This weekend at Mission Ballroom, Opiuo Stopped by with 1788-L, Esseks, BRUX and a whole lot of funky bass. Fans quickly filled the venue dancing along to the diverse line up.
First on the agenda for the evening, Brux waisted little time getting the crowd moving. Her vocals carried throughout the venue and washed the over the entranced onlookers. Esseks took the stage afterwards and kicked things up a notch with his heavy bass mix. Mosh pits began to open up around the venue. That energy would cary over into the set of 1788-L. With his unique electronic sound design, he was able to carry fans through various peeks and valleys during the night. Last on the docket was Opiuo. His funky/groovy bass design was a well received shift in the evening’s sound.
Opiuo was set to Headline at Red Rocks the following night but this show at Mission Ballroom was a welcomed treat for fans of his music nonetheless. Though his Red Rocks Show was spectacular, tonight showed that he plays his heart out no matter what venue he is in. Be sure to check out Opiuo if you haven’t already.
Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom was full of life at the Shift night concert. Last Thursday, seven talented musicians performed on two stages. With headliners Supertask and Sully, it was bound to be a success.
A Thundering Start to the Night
Before and during the concert, there was plenty of unique artwork and live painting to check out. At eight o’clock, the venue’s resident DJ began. Mikey Thunder set the mood for a fantastic evening. Above all, Mikey is a master of unsuspecting vibe switches in his DJing. He alternated frenetic wubs with ethereal tunes. Then, his mixing became more futuristic and edgy. Truly, an amazing set. As one of the bartenders told me when I asked who was on stage: “Mikey Thunder is THE man!”
The Openers
Coming all the way from Pennyslvania, Tiedye Ky delivered a unique combination of smooth melodies and distorted bass. Check out his latest release, “I Want 2 Fly Away.” The song is dually soothing and energetic.
Then, we heard the intense grooviness of Mport. His latest song “Fearless” was my favorite neck-breaker of the night.
Dual Stages!
Cervantes boasts two stages. The main ballroom and the “Other Side” give the venue its name. Also, it’s charm and uniqueness. The iconic venue has been around since 2003. However, the building itself has been hosting concerts and parties since the 1930s. One can sense the decades-old charm that exists between the two stages.
On one side, fans could dance to Supertask and Tiedye Ky. Then, take a short walk through the venue! The sounds of Sully, Pierce, and Mport bounced and boomed from the other stage. Truly, an outstanding and distinctive experience.
Visual Perfection
It was “Shift Thursday” at Cervantes. Undoubtedly, the music was elite. The aura of the crowd was fun, leaving nothing to be desired. But also, the evening was aptly named due to the visuals on-screen. Any regular EDM patron knows that concert visuals can be just as good as the music. Sometimes, better! The art on the screen can make or break a venue’s vibes. At Shift night, the colors on screen swirled, shifted, and dripped. Certainly, the backdrop complemented the music fantastically.
The Headliners
Supertask and Sully headlined the two stages. Supertask’s top songs are “Get to You” and “Divide”. They each have nearly two million plays on Spotify. Check out his latest EP “Captcha”! It has three fantastic songs. Certainly, the crowd could not get enough of Supertask and his super sounds.
Simultaneously, Sully performed on the other side of Cervantes. Hailing from Detroit, Sully provided an unforgettable bass experience. I was most excited to finally see his breakout single “Duck Hummus.” Check out his latest song, “How Much Further.” It features G-Rex and The Arcturians.
A Night to Remember
Certainly, this past Shift Thursday was a success. The openers and headliners alike created a superb evening in Denver. This week, Cervantes will feature six artists on Thursday. Be sure to check out the venue downtown!
Denver, Colorado is the only place to be for the weird, wonderful wubs, the grittiest synths and the heaviest basslines. The Bass Capital is not only home to some of the biggest artists in electronic music like Griz and Pretty Lights, but a plethora of local talent which never cease to impress. It is the talented and constantly-grinding local artists here which continue to give Denver the growing, incredible music scene it does. Denver’s own Patrick Smith, who performs under the moniker Patrick Skyler, brought the heat this September with the release of his new 4-track EP, eloquently titled A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi.
