Denver’s music scene is such a beautiful space to exist within. Vibrant and collaborative, edgy but never uninviting, the scene here feels so powerfully alive, always changing and growing, refusing easy classification based on genre or style. Reflecting the eclectic nature of the city as a whole, the Denver music scene is a home for unabashed creativity, a willingness to push boundaries and create new ones, always accepting of new voices, new sounds spread across a vast variety of genres and sub-genres. Hundreds of artists of all kind call Denver home. As welcoming as the scene is, it can be daunting when looking for a place to initially dive in just given the sheer amount of talent found here. Don’t worry. Denver Dive is here to help.
It should be said that this list isn’t a comprehensive “Every Artist You Should Know in Denver” kind of list. That would take days to read through. Instead, think of it as more of a guide to where to start, a list of artists that will help open the doors to Denver’s scene if you are unsure of where to begin. This is also a list without any particular order. The artists you’ll find here regularly play with others in the city, sharing bills and helping each other spread the word one show at a time. Most have made an indelible mark on the city already or at least are very much poised to do so. Here you’ll find everything from desert rock to deathcore to jam to punk to shoegaze to bass to hip-hop to psych-rock to neo-soul and much more. There’s a place for everyone here. Let us help show you the way.
Pink Fuzz
Local desert rock masters Pink Fuzz have long been known as one of the coolest bands in the city, in any city for that matter. Founded by brother and sister duo John and Lulu Demitro, the band melds a crushing rhythm section and screaming guitars with enigmatic lyricism to create this almost overwhelming sound that hits you right in the heart and keeps it pumping. They tour constantly but always return home for shows that feature a wide variety of fellow local bands. Be sure to catch them while they’re here.
IG: @pinkfuzzband
May Be Fern
One of the most prolific live bands in Denver, May Be Fern is such a breath of fresh air. Musically, the trio can be a bit hard to define, a major part of their appeal. They exist somewhere in between psych and funk and rock and meld those genres into something completely their own. Their incredible musicality and powerhouse vocals strike you in the soul and leave you electric. They currently feature a rotating roster of drummers borrowed from a variety of Front Range bands and have a monthly residency at Bar 404 that regularly offers younger bands their first shows so if you’re looking for what’s brand new in Denver, let May Be Fern show you the way.
IG: @may_be_fern
DOGTAGS
DOGTAGS wash those who hear their music or see them play in such unabashed love and color. Their shows are pure joy, their stages regularly draped in flowers and scarves, each of the band’s many members so vibrant and talented that it’s impossible for them not to leave an impression on those who see them. They blend a unique neo-soul/funk sound with a wide variety of genres in order to leave a mark on those in their crowds and therefore on the city as a whole. Regularly ranked as one of the best up and coming groups in Denver, they can be found sharing bills with other future Denver musical royalty. They play all the time around Denver so don’t sleep.
IG: @ddogtagss
Fruta Brutal
The brainchild of Ecuadorian-born, Denver-based artist Martín Better Longo, Fruta Brutal blends Latin American traditionalism with psychedelic rock and pop sensibilities to form an incredibly unique sound that pays homage to that which has come before while also feeling like something brand new. With songs sung in both Spanish and English, the band is an incredible example of how profound an impact Latin music has had on the Denver music scene, representing just how eclectic the people that call this city home are. It’s music to fuckin’ move to that will move your heart as well as your feet. They’re prominent fixtures at venues all around town so be sure to keep your eyes open for wherever they will be next.
IG: @frutabrutal
N3ptune
There isn’t an artist in the world — let alone Denver — quite like N3ptune. A member of beloved local talent agency/production company Future Garden, the enigmatic singer, rapper, producer, choreographer, director, clothing designer and more transcends traditional ideas of creativity in favor of an intense dedication to individuality. His music barrels into you, his lyricism uncompromising and deeply personal, his insane vocal range the kind that makes you feel like someone lit you on fire so that you may be reborn from the ashes. Every project N3ptune touches feels like a wholly unique, fully formed vision. His shows are no different. He and his team choreograph each one specially. While you can never expect the same thing twice from him, expect visceral movement ranging from complicated, highly choreographed dance compositions to some good ol’ ass throwin’. It’s a sight to behold that you’ll never forget.
