These Are the Top Indie Bands in Denver

The Denver music scene is bursting with talent — and it has been for years. Many indie bands from the Mile High City, such as DeVotchKa, the Lumineers and the Fray, have gone national, while talented musicians such as Gregory Alan Isakov and Todd Park Mohr from Big Head Todd & the Monsters have remained in Colorado, even as their tunes hit the mainstream.

What will be the next local act to make it big? Considering the array of incredible indie bands in Denver, it could be any group. But it's important to support these musicians at any spot in their career — you get extra cool points when you knew a band before it blew up, anyway. So take a listen to the following groups (organized alphabetically), buy a concert ticket, follow them on social media and give them the streams they deserve:
American Culture
As American Culture's Instagram bio states, the band has been "serving as a Trojan horse for poetry since 2014." With more than a decade on the scene, the four-piece toured the Pacific Northwest last summer after releasing a new album, Hey Brother, It's Been a While, which includes collaborations with Denver "heaven metal" act Midwife. The album maintains the band's soothing sound and poetic lyrics; each track is distinct yet makes for a cohesive whole, with standout tracks including "Human Kindness," "Heavy Feeling," "Circle the Drain" and "Break It Open."
Bellhoss
Bellhoss founder Becky Otárola says she's very intentional about when the band plays live these days — including creating the DIY festival, SarahFest — but you can still catch Bellhoss around town in rare shows. The group is also still putting out new music, releasing a rose, a thorn, last year, its first EP since 2021's Hiding. The sound is pure indie rock, with nostalgic lyrics, fuzzy guitar and excellent vocals on such songs as "I Love You" (from Hiding) and "Denny's," which Otárola wrote about working for Grubhub. Most songs on the EP will be familiar to old fans, as Bellhoss has been performing them for years. The band puts on an energetic show, as you may know from past iterations of the Underground Music Showcase.
Blankslate
Speaking of the Underground Music Showcase, Blankslate put on a standout set at last year's festival. The band has been coming up on the scene for the past six-plus years, since Tess Condron (drums/keys) and Rylee Dunn (guitar/bass) founded Blankslate. The band made waves with its 2022 debut, Summer on a Salt Flat, and seeing Blankslate live is a sonic journey that grips audiences with storytelling lyrics, shredding guitar solos and energetic drums. We see this band really going places.
Corsicana
Oh, Corsicana. The many evenings spent listening to your tranquil, melodic music while burning candles and painting are too many to count. Led by Ben Pisaro, who created the project almost a decade ago while in high school, this band leans into shoegaze and dream pop, winning an award for Best Shoegaze Album in last year's Best of Denver for Kept, which dropped in October 2023. But don't be fooled by the softness of the recordings: Corsicana's live shows are lively and dynamic, making for an almost immersive experience.
Elektric Animals
Speaking of lively shows, you're in for a party with Elektric Animals. The Denver band has been playing on the local circuit since 2018 and dropped its debut album, Channels, with a deck of tarot cards and an unforgettable release show at Lost Lake Lounge in 2022. But we are especially in love with its latest album, A Bear and the Bull, which was released last April. Each track exemplifies Elektric Animals' seemingly effortless ability to write real earworms, all catchy and all quality. And that translates especially well at live shows, when gregarious frontman Nick Sanders works the stage with infectious passion.
Kiltro
Merging Chilean folk with psychedelic indie rock and shoegaze, Kiltro has a completely unique sound. Latin guitar rhythms trickle over surreal soundscapes across the band's 2023 album, Underbelly, which is suffused with an almost mystical vibe. And you especially feel that vibe at Kiltro concerts: According to the band's founder, Chris Bowers-Castillo, the group is always “reading and responding” to the audience to create a “connection that you’re all in this space together.”
