Colorado summer music festivals like The Ride Festival and the Underground Music Showcase have come and gone, but the fun is far from over.
There are still a number of notable live music events at which to sample a wide variety of local and national acts ranging from the alternative to the not-so-alternative to the downright otherworldly.
Here’s your OpenAir-curated guide to the whos, whats, wheres and whens of seven of the top Colorado music fest options before summer’s out. We hope to see you there.
Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest
Who: WAR, DeVotchKa, Elephant Revival, Esme Patterson, Ian Cooke, In the Whale
When: August 15-17
Where: Old Town, Fort Collins
How much: Free
Why: The potent local showing includes the the headliner-worthy names listed above along with The Yawpers, Slim Cessna's Auto Club, and You Me & Apollo. The older crowd may appreciate headliners WAR, Pat Benatar, and Big Head Todd & the Monsters too, but even if they don't, hey, can't beat the price.
Who: The Vacant Lots, Cosmonauts, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, Colfax Speed Queen, Sunboy
When: August 16
Where: Savoy Denver (2700 Arapahoe St., Denver)
How much: $16.74, but use OpenAir's special offer code “1340” at checkout to pay $13.40
Why: Psych Fest should prove to be a day's worth of mind-expanding underground music for what you'd pay for one night's worth. Locals Snake Rattle Rattle Snake and Colfax Speed Queen are among Denver's most incredible live music acts.
Who: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes, Cold War Kids, Talib Kweli, White Denim
When: August 16
Where: City Park, Denver
How much: $77 - $282
Why: Chive Fest boasts a noteworthy lineup of national acts, including White Denim's must-see live show. Enticing ways to occupy your time between shows may include life-size Operation, fireworks, and local food trucks.
Who: Outkast, Diplo, Flosstradamus, Run the Jewels
When: August 22
Where: Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre, Englewood
How much: $25 - $99.50
Why: It might be Coloradans only chance to see Outkast on their reunion tour.
Who: Baywood, The Wild After, Rob Drabkin, Post Paradise, Steele & Colfax
When: August 23
Where: RiNO Art District, Denver
How much: $20 - $75
Why: An all-ages festival boasting a handful of up-and-coming Colorado bands. The mid-August outdoor block party setting is always one to be envied once the cold weather rears its head, and there's also an indoor arena for cooling off.
Who: Mount Eerie, Wolf Eyes, Homebody, Fingers of the Sun, Thug Entrancer, Good Willsmith
When: September 13-14
Where: Larimer Lounge & Meadowlark, Denver
How much: $13 single day, $25 two day
Why: Goldrush enters its fourth year as a burgeoning late summer music festival focused primarily on experimental music, filling an often disregarded niche. Acts like Wolf Eyes and clipping are not for the faint of heart, but unconventional locals like Homebody and Thug Entrancer as well as the intensely gifted Phil Elverum's Mount Eerie project round out the bill with a wide spectrum of sonic intrigue.
Who: The Cure, The National, TV on the Radio, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, Dum Dum Girls, Bob Mould, Wu-Tang Clan
When: September 19-21
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver (NOT May Farms)
How much: $60 - $100 single day, $180 - $280 three day
Why: With the venue change, Riot Fest will no longer offer a three day live music and camping experience, but the shorter commute for Denverites should provide ample opportunity for attendees to pick-and-choose from Riot Fest Denver Round Two's eclectic offerings. The National remain one of the top live music acts in the game today, TV on the Radio's set will likely be the live debut of new material from their upcoming new album "Seeds," and The Cure rarely play in Denver (the last such occurence was in 2008).
