But with tickets for many big shows starting at $80-$100 and running up beyond $200 and higher for basic seats, it’s a budget calculation most fans didn’t need to make a few years ago.

Promoters blame record demand and point out that a concert is on par with other nights out in terms of cost. But concerns about hidden service fees, inflated prices and monopolistic behavior continue to dog the concert industry, as they have for decades.

That’s lately reinforced by the jury-trial verdict in April that found Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, held an anticompetitive monopoly through every aspect of concerts, from booking to taking a cut of nacho and popcorn sales at venues. The jury found Ticketmaster had overcharged consumers in 22 states, including Colorado.

Despite the Live Nation settlement, ticket prices will likely in 2026, according to music analysts and trade publications. So what’s a fan to do?

Here are some things to consider next time you find yourself in an online queue.

Who sells official tickets for Denver’s top concert venues

Denver and the rest of the Front Range are busy music markets where fans can enjoy concerts at venues ranging from tiny clubs and halls to massive amphitheaters and stadiums. Because of that variety, it’s important to know which ticket company is the official vendor for each, since you’ll get the best price from the get-go.

In Denver, AXS — owned by Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz and his AEG Presents company — is the biggest player. AXS is the official seller for city-owned venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre and downtown’s Bellco Theatre. It also controls Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, Mission Ballroom, the Denver Coliseum, and historic theaters like the Ogden, the Gothic and the Bluebird.

Denver is also the rare market where music promoter Live Nation doesn’t dominate bookings, but its company, Ticketmaster, still has a sizeable foothold here. It sells tickets for huge concerts at sports venues such as Empower Field at Mile High and Coors Field, where some big names, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel, recently played. Ticketmaster is also the official vendor for Ball Arena, the Fillmore Auditorium, the Paramount Theatre, LoDo’s Summit Music Hall and Marquis Theater, Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox, and a handful of nightclubs.

But here’s one of the places where things get confusing. Ticketmaster occasionally sells tickets for shows at Red Rocks — see the Cement Gardens concert on Oct. 11 — and even resells tickets for Mission Ballroom, despite it being owned by AEG Presents. The venue is technically a rental for both AEG and Live Nation, since it’s owned by the city.

Official after-market ticketing

Ticketmaster is currently selling tickets to shows at Coors Field, including singer-songwriter Noah Kahan (Aug. 8-9), despite the fact that both shows are sold out. How can that be? Because Ticketmaster’s site also allows people to In this case, Kahan is using the company’s Face Value Exchange “to help fans get tickets at the original price,” according to Ticketmaster’s website. “Tickets will be non-transferable and can only be resold on Ticketmaster at face value.” That’s all well and good, but when the only resale tickets available start above $350, your eyes may start to water.

Basically, if you’re going to a show like Bruno Mars (who is also using the Face Value Exchange) at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Falcon Stadium Sept. 26-27, your first stop should be the official ticket seller, in this case, Ticketmaster. But since it’s sold out, you’re also going to see that tickets start above $350 and range up to more than $1,200 per seat on Ticketmaster, given that they’re resale tickets. That’s comparable to what StubHub, for example, also has on sale for that show. If you want to guarantee your ticket is legit, you’re better off buying from Ticketmaster.

Ticketing fees, explained

Ticketing fees are standard for most shows, but here in Colorado, you’re at least guaranteed to see the full price while shopping around. That’s after Gov. Jared Polis in 2024 passed the Consumer Protection in Event Ticket Sales bill, which requires both primary sellers, such as AXS and resellers (on any site), to show you the full price of the ticket from the start. The law also protects buyers of resold tickets, expands the availability of refunds, and bans look-alike websites and deceptive social media posts.

Ticketmaster and AXS are comparable when it comes to ticketing fees, which can make up 25% of the purchase price, so you won’t see a significant difference there. That does, however, mean that a $60 general admission ticket to Suki Waterhouse’s July 28 concert at the Fillmore Auditorium was actually closer to $45 before for facility maintenance, revenue-sharing with venues and artists, and customer service.

Smaller, legitimate ticketing companies such as charge much lower fees, although their events are usually at much smaller venues. In Denver, that’s 3.7% of the purchase price, plus an extra $1.79 per ticket. Eventbrite also charges a fee of 2.9% of the total order for payment processing. That is still far lower than the 25% markup from Live Nation and AXS.

How to spot fake websites

Whether you’re looking for an original or resale ticket, don’t just buy from the first link that appears on a Google search. Sellers such as Event Tickets Center, for example, appear as sponsored ads above primary sellers such as AXS. Most resellers are counting on you not to notice the difference, even if sites such as Box Office Ticket Sales and Go Tickets offer 100% authenticity guarantees. (ETC also said it alerts consumers that it’s a re-seller every step of the way).

The best-known and most visible resale sites include StubHub, SeatGeek, Vivid Seats, TickPick, CashorTrade and Gametime (that last one for sporting events). Some advertise fee-free purchases, such as TickPick, and will match lower offers if you can find them. But if there are other fees, resellers are required to show them up front.