Little Trips
Traverse phantasmagorical soundscapes with Little Trips, which won Best Dream-Pop Band in 2024's Best of Denver. Founded by local musicians Greg Laut and Jason Paton in 2020 after the duo performed together as Whiskey Autumn, Little Trips released its debut album, Downhill to Paradise, that same year, and followed that up with live shows and single releases, including its latest, "Chit Chat." Blending indie rock with ’80s tones and trippy dream pop, Little Trips provides a psychedelic experience whether you're seeing it live or listening through your headphones.
The Mañanas
The Mańanas comprise an indie powerhouse of lead vocalist/songwriter Brandon Unpingco and bassist/producer Danny Pauta, who is also the founder and director of Soundbreaker Records. Since forming in 2019, the Mañanas have been a constant on the local-music circuit, playing at festivals like the UMS and venues such as Lost Lake Lounge. The band won a Best of Denver for Best Indie-Rock Album in 2024 for its album 3000, a collection of nine pristine tracks that seamlessly flow from one to the next. And once the album's over, you'll find yourself pressing play again. The best part? The Mañanas sound just as good, if not better, live.
The Milk Blossoms
The Milk Blossoms have a new album, Open Portal, that we've had on repeat since it dropped in October last year. Seeing the band perform live is the biggest treat, though, with its February hi-dive concert a showcase of the Milk Blossoms' expanding sound that centers on founding member Harmony Rose's soothing vocals and ukelele. The group has been a staple of the Denver indie scene since the 2010s, when its blossom flourished at house shows and the DIY circuit. We truly couldn't imagine the local scene without this group.
Silver & Gold
If you missed out on Silver & Gold opening for Porridge at Globe Hall last August, never fear — the local quintet is still around. Just don't sleep on the group again, because it's worth seeing live at any cost. You'll recognize influences from the Cure and Arctic Monkeys in Silver & Gold, which formed about a decade ago as music students. With more than two million streams on the 2018 single "Feel a Little Closer," the band's sound clearly resonates, and its latest release, "better," polishes its oeuvre even further. Slow Caves
Slow Caves has been making waves in the greater indie scene for years, playing such festivals as South by Southwest after releasing its first full-length album, Falling, in 2019. The members have been making music together since middle school, and have created something special with Slow Caves. The band has a classic indie-rock sound, which you can hear on its latest EP, Tension. Be sure to catch Slow Caves live, where you can get the full experience.
Sponsored Content
Sponsored Content frontman Jason Edelstein says he wants every concert to feel like a party, and the band definitely achieved that during its music video release show earlier last summer at Two Moons, which included bingo and prizes for the audience. The party was for the band's latest catchy single, "She Don't Care About Fine Dining," which continues the act's ironic humor with lyrics about a chef who only cares for authentic, in-season ingredients (the chef, as the music video shows, is a dog). Edelstein is also a co-founder of recording studio/creative agency the Salt Lick, which hosts the annual Cornhub Festival that Sponsored Content always plays. Follow the band and don't miss out on show announcements: While they may not all include bingo, they'll still be a party.
Sunstoney
While Sunstoney has only been in Denver for just over year, the indie-pop artist has made a splash. Her tunes mix electronic elements with pop and indie rock for a shimmering, unique sound that beckons repeat listens and dancing. And if you were one of the lucky audience members at her UMS sets or caught her opening for Pleasure Prince in August, you know that Sunstoney's live sets have lots of dancing. The singer commands the stage with an infectious energy that pulls you into her lyrical storytelling, which you can hear throughout her latest album, The Mirror Is Calling.
Tiny Tomboy
After one listen to Tiny Tomboy's sophomore release, Psychic Scar, you'll be making plans to see the band live. It's classic indie-rock with this three-piece, which includes vocalist/guitarist Eliza Neiman-Goldman, drummer Sam Seymour and bassist Ethan Gould. The trio is enigmatic on stage, creating a sense of intimacy with Neiman-Goldman's smooth vocals and story-telling lyrics, but it isn't afraid to get rowdy. The crowd soaks up that energy, too, and chances are high you'll be leaving the show with a pile of merch — especially Psychic Scar on vinyl.