge
Sunny Sweeney w/ Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts @ Globe Hall
Wednesday, August 17
Recommended: Ryan Adams w/ Kurt Vile and the Violators @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Genre-bending rocker Ryan Adams is headlining his very own Red Rocks show with Kurt Vile this week. Adams has been songwriting since the age of 15, and since has performed in and formed numerous bands. Now solo and releasing LP’s under his own name he’s been nominated for numerous Grammy’s and even owns his own record label.
Also see:
Cosmos Midnight @ Club Vinyl
Car Pizza @ Lost Lake Lounge
Your Friend. w/ The Dan Ryan, Tyto Alba @ Hi-Dive
Save Face @ Seventh Circle Music Collective
Natural Geometry @ Larimer Lounge
Devon Allman Band @ The Oriental Theater
The Nightowls w/ Talking Dreads @ Cervantes’ Other Side
Kiel Grove @ 3 Kings Tavern
Thursday, August 18
Recommended: Flume w/ Vince Staples, Chrome Sparks and HWLS @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Electronic legend and Aussie babe Harley Edward Streten, widely known as Flume, will be mixing a set at Red Rocks this Thursday. Only two years ago, Flume played Chromeo’s Funk on the Rocks as an opening day show—but now being a big name on the lips of EDM-goers, he will be hosting his very own sold out Red Rocks show. New album Skins was released earlier this year so expect to hear a lot of new stuff and hope for a surprise visit from one of the featured artists—Vic Mensa just performed in Denver last week.
Also see:
Pitbull w/ Prince Royce, Farruko @ Pepsi Center
Willian Clark Green w/ Jonathan Tyler @ Lost Lake Lounge (moved from Bluebird Theater)
Smoker’s Club Tour w/ Lil Uzi Vert, Frais, Elice Davis and more @ The Ogden Theater
Arty @ Beta Nightclub
Coverboy @ 3 Kings Tavern
ClubX w/ Soul Libre, DJ Dani Z @ The Walnut Room
Dead Palms @ Larimer Lounge
Ruf’s Blues Caravan @ The Soiled Dove Underground
Atlas w/ church fire, Pynthian Whispers, Tom Waits For No Man @ Oriental Theater
Miner w/ ClusterPluck, The Railsplitters, 300 Days and more @ Cervantes’ Other Side
Creature Canope w/ Cavern, Charming Liars, Weathervein @ Marquis Theater
Friday, August 19
Recommended: Grace Potter w/ Lake Street Dive @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Vermont singer-songwriter Grace Potter will be conducting an assuredly impressive performance this Friday at Red Rocks. You may know Potter from her work with The Nocturnals, or maybe her duet with Kenny Chesney, or possibly even from her first solo album released in 2015. No matter how you know Potter, most certainly take advantage of the opportunity to see her this weekend.
Also see:
Sarah McLaughlin w/ Josh Groban @ The Pepsi Center
Make America Rock Again w/ Trapt, Alien Ant Farm, Saving Abel and more @ Paramount Theater
Boris performing Pink w/ Earth, Shit Storm @ Bluebird Theater
TETHYS w/ Satan’s Host, Silencer @ Gothic Theater
Lisa Prank w/ NATIVE DAUGHTERS, Atlas Sugar Skulls and more @ Hi-Dive
Valley Queen w/ Reeve Carney @ Lost Lake Lounge
The Epilogues w/ South of France, The Larimers and more @ Marquis Theater
Johnny Friendly w/ Antique Scream and more @ 3 Kings Tavern
Terry Bozzio @ The Soiled Dove Underground
Nuns of Brixton w/ PrettyMouth, Ready Set Go and more @ Goosetown Tavern
Hi-Fi Gentry w/ Whiskey Autumn @ Tennyson Tap
Acid Witch w/ The Cosmic Dead, Dust and more @ Globe Hall
Daphne Willis w/ Hailey Steele, Angie Stevens @ The Walnut Room
Stanley Jordan @ Oriental Theater
JSTJR @ Beta Nightclub
Mingo Fishtrap w/ Boogie Mammoth and more @ Cervantes’ Other Side
Curtis Grimes w/ Zane Williams @ Grizzly Rose
Saturday, August 20
Recommended: Yonder Mountain String Band & Drive-By Truckers @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Bluegrass jammers Yonder Mountain Sting Band and southern alt-rock group Drive-By Truckers will be combining forces in a fantastic musical combination for the beautiful Red Rocks. The show is guaranteed to be upbeat, impressive and quite entertaining, especially considering the year Drive-By Truckers is having. 2016 marks the group’s 20th anniversary and in September, they will release their politically charged new album American Band.
Also see:
Journey w/ Doobie Brothers, Dave Mason @ The Pepsi Center
Huey Lewis & The News w/ Kool & The Gang, The Go-Go’s @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater
Nathaniel Rateliff w/ Brett Dennen and more @ Breckenridge Brewery (Littleton – Tickets)
In the Variant @ Lost Lake Lounge
Nato Coles w/ The Blue Diamond Band @ Hi-Dive
Louisahhh + Lee-K @ Club Vinyl
Three Beats w/ Plum, Colfax Speed Queen @ 3 Kings Tavern
OptycNerd @ Gothic Theater
Periphery w/ Chon, SikTh and more @ Summit Music Hall
Sugar Still @ Strange Craft Beer Company
church fire @ The Living Room
Micky & The Motorcars w/ Gasoline Lollipops @ Marquis Theater
Richard O’Brien @ The Oriental Theater
Gin Doctor’s @ Stoney’s Bar & Grill
Sunday, August 21
Recommended: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats with Shovels & Rope at Red Rocks Amphitheater
Nathaniel Rateliff has been busy between his tour and recently opening a bar here in Denver. Right in the middle of it all he’s performing this Saturday with The Night Sweats at Red Rocks for an epic sold out show. Joining the Colorado-native group are the incredible up-and-coming folk-rock duo Shovels & Rope, who will also be headlining two nights at the Ogden later this year. Note: Rateliff will be playing Saturday (the day before his Red Rocks show) at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton with Brett Dennen (tickets).