Julie Davis

Esi Juey has a "hundred-round clip of hits"

Born Jewel Cameron II, Esi Juey was born in California, and he moved around as a child, living in places like Ohio, before eventually landing in the Mile High City. One of the most promising local rappers to emerge in recent years, he's swinging for the fences. "I'm trying to hit a homerun," the rap ... More >>

Julie Davis returns to her roots with the Seven Hats, a new act that also features Joseph Pope

Remember Bela Karoli, the band fronted by Julie Davis? Yeah, it seems like a bazillion years since we've heard anything from that act -- and for good reason. Davis has been busy touring the globe with Nathaniel Rateliff and tending to her other groups, Fairchildren and Miss America. Now she's return ... More >>

New shows: Sigur Ros, Carrie Underwood, Bloc Party, Big Head Todd, Divine Fits and more

It's not Christmas yet, but you'd certainly be excused for thinking otherwise, what with the radio already playing round-the-clock holiday tunes and the new shows we've been gifted with. Looks like somebody's been on their best behavior (god knows, it wasn't us). Whatever the case, we're now being r ... More >>

Denver's ten best side projects

The Swayback is obviously Eric Halborg's main gig. But lately he's been moonlighting in Dragondeer, a side project he helms with Swayback drummer Carl Sorensen and Cole Rudy of Varlet on mandolin and lap steel. With Dragondeer, Halborg and company delve into some swampy blues and reverb-drenched psy ... More >>

#WMS 2012 recap: Curious Theatre

Every year, for the Westword Music Showcase, we enlist our army of Backbeat wordsmiths to host various stages, and in addition to their emcee obligations, we ask them to pull double duty (or triple-duty in some cases) and also write up the acts that appear on their individual stages. Kelsey Whipple ... More >>

Our complete guide to the June 23 Westword Music Showcase

See also: Twelve types of Denver musicians

Jules Bethea-Rateliff and Joe Sampson talk about Joe's first official release, Kill Our Friends

See Also: Best of Denver 2008: Best Singer-Songwriter Since moving to Denver in 2000, Joe Sampson has been a highly visible member of the scene, but it's always been either as member of bands like A Dog Paloma or Bad Weather California, or collaborating on projects like Wentworth-Kersey or playing ... More >>

Review: Ian Cooke at Curious Theatre, 12/16/11

A.H. GoldsteinIan Cooke and his band at the Curious Theatre for his Fortitude release party.IAN COOKE @ CURIOUS THEATRE | 12.16.11Ian Cooke made a wise choice in choosing the Curious Theatre to debut songs from Fortitude, his new full-length. The release show, which featured supporting performances ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Ghostbustin' rides, SALT the Bistro, Nathaniel Rateliff & Christkindl Market

A lot more than turkey went down over the holiday weekend -- and our slideshow page and Show and Tell, Cafe Society and Backbeat Online blogs have the highlights. Look below for previews of posts about the Rocky Mountain Rod & Custom Show, Nathaniel Rateliff live, SALT the Bistro in Boulder and the ... More >>

Review: Nathaniel Rateliff at the Gothic, 11/25

NATHANIEL RATELIFF AT THE GOTHIC | 11/25/11There aren't a whole lot of singers with a magnetism capable of completely hushing a room the size of the Gothic, but Nathaniel Rateliff did just that near the end of his set on Friday night during his annual holiday show. Sure, there were some energetic mo ... More >>

See Nathaniel Rateliff perform a handful of songs for KGNU's fund drive at City O' City

See Nathaniel Rateliff play a few songs for free tonight at City O' City​Tonight at City O' City, beloved local songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff will be playing a handful of songs as part of KGNU's annual fall fund drive. The event begins at 10 p.m. and will be broadcast live on KGNU (88.5 FM & 1 ... More >>

UMS Travelogue: Fairchildren, Achille Lauro, Bonnie and the Beard, Hollyfelds and more

A.H. GoldsteinAchille Lauro​UMS on S. BROADWAY | 07/23-24/11I started out Saturday with the Yes We Cans' appearance at Moe's Barbecue at 3 p.m., a staid set that seemed to reflect the early hour of the gig. With ballads composed of minor chords and heavily reverbed guitar effects, the Colorado ... More >>

Review: Mumford & Sons at Fillmore, 6/15/11

Jon SolomonMumford & Sons last night at the FillmoreMUMFORD & SONS at the FILLMORE | 06.15.11"Mumford and his mates certainly did their best to show the crowd one of the greatest shows they have seen in recent memory."

The men of Eolian on their backgrounds and the creation of Egg, their concept album

Matthew Ballantine-PattonAdam Edwards, Ian O'Dougherty and Sean Merrell are Eolian​ In this week's issue, the Rough Mixes entry focusing on Eolian, the progressive rock project led by Ian O'Dougherty (Uphollow, Ian Cooke, TaunTaun) and featuring occasional Backbeat contributor Sean Merrell (T ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov, Danielle Ate the Sandwich at the Gothic Theatre, 10/8/10

A.H. GoldsteinNathaniel Rateliff last night at the Gothic Theatre.​ Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov, Danielle Ate the Sandwich 10.8.10 | Gothic Theatre The capacity crowd that filled the Gothic Theatre to busting on Friday night had no problem staying calm for three hours, for the co- ... More >>

More Nathaniel Rateliff goodness from across the country

So the rest of the country really is latching on to Nathaniel Rateliff. Two of our sister papers, for example, in Dallas and St. Louis, respectively, devoted coverage to Rateliff -- completely unbeknownst to us, we might add -- when he passed through their towns. That's not all that surprising to ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff gives the Bluebird something to talk about

