It's coming. You ready? Save the date: Saturday, June 22. That's when we'll be taking over the Golden Triangle once again for the nineteenth annual edition of the Westword Music Showcase, presented by Miller Lite. You know the deal: more bands than you can consume in one sitting, spread across a dozen stages, including our all-ages outdoor stage. There's a special pre-sale this weekend that you can get in on by signing up for our newsletter and becoming a Westword Insider before tickets officially go on sale this Monday, February 25. We've got a full slate of choice headliners this year, some of which we've posted below. Keep reading to see what's on tap so far.
See also: - Register to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale - Hottest one yet! 2012 Westword Music Showcase attracts even more fans this year - The People of 2012 Westword Music Showcase
Dada Life If you've been to Showcase before, you know we're all about going out on a high note at the end of the night, dancing ourselves into traction and partying like it's our last night on earth. In recent years, this role has been filled by Ghostland Observatory, Chromeo and Girl Talk. We needed something on par with those acts, someone who is bigger than life, over the top and capable of providing the perfect soundtrack. Alas, we found 'em: Dada Life. If you're looking to kick out the epic, look no further.
Keep reading for more headliners, and be sure to sign up to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale and get your tix before they officially go on sale.
Trampled by Turtles Fresh on the heels of playing two sold-out back-to-back nights at the Ogden Theatre last month, this Minnesota-based outfit plays a unique and completely distinctive brand of bluegrass. They play banjos and don't have a drummer, but don't let that fool you. These dudes will kick your ass and take your lunch money, and they'll sing so pretty while they're doing it that you'll be all, "Thank you, sirs. May I have another?"
Keep reading for more headliners, and be sure to sign up to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale and get your tix before they officially go on sale.
P.O.S. P.O.S., the outspoken Rhymesayers MC otherwise known as Stefon Alexander, quietly released one of our favorite albums last fall, an incendiary little platter called We Don't Even Live Here. As you may recall, Alexander had to put the brakes on touring in support of the album due to health issues. Well, he's now on the mend, and he'll be making his return to Denver on the Westword Music Showcase main stage. You can pretty much count on him wreaking absolute havoc -- all good, as long as he doesn't really scuff our Nikes.
Keep reading for more headliners, and be sure to sign up to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale and get your tix before they officially go on sale.
Nick Waterhouse Nick Waterhouse is from the now, but from his swag and just even giving a brief ear to his vintage brand of soul, you'd swear on your mother that he was transported directly from Hitsville, USA, circa the 1960s. He wasn't: In fact, this Southern California native was born in the '80s, a full two decades after the heyday of the Motown era. You'd never know as much by listening to him, though. And that's a good thing, in case you're wondering.
Keep reading for more headliners, and be sure to sign up to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale and get your tix before they officially go on sale.
The Mowgli's You fancy literary types probably know Mowgli from Rudyard Kipling's Jungle Book series. Anyhow, that character is not to be confused with this adorable emerging California-based act, which you perhaps know better as the group responsible for the undeniably exuberant feel-good hit of the summer otherwise known as "San Francisco" -- "Do you feel the love/I feel the love/C'mon, c'mon let's start it up/Let it pour out of your soul." Words to live by.
Keep reading for more headliners, and be sure to sign up to become a Westword Insider to get in on this weekend's special pre-sale and get your tix before they officially go on sale.
My Body Sings Electric Hot on the heels of being crowned victorious in KTCL's annual Hometown for the Holidays promotion, My Body Sings Electric has truckloads of momentum and seems poised to break out in a big way this year. In fact, we have a feeling that this year's Showcase may very well serve as the band's coming-out party. Should be, ahem, Electric.
Keep an eye on Backbeat for more headliners to be announced. In the meantime, don't forget to become a Westword Insider so you can get the inside scoop on this weekend's special pre-sale event.
Follow Backbeat on Twitter: @westword_music
