Music Venues in Denver

11450 Broomfield Lane, Broomfield Northwest Denver Suburbs

303-410-0700

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Connoisseurs of live music will tell you that something is lost when an artist becomes popular enough to perform in an arena. While this may be true at some places, it's certainly not the case at Broomfield's 1STBANK Center, where the sound is pretty well dialed in virtually anywhere you sit. The venue, which sits halfway between Denver and Boulder, has hosted a variety of acts, from Radiohead and Portishead to Kelly Clarkson and the Black Keys. Shows of this caliber feel far more intimate here than you'd expect.

332 articles

Bar Standard

1037 Broadway Central Denver

720-416-6209

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Once the home of Serengeti and Shelter, Bar Standard is an Art Deco-themed, modern-day speakeasy. While the name and look may have changed, the club, housed in the former Jonas Bros. Furs building, still brings in some of the area's best DJs -- who spin house and dance music -- as well as more high-profile national DJs. In addition, Bar Standard occasionally brings in live acts like the Cool Kids to perform on a decent-sized stage. The main area of the upscale club fills up quickly on the weekends, but there are two patios, both of which offer decent views of Denver's skyline, to escape the masses.

2 events 126 articles

Beta

1909 Blake St. Downtown Denver

303-383-1909

Dance Clubs, Music Venues, Sponsor, Slideshow

It's not the state-of-the-art sound system, the primo location in LoDo or the crowds of beautiful people that make Beta Denver's best dance club (though none of that hurts). No, it's the high-caliber talent the place brings in week after week. Beta has hosted a cavalcade of talent that reads like a who's who of the world's top dance-music acts.

198 articles

Boettcher Concert Hall

14th St & Curtis St. Downtown Denver

303-623-7876

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83 articles

Buffalo Rose

1119 Washington Ave., Golden West Denver Suburbs

720-638-5597

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Smack in the middle of downtown Golden, the Buffalo Rose offers more than just good drinks — it offers a great experience. The mid-sized venue continues to grow in popularity with its intimate setting, excellent sound, huge dance floor and great local and national acts. The music is a grab bag of styles, ranging from blues to funk, hip-hop and rock, then back to indie, country, reggae and much more.

21 articles

Cactus Jack's Saloon

4651 Highway 73, Evergreen West Denver Suburbs

303-674-1564

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This saloon is a popular spot for music, imbibing and patio-sitting - and while you're soaking up the sun or knocking one back, you're bound to get hungry. Fortunately, Cactus Jack's has a solid menu of bar food, with a Mexican plate or two for good measure. Taking center stage are the dozen-plus Widespread Burgers, each named after a different Widespread Panic song and featuring toppings that range from fried eggs to Hatch green chiles to regular ol' bacon and cheese slices. You can order the Widespread Burgers with half-pound patties of all-natural, seasoned Anderson beef, marinated all-natural chicken breast or even Boca burgers. And that's not the end of the feel-good food: The establishment uses wind power and green products wherever possible, and it's been recycling bottles, cans and paper since back when "green" only referred to a color.

1 event 2 articles

Casselman's Bar & Venue

2620 Walnut St. Downtown Denver

720-242-8923

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The last word of the name Casselman's Bar & Venue really tells you what you need to know: This is a venue, above all, and a huge one, located on a warehouse-y stretch of Walnut Street in the Ballpark neighborhood. While the venue brings in an assortment of acts throughout the week, the space can feel a bit cavernous on an off night. Still, the long bar up front is always welcoming, flanked on one side by couches and pillows under drawings of Mos Def, Jay-Z and other artists. If there's no live music to move you, you can swing on a giant tire swing or play beer pong. And if you need some sustenance to sop up all that beer, Casselman's has a small but serviceable menu, full of burgers and sandwiches, appetizers and a few Mexican specials.

