New Denver DIY Music Fest Announces Dates, Initial Lineup

It’s going to be a real horse race. On March 6, Blucifer’s First Rodeo announced the dates for its first festival spotlighting DIY culture and music — and yes, the fest will take place July 23-26, which overlaps with the resurrected Underground Music Showcase, set for July 24-26 in a new location: RiNo. Meanwhile, Blucifer’s will be galloping onto the Broadway turf long occupied by UMS.

At the reveal at the Skylark Lounge, Blucifer’s also dropped the first thirty bands in its lineup: 2MX2, A Place for Owls, Abrams, Autumnal, Barbara, Bitchflower, Blankslate, Bluebook, Cheap Perfume, Chella and the Charms, Cherry Spit, Chordandjocks, Don Chicharron, Dressy Bessy, Dry Ice, Fruta Brutal, Honey Blazer, Horse Bitch, Look at Fiona, Los Mocochetes, Los Toms, Manny, MF Ruckus, Mouthful, Pink Lady Monster, Ritmo Cascabel, Shadow Work, Spells, Sunstoney, Tassels, Team Nonexistent, The Savage Blush, and Wheelchair Sports Camp.

All told, Blucifer’s expects to book about eighty bands; there will be two more drops this spring. And that’s not counting all the acts at the house shows that will mark the last day of the fest.

Blucifer’s First Rodeo will start out with a DIY, all-ages celebration on Thursday, July 23, at D3 Arts, Manos Sagrados and Seventh Circle Music Collective — none of which are on Broadway, but are definitely part of that community in spirit. On July 24-25, the action will move to Broadway, with bands at Bar 404, hi-dive, HQ, The L and Skylark Lounge, with pop-up events at Awakening Boutique, FM, Music City Hot Chicken, Pie Hole, The Ten Penny Store and Wax Trax Broadway Bazaar. More venues and business partners are expected to join the effort in the coming months.

In the meantime, all-access wristbands for all four days of the fest are now on sale for $69 through the official Blucifer’s First Rodeo online store at bluciferfest.com.

For more information, contact the all-volunteer team of artist organizers at [email protected]. And giddyup.