The EP is exactly that – “something which cannot be adequately expressed.” Patrick Skyler is a member of the Mile High Sound Movement. He has harnessed a unique and meticulously crafted sound design through his 20+ years of audio engineering and DJing experience in the local community. He has played venues such as Cervantes, 1Up, Black Box, and Larimer Lounge, just to name a few, and has even been seen gracing the Sonic Bloom lineup. Few locals have the talents and ability to design sound and music the way Patrick Skyler does. Creating music is one thing, truly understanding it is another. This artist does both.
Patrick Skyler continues to push the boundaries of what it means to create live music. His style is an amalgamation of everything weird, loud and simply sick in the Bass community here. His production talents only continue to strengthen, and this EP is a direct reflection of that.
The EP definitely is a musical journey. From the beginning with the very first track “Dick Dastardly” and ending with “Blastin’ Heat”. Don’t just take my word for it – check out the fresh EP below. Patrick Skyler hopes the EP “takes you for a ride…and gently tucks you in”. We’re certainly stoked to follow this local’s journey, and can’t wait to see where his work takes him next.
Carried Away is a Denver-based electronic music producer who is quickly rising from the city’s underground music scene. Since he started releasing music just earlier this year, his distinct future bass style has already captured the attention of the electronic music scene. Carried Away delivers an uplifting sound that will take you away from your troubles and worries as you listen. Everything that we have heard from him so far leaves us eagerly anticipating his debut EP, Disfunctional, which drops on September 14th.
Getting Carried Awayng Car
Cameron Love has always been passionate about the music industry. Before he became Carried Away, he was the owner of a Denver promotion company, Ultra Violet Sounds. He also started his own talent agency, Muze Talent. He started producing music about 7 years ago. During the past two years, he has started to focus more seriously on his music.
Carried Away creates energetic music, complete with melodic basslines and effervescent atmospheres. “When people listen to my music, I want them to forget about their problems, and let the music carry them away, even if it’s only for a few minutes. Music has gotten me through some really tough times in life, and if possible, I’d like to help others in the same way.” – Carried Away
Carried Away’s obvious talent and skills have quickly gained the attention of many big names in the electronic music community. In July, Bear Grillz invited Carried Away on stage at the Mission Ballroom to debut his single, “Together.” Now, he is about to reach a major milestone in his career when his debut EP, Disfunctional, drops next week on September 14.
“This EP is named Disfunctional (spelled incorrectly to get the dysfunctional idea across) because it tells the story of a flawed relationship. I believe it is a story we all have lived, some of us more times than others, but it’s nice to be reminded that we aren’t the only one going through it.” – Carried Away
Photos Provided by Carried Away
Conclusion
It’s clear that this is only the beginning for Carried Away. We are so excited to see where his career goes from here.
Disfunctional will be out on all streaming services on September 14th. For those who cannot wait for the full release, listen to the lead single “Together” right now on all platforms!
The evening of September 4th had finally arrived. For sky gazers across the state of Colorado, the significance of the day could not easily be put into words. The entrances at Red Rocks Amphitheater were set to open for a very special night featuring a headlining performance by Trevor Christensen, AKA Said The Sky.
Seeing as performance would be the first of its kind with the melodic prodigy taking the stage at his very first headlining performance at the legendary venue; the excitement was shared and magnified through Trevor himself.
Said The Sky has made several appearances in Colorado recently, once at Global Dance Festival for a triple back to back performance with Dabin and Illenium. Said The Sky again surprised the crowd as a special guest for Slander at their own Red Rocks show. Trevor has been very vocal about his excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to have his very own show at Red Rocks. He has previously mentioned that this has been one of his biggest dreams as an artist for a very long time, a dream that was not becoming a reality.
