Colorado is known for some amazing music venues, with Red Rocks being one of the most popular places to catch a live show in the whole country. Plenty of huge, popular bands come out to perform at venues such as Ball Arena or Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre. However, for those looking to hear some amazing music that is off the beaten path, these native Colorado bands are a lot smaller but still talented must-sees.
- Holdfast
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Holdfast is a band from Fort Collins, Colorado that is composed of two brothers and their cousin Charlie, Tommy, and Mikey Maddocks. Their music style is alternative rock, and they released their first album “Stay and Fight” in 2021. Every song in this album is amazing, from the upbeat songs like “Time” to the slower and more thoughtful songs such as “Drive.”
I have had the opportunity to see several of their shows, and the band did not disappoint with their stage performance. Their sets are absolutely killer and are accompanied by some pretty awesome drum action by Tommy Maddocks. The smaller venues allow you to get right up in front of the stage, which makes the whole experience even better. I bet this band will make it big someday, so everyone should check them out.
- Neon the Bishop
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Neon the Bishop is Denver-based and could be considered an alternative indie band that also has a little bit of pop thrown in the mix. Their music is perfect for a late night drive, as it has wonderful guitar and bass beats with some pretty killer drums to back it up.
This band is composed of five members, each bringing a variety of musical talent to the group. Their most popular song, titled “Wasted City,” truly showcases their abilities through its smooth vocals, catchy beat, and awesome guitar riffs. The modern musical elements in their songs make them fun to listen to while enjoying the impressive vocals of the lead singer, Kendall Wingert. This band is pretty small, and definitely needs to be on more people’s radar.
- The Nova Kicks
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Another Denver-based band, The Nova Kicks are a perfect band to check out if you’re looking for a little more rock and roll in your life. This band is a little more punk than some of the other artists on this list, but it maintains the trend of killer guitar riffs. Some of the songs that I love are “Better than you could believe” and “Don’t Break My Head.”
The fast tempo of these songs makes you want to dance around in the kitchen at 3 a.m., and while the lyrics might not break your head, they will definitely get stuck in your head. I would personally compare the vibe of this band to All Time Low, so fans of this popular band should definitely give The Nova Kicks a listen.
- The Velveteers
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The Velveteers are a band from Boulder, Colorado who are pretty straight rock ‘n roll if you ask me. Their music is a bit more intense than some of these other recommendations so if you go to their Spotify, be prepared for some strong guitar and vocals.
Their most popular song, “The Charmer and the Snake,” is heavy while also being incredibly catchy, especially when accompanied by the melodic voice of lead singer Demi Demitro. Every song on their “Nightmare Daydream” album is perfect to headbang to.
One of the things that I find most amazing about this band, however, is their on-stage performance. Accompanied by one of my best friends, I saw The Velveteers in concert at the Gothic Theater in downtown Denver. If I had to sum up the experience in one word: electric.
I was right up in front of the stage for this performance, happily dancing around in the mosh pit. What truly made this band stand out as far as live shows go is their energy and engagement of the crowd. You could tell that this band was really happy to perform, and the fact that they were crowd-surfing throughout the show made it one of the best concert experiences of my life. Seeing Demi Demitro play her guitar while laying on her back on top of the crowd about two feet away from me is something that will always live in my head rent-free. If you are looking for an intense and incredible live performance, The Velveteers are definitely the way to go. -
Overall, Colorado has some pretty amazing musical artists, so for anyone who needs something to do on a night out in Denver, seeing some local bands in trendy venues such as Cervantes or Larimer Lounge should definitely be on your list.