These Are the Denver Rock Bands You Need to Check Out in 2025

When it comes to rock and roll, perhaps Patti Smith put it best in her memoir, Just Kids.

“We feared that the music which had given us sustenance was in danger of spiritual starvation," she wrote. "We feared it losing its sense of purpose, we feared it falling into fattened hands, we feared it floundering in a mire of spectacle, finance, and vapid technical complexity. We would call forth in our minds the image of Paul Revere, riding through the American night, petitioning the people to wake up, to take up arms. We too would take up arms, the arms of our generation, the electric guitar and the microphone.”

Many musicians have followed Smith's spirited path, keeping the spirit of rock ablaze. And we're thankful for that, because where would we be without it? For starters, Denver would be short countless bands that have made our music scene so lively. The genre, innovated by Black musicians starting in the 1940s and ’50s, has evolved throughout the decades to spawn dozens of subgenres and inspire new ones, including metal, punk, post-punk and so much more. And we're in the Mile High City, where rock and roll is alive and well in a myriad of local bands both old and new.

With such a breadth of local talent, it would be impossible to name every great rock band in town, but we've narrowed it down to eighteen. Take a listen to the following bands (listed in alphabetical order; we're not picking favorites here), save them to your streaming platforms, and keep your eyes out for upcoming shows.
Boot Gun
Boot Gun has been making quintessential rock and roll since 2018, when the band booked a show before it had even practiced. Since then, the group — Davie Landry (lead vocals and bass), Keith Lawrence (lead vocals and guitar), Cody Hart (drums) and Jeremy Baugh (guitar and harmonica) — has been making moves in the Mile High City. Boot Gun released its debut album, Take What You Got, in 2020, which was just followed up by One for the Willing in February 2024. From opening track "Everybody's Talkin'" to the steady banger "Heartbreaks and Hipshakes" and the jammy "Get Movin'," Boot Gun makes it clear the band has honed its sound to perfection, with cascading keys from Steve Terry, a steady and rumbling beat, storytelling lyrics and the buildups and breakdowns that make for a good rock song. Each track is a standout in its own right, and in the live setting, Boot Gun shows its wild presence isn't limited to the studio.
The Born Readies
If you're a fan of ’70s power pop and '80s glam rock, then the Born Readies are the crew for you, though the band is sure to note that its music is "just rock and roll." Bret Hagen (guitar), Dan Putrino (bass), Chris Rhea (guitar/vocals) and Andrew James (drums) don't mess around when it comes to making headbanger songs that make you stomp your Doc Martens until the sole is thinner than paper. The bandmates are focused on raw, in-your-face rock that evokes the likes of Cheap Trick, Slade and Johnny Thunders; if you're lucky, you've seen them sharing their sound at such venues as the Crypt, the Marquis, 100 Nickel and more.
Cleaner
If you miss the Dirty Few, a Denver garage-punk band that whipped up many a pit before ending its run in 2019, then you probably know that member Kim Phat has a new rock project in Cleaner, alongside Arj Narayan and Lisandro Gutierrez (also of Fast Eddy), Matthew Lou, and Justin Sanderson (of Muscle Beach, Colfax Speed Queen and more). The local musicians are making heavy, fuzzed-out psychedelic rock with this act — a sight to behold meant for cramped venues with sticky floors and cheap beer. The group conveys the exact type of energy that Patti Smith was talking about in the quote above, taking up the torch with a DIY ethos and unmeasurable grit; it's a sound that might have come from the stage at hallowed New York club CBGB in the ’70s. And now Denver has its own version.
Colfax Speed Queen