116 articles

Center for Musical Arts

200 E. Baseline Rd., Lafayette Boulder

303-665-0599

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6 articles

Central City Opera House

124 Eureka St., Central City Mountains

303-292-6500

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The historic Central City Opera House is fascinating in and of itself: Built in 1878 by miners, it boasts gorgeous fresco on its ceiling, and there are names of notable Coloradans of yore -- such as Horace Tabor and Buffalo Bill -- carved on the backs of the seats. (Those carvings were transferred when the seating was updated in 1999.) But the venue's real beauty lies in its programming, which is showcased with the opera house's beautiful acoustics. Every summer, Central City Opera presents three productions for opera lovers in the metro area, a mix of one classic, one lesser-known and one American opera -- proof that this small town knows how to put on a big show.

11 articles

Chautauqua Community House

301 Morning Glory Dr. Boulder

303-440-7666

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28 articles

The Clocktower Cabaret

1601 Arapahoe St. Downtown Denver

303-293-0075

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The Clocktower Cabaret has been delighting audiences for more than eleven years with its beautiful European-style decor, variety entertainment, and top notch hospitality. Located in in the heart of downtown Denver, the variety nightclub is nestled beneath the historic Daniels & Fisher Clock Tower building. Denver's showcase venue for live performances and your destination for fun, the nightclub boasts a full bar and a selection of appetizers, snacks and desserts. The main attraction is the entertainment, offering a diverse array of local and national acts including music of all genres, comedy, burlesque, drag shows, and more. Depending on the night's entertainment lineup, the dimly lit, intimate club can be an ideal spot for dates and anniversaries -- or a raucous bachelorette party. Generally, there are shows Wednesday through Saturday night.

129 articles

D Note

7519 Grandview Ave., Arvada Northwest Denver Suburbs

303-463-6683

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The D Note celebrated its tenth anniversary and a change of ownership in 2012, but this live-music venue and full-service restaurant and bar in Olde Town Arvada is still a favorite local hangout and a tourist attraction for out-of-town visitors. Originally envisioned as a performance space/art gallery, it was expanded to include hot eats and became a hub for local musicians and music enthusiasts. The menu items have some famous names, like the Sinatra salad, the Zappa sandwich and the Penny Lane pasta, and since live-music patrons get hungry too, D Note’s signature pizzas are another edible tribute, with names like Me & Bobby McGee, The Pizza Formerly Known as Prince, and Particle Man. The Hall and Oats dessert plate would make a nice ending to any meal, accompanied by some fine tunes in the D Note's laid-back atmosphere.

12 articles

Dairy Arts Center

2590 Walnut St. Boulder

303-440-7826

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219 articles

Dick's Sporting Goods Park

6000 Victory Way, Commerce City Northeast Denver Suburbs

303-727-3500

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Dick's Sporting Goods Park is the home field of the Colorado Rapids soccer team, built in Commerce City in 2006 and featuring 24 fully lit soccer fields surrounding the stadium itself. This makes the park an ideal venue for events other than soccer games; it was the home of the Mile High Music Festival during the fest's run, hosting such acts as Tool, Widespread Panic, Tom Petty and the Fray on stages set up around the complex. Phish has played a weekend blowout or two at the park, and Dick's also hosts kids' intermural competitions, Fourth of July celebrations – even some Major League Soccer championship bouts. With its immense capacity, state-of-the-art facilities and scheduling flexible enough to invite everything from major-league soccer to major-league musical talent, Dick's is a welcome addition to the sporting scene in this cowtown.

16 events 65 articles

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

1400 Curtis St. Downtown Denver

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Putting the Ellie Caulkins Opera House inside the historic Quigg Newton Auditorium was like building a ship inside a bottle. The auditorium -- a 1908 buff-colored brick building designed in a neoclassical style by Robert O. Willison -- had become run down over the years and had long since lost its historic interior. And that history was an illustrious one: Then known as the Municipal Auditorium, it hosted the Democratic National Convention in 1908 and later became the city's premier opera house. The inside was restored in 2002 with a gorgeous, neo-modern interior that’s all rich woods and shining glass and metal, and the 2,225-seat theater still hosts opera -- and comedians, ballet performances, songsters representing a variety of genres, and high-school graduation ceremonies.

