People to Watch in Denver’s 2026 Music Scene

We’re gearing up for another year of concert after concert, and while the Mile High City gets its share of major touring shows at venues like Mission Ballroom and Red Rocks, there’s nothing like our local scene. Here are five scene-makers to keep your eye on this year:

Bruce Trujillo

You may know Bruce Trujillo from when she was a host for Indie 102.3 and OpenAir from 2016 to 2023, or just from around the Denver music scene in general. In 2023, the proud queer Chicana unveiled Manos Sagrados at 9975 East Colfax Avenue in the Aurora Fox Arts Center, and it’s become a community haven in the underserved area. The space has been warmly welcomed by the neighborhood, hosting such events as sold-out cumbia nights as well as SarahFest, a DIY offering that included sets from several bands, an all-sizes clothing swap and yoga taught by Trujillo. The nonprofit Colorado Music Industry Alliance has also had mixers there, a perfect and safe space to network under the starry lamps. Under Trujillo’s purview, Manos Sagrados underscores the importance of community while also uplifting it.

Kyle Hartman and Kori Hazel

Kyle Hartman and Kori Hazel are the founders of Future Garden, a local agency whose roster includes some of the city’s best acts, such as Neoma, DOGTAGS, N3ptune and the Mananas. Since it was created in 2019, Future Garden has placed its artists at big-name festivals like Electric Forest and in headlining slots at the Bluebird Theater. And in 2025, the agency mounted its own Secret Garden stage to coincide with and complement the final Underground Music Showcase. The performances were all free, and brought a big party to an oasis-like stage behind the Broadway Wax Trax. Keep an eye out: Future Garden has big plans for 2026.

Clay Street Unit

Denver bluegrass band Clay Street Unit marked a major milestone in 2025, signing to Monument Records, the label Sony Music relaunched in 2017 with industry vets Jason Owen and Shane McAnally as co-presidents. Since in formed in 2020, when lead vocalist/guitarist Sam Walker met banjo player Jack Cline at Zuni Street Brewing, the band has made waves in the Colorado scene. Now including Scottie Bolin (mandolin, vocals), Brad Larrison (pedal steel guitar, dobro), Brendan Lamb (drums) and Jack Kotarba (bass), Clay Street Unit dropped its first release with Monument, Introducing Clay Street Unit, last January, and opened for genre mainstays Leftover Salmon and Kitchen Dwellers at Red Rocks. The band will be there again this year, opening for the String Cheese Incident on July 17.

Horse Bitch

Horse Bitch is one of our favorite bands in Denver, with a sound and stage presence like no other. Comprising Dave Knodle (guitar/vocals), Riley Merino (guitar/vocals), Adam Cabrera (bass, vocals), Alec Doniger (drums, vocals), Olivia Shaw (fiddle, vocals), Caleb Amelunke (pedal steel) and Ashley McKinney (tambourine, vocals, bubble machine), Horse Bitch has been whipping up punk-folk tunes since 2021 with lyrics that blend humor and poignancy over truly unique sonics. Its live shows are a time and a half, with members banging against each other on stage as bubbles float and pop around them, and fans crowd-surf and mosh in turn. Any Horse Bitch show should be on your 2026 bucket list; start with its headlining Bluebird Theater gig on Friday, February 6.

Insipidus

It’s rare to see a busking act this good. Denver metal band Insipidus gained a trove of fans while playing on the streets — as well as at skateparks, in alleyways and even on stages throughout the DIY scene. Comprising Yoav Daube (guitar), Travis Hatley (drums) and Kane Pascarelli (bass), Insipidus was even invited to perform at a tech conference in 2025 after it was discovered through busking, and the conference happened to be headlined by metal overlords Metallica. Insipidus will be releasing a new album this year, and we can’t wait to to listen to its tantalizing riffs while refreshing the band’s instagram for updates on where it’ll pop up next.