IG: @n3ptunemusic
Squeaky Feet
Though they operate within the jam world, local phenoms Squeaky Feet are better described as an improv-heavy prog band. The band may just feature some of the most purely talented players in this city, each member a virtuoso that would be the standout in any other band. Within Squeaky Feet, however, each member blends and listens together so well to create these face-melting, chest rattling opuses that sweep you up, crash you onto rocky shores, leaving you to pick yourself up and keep that head banging. Plus, they are unafraid to get weird as hell in the best way, letting the jams lead them to wherever they’re going to go. In recent years, they have become one of the most talked about bands in the jam scene all across the country and their legend is only growing. If you’re looking to jump into that world, you really can’t go wrong here.
Mport
Mport is quickly rising to be one of the next big stars in EDM. Though incredibly bass heavy, his music is hard to pin down, exploring sounds found across the genre entire. Known for his energetic live shows and a willingness to lean into the goofy, Mport makes music for those who like to smile, dance with their friends and break their fuckin’ necks headbangin’. Having toured with names such as TVBOO and more, it’s a hometown party whenever he plays in Denver, his shows regularly featuring fellow up and coming DJs that are just on the cusp of national stardom.
IG: @mportmusic
Rugburn
Rugburn is so fuckin’ cool. Let’s just start there. They meld a heavy sort of blues with psychedelia and create this huge sound that disorients as much as it crushes. With lyrics inspired by collective disillusionment, their sound feels timeless yet distinctly poised to capture this strange and terrifying moment in time in which we all find ourselves. It’s music meant to help you pour frustration into a mosh pit, to get you moving through this life one push at a time. The city has been taking a whole lot of notice of Rugburn as of late, with them sharing bills all across town and playing bigger and bigger shows. These guys are going to blow up big real soon. Make sure to catch ‘em as soon as you can.
IG: @rugburn666
Rootbeer Richie and the Reveille
Rootbeer Richie and the Reveille brings New Orleans to Denver. Melding a big band sound with punk sensibilities, their shows are these huge, colorful, rowdy-ass parties during which you need to keep your head on swivel in order to avoid getting hit in the face by the absolute deluge of Mardi Gras beads flying through the air. It is a wholly unique experience showcasing a giant band who all play off each other to create this vibe that is impossible not to move to. It is Sir Rootbeer Richie (who also plays in the unbelievably badass local punk band Colfax Speed Queens) that ties it all together, however. The charismatic front man knows how to control the chaos, keeping it all on track as he jumps between a laconic croon and soul-shocking howls. They play an annual Mardi Gras show that also serves as highlights for some of the coolest bands in town. Keep your eyes open if you’re looking for a good time.
IG: @rootbeerrichie
Clay Street Unit
Clay Street Unit’s brand of soulful Americana/bluegrass was formed in Denver but informed by years on the road, traversing this country and seeing it for all that it is. You can hear it in their music. They tell stories of highway breakdowns and fixing yourself up so you can keep on traveling. It’s music meant for late nights on open roads and early morning sunrises spent with the windows cracked just enough so you can still hear the music. Their playing is also virtuosic, with each jam allowing each member to spend time in the spotlight while never losing sight of the road the band is going down together. The bluegrass scene is strong here in Denver and Clay Street Unit attracts some of the biggest names in the genre. They’ve been experiencing a whole lot of attention as of late following strong sets all over town from Zuni Street Brewing (where the band met) to Cervantes’ to the Bluebird. Last year, they opened up for Leftover Salmon and Kitchen Dwellers at Red Rocks, solidifying the fact that they are one of most interesting bands coming up in the genre. They recently released their debut full length album, Sins and Squalor, and are on the cusp of national recognition. Make sure to catch them wherever your road allows you to do so.
IG: @claystreetunit
Los Mocochetes
Los Mocochetes are more than a band; they’re a movement. They use their considerable following to incite civil action, consistently playing shows that raise funding and awareness for some of the most important and vital issues facing our country today. They’re a band that recognizes the power of community and the change that can be affected when a community comes together to use their voices. It also helps that their music is fuckin’ incredible and their shows are these huge parties that spread love to all in attendance. Spanning a whole range of genres from cumbia to funk to hip hop to rock and more, they are a band that unites and proves how strong we are when we all stand together.