2 events 134 articles

eTown Hall

1535 Spruce St. Boulder

303-443-8696

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Nearly two decades after Nick and Helen Forster founded the eTown radio program, they got their own venue. While they had long taped their shows at the Boulder Theater, in 2008 they bought a church that dated back to 1922, and, after an extensive renovation, opened it in 2012 as eTown Hall. The building also houses eTown’s office, a coffee bar and a recording studio. While the show is now taped here, the venue hosts a number of local and national concerts, as well.

38 articles

EXDO Event Center

1399 35th St. Downtown Denver

303-468-5443

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189 articles

Garfinkel's

536 E. Lionshead Circle, Vail Mountains

970-476-3789

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Garfinkel’s (or Garf’s, as it’s known around Vail) has been a prime bar and grill for locals and tourists since 1992. Located in Lionshead, at the bottom of the mountain, it’s a lively après-ski place as well as a great spot to watch skiers come down the hill. The massive deck, with its many picnic tables, is the perfect place to catch some rays or enjoy a meal: Garf's is one of the few places in the area that serves late, with a menu that includes homemade soups and chili, salads, burgers, sandwiches, ribs and steak.

Grizzly Rose

5450 N. Valley Highway North Denver

303-295-1330

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Country music will never die in Denver as long as the Grizzly Rose remains. Live music six nights a week, concerts by Nashville nationals, free dance lessons on Wednesdays and lots of space on the hardwood floor for honky tonkin' were among the attributes cited by the Country Music Association, which chose the Rose as one of the top clubs in the nation; regulars choose it because it's a local institution.

12 events 48 articles

Gypsy House Cafe

1279 Marion St. Central Denver

303-830-1112

Coffeehouse, Music Venues, Recommended, Sponsor, Menu

Put this in your pipe and smoke it: If you like your coffee strong and the atmosphere in which you drink it just as pungent, head for Gypsy House Cafe. The specialty here is Turkish coffee, which is a leap for the Starbucks connoisseur, but it's well worth the plunge. The food is good, the wi-fi is free -- and they'll hook you up with just the right tobacco for your hookah.

18 articles

hi-dive

7 S. Broadway South Denver

303-733-0230

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The bars at these conjoined spaces are two sides of the same coin — both a little worn and gritty, but still good for quick shots or planting yourself for the long haul. Since 2003, the hi-dive has been a refuge from crass commercialism and bland bars catering to the masses. Cheap, stiff drinks and a revolving door of creative talent have kept the music venue ahead of the game. Sputnik, on the other hand, offers a mid-century vibe, along with plenty of meatless fare.

19 events 494 articles

Hudson Gardens

6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton Southwest Denver Suburbs

303-797-8565

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Hudson Gardens includes thirty acres of lush gardens (in season), with a railroad, garden shop and education series. It also hosts a summer concert series that features a variety of nationally known classic rock acts who play in the outdoor amphitheater.

26 articles

Lakewood Cultural Center

470 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood West Denver Suburbs

303-987-7845

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17 articles

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

417 W. Magnolia St., Fort Collins Northern Colorado

970-221-6730

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7 articles

Live@Jack's

500 16th St., #320 Downtown Denver

303-433-1000

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Live@Jack's (formerly Jazz@Jack's) brings contemporary jazz along with funk, blues and R&B acts, most nights of the week. Dotsero plays often at Jack's, which is located on the third floor of the Denver Pavilions, where it landed after leaving its Platte Street location in 2005. It's a stylish spot for listening to live music in the heart of downtown.

