Reader: Red Rocks Metal Concerts Stink

There isn't much metal at Red Rocks in 2019. Aaron Thackeray

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Red Rocks concert announcements have been rolling out over the past couple of months. As Westword noted in our recent story about ten of the upcoming shows, the current lineup is rich with jam bands, some electronic music and indie rock. As for metal? There's not much.

But there's a reason for that, note Westword readers: Red Rocks just isn't the best place to see a metal show.

Bo writes:

Metal shows at Red Rocks stink. Metal is best consumed in cavern-like venues devoid of light, filled with bizarre smells heavily masked with bleach, and a high likelihood of being soaked in random flying beer. Or at least what you hope is beer.

Joe adds:

I saw Slipknot at Red Rocks. It was horrible. The moshing went down like the domino effect. It was actually comical...I'll take Fear Factory at the Summit any day. Red Rocks is best left to stoner jam bands and morning yoga.

For Miles, the current Red Rocks lineup is a letdown:

I've seen, Rush, Scorpions, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Great White and a bunch more shows at Red Rocks, and there is no better place on the planet to see a show. However, that list of bands is pathetic. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

Nathan says he doesn't know many of the bands on the current lineup:

The older I get, the less bands I've heard of that are playing Red Rocks. 

Regardless of the lack of metal, the 2019 season promises plenty of other types of music, including a three-day run from the Avett Brothers and a collaboration between "Weird Al" Yankovic and the Colorado Symphony that has generated buzz among Westword readers.

Here's some of our coverage of the upcoming season:

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Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Brandon Marshall

"Ten More Red Rocks Concerts Announced for 2019"

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Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Jessica Sheridan at Flickr

"Red Rocks: Eight Concerts Announced for 2019 Season"

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The Avett Brothers are coming back to Red Rocks.

Jacqueline Collins

"The Avett Brothers Announce 2019 Red Rocks Concerts"

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"Weird Al" Yankovic will be joining forces with the Colorado Symphony for the No Strings Attached tour in 2019.

Robert Trachtenberg

"The Colorado Symphony Announces Weirdest Collaboration Yet"

Some of the other bands coming to Red Rocks in 2019 include the country acts Old Dominion and Luke Combs, jam-band stalwarts Joe Russo's Almost Dead and Shpongle, as well as the indie-rock outfit Interpol and indie-country artists Jason Isbell and The Devil Makes Three.

Whether Red Rocks Amphitheatre is well suited for metal, it has earned its reputation as one of the greatest places in the world to see a concert.

What do you think of the 2019 schedule? Which acts do you wish were playing? Let us know in a comment, or email [email protected].