IG: @losmocochetes
Insipidus
Death metal hustlers Insipidus can regularly be seen raging the streets of South Broadway, usually set up outside Ritual Tattoo on the weekends. While these DIY performances are typically fully instrumental, their studio works are these insane, huge concept albums featuring apocalyptic storytelling told through soul-churning growls. They are true, their spirit the same as that of Denver metal lords that came before such as Blood Incantation. They represent the DIY nature that prevails in this city, the idea that a few friends can set up downtown and nearly burn it to the ground almost every weekend. These guys are truly just starting to get the recognition they deserve and will be one of the big names in metal in time.
IG: @insipidus
Shady Oaks
Whiskey-soaked and loud as hell, Shady Oaks are a blues-forward rock band whose visceral songwriting cuts you like a glass broken from being held too tightly in your hand. The band puts their entire souls into each note they play. Their shows are these sweaty experiments in collective catharsis, those there to witness leaving their demons behind, soon to be forgotten like the drink that comes before the next. As is the case with many on this list, they are mainstays at beloved venues such as The Skylark Lounge and Hi-Dive, venues that serve as gathering hubs for those most in tune with what’s happening in the Denver scene. Make sure to catch them next time they’re around.
IG: @shadyoaks_band
In Plain Air
Members of local record label Mean World Records, In Plain Air defies classification. They mix alternative rock with psychedelia, metal and jazz and are wholly unafraid to get loud as hell. It creates this hypnotic, trance-inducing vibe that makes it hard to know where you stand in the universe as their music washes over you. This is music to get lost in, to give yourself over to fully as the band sets a match to your soul so that you may burn and rise up to the heavens, no longer existing on any particular plane of existence but somewhere in between dimensions. Their shows follow the immersive vibe of their music, multimedia experiences featuring on stage TVs playing old VHS’s, swirling psychedelic light set ups and the band absolutely leaving it all on stage. These guys are one of the most unique bands in the city and are only continuing to grow a name for themselves.
IG: @inplainairband
iies.
Always community and socially minded, hip-hop/jazz group iies. turns action into groove. Coupling rapid-fire lyrical delivery with smooth grooves played with restraint, iies. is never not incendiary, each of their songs an effort to speak truth to power. It’s music for the revolution, unafraid to stand up against what may sometimes feel like impossible power, reminding those who hear it that the fight starts with us and that we are never alone. Their sound is reminiscent of early politically-minded hip-hop such as A Tribe Called Quest but updated for these modern times. It’s raise your fist in the air music and we need it now more than ever. Don’t sleep.
IG: @iies.co
Bitchflower
Existing somewhere between metal, indie and hardcore, Bitchflower is a visceral, soul-rattling group, a band that knows how to boil blood and cast spells that haunt you forever. This is music to rip you apart from the fiber of your being allowing you to remake yourself in whatever image you so choose. It’s fast and loud and angry and beautiful and perfect for this world we find ourselves in and all its many frustrations. Their shows are chaos incarnate, brutal catharsis, serving as opportunities to peak behind the veil while keeping you firmly rooted in reality. This is music as armor, a barrier between you and the world and its evils. As long as Bitchflower exists, you are safe. Don’t miss them.
IG: @bitchflower_
Sqwerv
Born from the Denver jam scene, Sqwerv has long transcended any form of genre convention. They might best be described as improvisational indie rock with a hefty dose of funk mixed in for good measure. The band has been blowing up these last couple of years, touring the country almost constantly while never forgetting their hometown roots. This is for good reason. In addition to their powerful songwriting, incredible playing and goddamn soaring vocals, their shows are so joyous and vibrant. They’re willing to lean into the tongue-in-cheek but never descend into cliché, always making sure the crowd is having as good of a time as they are. They constantly play shows at venues such as Cervantes’ and almost always team up with fellow Denver jam alumni. They tour almost constantly but they’ll always be back around. See them as soon as you possibly can.
IG: @sqwerv
Los Toms
Psych-rock extraordinaires Los Toms know exactly what they are doing. Oscillating between dreamy melodies and crushingly heavy psych-rock, the band tosses you out into the cosmos at the speed of light to join with that which exists beyond the edge of comprehension. They are guides to a journey most will never truly understand where the destination is some swirling embodiment of chaos that rather closely resembles a mosh pit. Originally from FOCO, such material constraints rarely affect them and they find themselves sharing bills all over the state. They also founded Psych’s Peak Festival which highlights the best that Colorado’s psychedelic music scene has to offer. Check ‘em out if you’re brave enough to embark on whatever journey they see fit to take you on.
