The Underground Music Showcase (UMS) weekend is one of my favorite weekends of the summer. UMS is a three-day music festival, hosted amongst the local businesses and venues along Broadway in Denver. Celebrating its 25th birthday this year, UMS started as a one-day concert at the Bluebird Theater in 2001, with the intent to showcase local artists.
Moving to its current home in 2016, UMS now hosts over 200 local and national artists in 12 venues and four large stages. Despite its growth, UMS still remains one of the best weekends to experience Denver’s local music, and some national talents. While I wish I could say I was a long-time attendee, my first experience at UMS was in 2021, as the world was re-opening post-COVID, with a memorable performance by Remi Wolf. I have returned yearly since then, but that first weekend will always remain special in my heart. With vaccination cards checked, it was the first moment since March 2020 that everyone was together with relative ease, and experienced the universal concert-goer high.
UMS has a little something for everyone. With 12 venues along Broadway and a main stage in the Goodwill parking lot, the festival guarantees a weekend packed with live music, all while supporting local businesses and restaurants. Here are some spots my friends and I find ourselves at every year, either to shop or get out of the heat and recharge before the next show.
Recharge Spots
These days, I can’t power through a festival weekend without the appropriate nutrition or rest. These are some of my favorite spots to begin the day and meet up with friends throughout:
Tí Café: A cafe to fulfill all your Studio Ghibli fantasies, opened by three sisters, this is my favorite spot to grab a café sua (Vietnamese coffee) and banh cam (fried sesame ball).
TRVE Brewing and Music City Hot Chicken: My favorite spot to grab a hot chicken sandwich (or mushroom!), and a beer, all while headbanging to heavy metal.
Illegal Pete’s: Doubling as a venue, Illegal Pete’s is a classic meeting spot for the weekend. Boosting a cool, misted patio and strong margaritas, it is a great spot to cool off with friends.
MakFam: New in 2024, this has quickly become one of my favorite spots for fun cocktails and spicy noodles.
Dressing the Part
Expressing oneself is a tactile aspect of any concert, but I am always impressed by the looks at UMS. Broadway is full of amazing boutiques and vintage stores. Here are a couple of spots to get yourself ready for the weekend:
The Ten Penny: Vintage shop with some classic Colorado gear.
Broadway Bazaar Vintage: Relatively new vintage shop with treasurable finds every time you visit.
FM: The team here is sure to have your elevated basics for the weekend, with vinyl on deck as well.
My Favorite Venues
With a packed schedule, you may find yourself with a free hour or two, These are a few of my favorite venues to wander into:
The Hornet: With a small side room, the shows here feel intimate.
HQ Denver: One of the larger indoor venues, a great spot to go and catch a few shows.
Hi Dive: A UMS staple, you'll be sure to see a variety of shows here, accompanied by a shot of whiskey.
Artists to Check Out
Wandering into venues and potentiallyr new favorite band discovering you is a highlight of the UMS weekend. Here are some artists I will be checking out, some of whom I discovered at UMS:
Caleb Schwing: With a voice of an angel, Caleb’s shows always ground me, and remind me of some of that old Colorado country.
Ipecac: Described as a “hard-working, hard rock” band, I stumbled upon this group in 2022, and now I try to never miss their UMS set.
La Luz: I have been playing their 2024 album, “News of the Universe,” on repeat lately. Be sure to check out this all-female band.
All Them Witches, Flyana Boss, Devotchka: I will try to catch all the headliners this year, found on the Main Stage at the Goodwill Archer.
A three-day weekend pass can be purchased online for $130, along with the full schedule for the weekend. UMS prides itself in committing to making live music accessible, with efforts spearheaded by its own accessibility group. UMS also supports sober concert goers and offers NA drinks at all venues, with water refill stations found at the main stage. All details on the weekend schedule and access can be found at UndergroundMusicShowcase.com.