Colfax Speed Queen may not have released any music recently, but the rock band is a Denver mainstay and continues to share new material at live shows. Reminiscent of the Cramps (Speed Queen covered that group's "Human Fly"), this five-piece blends Western twang, garage rock and punk into rock and roll for a sound that's still classic, but with a twist. The band got started in 2010 as a college project of singer/guitarist Matthew Loui, and Colfax Speed Queen played countless shows since at venues such as the hi-dive, Larimer Lounge and Lost Lake Lounge, where it rang in the new year this past December with a raucous concert full of pure, palpable rock-and-roll energy. You want to make a ruckus? Then head to a Colfax Speed Queen show. The Crooked Rugs
The Crooked Rugs call their music "mysterious noise from Fort Collins," and it's true that each album from the band has various inflections, from shoegaze and surf-rock to prog rock and indie; think a Colorado version of Thee Oh Sees. But it's all firmly rooted in the rock ethos, as evidenced by the band's concerts, which you can catch around the metro area. We were blown away by the Crooked Rugs set at the Underground Music Showcase, and the band will be taking to the road to share its sound with more listeners this year.
The Dirty Turkeys
The Dirty Turkeys unleashed its debut full-length, Cowboy Caravan, this April, and it showcases the band's cowpunk acid-rock sound that's made for some of our favorite live shows in Denver. The band, which comprises brothers Russ and Brand "Gonzo" Hansen, Sam Baker and Ty Tuller, has established a unique stage presence and sonics that blend classic rock sensibilities with boundary-pushing, bluesy energy. Expect headbanging, epic guitar solos and drums that keep your feet pounding. This group is a welcome presence in the scene, earning a 2025 Best of Denver award for Best Acid Rock Band.
Fast Eddy
Last year, Fast Eddy released a bone-shaking album, To the Stars, that will have you running to its next concert. Formed from members of the Dirty Few and the masked drum troupe itchy-O, Fast Eddy has brought the power of rock to stages around Denver since 2014. The band encapsulates the riotous, hedonist heydays of the music scene in both its sound and lyrics, pumping with adrenaline and an intoxicating rush that makes you feel as though lighting a match at a show might burn the whole venue down. This band isn't chasing fame or accolades — just following the ethos of rock.
Gestalt
After forming in 2017, Gestalt has become another favorite Denver act, leaning into pop-punk and indie territories to develop a singular sound. Self-described as a "powder keg ready to blow," this group puts on unforgettable shows marked by an energetic stage presence that fully engages the audience. Its latest release, From The Vault, Vol. 1, just released in early April and has been a constant presence on our playlists, which such standout songs as "Connect the Dots" and "Out Singing." And its previous album, Everything Happens, won a Best of Denver award this year for Best Album to Hear Live. So what are you waiting for? Head to a show.
Horse Bitch
As we recently wrote, Horse Bitch is so hot right now. There's not a band in Denver quite like it — the group is completely unique, but its rebellious spirit is reminiscent of the core tenets of rock and roll. At a sold-out show at Globe Hall for St. Patrick's Day, the members were like kids on a playground, climbing equipment, moshing and leaping. There's a reason they just won a Best of Denver award for Best Stage Presence. And the audience joined in, too, diving from the stage and perpetually dancing. The music is obviously just as engaging, with sounds that vear from Irish-style shanties to punk-rock territory, all lifting up sardonic lyricism. If you want to sing "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck" at the top of your lungs, then this is your type of show. Plus, the crew always has a bubble gun on deck.