IG: @lostoms
Horse Bitch
You never know quite what you’re going to get from Horse Bitch and thats what makes them so damn exciting. Playing a kind of emo electric folk with heavy Celtic influences, the seven-piece band refuses to be put into a box. They have this ability to go from country ballads sung with sincerity to tongue-in-cheek dance tunes to punk-tinged storytelling all in the course of one album. It’s as if the band stands as the embodiment of rejection of convention. The musicality and production feels huge given how many people and instruments in the band. They have a pedal steel, strings, dueling guitars, rolling keys and more, all compounding into this sound that feels like it was ripped from some convoluted dream you had that you still think about weeks later. Their shows feel like being inducted into some world-shattering cult replete with members coming out from behind the crowd dressed in cloaks and carrying mighty tomes filled with the secrets of the universe. They play rather all over town so if you’re looking to join before the end of the world rolls around, waste no time.
IG: @horsebitch_____
Barbara
Barbara makes music for sad people to feel happy about. It’s alive with memory and truth, stories shared with heart and conviction that are both deeply personal and intensely relatable. They blend a dreamy sort of psychedelic indie pop with dark shoegaze and play with an intricacy that feels almost math-y and never take themselves too seriously. In recent years, Denver has shone a spotlight on the trio, pushing them to the forefront of the scene and they have met the acclaim they’ve garnered with confidence and aplomb. This is in large part to how hard the band works. They book their own tours, have played such seminal festivals as UMS and Treefort and just keep making damn good music. They give their absolute all on stage, respecting the quieter parts of a set while going all in when things get loud. Barbara is going places. You should follow.
IG: @go_barbara_go
The Mañanas
Also members of Future Garden, The Mañanas feel like home in a way. Their music is so inclusive and inviting, overflowing with authenticity, sweet but never saccharine. Reminiscent of bands like Twin Peaks, Whitney, some of Osees lighter stuff and even a bit of Interpol, they play propulsive indie garage pop that sinks into your bones and makes you feel so warm, like coming home after too long away. It’s music you dance to while smiling, with lyrics that wrap themselves around your heart to make sure the seasons don’t affect it too much. Their somewhat of local legends, a band that other bands reference as one of the best in town. They’ve got some cool shows coming up, including a major set at Outside Days Fest which takes place the last weekend of May. Go see them as soon as you can.
IG: @themananasband
Tiny Tomboy
Also members of Mean World Records and regularly sharing bills with their label mates, Tiny Tomboy makes shoegaze for the soul. Melding storytelling with fuzz, the band writes songs about impermanence, hearts breaking, vapes getting thrown out, money lost through ill-advised gambles. The music serves as a reminder that everything is temporary, the idea of “you can’t take it with you” so you might as well enjoy what you have when you got it. They do delve into the melancholy and the frustrations than can arise from such feelings but the music feels honest, written from the heart or someplace even deeper. Though their subject matter may seem so, the band is anything but fleeting. They’ve been rising and rising these last few years, especially since the release of their latest album Psychic Scar last year. Raise that gaze from your shoes and keep a lookout for where they’ll be next.
IG: @tinytomboyband
Sour Magic
Indie/psych band Sour Magic feel like they exist somewhere outside of time. Their music feels like multiple decades blended together, listening feels like some grand adventure through time. It’s exploratory, deeply rooted in psychedelia but never feels to overwhelming. It’s like a nice, easy trip, the kind spent in a place you trust surrounded by people that feel like home. It does touch on the darkness that tends to lurk just over the edge of every long psychedelic experience but that just serves to make the light even brighter. Sour Magic are coming up along with the rest of us, very dedicated to the scene they find themselves within. They’ve recently put together the first annual Sexy Chemistry show, a collaboration with Good Chemistry and Sexy Pizza that features some of the best psych bands in the city playing to celebrate 4/20, everyone’s favorite holiday. They’re playing more and more shows as the year rolls on so don’t miss ’em.
IG: @sourmagic
Photos Courtesy of the Artists.
