When plays to a sold-out Ernst Happel Stadium — capacity 75,000 — in Austria on Aug. 30, Denver rockers will open the big rock show. That (and the other European dates OneRepublic will open for U2) is a big deal for the Denver group. But itap also a smart move for U2. OneRepublic sells millions of records in the States, sure, but they do even better in Western Europe.
Needless to say, OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder is a busy man these days. The biggest news from the singer/producer’s life: A new baby boy, Copeland, who “has pretty much been my world since I’ve been home,” Tedder said.
He’s also wrapped recording sessions with Faith Hill in his Denver studio, finished recording Adele’s new album, followed the wacky Colorado governor’s race, launched new singles with artists Natasha Bedingfield and Sky Ferreira and awaited the Broncos regular season.
Tedder also recently helped the Fray’s Isaac Slade judge a battle of the bands at the Ogden Theatre — an eye-opening experience for the globe-trotting musician who calls Denver home.
“I’m astounded by the level of talent and ingenuity in Denver,” Tedder said. “I heard an A&R (record label rep) say recently that he and his peers look at Denver now the same way they looked at Seattle in the early-’90s, and I thought that was pretty cool.”
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Ricardo Baca is the founder and co-editor of and an award-winning critic and journalist at The Denver Post.