But seriously, this is a group you need to see live.
Ipecac
The natural-born rock stars of Ipecac are taking Denver by storm, with each performance a consistent display of the group's unyielding talent. Ipecac shows put the strengths of each bandmember — Ariadnee Ziady (guitar), Isabella Osborne (vocals), Tayte Eubanks (bass) and Kanyon Dickerson (drums) — on display, from powerful vocals, heavy guitar and bass and snappy drums to an incomparable stage presence. Seriously, after just one concert you'll be chasing more, and listening to Ipecac's discography in between. Don't sleep on this band, and catch it before it inevitably hits the big time.
Jesus Christ Taxi Driver
If you frequent shows at local rock venues, you've likely come across the music of Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, whose sound the band likes to describe as "joyfully irreverent noise." The shows have a Wild West vibe that begets a fast and furious night of dancing, and the three-piece is often performing alongside similar acts that carry that ethos through the evening. After forming in 2022, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver its debut album, Lick My Soul, the next year, and it's one of our favorites. Taking a cue from such greats as the Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and more classic-rock groups, the band has created a completely cohesive work that showcases a pure rock-and-roll sound, from ballads to bangers.
May Be Fern
The quartet of May Be Fern makes some of the best funk rock in the city. Comprising vocalist/bassist Kate Fern, guitarist Madi Spillman, keyboardist/vocalist Hannah May and drummer Ian Spillman, this band has been a welcome presence on the scene, delivering original music flavored with improvisational jams that keep audiences moving. May Be Fern's debut album, Okay Grandma, Your Turn, won a Best of Denver award in 2024 for Best Debut, and new releases since then, including "Blood Beach" and "Old Ways Die" underscore that this group's talent only continues to blossom. With an infectiously fun attitude, it's impossible not to smile at these concerts, where you'll undoubtedly leave knowing you just discovered a new favorite band.
Pink Fuzz
If you're more into fast-paced rock and roll, then turn to the tunes of Pink Fuzz, which describes its music as "high-speed desert rock." This trio of drummer Will Trafas and brother and sister John and Lulu Demitro has nailed its sound with soaring guitar solos, impassioned vocals and headbang-inducing drums. It's grainy, fuzzed-out, raw rock with an overall ethos to match that you have to witness at this band's live shows. There's a psychedelic tinge to the tunes, which beckon many a repeat listen. Pure talent is on display in this trio, which just opened for the Swords return shows in Dallas and San Antonio alongside Rickshaw Billie's Burger Patrol, and we can't wait to hear more. Pink Fuzz has completed six national tours since 2018, including playing SXSW five times and Treefort Music Fest four times.
Rootbeer Richie & the Reveille
Rootbeer Richie & the Reveille took home a Best of Denver award this year for Best Rock Album for Never Needed Me, which released last October with twelve tracks of bluesy rock and roll. The band is an influential presence on the scene when it's not touring, having amassed a healthy fanbase behind its classic rock sound fringed with brass. The high caliber of talent is apparent at each and every show, where you'll find a packed house of always-smiling fans bouncing to the music. Now considered a legacy act for the Underground Music Showcase, be sure to catch the group at the festival this year. Last year's show at the hi-dive was a memorable display of rowdy rock and sheer talent.
Shady Oaks
Shady Oaks makes straight-up rock and roll served with a healthy sampling of heavy riffs and storytelling, with relatable lyrics sung in husky vocals. Think the Allman Brothers meets Creedence Clearwater Revival, and you'll have an idea of the band's sound, which evokes other rock greats, including Jack White. You can often catch this Denver band, which just won a Best of Denver award for Best Blues Rock Band, around town, but in between shows, give it the streams it deserves: The bluesy guitar licks will transport you to honky-tonk heaven while you're listening through your headphones at work or driving back from the mountains. It's a very Colorado sound, and we see Shady Oaks as the perfect rock-and-roll ambassadors for the state.
Tiny Tomboy
Tiny Tomboy is one of favorite indie-rock bands in Denver, pummeling out addicting tunes to which you'll be singing along in no time. Because upon your first listen to its recent album, Psychic Scar, which won a Best of Denver award for Best Indie Rock Album this year, you know you'll be listening to it over and over again. The song "Dead Dog" is an earworm, for sure, and it's even better live. This trio is making big waves, and its music is so damn good. Vulnerable lyrics are underscored by deeply-felt guitar riffs, which creates a sense of intimacy at the band's shows. And these shows are the type where you find yourself stopping for a moment to realize you're truly witnessing something special.
The Velveteers
The Velveteers are a Colorado success story, after getting a call in 2020 from none other than Dan Auerbach, the Black Keys frontman and Easy Eye Sound owner. He wanted guitarist/vocalist Demi Demitro, drummer Baby Pottersmith and multi-instrumentalist Jonny Figg to meet with him in Nashville. The day after they met Auerbach, he asked them to sign with his label. The result was 2021 debut album, Nightmare Daydream, capturing a sound similar to '70s psychedelic rock and roll and Led Zeppelin. The song "Charmer And The Snake" now has more than 2 million streams. The trio went on to open for Guns N' Roses, the Smashing Pumpkins, Greta Van Fleet and the Black Keys. But the Velveteers haven't forgotten their Colorado roots, continuing to play such venues as the hi-dive or the Bluebird with local bills. And its latest album, A Million Knives, is sure to rise the Velveteers' star even higher.

Velvet Daydream
The guys in Velvet Daydream are relative newcomers to the rock scene, but they look as if they just stepped out of a time machine straight from the ’70s. That's how their music sounds, too. And Nick Schwartz (drums/keys/vocals), Ryder King (guitar/vocals), Jude Pfanstiel (bass/vocals) and Kaeden Keys (guitar/vocals) are making it clear they have the talent to take their band far, behind its self-titled 2023 debut and latest EP, Leave You There/Blackberry Jam. A much-needed revival of classic rock, Velvet Daydream evokes the likes of Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath and the Stones, with a glam-rock flair, to boot. The group's live shows are always a rockin' good time, a true rock-and-roll experience that hits refresh on the golden age of the genre.