One of the region’s biggest music fests started small, as most do, with a single headliner, Denver’s seminal gothic-country act 16 Horsepower, at a single venue, Boulder’s Fox Theatre.
But ever since The Denver Post’s Underground Music Showcase was founded in 2001 by then-Post entertainment writer John Moore — and later renamed and developed into a legitimate, multiday festival by former pop music critic Ricardo Baca — it has become the juggernaut of indie music in the West.
It’s also a nonprofit event these days, run by executive director Kendall Smith for The Denver Post Community Foundation, which distributes net proceeds to local charities.
This year’s installment, which kicked off July 24 and continues through July 27 at 20 venues along the South Broadway corridor, will welcome more than 450 performances from local and national bands representing indie rock, folk, hip-hop, punk, metal, country and other genres, plus comedians, DJs and more.
Four-day wristbands are available for $75, with single-day passes for $35 via theums.com or at the on-site box office.
Here are some tips for navigating The UMS over the next few days.
The bands
The UMS is, first and foremost, about discovering music. Its lineup features a who’s-who of Colorado acts such as A Shoreline Dream, Covenhoven, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Joy Subtraction, Ian Cooke, Pan Astral, Spells, Elin Palmer, Dragondeer, Wire Faces, In the Whale, Kitty Crimes and literally hundreds more. But it’s also stacked with national indie acts you may or may not have been exposed to, including Blonde Redhead, People Under the Stairs, Real Estate, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Gardens & Villa, Baths, the Men, Miniature Tigers and Tanlines. theums.com/artists.
The people
Observing your fellow Mile High City music lovers is almost as satisfying as joining them to watch the bands. The Friday sets are a massive group cheer emanating from the usual night owls: hipsters, partiers, young(ish) people. But once Saturday and Sunday open up with the big outdoor stage — this year in the parking lot of the Security Service Credit Federal Union at Archer Place — more families and a wider age range start to populate the proceedings. Bring a camera because you’re likely to see countless sweet (and often hilariously unfortunate) “Look at me!” fashion choices. See slideshows of past years at heyreverb.com.
The venues
The discovery aspect of The UMS extends to the stages hosting the bands. Some are dedicated music venues, such as the cool indie environs of the Hi-Dive, the punk- and metal-oriented 3 Kings Tavern, the retro charm of the Skylark or the nightclub-oriented Blue Ice. Some are cafes, bars and burrito shops, like the Hornet, Gary Lee’s Motor Club and Illegal Pete’s. Taken together, they offer enough aesthetic (and acoustic) variety that even after several days of listening to dozens of live performances, you can still find something new. theums.com/venues.
The experience
The UMS isn’t just about live music. The annual EyeRock: Art in Music exhibit celebrates talented poster artists along the lines of the Flatstock show at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. The Sesh industry panels feature experts talking shop for amateur and professional musicians. There are also comedy podcast recordings at the Safari Room and Adrift, day parties and shows in the streets and, of course, dozens of boutique shops and restaurants to explore in the neighborhood. theums.com.
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnwenzel
