Perched above the Midwestern plains, amid the Rocky Mountains, the "The Mile-High City" offers much more than spectacular views. Denver, Colorado is the state's capital and its largest city; as such, it acts as a major hub of culture and entertainment. Art, sports, cuisine, education--these are easy to find in Denver, as is (perhaps surprisingly) a fantastic music scene. While it may not be as renowned as those found in New York City or Los Angeles, Denver's music scene is quite diverse and exciting. It spans a wide variety of genres, and is definitely worth a spot on our HillTop Records' list of great American music scenes.The music scene of Denver first picked up speed in the 1960's, which is when American folk music rose in popularity. Stars-on-the-rise like Judy Collins drew crowds to the city's old folk clubs and local bars. Coinciding with a serendipitous population boom, Denver's folk scene began to attract national attention. Just as the folk boom of the sixties began to dwindle, it was immediately followed by an equally exciting country music boom. Throughout the early seventies and beyond, country legends like John Denver (who, yes, named himself after the city in which he got his start) left their indelible marks on American music. The following decade, the city of Denver seemed to shift its focus onto pop music. The local metal scene grew considerably during the eighties; however, genres like funk, R&B, jazz-fusion and hip hop became even more popular. Nineties pop, thrash and especially grunge were embraced by Denver. The growing melting pot also incorporated underground shock rock, Industrial metal, and other niche genres. At the same time, punk music became popular--and it remains so to this day.
During this period of rapid expansion and acceptance, Denver's multi-faceted music scene did seem to favor particular genres over others. One style of music that became especially popular during the late nineties was the "jam band" genre. A logical fusion during a time when jazz/funk and indie communities were competing with a growing metal scene, jam-style music seemed to satisfy the needs of a wider audience. The revolution took hold, using methods common in sixties psychedelic groups and fusion artists like Frank Zappa and Jimi Hendrix. A fluid and hard-to-define genre, it is comprised of a group of artists (oftentimes from different genres) casually "jamming" for extended periods of time. Local country music and "stoner metal" also became key components of this renaissance. At the same time, "southern" or "country" gothic (a style of dark and brooding Americana with elements of folk, country and southern gospel mixed in) found an audience in Denver. Its popularity can be attributed almost single-handedly to David Eugene Edwards and his band 16 Horsepower, as well as the bands started by former members of the original.
If your musical tastes lean more towards the classical, don't worry--Denver has something for you as well! The city is home to a number of performing ensembles dedicated to keeping classical music alive in the community. Check out the Colorado Symphony Orchestra (the state's only full-time professional orchestra) and the Denver Philharmonic Orchestra (formerly the Centennial Philharmonic.) The Colorado Wind Ensemble, The Denver Brass and youth ensembles like the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Colorado Honor Band Association are also doing great things in Denver.
Well-known concert venues include Boettcher Concert Hall (home to the Colorado Symphony Orchestra) and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, both located within the Denver Performing Arts Complex (the second largest performing arts center in the U.S. after Lincoln Center in New York!) The 2,225-seat Ellie Caulkins Opera House, opened in 2005, is also part of the gigantic complex. The Fillmore Auditorium (a former roller rink in the Capitol Hill neighborhood) and the Ogden Theater (a gem from 1917 listed on the National Register of Historic Places) in City Park West are also among Denver's most famous venues. The Coors Amphitheater in Englewood, Comfort Dental Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village, Mercury Cafe, and the incredible open-air Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison are other great places to go to experience live music in the Denver area.
On an even grander scale, music festivals in Denver range from Denver Days of Rock (a gigantic charity event typically held over Memorial Day Weekend) to the Denver Mariachi Festival (a lively series of workshops and concerts featuring world-class mariachi groups and ballet folkloricos.) The Evergreen Jazz Festival, held in July, is also a wonderful annual event in the Denver area.
To find out more about the Denver music scene, including information on upcoming events and bands to watch, check out one of the city's many online guides. The Denver Westword, Mile High City online, and (of course) Denver-Music-Scene.com are excellent resources. Of course, here on our official HillTop Records blog, we will also do our best to keep you in-the-know!