Not all are created equal. In April, third-party resale site with the Federal Trade Commission, which said it was “deceptively advertising ticket prices on its website without clearly and conspicuously disclosing upfront how much consumers actually would pay, including all mandatory fees.” The company also refunded $3 million in fees to Colorado ticketholders in 2021, following a lawsuit brought by state attorneys general.

If you’re determined to buy a resale ticket, compare prices from both official sellers and third-party websites to get a sense of their true range. A standing-room-only ticket for Liz Phair and Sleater-Kinney at the Fillmore Auditorium on Sept. 14, for example, costs $64.75 on Ticketmaster, fees included. On resellers SeatGeek and StubHub, it’s more like $80 to $100 for the same ticket. In this case, you should buy from Ticketmaster, especially since the show’s not sold out. Because when it is, all the prices jump up across the board.

What if it’s sold out?

Tickets to popular shows tend to sell out instantly, often confusing and frustrating buyers who thought they were at the front of the virtual line. There’s little to be done about that outside resale tickets, but you’re likely to get better prices if you can wait until just before the show, when resellers, third-party websites, and scalpers are desperate to turn a profit. At that point, you may also get them for less than face value, since they’d rather sell them at a loss than not at all.

The same advice overall applies here: compare official resale sites vs. third-party sites for the best price, and beware sellers who are charging far more than the average. You can also try to connect directly with sellers through social media or forums such as Reddit, but there are restrictions on commercial activity on public sites. You’re also shedding the consumer protections that are available on most sites when you buy from someone directly, so consider the risk.

All ticketing services, even resellers, require accounts with email addresses, and the big ones (Ticketmaster, AXS) have apps you can download to manage your passes. That’s not a bad thing when you’re the first to get cancellation or rescheduling notices, with details on automatic refunds and other options. Promoters also often “release” tickets they’ve reserved as the event gets closer, so be sure to check from time to time if you got shut out initially.

In-person buying options

If you want to go old-school and pick up mobile or paper tickets in person (and therefore shave off some of the fees), the AXS ticket window is open for limited hours on Saturdays at the Denver Coliseum, Mission Ballroom and the Ogden Theatre, and some weekdays. Be sure to check the hours on their respective website.

Ticketmaster has more limited windows for pre-purchased tickets (i.e., not on the day of the show), with the main location at Empower Field at Mile High.

But it’s also the sweet spot for acts who are too popular to play the 9,525-capacity Red Rocks Amphitheatre, which itself is hosting a record 170-plus shows this year, and too small to play venues such as Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, Folsom Field and Coors Field — each of which hosts at least 50,000 people per event.

The bowl-shaped venue at 6350 Greenwood Village Boulevard typically offers diverse yet mainstream booking from owner AEG Presents, with sprawling pop, hip hop, punk and rock festivals alongside legends like Neil Young, Wu-Tang Clan and Earth, Wind & Fire (all of whom played there last year).

Here’s an updated list of every show on their calendar, with tickets available via .

• Thursday, June 11 — Lord Huron, Fightmaster
• Saturday, June 20 — Flatland Cavalry + Shane Smith & The Saints, Kevin Powers, Laci, Kaye Booth
• Wednesday, July 22 – Ella Mai, Ama, Girlfriend
• Saturday, July 25 – Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Spacey Jane
• Thursday, July 30 – Howard Jones, Wang Chung, The English Beat, Modern English, Richard Blade
• Friday, July 31 – Excision
• Saturday, Aug. 1 – Excision
• Sunday, Aug. 2 – The Black Crowes, Whiskey Meyers, Southall
• Friday, Aug. 7 – Sublime, Slightly Stoopid, 311
• Wednesday, Aug. 12 – The Guess Who, Don Felder
• Saturday, Aug. 15 – Mt. Joy, Arcy Drive
• Tuesday, Aug. 18 – Muse, Portugal. The Man, The Temper Trap
• Friday, Aug. 21 – Caamp, Durand Jones and the Indications
• Saturday, Aug. 22 – Caamp, Durand Jones and the Indications
• Friday, Aug. 28 – Dave Matthews Band
• Saturday, Aug. 29 – Dave Matthews Band
• Wednesday, Sept 2 – Jack Johnson, Lake Street Dive
• Thursday, Sept. 3 – Jack Johnson, Lake Street Dive
• Tuesday, Sept. 8 — The Squeeze, Adam Ant, Haircut 100
• Saturday, Sept. 12 – Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, The Hu, Orgy
• Friday, Sept. 25 – $uicideboys, Destroy Lonely, Shakewell, Drain, Black Kray, $lim Gucci
• Sunday, Sept. 27 – World of Warcraft: 20 Years of Music

Original guitarist and singer-keyboardist Burton Cummings, who have already announced a tour of their native Canada this summer, are they tell The Associated Press.

“Randy and I are getting this incredible welcome back feeling,” says Cummings. “It����ap magic to play the hit records and see people singing along after decades and decades.”

The Guess Who will cross the border starting June 25 in Minneapolis, and hit such cities as Cincinnati, Chicago, Detroit, Atlantic City, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Seattle.

The last time Bachman and Cummings toured the U.S. as The Guess Who was in 2001 alongside Part of the delay in returning stemmed from a trademark dispute with their former bandmates who used The Guess Who name. A settlement was reached in September 2024 giving Bachman and Cummings the trademark.