Doors to the sold out event opened at 6:00pm and fans began filling the Amphitheater. Many kicked off the evening by running straight to the merch booths. The booths offered a variety of exclusive Said The Sky at Red Rocks apparels such as jerseys, shirts, jackets, hats, and flags that were sure to sell quickly.
As 7:00pm came along the music finally began. An opening performance by Sundial, as the sun began to set, was a perfect way to set the tone for the sure to be emotional and tear jerking evening. The California based pop duo provided what was a rather intimate atmosphere for such a large venue. Their performance featured their own live vocals, as well as bass guitar and keyboard.
Night had fallen and following Sundial the large LED screen, near the back of the stage, had lit up. Things were taken up a notch with a beautifully crafted performance by CloudNone. The masked Monstercat artist played their signature blend of ambient breaks and feel-good chill out music. The set started slow and progressed into a variety of melodic house and trance vibes that got the crowd jumping and energized while featuring nostalgic vaporware style visuals in the background.
As the night progressed, a cool early September breeze swept through the Amphitheater. Next up on the decks came Kyle Girard AKA Midnight Kids; known for his and previous duo member Dylan Jaggar Lees’ quality remixes of popular songs. He made sure to bring plenty of twists on tracks that would provide some good old fashioned sing along vibes for the crowd. Remixes included: “Ready 2 Go” by Martin Solveig, “The Island” by Pendulum, and “Bulletproof” by Laroux to name a few.
Transitioning between throwbacks, electro house tunes, some unreleased music, and ending with Midnight Kids original “Run It”, the set was definitely a crowd favorite. Midnight Kids set the vibes high before the highly anticipated Said The Sky headlining set.
After a brief intermission whilst the stage was set, it was time for the main event.
This was the moment everyone had been waiting for.
The stage went dark; while lightning, visible from higher in the crowd, flickered through the clouds over Denver. The cool breeze continued to sweep through the Amphitheater. The anticipation built as cheers rang out throughout the audience.
As the stage began to light up, every LED panel on stage started to glow brightly with footage of clouds and sky as if you were floating amidst a radiant orange sunset. The music started to build as an intro version of Said The Skys’ “We Know Who We Are” began to play. The words “Said The Sky” were spelled out on the big screen as the crowd cheered, while the man himself walked out from backstage and up to his gear. With stage production in full force, the long awaited headlining set was underway.
The set featured bright and colorful visuals that transitioned between b-roll of breathtaking nature shots and beautiful scenes that resembled a well written and almost vintage love story that served as a poetic accompaniment to the songs that were being played. Pyrotechnics and fireworks were frequently used to accent the ups and downs of the overall story and flow of the wonderfully crafted journey that the song selection provided to the audience.
He moved around the stage with passion and enthusiasm, jumping between his keyboard and drum pads. He would occasionally stroll to the raised platform behind his electric keyboards, mics, and DJ equipment to sit at a large and elegant white piano for the more intimate, warm and heartfelt moments of the set. The expressions on his face and motions of his body spelling out just how much the performance meant to him. He was truly showing his heart and passion on stage, sincerely grateful to be connecting with his audience in such a magnificent setting.
Drummers would frequently join him on stage to accent the drum lines in many of his songs as well as a full string quartet to play along in the melodic journey.
Diving deep into the emotional discography, Said The Sky seemed to be hitting all the fan favorites and even made sure to include some unreleased music for the special occasion. Joined on stage by Olivver The Kid, they performed an emotional live vocal version of “Hero” followed by what was said to be the final song of the night, Said The Skys’ newest single “Treading Water”.
The supposed finale ended with Trevor expressing his gratitude to the audience saying “Thank you Red Rocks, I love you”. He walked off stage but the stage stayed dark, hinting that the headlining artist had one more trick up his sleeve for the special night.
