Live music? (Denver, Arvada: rent, organic, living in)

[jptheob]

New to town, so I am wondering where the best, small venue, live music is?

Like all types of music but prefer a coffee-house, indie sound. Gavin DeGraw, Eric Hutchinson, Jack Johnson, Matt Nathanson, Tyronne Wells, John Mayer, DMB....

[geef]

Lots of great options in town-

For the folkish bent, try Swallow Hill in South Denver or the DNote in Arvada. For the jam scene, check out Owsley's, Cervantes, or Quixotes. Indie-wise, the Hi Dive and Larimer Lounge are great spots. For jazz, visit Dazzle or El Chapultepec. That's just a quick snapshot, and there are plenty of additional options.

[KottkeKU]

Originally Posted by geef

Lots of great options in town-

For the folkish bent, try Swallow Hill in South Denver or the DNote in Arvada. For the jam scene, check out Owsley's, Cervantes, or Quixotes. Indie-wise, the Hi Dive and Larimer Lounge are great spots. For jazz, visit Dazzle or El Chapultepec. That's just a quick snapshot, and there are plenty of additional options.

+1 for everything they said.

[sumisu]

Hi - pick up a copy of Westword newspaper. It lists all venues and band schedules throughout the metro area. Have fun!

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by jptheob

New to town, so I am wondering where the best, small venue, live music is?

Like all types of music but prefer a coffee-house, indie sound.

Good luck finding that. Most of the live music in Denver is either professional musicians working upper-scale venues (nice restaurants, elegant clubs) or large, well-known acts who come into town on tour. There's very little in the way of local musicians performing on a regular basis in coffee shops, especially when it comes to indie. Sure you can find the occasional venue but it's not like how it is in other cities.

I'm a musician. I play keyboards, mostly synth based music (80s covers). Of course I listen to practically all styles of music. Most musicians do.

[woob]

there are lots of local indie bands in denver, 300 of them are playing next week on south broadway- The UMS

[80skeys]

Originally Posted by woob

there are lots of local indie bands in denver, 300 of them are playing next week on south broadway- The UMS

This is a one-time, four day event. In other words, a tour.

This is cool if you're satisfied to go to something like this once and then forget about it the rest of the year. But most people who ask the question like the OP, are interested in regular weekly/nightly local venues, not special events like this.

What gives a city its special flair is its local scene, not tours from out of town.

That's my two cents as a musician

[jptheob]

I love finding local talent and following them from bar to bar

[kaitycreason8]

Well for living in Denver most of my life I have been lucky enough to experience a new side of the city almost day to day. For local music in Denver the list is limitless. Throughout the city there are numerous underground venues with local acts and touring musicians that are do it yourself venues. Meaning a bunch of people get together rent a warehouse or any kind of venue and and run it in a very community orientated way. Funding the program through pot-lucks, crafts, homemade beer, and awesome shows.
1) the Blast-0-Mat which is one of the fastest growing. This place is amazing equipped with a record shop, art gallery and awesome intimate venue. The crowds there are full of interesting people traveling musicians. Shows are posted on their myspace page. BLAST-O-MAT (Blast o mat Blast o mat) | MySpace which will give you a insight into all the other venues like the blast-o-mat.
2)The Mercury Cafe on 21st and California. has a plethora of local and traveling musicians play almost daily. From Jazz to Indie Rock to totally extreme and amazing performances from employees and friends. Also has amazing local organic food, a great atmosphere, poetry slams, astrology readings, swing.tango,salsa and belly dancing classes, plays and almost anything you can imagine, it's pure magic
MySpace - The Mercury Cafe - 35 - Female - DENVER, Colorado - myspace.com/themercurycafe
Like i said this list is limitless but if you go the these places you will find more local music then you can handle.
Hope you enjoy it.

[geef]

Great call on Blast-O-Mat. I'm surprised to see it come up on this forum. They bring some great national and international acts through town, and quite a few local musicians spend time there.

With respect to the Underground Music Showcase, someone commented on it being a festival. That's true, but most of the acts at UMS are local. It's a great opportunity to discover a local acts or two that you enjoy, then support them at other venues around town.

Originally Posted by kaitycreason8

Well for living in Denver most of my life I have been lucky enough to experience a new side of the city almost day to day. For local music in Denver the list is limitless. Throughout the city there are numerous underground venues with local acts and touring musicians that are do it yourself venues. Meaning a bunch of people get together rent a warehouse or any kind of venue and and run it in a very community orientated way. Funding the program through pot-lucks, crafts, homemade beer, and awesome shows.
1) the Blast-0-Mat which is one of the fastest growing. This place is amazing equipped with a record shop, art gallery and awesome intimate venue. The crowds there are full of interesting people traveling musicians. Shows are posted on their myspace page. BLAST-O-MAT (Blast o mat Blast o mat) | MySpace which will give you a insight into all the other venues like the blast-o-mat.
2)The Mercury Cafe on 21st and California. has a plethora of local and traveling musicians play almost daily. From Jazz to Indie Rock to totally extreme and amazing performances from employees and friends. Also has amazing local organic food, a great atmosphere, poetry slams, astrology readings, swing.tango,salsa and belly dancing classes, plays and almost anything you can imagine, it's pure magic
MySpace - The Mercury Cafe - 35 - Female - DENVER, Colorado - myspace.com/themercurycafe
Like i said this list is limitless but if you go the these places you will find more local music then you can handle.
Hope you enjoy it.