Every year the streets of south Broadway turn into Colorado’s own version of SXSW with the . And with the annual festival about four months away, our friends over at the UMS have tipped us off to the first round of bands announced for the 2013 music festival.
Tickets go on sale for today and are $35 for a four-day wristband, Last week, before any artists had been announced, a limited number of discounted tickets sold out in seven hours. UMS 2013 takes place from July 18-21.
See below for the first six bands topping the UMS 2013 lineup.
Cults
With a follow-up to 2011’s critically acclaimed self-titled album on the way, is making the festival rounds this summer to Bonnaroo, Boston Calling and UMS included. This new album is pretty mysterious at this point, but maybe Cults is keeping it low-key after so much Internet hype before the band’s last album. If we’re lucky, Denver could be some of the first places to get a taste of Cults’ new indie-pop.
Mudhoney
Sub Pop’s, ’90s Seattle grunge forerunners are also set to release an album this year (April 2) and soon after will stop in Colorado for UMS 2013. “Vanishing Point,” the band’s first album in five years also marks its 25th anniversary of Mudhoney and Sub Pop. This makes for an interesting time to see a band with such a history at a comparatively young music festival (Mudhoney is about 12 years older than the UMS).
Born in the Flood
This supergroup of Denver musicians made a big return late last year with a sold out show at the Gothic Theatre. Made up of Nathaniel Rateliff, Joe Pope, Nate Meese and Patrick Meese, makes for a nice paring with a music festival that showcases both local and national talent.
Bleached
Reverb caught a couple of sets from at SXSW last week and got a little helping of the band’s upcoming debut album (out April 2 on Dead Oceans). Sisters Jessica and Jennifer Calvin bring an intense dose of garage-pop that’s dusted with some California sand.
The Fresh & Onlys
This San Francisco indie-rock band has been working hard since its formation in 2008 with four full-length albums, most recently 2012’s “Long Slow Dance.” Characterized by Tim Cohen’s swooning lyrics and baritone, takes its cues from a number of classic pop and rock acts, most specifically Buddy Holly.
Baywood
Wrapping up this first UMS 2013 lineup announcement is the folk-pop duo . Although from California, Baywood would feel at home in the Denver music scene where other bright, sing-along bands like the Lumineers and Churchill have made a name.
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Reverb Managing Editor Matt Miller