After a few moments of silence and the crowd chanting “one more song” an acoustic guitar was heard, followed by a spotlight hitting center stage where Said The Sky was sitting up front on the stage floor. Joining him in the special moment was vocalist Annika Wells. They sat facing each other as Trevor strummed the guitar and Annika sang. It was a truly intimate and heartfelt finale as they performed an acoustic rendition of “Sad Songs ft. Illenium” whilst a ring of lasers circled around them on the floor.
Following the heartwarming finale, Said The Sky yet again expressed his eternal gratitude to his fans who attended the show that night. He invited every artist and performer from the night out onto the stage for a family photo with the crowd and one final goodbye.
On Saturday, October 2nd, a brand new event is coming to Denver, Colorado. The High Ground Music & Arts Experience will take place at Levitt Pavilion at Ruby Hill Park. This event is one of the first of its kind, focusing on bringing a full day of chill, electronic music to the metro area. A wide array of vendors, most of which are native to Colorado, will bring amazing food, drinks, and other products to High Ground.
Those that will be attending this groundbreaking event that’s set to capture the essence of fall in Colorado are called Revelers. An exclusive Facebook group, Revelers of High Ground, is the perfect place to find discussions, polls, giveaways, and more. Another way to meet other Revelers is through a community in the app, Radiate. They are also hosting a giveaway for two tickets! Click here to enter.
Party Guru Press was lucky enough to connect with Noah Levinson, the founder of Levitate Events. He’s worked hard for the past five years to carefully curate essentially every detail of High Ground. This interview happened via email, where we learned all about how the event came to be, what Revelers can expect to see at the event, and what the future looks like for High Ground. Keep on reading for the full scoop!
Let’s Get Chill, Let’s Get Vibey
Kierstin Rounsefell (Party Guru Press):Can you please introduce yourself and tell us about how you first got involved in the music and entertainment industries?
Noah Levinson (High Ground Music & Arts Experience): Hello! My name is Noah Levinson and I’m the founder of Levitate Events. Live music has played a huge role in my life since I was little. My parents took me to shows since before I could remember and encouraged me to learn how to play different instruments. In middle school, I discovered electronic music and learned how to DJ. I used some Bar Mitzvah money to purchase Serato and turntables, and quickly began performing for friends, birthday parties, weddings, and other events. Along the way, I fell in love with event creation and production and started curating shows of my own.
Noah Levinson: I am the director of High Ground. I have an incredible team that supports and expands my vision, but I’ve carefully crafted almost every detail and aspect of High Ground over the past 5 years. I’ve handled the talent buying, venue selection, creative direction, and team building. Now, as we move into the final stretch on the road to High Ground, I’m working closely with each of my team leads (production, VIP, site ops, vendors, etc) to make sure everything comes together beautifully.
Party Guru Press: This is the first year of the High Ground Music & Arts Experience. What inspired you to create this event?
Noah Levinson: High Ground began as a conversation with my best friend Jacob. Some of our favorite artists at the time were Kasbo, Flume, and others in the “chill” and “vibey” side of electronic music, and we were upset that there weren’t many festivals that fully captured that sort of sound. This planted the seed that eventually grew into High Ground.
Noah Levinson: There are so many amazing things about Colorado. Our dedication to the outdoors, the strong local music scene that listens to many genres, our progressive cannabis culture, a bourgeoning local art scene, and so many other things make our state a special place. Yes, we are the bass capital, but we also love so many other genres out here.
When I envision Colorado in the Fall, I also think about snow-kissed mountains, golden leaves on every tree, crisp Autumn air, and the exciting potential for every kind of weather. This is the essence of Colorado, and with nearly 25 artists from around the world (many are from Colorado) who perform live fusions of electronic, funk, jam, R&B, and hip hop, High Ground is set to capture that unique energy as a whole.
Party Guru Press: Has everyone in the general public reacted well to the announcement of the event so far? Do people seem excited to attend?
