Elijah Wood’s Wooden Wisdom Deejays Club Vinyl

While Elijah Wood has acted in a slew of films — as Frodo in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, or as that little creep in Eternal Sunshine of Spotless Mind and that other creep in Everything is Illuminated — he’s also a music fan with a deep affinity for vinyl. Wood will…

Open Music Sessions: Get To Know Chimney Choir and Chad Neidt

Last month, the Open Media Foundation celebrated its twelfth anniversary with an expanded version of its usual first Friday Open Music Sessions. At the free public party, OMF spotlighted local media and arts figures with the Independent Voices Awards, as well as performances by Chimney Choir and musical comedian Chad…

Every New Concert Announcement in Colorado

The Disco Biscuits return to Red Rocks on Saturday, June 4, after doing a three-night stand at the Ogden Theatre June 1-3. Ghostland Observatory and Twiddle open at Red Rocks, while openers for the Ogden shows will be announced later. General admission Red Rocks tickets ($44.95) and Ogden tickets ($32.50)…

Beyond Axl: Why Hair Metal Is Back in Colorado

When the announcement dropped this week that Guns N’ Roses will headline Coachella 2016, a rumor that had been flying around for a few months was finally confirmed—and set pulses racing. The trio of Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan will play together under the GnR name for the first…

Murder by Death Goes Ghost Hunting at Stanley Hotel

In January 2014, the gothic-Americana band Murder by Death played the reputedly haunted Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, but singer-guitarist Adam Turla didn’t have any paranormal experiences. So when the quintet returned for three shows in early January 2015 — just before its seventh album, Big Dark Love, was released…

Jello Biafra Will Spin at Meadowlark’s Inaugural Thursday Kicks

This Thursday, January 7, marks the launch of a new weekly event at the Meadowlark called Thursday Kicks. The first Thursday of the month will be called “Teenage Kicks,” which will feature all-vinyl punk and garage rock music. The second Thursday in the series is calld “Nightshift,” an all-vinyl night…

Five Spots to Rock and Brock This Playoff Season

Whether you’re a fan of Brock Lobster and the Donkeys, stumping for Peyton’s rights, or are one of the 100,986 new transplants with loyalties elsewhere, the football playoffs are here. In case you haven’t noticed, Denver has a passion for football, especially the blue and orange. But Denver isn’t just…

String Cheese Incident Jammed in the New Year at 1stBANK

The String Cheese Incident played a jamming three-night string of shows at 1stBANK Center in Broomfield. The Colorado band remains Denver favorites and stalwarts of progressive bluegrass. Check out photos from the final night on January 2, 2016. All photos by Brandon Marshall. …

Favorite Musicians of Itchy-O Ranked

Itchy-O just finished a epic three-night stand at 3 Kings Tavern to welcome in the new year. What is as impressive as the musicianship and performance, however, is the sheer size of the group. Arcade Fire has nothing on Itchy-O, whose members seemed to swell with each passing show. Some…

Three Nights at the Temple of Itchy-O

The fog was so thick it was almost suffocating. Members of the band Itchy-O seemed to multiply, roaming the crowd. One wandered, head down, with a giant megaphone strapped to his back. Another, holding a keyboard, danced to his own drone-y creations. One, without instrument, walked slowly, touching passerby. He…

The Best Concerts in Denver This Week

  After a busy week of New Year’s shows, things ramp up again this week shows by MartyParty, the Wailers and Blackalicious. See more picks below.  MONDAY, JANUARY 4 Chris Robinson Brotherhood  $65, 9 p.m. Belly Up Aspen  TUESDAY, JANUARY 5 Electronic Tuesday free-$15, 8 p.m. Cervantes’ Other Side WEDNESDAY, JANUARY…

Colorado World Musicians You Need To Know

Though Denver’s world musicians may fly under the radar, the city is home to a wealth of artists who offer a vivid listening experience apart from the usual banjos at a bluegrass festival or the late-night raves on the effervescent EDM scene. Below is a small sample of Colorado world…

Itchy-O Fired Up 3 Kings Tavern on New Year’s Eve

Local avant-garde marching band Itchy-O rang in the New Year at 3 Kings Tavern on South Broadway Street on December 31, 2015. The 32-piece masked drum corps is in the midst of a three-night stand at 3 Kings Tavern with opening support from Church Fire. You can catch the remaining…

Beautiful Madness of 2016 Decadence NYE: Night One

Decadence New Year’s Eve returned to the Colorado Convention Center for two over-the-top nights featuring premier names in EDM. The first night, December 30, featured the Floozies, Jack U and many more. See all of the photos from Night One here…

Afrika Bambaataa Brings Electrofunk to City Hall

Afrika Bambaataa is one of the architects of hip-hop culture as we know it. He was there when DJ Kool Herc and Kool DJ Dee were throwing the parties that were the foundation stone of hip-hop in New York City in the 1970s. The term hip-hop was coined by Cowboy…

Denver’s Best New Year’s Eve Events Under $40

While there are some high-priced New Year’s Eve events happening next week, we put together a number of concerts and club events priced under $40, including local acts like DeVotchKa, Slim Cessna’s Auto Club and the Knew as well as national bands like BoomBox, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Face to…

Westword‘s Ten Most-Read Denver Music Stories From 2015

In 2015, Westword Music covered a vast range of Denver music, from blockbuster national tours to homegrown superstars. We celebrated growth and successes, debated development and its effect on local artists, and mourned the too-frequent losses of beloved figures in the music community. Here are the ten stories you loved the…

Non-EDM New Year’s Eve in Denver

New Year’s Eve: the night when the number of drunk drivers shoots through the roof, and DJs seem to be spinning in the crevice of every club, bar, theater and convention center in the city. If you want to spend the last night and first morning of the year losing your…