Velvet Banjo, a Bluegrass and Pool Bar, Opening This Weekend

The "newgrass" spot is opening in the former Sancho's Broken Arrow location.

October 8, 2024

Image: exterior of the velvet banjo venue in denver

Velvet Banjo opens in Denver on October 12. Joshua Kravette

Audio By Carbonatix

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The long-anticipated opening of Velvet Banjo is finally here! The bar, pool hall and bluegrass venue will have its grand opening this weekend, October 12 and 13, with happy-hour pricing and free pool all weekend, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

"We look forward to becoming a new entertainment staple on central Colfax," the owners say in an announcement, "and your new favorite place in Denver for newgrass, quality pool, cold drinks, hanging with friends and all-around good times."

Velvet Banjo, originally dubbed Yonder Bar, is in a good position to meet those goals. Situated at 741 East Colfax Avenue, the bar is in the spot that once housed the infamous Sancho's Broken Arrow, a Deadhead-themed watering hole owned by Jay Bianchi (currently being held in jail on numerous sexual-assault charges) that was forced to close in January 2023 after a string of incidents, including remaining open during the pandemic and being the site of a cocaine deal.

That's why the landlord at 741 East Colfax had one stipulation for Velvet Banjo: It couldn't be another Deadhead hang.

Instead, the place will focus on what brought its owners — Patrick McNally, Todd McWhirter and Joshua and Ariana Kravette — to Sancho's in the first place: pool. It will also host modern bluegrass (or "newgrass") bands, serve cheap drinks and local brews, and foster the more relaxed community the partners remember from Sancho's early days.

As Ariana told us in March: "It's really an opportunity to continue a legacy, so we want to make sure we're doing it a service."

Learn more about Velvet Banjo at velvetbanjo.com.

Emily Ferguson has been the music and culture editor atWestword since November 2021. In her role, Emily writes and edits profiles of local and national musicians, previews of upcoming performances and guides to the best of Denver’s entertainment scene. Her previous work experience includes contributing to the arts sections of the Wall Street Journal, The Spectator and the Free Beacon. While attending the College of Charleston, Emily was a fire performer and worked at music festivals.

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