Noah Levinson: As my team prepared to announce in May, one of my biggest insecurities was that my years of dedication to this project would be met with a lackluster response. However, I couldn’t be happier with the reactions and comments we’ve received so far! People tell me every day how excited they are for High Ground, and thank me for curating something unique and unexpected; something that pushes against the grain.
When we first announced the lineup, somebody shared it on Facebook saying “Everything from the Colorado-inspired branding & chill electro vibe to the venue choice & lineup is impeccable. I predict that High Ground will gain national recognition and become Denver’s first major destination music festival within the next few years as it continues to grow.” This is the sentiment I’m frequently met with, and I get goosebumps thinking about what we’ve created and where we can take it.
High Ground Revelers
Party Guru Press: What artists are you excited to see perform at High Ground?
Noah Levinson: All of them. Seriously, every artist from the bottom to the top are some of my favorites. Kasbo was one of the first artists I placed on my “hit list” 5 years ago, so having him with us this October is full circle; a dream come true.
Party Guru Press: How did you and your team go about finding art, food, and drink vendors for the event?
Noah Levinson: We listen to what our friends and Revelers (this is what we call our attendees) are excited about! We’re excited to present a full array of vendors at High Ground, many of which are brands native to Colorado. We’re still looking for a few more food and product vendors. Brands can apply on our website on the “Get Involved” page.
Party Guru Press: What will make this event different from other art and music events that take place in the Denver Metro area?
Noah Levinson: Quite frankly, everything about this will be different. We’re so proud to be working with the Levitt Pavilion, which up until recently didn’t really bring electronic acts to its stage. For many, this will be their first time attending something at Levitt. Musically, there aren’t any other experiences in Colorado that focus so specifically on this style of music. You can find it occasionally at a one-off concert, but this is the first time that you’ll be able to experience a full day of chill, genre-blending, live-performed vibey electronic music.
Finally, we have a narrative that’s fused deeply into all aspects of High Ground. We used the spirits of animals native to Colorado to tell a story of powerful story of rebirth, togetherness, and collective positivity to beckon a greater world for ourselves. We hope this is the most beautiful music festival you’ve ever attended.
“Do What You F*cking Love”
Party Guru Press: There is a lot of uncertainty about events in the face of the COVID-19 Delta Variant. What safety measures do you have in place?
Noah Levinson: We will follow local, state, and federal municipality guidelines, as well as Levitt Pavilion & industry standards to protect our attendees, artists, staff, and everyone else on-site. With the recent full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine, we strongly encourage attendees to get vaccinated and stay masked so that our community as a whole can continue to move in a positive direction.
Party Guru Press: What do you hope for the future of High Ground? Does this event have the potential to turn into a multi-day festival eventually?
Noah Levinson: Eventually, I think High Ground could totally become a multi-day music & arts festival… maybe even with camping? But at the same time, it’s most important to us to grow steadily and cultivate a strong community of Revelers. High Ground is special, and we don’t want to make massive leaps at the risk of losing the aspects that make us special. I envision that someday, High Ground will expand beyond electronic to include some elements of psychedelic rock and hip-hop (which we’ve sprinkled in gently this year).
Party Guru Press: Would you like to give any words of advice, or motto, to encourage others to remember as 2021 comes to a close?
Noah Levinson: I don’t mean to sound cliche, but do what you fucking love. I have so many friends that complain about their 9-5 jobs, and I’m like “just do what you love” and they don’t seem to understand how a little leap of faith can turn your passion into your career. Take what you love, combine it with the things you’re good at, and DO IT.
Words Of Gratitude From A Fellow Party Guru
Party Guru Press: Is there anything else that you’d like mentioned that hasn’t yet been discussed?
Noah Levinson: My mom is my business partner. GANG GANG. But in all seriousness, Jobi Halper is so insanely smart and creative, and as a lifelong music lover with 25+ years of legal and business experience, she’s the best partner I could ask for and I wouldn’t be able to produce this festival without her.
