Another year around the sun means another year of epic concerts this New Year’s Eve, and the weekend leading up to New Year’s Eve. And if we’ve learned anything in this past year, it’s that Denver’s live music scene is just getting better with age. Here’s the comprehensive list of all the concerts happening this New Year’s Eve weekend in Denver including all of the shows to help you say goodbye to 2018, and welcome 2019 with open arms.
Friday, December 28
Recommended: STS9 @ Fillmore Auditorium
Every few years, psychedelic-trance-electro-jam band STS9 swings through Denver for New Year’s, and this year we’re getting lucky once again. The band wrapped up their annual weekend-long Red Rocks run this past September, and fans will be treated to another four shows over the New Year’s Eve Weekend. In September, the theme for the Red Rocks shows was Cave of Crystals, which included the venue being heavily decorated with “massive crystal-like structures,” which sets quite a precedent for these upcoming shows. The Santa Cruz band has become a favorite of the Denver music scene, and STS9 is sure to bring the magic this New Year’s Eve Weekend.
Also see…
12/28 – The String Cheese Incident @ 1stBANK Center
12/28 – Gogol Bordello with Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas @ Ogden Theatre
12/28 – IHF with Volo @ Cervantes’ Other Side
12/28 – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club @ Globe Hall
12/28 – The Yawpers with The Beeves @ Oriental Theater
12/28 – FuntCase @ Beta Nightclub
12/28 – Claptone @ The Church
12/28 – Fortune’s Fool with The Burial Plot, Chain of Torment, Cyclonus, OurFather and XConvictedX @ Marquis Theater
12/28 – Dead Floyd @ Be On Key Psychedelic Ripple
12/28 – Maiden Denver, Blind Dogs, Black Tooth and Something For Tomorrow @ Herman’s Hideaway
12/28 – Pandasaywhat?!, Tropical Waffle, DJ Waggles and Recycled Funk @ Your Mom’s House
12/28 – Khemmis with Dreadnought and Green Druid @ Larimer Lounge
12/28 – Rocky Mountain Sirens featuring Wellington Bullings, Megan Burtt, Caitlin Cannon, Holly Lovell, Michelle Mandico and Monica Marie @ Soiled Dove Underground
12/28 – Elizabeth Rose @ Goosetown Tavern
12/28 – Big Swing Trio @ Nocturne Jazz
12/28 – The Ken Walker Sextet and FreeBear (Patrick McDevitt and Alejandro Castaño) @ Dazzle Jazz
Saturday, December 29
Recommended: Itchy-O @ Oriental Theater
The 57-person group that makes up Itchy-O has been on our radar for some time now, with their album release back in September and the introduction of their own record label, Mettle Studios. The last time they were at the Oriental this past May, Itchy-O gave what was described as more of a “experiential event” than a show. Performing to a sold-out crowd, Itchy-O presented an evening of “choreographed chaos” which included costumes, dancers and a full marching band. When you throw a holiday like New Year’s Eve into the mix, there’s no doubt the chaos will return for another rowdy couple of shows on New Year’s Eve Weekend with Itchy-O.