Jon Solomon​ Nathaniel Rateliff • The Tallest Man on Earth 05.19.10 | Bluebird Theater "Shut up!" demanded one rather surly fellow somewhere in the balcony. In a classic case of the cure being worse than the disease, the indignant exhortation came during the opening strains of "When You' ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff CD release show tonight at the Bluebird Theater

In advance of Nathaniel Rateliff's CD release party tonight at the Bluebird Theater with the Tallest Man On Earth, we came across more stuff featuring the winsome Mr. Rateliff that we thought we'd pass your way. If you haven't already gotten your fill of the extraordinary singer-songwriter -- wh ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff, one of Denver's most lauded and admired singer-songwriters, makes his national debut

SXSW 2010: Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire and Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel Rateliff | Ale House | 9 p.m. Clinging to the Trees | Mohawk | 8:20 p.m. Nathaniel Rateliff was clearly being glib last night when he asked "Is that why you're being so quiet, because you know me?" after getting a roar of approval when he announced that he was Denver. But you can hardl ... More >>

Nathaniel Rateliff's Rounder debut set for late April

Finally! On the last Tuesday in April, the rest of the country will finally get a chance to hear the extraordinary songs and expressive vocals of Nathaniel Rateliff, when the celebrated local songwriter's Rounder Records debut, In Memory of Loss, hits stores on Tuesday, April 27. ​ Rateliff ... More >>

Over the weekend: Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel Variety Show

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Wheel Variety ShowSaturday, December 12, 2009Bluebird TheaterBetter Than: The V Ultimate Variety show featuring Wally Eastwood. An estimated 48 musicians took part in the third annual Nathaniel Rateliff and the Wheel variety show on Saturday night. All of them played br ... More >>

Over the weekend: Houses at the Meadowlark

​Houses, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Joseph Pope III Friday, Aug. 7 Meadowlark Better than: The other performances I've seen from the same three acts. Houses' schedule has been demanding lately. The group's ambitious goal for the year -- to release four separate EPs, each bearing the name of a sep ... More >>

Over the weekend: UMS Festival

Julie Davis of Bela Karoli (A.H. Goldstein)​Last night, the four-day UMS festival wrapped, and most of our crew made it out for at least part of the fest. And while we rarely agree on anything, we're all pretty much in agreement that Danielle Ate the Sandwich absolutely stole the show with one of ... More >>

Westword Music Showcase reviewed: Curious Theatre

Aaron ThackeraySee more photos from Curious Theatre at westword.com/slideshow.Elin Palmer, 12 p.m.Overcoming technical difficulties and an initially cumbersome stage setup (the stage manager had to find room for a drum riser amid the creative and complicated set -- including a desk, a bed and a road ... More >>

A band-by-band guide to the 2009 Westword Music Showcase

Airborne Toxic Event show postponed

Due to illness, tonight's Airborne Toxic Event show at the Bluebird Theater will be postponed until Wednesday, April 15 at the Ogden Theatre. All tickets to the Bluebird show will be honored and refunds are available at point of purchase. Henry Clay People, who were supposed to open the show tonigh ... More >>

Eric Clapton, the Faint, Pennywise shows announced

After teaming up for a successful three-night run in New York City last year, Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood announced an exclusive fourteen-city U.S. tour that stops at the Pepsi Center on Sunday, June 21. They'll each play their own solo hits as well as perform tunes by Blind Faith, an outfit th ... More >>

James Han's Solo Sortie

If you get out to see live music in Denver, chances are that you've seen James Han perform. The soft-spoken, unassuming keyboardist regularly provides the tinkling shimmer of piano and the haunting murmur of organ for Bela Karoli, the Wheel and Recess, and occasionally appears with other acts as w ... More >>

Give Peace a Chance

Bela Karoli in the studio with Ian Cooke

Bela Karoli has been in Helmet Room Studio working on the follow-up to band's outstanding debut, Furnished Rooms. Tentatively titled, Digital Sixes, the album will feature members Julie Davis (vocals, bass), Brigid McAuliffe (accordion, vocals), Carrie Beeder (violin, cello) and James Han (keyboards ... More >>

Live Review: Porlolo, Bad Weather California, Wentworth Kersey, Team Firefox and Sorelina at hi-dive

Over the Weekend...Gregory Alan Isakov and Bela Karoli @ Mercury Cafe

Over the Weekend...Nathaniel Rateliff, the Hollyfelds, Astra Moveo, Red Orange Yellow and Horse @ Westword Music Showcase

MP3 Freeloader, Music Showcase Edition: Bela Karoli

Mile High Makeout: Doing It Together, Part Two

Moovers and Shakers 2007

Backbeat scribes sound off on their favorite local releases of the year.

Moovers and Shakers 2007

Backbeat scribes sound off on their favorite local releases of the year.

The Wheel

Nathaniel Rateliff’s singer-songwriter alter ego takes cues from a darker muse.

This Weekend: The Wheel, Gregory Alan Isakov, Porlolo and Bela Karoli @ hi-dive

Bela Karoli Puts Poetry in Motion

What began as a solo project has evolved into a thing of beauty.

Review: Westword Music Showcase @ Sutra Room - 6/16/07

Westword Music Showcase 2007

Saturday, June 16

Hey, Kids

Class of 2007

A half-dozen acts that we think will catch fire this year.

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Letters to the Editor

From the week of April 10, 2003

Free For All

Highlighting the week's greatest gratis event

Happy and Gay

All Over the Guy is amiable but just not that novel.

Night & Day

April 15-21, 1999