Party Guru Press: Final question, would you consider yourself a Party Guru?
Noah Levinson: I’m a fucking weirdo who revels in the face of live music. There are certain forms of energy that exist only within live music, and more than anything, I love creating these environments for people to experience something profound. I am a party guru.
Until October…
After getting to learn all about the event from Noah Levinson himself, we cannot wait for October. High Ground Music & Arts Experience is an innovative, unique event that celebrates music, art, and colorful Colorado. A strong community of Revelers is already forming, ecstatic about what’s to come.
If you want to experience this brand new event first hand, there is still plenty of time to purchase tickets for you and your friends. Click here to secure your general admission and VIP tickets. We’ll see you at Levitt Pavilion!
Boulder local Dirt Monkey, is no stranger to playing large shows for his dedicated followers. As a native to the Colorado EDM Scene, Patrick Megeath has exploded not only in the Denver community but across the country. Megeath has seen huge expansion in the EDM community since 2018 with releases on Liquid Stranger’s label Wakkan. He fuses wonky wobbles with high-energy beats in order to create sets that keep crowds entertained and on their feet for the entire show.
Ravenscoon
The Openers
Starting out the night Shank Aaron and Kumarion, set the mood for the night with some drum and bass and heavier sets. Further, Ravenscoon came out with an electrifying and wonky set with visuals that mesmerized the crowd. However, the energy completely changed when G-Space took over the stage. He started out dark and quickly moved into wobbles to match the vibes of his visuals. Each drop was deeper and filthier and sucked the audience into his set.
G-Space
But, the stand out set of the openers was by far G-Rex. The Detroit native is one who fuses a mixture of trap beats with dark wobbles. With a myriad of releases on Wakkan, he is no stranger to taking audiences deep and wobbly. The visuals mixed with his signature dark horse sound to distinguish his songs kept the audience screaming after each filthy drop.
G-Rex
Finally, the man of the evening Dirt Monkey, came out with colorful visuals and wobbles to keep the energy of the crowd high. No drop was similar and his mixing was flawless and effortless, it was hard to tell when one song ended and another one began. From his more popular songs like “Shut Up” with rap giant Tech N9ne to his more obscure remix of his and Protohype’s “Bop Bop,” each drop kept the audience dancing. Also, he played a lot of unreleased songs and gave previews of many new music that will soon be being dropped. Almost everyone in the crowd stayed until the end and through his encore because of the high-energy and vibes of the sets.
Conclusion
Overall, this set at Mission Ballroom was one that those in the Denver EDM community will not likely forget. The energy and vibes of the night where unmatched and each artist brought their own unique flavor to the evening. The mixture of each individual artists sets with the energy of the crowd was one that will remain a personal favorite at shows I’ve seen at Mission, and by far my favorite Dirt Monkey set to date.
There are few artists in today’s electronic scene which host the talent and musical ability to fuse genres and sounds together seamlessly, but one has managed to do just that. Rising to the top of the dance music charts in only a few short years, 29 year-old Hayden “Kayzo” Capuozzo brings a far-from-ordinary set each time. From hardstyle-infused bass to some of the heaviest, grittiest trap and dubstep you’ll ever hear, Kayzo is far more than a DJ, but an experience. You really never know what he’ll play next. Denver’s very own Mission Ballroom will be the home to Kayzo’s first set in Denver since before quarantine times, and when we say we can’t wait, that’s an understatement!
Kayzo will be joined with an insane opening lineup of artists Friday night.Marauda, Calcium, and Reaper will be starting the night off heavy – and we are so excited for what is bound to be the show of the year! Party Guru Productions has the exclusive hook-up and were able to ask a few questions with Hayden before the show.
Party Guru Press:So it’s your first time at Mission Ballroom, AEG’s newest Denver music venue. How ready for tonight are you?
Yea first time! Man, when I walked into soundcheck earlier I was COMPLETELY blown away by the venue. The way its set up makes it feel like a little arena. Every bit of it is beautiful. From the green rooms to the stage. It’s my first real headline in Denver since like 2017, so I’m MORE than ready.
