The festival kicks off at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 18, on the patio of Equinox Brewing with a solo set from the rich baritone voice of renowned Colorado singer-songwriter Michael Kirkpatrick, FoCoMA's 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree. After a brief proclamation from the mayor's office acknowledging April as Music Appreciation Month, Kirkpatrick will croon his soulfully whimsical folk narratives, and the festivities are off and running.
The key to a successful downtown music festival is a collaborative relationship with the community and businesses that support a nearly all-volunteer effort to spotlight Colorado music. "FoCoMX has become the quintessential Fort Collins weekend," says Karla Baise of Odell Brewing, a longtime festival sponsor. "The vibe runs high from the center of the floor at Washington's, our largest venue, to the sidewalks as people stop to hug each other, crossing paths on their way to see bands and friends play across town."
The streets are truly filled with people, and music is ringing out in every direction, from restaurants like Avogadro's Number, bars such as Surfside-7 and brewpubs like Salt Road Brewing or Odell and New Belgium to large concert venues such as the Aggie. FoCoMX is the perfect opportunity to explore the many unique venues dotting the downtown area, and the festival's website has a complete list of venues as well as a printable map.
FoCoMX Tickets
Planning your weekend begins with the comprehensive, user-friendly FoCoMX website, the one-stop shop for everything festival-related, beginning with the purchase of a wristband at just $60 presale and $75 day-of. The wristband grants access to all venues, space permitting. Entry is always on a first-come basis, so be sure to gauge the size of the venue and the expected crowds.
FoCoMX Bands
FoCoMX appeals to all music fans with an incredible array of genres, all well-represented. Whether you like jazz, folk, indie rock, Americana, R&B, punk, hip-hop or a healthy combination of all, you can find numerous acts to fill the weekend. A list of the musicians performing is found on the website along with a full schedule of performance times and locations. FoCoMX even provides a feature on the website to build your own schedule.Westword readers will recognize numerous Colorado favorites such as Ipecac, which won a 2024 Best of Denver award for Best Rock Band, and May Be Fern, which won a Best of Denver award the same year for Best Debut Album. And for fans in the know, this weekend is the last chance to see local metal legends In the Whale.
FoCoMA has also worked with well-known music afficionados to help plan your list with curated schedules. Fans can follow an evening of music recommendations from radio stations like Indie 102.3 and the Colorado Sound 105.5.
Navigating FoCoMX
While most venues across downtown are less than a fifteen-minute walk from each other, shuttles are available from Old Town Square to the north-end venues the Lyric and 830 North. The close proximity of venues offers festival-goers walkable paths to "choose your own adventure" with an eclectic mix of genres at each location.
Live music in public spaces is another inviting aspect of FoCoMX, allowing festival-goers the chance discover their new favorite band by just walking by. There are three outdoor venues: the Exchange, Civic Center Park and Old Town Square. Located in the heart of the city, Old Town Square is a cherished stage that attendees will pass continuously on their way from one show to the next. Sometimes, the best advice is simply to follow your ears.
More About FoCoMX
The festival is an all-ages, family-friendly event as, with four separate stages at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery. Because FoCoMX is committed to being all-inclusive and all-ages, it's important to have a designated sober, family-friendly space. The museum staff, including Nick Duarte, the resident "music guy," works with the youth music community and its Youth Advisory Board to curate a lineup of bands young people want to spotlight, including the School of Rock-Fort Collins at the museum rooftop. And music fans will also appreciate FCMoD's incredible music history displays.FoCoMX was founded as a festival by musicians for musicians, and the bands who play have a special affection for what is known locally as "FoCoMX-mas." Denver band Barbara played the festival for the first time in 2024 and "had such an amazing time," says guitarist and singer Camilla Vaitaitis. "It was also our first show in Fort Collins, and we were so excited to see what a supportive and welcoming music scene it is. Our set was packed even though we'd never played there, and that speaks to the community's willingness and eagerness to check out new music and support local bands. So many amazing bands are based in FoCo, and we're glad to have met many new friends and saw some amazing music ourselves. We can't speak highly enough about every experience we've had in Fort Collins and are so stoked to return for FoCoMX 2025."
FoCoMA Executive Director Peggy Lyle is looking forward to welcoming music fans, old and new, to this year's celebration.
"This year's FoCoMX is built for all tastes, filled with new and favorite Colorado bands, offering so many genres, in a gorgeous setting: downtown Fort Collins," she says. "We are excited for everyone to be part of this year's experiment."
FoCoMX, Friday, April 18, to Saturday, April 19, downtown Fort Collins. Find tickets and more information at focoma.org/focomx.