Also see…
12/29 – The String Cheese Incident @ 1stBANK Center
12/29 – STS9 @ Fillmore Auditorium
12/29 – Gogol Bordello with Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas @ Ogden Theatre
12/29 – Curren$y @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
12/29 – Marc Rebillet with Mikey Thunder and FLT featuring Taylor Frederick, Eric Luba and Will Trask @ Cervantes’ Other Side
12/29 – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club @ Globe Hall
12/29 – J Phlip with Boots N Cats @ Club Vinyl
12/29 – Rally ‘Round the Family (Rage Against the Machine Tribute) @ Bluebird Theater
12/29 – IO Saturnalia with SKYBURIAL, Adam Selene, Slim the Living Cyborg, Katalysk and Punk Rock Burlesque @ Marquis Theater
12/29 – Church Fire with Wheelchair Sports Camp, The Milk Blossoms, Mirror Fears @ Hi-Dive
12/29 – Dead Floyd @ Be On Key Psychedelic Ripple
12/29 – Thousand Years Wide with Thousand Frames, A Vintage Future, Danny Masters Band and Phil Riley and the Sweet Boys @ Herman’s Hideaway
12/29 – Khemmis with Of Feather and Bone Nightwraith @ Larimer Lounge
12/29 – Krizz Kaliko @ Roxy Theatre
12/29 – Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven @ Soiled Dove Underground
12/29 – Nuns of Brixton (The Clash Tribute) @ Goosetown Tavern
12/29 – The Peter Olstad Quintet @ Nocturne Jazz
12/29 – Freddy Rodriguez & the Jazz Connection @ Dazzle Jazz
Sunday, December 30
Recommended: The Infamous Stringdusters with Jon Stickley Trio @ Ogden Theatre
This year was a particularly good one for The Infamous Stringdusters. January saw them taking home the Grammy for best bluegrass album, which kicked off their 2018 with a bang. They’re consistently on the live music circuit as leaders of their genre, bringing fans incredible and pristine traditional bluegrass music. With Colorado being a hub for string and bluegrass music, both the band together and its members individually visit Denver several times a year. It’s only natural that they would finally make it for a New Year’s Eve with their Rocky Mountain fans, which will include two nights at the Ogden of some awesome pickin’ from The Infamous Stringdusters.
Also see…
12/30 – STS9 @ Summit Music Hall
12/30 – The Infamous Stringdusters with the Drunken Hearts @ Ogden Theatre
12/30 – Itchy-O @ Oriental Theater
12/30 – Zilla featuring Michael Travis, Aaron Holstein, and Jamie Janover with Soulacybin @ Cervantes’ Other Side
12/30 – Dead Phish Orchestra @ Be On Key Psychedelic Ripple
12/30 – Wildermiss with The Solid Ocean and Panther Martin @ Larimer Lounge
12/30 – 6th Annual Solo Piano Night with Jeff Jenkins, Art Lande and Eric Gunnison @ Dazzle Jazz
12/30 – Devotchka with the Sweet Lillies @ Bluebird Theater
Monday, December 31
Recommended: Dean Ween Group and Dumpstaphunk @ Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom
In celebration of the release of the new album Rock2, the jam-band guitarist Dean Ween will bring the Dean Ween Group to Cervantes’ for an end-of-the-year celebration. One-half of the “international cult” band Ween has been in the game since 1984 and has only been revitalizing his career in the past few years. With Ween returning from a hiatus in 2016 and a full tour with the Dean Ween Group this spring, “The Deaner” will be running hot on New Year’s Eve. Plus, they’ve got New Orleans funk band Dumpstaphunk to kick off the evening and to get the crowd riled up and ready.
Also see…
12/31 – The String Cheese Incident @ 1stBANK Center
12/31 – STS9 @ Fillmore Auditorium
12/31 – Leftover Crack with Youth Brigade, Lower Class Brats and Potato Pirates @ Gothic Theatre
12/31 – Itchy-O @ Oriental Theater
12/31 – Devotchka with The Sweet Lillies @ Bluebird Theater
12/31 – Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles @ Cervantes’ Other Side
12/31 – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club @ Globe Hall
12/31 – Rodriguez Jr. @ Club Vinyl
12/31 – Son Volt with Bison Bone @ Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox
12/31 – Dead Phish Orchestra @ Be On Key Psychedelic Ripple
12/31 – Texas Hippie Coalition with Lola Black, Scarlet Canary and World Famous Johnsons @ Herman’s Hideaway
12/31 – Wildermiss with Retrofette, Coastal Wives and Levi Double U @ Larimer Lounge
12/31 – Rubedo with Fed Rez, Rare Byrd$ and DJ Polyphoni @ Lost Lake
12/31 – Less Than Jake with The Lillingtons, The Gamits, Sorry Sweetheart @ Summit Music Hall
12/31 – Dearling (Tribute to Fleetwood Mac) @ Soiled Dove Underground
12/31 – Peter Sommer Quintet @ Nocturne Jazz
12/31 – Jack Hadley Band and Gypsy Swing Revue @ Dazzle Jazz