Party Guru Press:You’ve got a pretty heavy support lineup for your set this weekend. How do you think your openers are going to set you up for an awesome show tonight?
Yea, I’m really stoked on the entire lineup tonight. I’ve been a big Reaper supporter for a while now, so I’m glad to have him in Denver tonight to bring some dnb to the show. Calcium has been killing it for a while and his sound is super unique for bass music. Marauda, what can I say, the dude is an animal. Some of the heaviest bass music is coming from him right now. I think the crowd is going to be raging from doors to close.
Party Guru Press:Any advice you might have for emerging electronic artists in today’s scene? I know there are a lot of Colorado producers that would love to hear a little more about your journey from at Icon LA, and how you are where you are today. How much did your music education influence you?
Yea, Icon was super important for me. I had no prior musical knowledge with production before going. I went in 2012 and basically just dedicated my 9 months at icon and first year in LA to being in the studio for 15+ hours a day to my craft and foundation as an artist.
Party Guru Press: Tacos or burritos?
Tough one, but for now I think I’d have to go with tacos!
Thank you so much to the entire Kayzoteam and to Hayden for quickly chatting with us at Party Guru Productions this weekend! The show was an incredible performance and setup from start to finish – watching artists grow and succeed over the years is truly one of the most special feelings! We’re looking forward to the next time he hits Denver!
If you are an avid listener of house music and love deep bass tracks with the occasional “boots ‘n’ cats” mixed in, you have most definitely heard of Chris Lake and Fisher. These two internationally renowned producers and DJs are well known for their hard-hitting, attention-grabbing sounds. Individually, they have both released various tracks that have accumulated millions of streams each. For example, Chris Lake‘s “Turn Off The Lights” featuring Alexis Roberts and Fisher‘s “Losing It“.
Furthermore, they have traveled the globe headlining their own tours as well as performing at countless other festivals and events. These extremely talented artists have made huge strides on their own, paving the way for so many others in the music industry. However, when they join forces, the outcome is MASSIVE.
A New Day Party In Denver
On Saturday, August 14th, a brand new outdoor event came to life in Denver, Colorado. The event, Under Construction, took place outdoors in the parking lot of the Denver Coliseum. The event title is a clever play on words since the stage was located right beside Interstate 70, which is currently (and almost always) under construction. Fun fact: this stage was previously used as the main stage at Global Dance Festival this past month.
When attendees arrived at the event, parking was available in the other half of the parking lot for a pricey cost of $20 per car. However, parking was right next to the event so no one had to walk very far. As soon as everyone navigated the multiple lines of entry, they entered an industrial set-up that was actually surprisingly big. This day party started at 5:30PM when the sun was still high enough in the sky to put out some serious heat. Thankfully, a free water station was located by the entrance for those with hydro packs or reusable water bottles. Disposable cups were also supplied.
Along the back fence of the venue were a few long bars that served alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, there were a few vendor booths that had plenty of artist merch for those on the lineup. A food truck park and covered seating areas were located in another corner of the venue. Finally, portable restrooms were located on both far sides of the venue.
A majority of the ticket holders had general admission tickets, but for those that wanted to splurge, elevated VIP viewing areas were available. For larger groups, there were even VIP areas up on stage for a hefty price.
Kicking It Off
First up on the decks was a Denver favorite, Ecotek. This producer and DJ has more of a trance sound to his music and really knows how to work a crowd. He has held multiple residencies at The Church Nightclub in Denver over the years, and has songs with thousands of streams including “Falling 4U“.
Up next was house legend Dombresky. This producer and DJ is originally from France and played a wonderful set as attendees flooded in. By now, the venue felt significantly more full. Upbeat, original tracks of his such as “Simple Hit” echoed off of the surrounding buildings as everyone made their way towards the stage.