11 articles

Lucky Joe's

25 Old Town Square, Fort Collins Northern Colorado

970-493-2213

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Lucky Joe’s, in Ft. Collins, could be seen as an Irish pub wearing a western shirt. Part pub, part saloon, Lucky Joe’s straddles the line quite well. It’s one of the more jumping spots in Old Town Square, and can get crowded and rowdy, especially when school is in session. Singer-songwriters and rock acts play there four nights a week, and there’s an acoustic open-mic night on Sundays. The joint offers a wide-ranging selection of beers and a menu that includes Irish and American fare.

Macky Auditorium Concert Hall

1595 Pleasant St. Boulder

303-492-8423

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34 articles

Marquis Theater

2009 Larimer St. Downtown Denver

303-487-0111

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The thought of sending naive teenagers into the heart of the Ballpark neighborhood can be daunting for parents. But thanks to Soda Jerk Presents owner Mike Barsch, such apprehension is unfounded when it comes to the Marquis Theater. Although all Marquis shows are all-ages (unless otherwise posted), the venue's promoters — who successfully put on all-ages shows at Tulagi and Rock Island for years before taking over here — clearly cater to the underage set with their assortment of punk, rock and metal acts. Barsch and company consistently put together stacked bills of both emerging acts and veterans that appeal to the younger generation as well as the over-21 crowd, which can drink here with an ID. In 2015, nine years after the Marquis opened, it underwent a nice remodel, with new sound and lighting systems and a bar expansion. In 2018, Live Nation took over booking and operations of the venue.

56 events 261 articles

Mishawaka Amphitheatre

13714 Poudre Canyon, Bellvue Mountains

970-482-4420

Music Venues, Performing Arts Venues, Sponsor

Mishawaka Amphitheatre is situated on the banks of the Poudre River, not too far from Fort Collins. Know to locals as the Mish, it can hold about 750 people and is an intimate outdoor venue overlooking both the river and the Rocky Mountains. The Mish hosts a variety of national and local acts, including a decent amount of jam-centric bands and rock, bluegrass, reggae and hip-hop acts.

19 articles

Moon Room

1902 Blake St. Downtown Denver

303-487-0111

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8 articles

Oriental Theater

4335 W. 44th Ave. Northwest Denver

720-420-0030

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Built as a movie theater in 1927, the Oriental Theater showed films daily for decades, but it hit a rough patch in the ’50s, during the flight to the suburbs. In an effort to boost attendance in the ’60s, the theater was updated with plush seating, new carpeting, fresh paint and a bigger projection screen. That screen soon went dark, however, and over the next few decades, the Oriental slid into disrepair. Although a few attempts were made to revitalize the space in the ’90s, none of the owners had the vision or staying power to capitalize on the theater's substantial assets. But in 2005, new owners took over the venue and gave it an overdue facelift, later installing professional sound and lighting systems. These days, the Oriental brings in a diverse stream of local and national entertainment.

21 events 395 articles

PAC3

520 S. Third St., Carbondale Mountains

970-925-1663

Music Venues, Performing Arts Venues, Sponsor

The Performing Arts Center at Third Street, known better as PAC3, opened in downtown Carbondale in the summer of 2011. The 5,000-square-foot multi-use venue, which holds 365 people for seated events and 541 for unseated general-admission shows, brings in a steady stream of local and touring acts (including rock, bluegrass, folk and jam bands), but it’s also used for community events, nonprofit functions and festivals.

Paramount Theatre

1621 Glenarm Place Downtown Denver

303-623-0106

Music Venues, Performing Arts Venues, Theaters, Sponsor, Slideshow

Since being built by Temple Buell in 1930, the gorgeous art-deco Paramount Theatre has had a storied history. The theater originally showed silent films, and it has a one-of-a-kind Wurlitzer twin-console organ that was designed to produce a variety of sound effects to accompany the films. And while the Paramount had a long run as one of the premier movie houses in the Rocky Mountain region, the venue, which can accommodate 1,900 people, has hosted an assortment of nationally recognized bands, comedians and other performances over the past few decades.

81 events 367 articles

Music Venues in Denver

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