(Logo courtesy of Michael King)
The stated goal of the has, according to co-founders Adam Cayton-Holland and Andy Juett, always been to promote not only stand-up as an art form but Denver’s rising comedy scene, which has in recent years birthed more national headliners and festival favorites than in arguably all its previous decades combined.
So it should come as no surprise that today’s announcement of a handful of national headliners — including Comedy Central’s Nick Thune, L.A.’s Eric Dadourian and Colorado native/current San Francisco resident David Gborie — is a side note to the laundry list of Mile High comics filling out the bill.
In addition to Cayton-Holland’s fellow Grawlix comedy troupe buddies , the High Plains Fest will feature these Denver-area comics:
Kristin Rand
Mara Wiles
Stephen Agyei
Kevin O’Brien
Jordan Doll
Chuck Roy
Carey Denise
Anthony Crawford
Elliot Woolsey
Greg Baumhauer
Jim Hickox
Christie Buchele
Matt Monroe
Nate Balding
Brent Gill
Bobby Crane
Chris Charpentier
Sam Tallent
Nathan Lund
Aaron Urist
Timmi Lasley
Brian Hocker
Troy Walker
Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald
Adrian Mesa
Harrison Rains
Jeff Albright
Matt Wayman
Eric Henderson
Haley Driscoll
In any other city that might seem like too many, but these are, by and large, headliners and festival vets in their own right with credits galore.
From “Mile High Sci-Fi” co-founder Harrison Rains and the members of the Fine Gentleman’s Club troupe, which runs the weekly “Too Much Fun” showcase at the Deer Pile, to Moxie buddies Mara Wiles and Kristin Rand and rising names like Jeff Albright and Haley Driscoll, High Plains didn’t skimp when it came to representing the Denver scene.
The High Plains Fest runs Aug. 22-23 on South Broadway and at Civic Center park in downtown Denver. Also check out at this weekend’s , also on South Broadway, at the Safari Room (no UMS wristband is necessary for entry, according to organizers).
Updated ticket prices are also available for the High Plains Fest, with all individually-ticketed shows now on sale .