Rain, Rain, Go Away
Vintage Culture took to the stage as the sky began to darken and clouds rolled in. This Brazilian producer and DJ also has millions of streams on a lot of his tracks. His emotion-filled, lyrical house music was perfect to listen to as the sun went down and it began to rain. It was really grounding to dance in the crowd, feel the cold rain on your skin, look at the beautiful lights and lasers shining from the stage, and hear everyone singing along to his remix of Shouse’s “Love Tonight” with Kiko Franco.
After his set, the stage went dark. There were a ton of lightning clouds seemingly approaching the venue, but the rain had stopped. Attendees were wondering if there was in fact a rain or lightning delay happening. However, it turns out that there was a live marching band making their way through the crowd.
Fisher B2B Chris Lake
Once the marching band finished up, the stage lit up and Chris Lake and Fisher started their set. By this point the venue was packed. It seriously felt like a full-on festival just gauging by the size of the production and the number of people there. The crowd was electric. There were shufflers, people up on others’ shoulders, and everyone was dancing together.
Overall, Under Construction was an amazing event for various reasons. Everything seemed to run smoothly from both an operations and production perspective. Guests had easy access to water stations, food, and drinks, and there was more than enough room for everyone. Afterwards, the artists shared how much fun they had on social media, so it looked like everyone there enjoyed themselves. The weather even held out for the entire event which was perfect as well.
We hope that there are more of these large festival-scale events held throughout Denver in the future. Just when you think that the Bass Capitol has done it all, it always has some surprises on the way!
The Black Box has worked to become a staple venue for underground electronic music ever since it opened its doors to the Denver area back in 2016. Local music lovers use it as a hub for finding new and interesting artists not just locally but from around the country. This week, The Black Box welcomed mysterious Detroit based duo, DEEPFAKE. The Enigmatic DJ/VJ pair promised fans an immersive experience which blurred the lines between what is real and what is fake. Before talking about that, let’s discuss the local support for the evening.
Alana English warms up the crowd with an engaging house mix
Though raised in Pittsburgh, Alana English currently resides in Denver. She is a DJ working with local company 128 Productions. Alana English was able to read the crowd well as she got them warmed up for the evening with an engaging house mix. To hear what she can do, you can check out Alana English on Soundcloud. She has a handful of mixes put together each running over an hour long. She also happens to stream on Twitch for those more interested in seeing her performance live.
Nothing Bad About Bad Little King
Up next to provide support was local DJ and Producer Bad Little King. His set was a deep, dark and groovy ride through Techno. If interested, you can hear his style of mixing for yourself. He has been busy putting out quite a few mixes on Soundcloud. There, you can find his mix series titled “Into the darkness” which is currently on volume 8. When it comes to mixing a good set, there’s nothing bad about Bad Little King.
DEEPFAKE: The Mysterious Duo From Detroit
Mystery Duo, DEEPFAKE, take the stage and prepare to perform a 2 hour Audio/Visual set. The Black Box crowd waits quietly as the room goes black. Suddenly, a deep robotic voice can be heard saying “We are DEEPFAKE” before the stage lights up and the duo appear. The crowd cheers as they begin to embark on the radical audio visual experience. DEEPFAKE is a DJ/VJ team whose audio and visuals are created to be enjoyed in unison. The enigmatic pair recently released a three track EP titled “The Fakeside” which does well to encapsulate their sound. Fans inside The Black Box really reacted when DEEPFAKE played their new track titled “Quake.”
Conclusion
The Black Box has stayed true to its original mission of introducing underground electronic music to the Denver scene. At this venue, it isn’t just about the top dollar talent. It’s about raw sound and what can be done to produce a unique listening experience for the people. The talent buyers of The Black Box do well to keep a mix of musical genres coming through the doors. by doing this it ensuring a good listening experience no matter how many times you show up. By providing everything from locals on the rise to Veterans finding their true sound, The Black Box is sure to be on the map for some time.
