As a Colorado music fan, it’s easy to feel like Red Rocks should represent each of our tastes in music. It’s the state’s de facto shrine for live music, so naturally, it’s held to each of our impossibly high standards.
But, like any politician, Red Rocks can’t be all things to all people.
For example, nearly half of the 60 shows announced for Red Rocks 2018 season could be categorized as EDM (11) or jam band (16) concerts. Whether that’s thrilling or chilling, it’s likely representative of tastes. AEG Presents has been the dominant promoter at Red Rocks in recent years — it promoted or co-promoted 52 of the 60 shows announced so far this year — and as a result, it’s gotten to know what sells there.
And if you aren’t into psychedelic party music, there are 33 other shows to keep an eye on. We’ve highlighted our five stand-outs in bold. And if none of them are doing it for you, sit tight: These 60 are less than half of the 143 shows announced at the venue last year.
April
(311 and Method Man & Redman with Collie Buddz, PROF, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Chali 2na); hip-hop. April 19. $55-$150.
; EDM. April 21. $30-$75.
; funk and jazz. April 27. $45-$75. Vulfpeck returns to Red Rocks for its first headlining show after opening for Trey Anastasio Band there last year and for The Motet in 2016. The band has earned it: Its mix of self-aware goofs and virtuosic funking around will put a smile on your face and, if you’re anything like the band, a weird costume on your body. The sweetener here is Kamasi Washington, who’s quietly become the leader of a new generation of political and hard-to-parse jazz musicians. Catch him whenever you can.
May
; alt-rock. May 3. $25-$45.
; jam. May 4. $31.50-$75.
; Americana jam. May 5. $55-$99.50.
; Prince tribute band. May 10. $45.50.
(Ganja White Night and Zomboy with Boogie T b2b Squnto, Eptic, AFK and Spock); EDM. May 12. $39.95-$100.
; alt-rock. May 13. $45.50-$79.50.
; hip-hop. May 14. $69.95-$75.
; trance. May 19. $42.50-$110.
; avant-folk. May 20. $40-$50.
; electronic. May 21. $42-$87.
; indie rock. May 22. $45-$75.
; EDM. May 24. $42.50-$75.
; Americana rock. May 25. $42-$55.
; jam. May 27. $46-$89.50.
; indie rock. May 28. $44.50-$68.50. Catching Este, Danielle and Alana Haim’s shimmering pop-rock band at their first Red Rocks show would almost be enough to recommend this one. But it’s the openers that really seal the deal. On the strength of her song “Alaska” (and ) Maggie Rogers turned an NYU class into a Capitol Records recording contract almost overnight. Lizzo is the next great thing in pop music, a pep-in-your-step singer/rapper that’s the musical equivalent of a compliment from a beautiful stranger. Just go.
June
; jam-dance. June 2. $35-$68.50.
; EDM. June 3. $45-$100.
; Pink Floyd tribute band. June 7. $56.50.
; alt-rock. June 9. $54.50-$74.50.
; rock. June 12. $39.50-$99.50.
; country rock. June 13. $25-$35.
; EDM. June 15-16. $54.99.
; pop rock. June 19. $43.50-$85.
; funk. June 28. $42.95-$90.
; roots rock. June 29-July 1. $55.00-$89.50. It’s no mistake that the folk-punk Avett Bros. have been able to headline Red Rocks for each of the past eight years (and usually multiple nights). With a catalog of acoustic barn-burners that grows by the year, the band has the right energy for Red Rocks. They also attract some bonafide legends to take the stage with them. John Prine and Dr. John have joined them in the past; this year, they netted David Crosby.
July
; EDM. July 2-3. $42.50-$100.
; jam. July 5-7. $42.50-$119.
; jam. July 8. $32-$55.
; jam. July 12. $39.95-$75.
; indie electronic. July 18. $43.75-$75.
; jam. July 20-22. $49.95-$85.
; EDM. July 27. $42-$85.
; blues rock. July 28-29. $46.75-$110.
August
; musical comedy. Aug. 6. $59.50-$179.50. Come for the comedians’ banter, stay for the music. The Steep Canyon Rangers is a Grammy Award-winning bluegrass band (Steve Martin played banjo on its 2010 album “Rare Bird Alert”) and pianist Jeff Babko has tickled the ivories on everything from Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange” to “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” where he’s currently an arranger, composer and player.
; Americana. Aug. 12. $48.50-$88.50.
; jam. Aug. 16. $43.50-$79.50.
; jam. Aug. 18. $35-$75.
; pop. Aug. 20. $47-$120.
; rhythm and soul. Aug. 22. $46.75-$86.50.
; alt-rock. Aug. 27-28. $50-$94.50. The Talking Heads frontman is back with a new album and a live show he’s said will rival “Stop Making Sense,” his old band’s famously good concert film. He’ll wrap his latest tour at Red Rocks on Aug. 28. That show sold out so fast they added a second date. Let that be a lesson: We’re not the only ones who know this one is a can’t-miss.
; Americana rock. Aug. 30. $39.95-$60.
September
; Americana rock. Sept. 3. $39.75-$60.75.
; EDM. Sept. 16. $30-$80.
; bluegrass. Sept. 17. $46-.50-$79.95.
; folk jam. Sept 22-23. $44.50-$85.
October
; EDM. $39-$75. Oct. 5.
