Melissa Etheridge Rediscovers Her Soul

As we sit right in the middle of the silliest political silly season in living memory, L.A. rocker Melissa Etheridge, never one to keep her thoughts to herself (thankfully), is aghast at what is unfolding. Somehow, though, she finds some hope in the chaotic circus playing out in all of…

Dirty Heads Make a Clean Start With Self-Titled Album

In recent years, packed local performances by bands like Soja and Iration have proven that contemporary reggae fused with indie rock into a jam band-esque package is incredibly popular in these parts. Put those bands on at Red Rocks during the summer months, and you can practically guarantee a full…

Julien Baker on God, Being Queer, Self-Love and Acceptance

Julien Baker reconciles two seemingly paradoxical parts of her life – her church and her queerness – and uses the lessons she’s learned in self-love and acceptance in her music. The twenty-year-old from Memphis was originally a member of the band Forrister, then continued creating music on her own in…

Vertex Festival Brought Colorado Cool to Buena Vista

Two years ago, local bluegrass band Trout Steak Revival shot the music video for their song “Brighter Every Day” on land nestled among the mountains in Buena Vista, Colorado. Later, they heard through the rumor mill that a music festival was being planned for the 274 acres. They couldn’t believe…

No Joke: Lisa Prank Stays True to Emotions Sans Cynicism

Better known these days under the moniker Lisa Prank, Robin Edwards has longstanding connections to Denver’s art and music communities. Edwards, a former Westword contributor, grew up in Colorado, and while still in high school, she got involved in the local underground scene. Before becoming a musician, she was a…

ARISE Music Festival: An Insider’s Perspective on a Weekend of Music, Art and Yoga

This past weekend, ARISE Music Festival called many like-minded, earth-conscious individuals to Sunrise Ranch for a music, art and yoga festival just outside Loveland. Ziggy Marley, Jurassic 5, Hard Working Americans, Rising Appalachia, Papadosio and Elephant Revival were among the headliners.  Opportunities for internships and volunteer shifts were available and allowed…

Five Reasons Why Loveland’s ARISE Music Festival Is on Its Way Up

It’s hard to put ARISE Music Festival, in Loveland, in a certain category. It features music, but it’s not just a music festival. Aerial yogis perform, and specialists in aromatherapy hold workshops. There are fire twirlers and classes on different global music genres. Oh, and bands like Ziggy Marley and…

Vertex Felt More Like an Epic Summer Camp Than a Music Festival

It’s Sunday, August 7, the third afternoon of the inaugural Vertex Festival in Buena Vista, Colorado. Inside the festival grounds, a blow-up couch adorned with bikini-clad ladies floats around a pond, bumping into oversized inflatable swans, unicorns and dragons. In the middle of the water is an island where about…

Violence, Art, Culture and Pitchfork in Jackson, Wyoming

Jackson, Wyoming, is a strange town. It contains only 10,000 or so residents, and is surrounded by wilderness for hours in any direction. But the little spot, known for some of the best skiing and mountain views in the country, has allowed a certain kind of resident and culture to…

A Game of Thrones Concert Is Coming to Denver

Winter is coming to Denver and so is a brand new Game of Thrones concert experience. Thanks to the show’s creator D.B. Weiss and Live Nation, Denver will be one of the twenty-eight cities to be treated to an immersive concert event that covers the shows six-season plot with a live…

Best New Denver Bands — 2016 Edition

Every year, Denver delivers up worthy new bands in various genres, or non-genres, and this past year has been especially rich in that regard. In a future list, perhaps we can include artists like Born Dumb, Herse, Jimmy V, Julien, Bag, Total Goth, Silver Face, eHpH, Never Kenezzard and PterrorFractyl,…