The fifth annual, five-day in Boulder ended Sunday with an outdoor party and a late-night indoor concert at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art (BMoCA).
, weaving humorous and politically-charged stories around her violin and keyboard playing. Another early highlight was Zammuto, who played a show at Shine on Thursday featuring material from the group’s new album, “The Shape of Things to Come.” Nick Zammuto, formerly of the Books, brought a full band and multimedia show upon his return to Communikey this year.
By Sunday fans were still ready for more art and performances, but many danced a little less wildly, or milled about on the streets from fatigue after five days of partying. A crowd ranging from infants to middle-aged boomers attended the Family Tree party at Civic Plaza on Sunday to see DJs Josh Ivy, Brian Mayhall, Time for Trees and David Last.
Ivy, a founding contributor to Communikey, as well as the creator of Black Feather Radio, specializes in conceptual dance music.
Brooklyn DJ David Last, who recently relocated to Colorado, played a set of around 100-b.p.m, mid-tempo dance music that occasionally nodded toward jungle and kept the crowd moving as the sun hid behind the foothills.
Another veteran of Communikey, Brandon Brown, opened the festival’s final bill at BMoCA with a relaxed but head-nodding set of dub and Leftfield-esque beats.
Argentina-based Lulucruza beguiled the audience with traditional South American roots music blended with electronica. Alejandra Ortiz reached notes that would be a stretch for most sopranos, while Luis Maurette took turns on Colombian cuatro, shruti box, tar and kalimba.
Aaron Coyes and Indra Dunis, the husband-and-wife duo of Peaking Lights, delivered dub-inspired music that was at turns both slinky and edgy, effectively mixing influences from rock, pop and sound collage.
Tijuana-based DJ Ejival was scheduled to carry the festival to the finish line at 3 a.m. or thereabouts. Communikey will never be accused of dialing it in or going through the motions, even when those motions grow slightly fatigued.
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Denver-based writer Sam DeLeo is a published poet, has seen two of his plays produced and recently completed his novel, “As We Used to Sing.” His selected work can be read at