“I’m glad that����ap all over with,” says Cummings. “Now we can go out and honor the songs. We’re going out to honor the music.”

The Guess Who are one of the biggest classic rock acts to emerge from Canada, scoring memorable hits during the 1960s and ’70s like “These Eyes,” “Hand Me Down World,” “Laughing,” “No Time” and “Share the Land.” The Guess Who became the first Canadian band to hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Bachman and Cummings promise a summer setlist of some 20 songs that includes all the hits — and they’ll play them exactly like they were played on the records.

“That����ap what people want to hear,” says Bachman. “When I go see my buddy Neil Young, I don’t want the songs he wrote last week.”

Cummings agrees, comparing great songs to signposts in people’s lives.

“I can remember the first time I heard Elvis on the radio, the first time I ever heard the Beatles, first time when I heard Ray Charles sing ‘What’d I Say,’” he says. “Really great records never leave people’s memories. They’re there for good.”

Bachman and Cummings say there’s a yearning for classic rock songs played live, especially in this age of

“Anybody can now write a song, put it in a computer and a song comes out. But they can’t play it live,” says Bachman. “The people want to see you playing real rock. They want to hear a mistake. They want to see a string break.”

Bonnie Raitt has gotten some much-deserved and overdue love in recent years from younger indie musicians as her lived-in voice and wide-ranging catalog get another listen. The blues-rock singer and guitarist has put on some scorching shows in Colorado over the years, so don’t miss her Thursday, Sept. 25, concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. With Jimmie Vaugh & the Tilt-a-Whirl Band.

Emancipator, a.k.a. DJ/producer Douglas Appling, makes ethereal, often breathtakingly stripped-down electronic music out of Portland, Ore. He’s bringing songs from his latest, “Stories of the Melting Sun,” to Colorado for a Friday, Sept. 26-Saturday, Sept. 27 run at Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Bellvue. With pheel. and Aphorize (Sept. 26) and Pooldore and Lapa (Sept. 27). Note: Mishawaka is a shuttle-to venue, so arrive earlier than usual.

Levitt Pavilion will close out its free summer concert series — and its 2025 calendar — on Sunday, Sept. 28, with a visit from The Slackers, the longtime New York ska band. The show, with Volores and 5150, should provide some throwback satisfaction for fans of that jumpy genre that had a major moment in the 1990s. While it’s free, you can RSVP or upgrade via .

Air is on a globe-spanning nostalgia lap for 1998’s “Moon Safari,” which snared a generation of listeners with its soft, sweeping electronica (as it was called then) and gossamer melodies. The band’s Thursday, Oct. 2, concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will see “Moon Safari” performed in its entirety as part of the French duo’s debut at the Morrison venue.

Haim’s new album, “I Quit,” finds the L.A. sister trio continuing to mine platinum from pop, rock and folk traditions with catchy-as-a-cold melodies and airtight playing. They’ll delve into the breakup themes of the new album (and other hits) when they headline Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre in Greenwood Village on Friday, Oct. 2, with Dora Jar.

Laufey’s genre-resistant music and powerhouse voice may lean toward jazz, pop and bossa nova, but there’s so much more to her expansive sound, from orchestral compositions to intimate torch songs. The Icelandic-Chinese artist’s Wednesday, Oct. 8, stop at Red Rocks Amphitheatre promises to be one of those transcendent, instantly memorable concerts at which the venue excels.

New Zealand pop juggernaut Lorde could hardly be more fired-up, with a new, intensely vulnerable album (June’s “Virgin”) and a synth-driven sound that recalls her early work. She’s touring behind her celebrated fourth studio album with a late-season concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Tuesday, Oct. 14, including openers Blood Orange and The Japanese House.

Prolific Miami rapper Denzel Curry’s collab-heavy song for new horror movie “HIM” (also titled “HIM”) has a chant-like quality that plays off the film’s dark take on masculinity, sports and religious zealotry. He’s still rocking tracks from his 2024 release “King of the Mischevious South Vol. 2,” so expect those and more when he headlines Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Halloween (Friday, Oct. 31), with the stacked lineup of Freddie Gibbs, Earl Sweatshirt, 2 Dead Boyz, and Lexa Gates.

Paul McCartney’s touring prowess seemingly knows no limits, with a crack live band and the tireless energy he devotes to playing his decades of hits, from The Beatles and Wings to his solo work. Hearing McCartney play Beatles classics, in particular, sends shivers down one’s spine. See him at Coors Field with 50,000 of your closest friends on Saturday, Oct. 11.

The biggest venues — those with a capacity of 2,000 or more — were constantly booked during the summer and early-fall concert seasons, with homegrown artists such as Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and The Lumineers joining touring biggies like Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, Keith Urban, and Metallica.

While metro area stadiums and arenas aren’t purpose-built for music, they host enough concerts (and music fans) to justify inclusion here; anyone who’s seen Denver-based electronic headliner Illenium, The Rolling Stones or Taylor Swift, for example, can recall the giddy throngs at Empower Field at Mile High.

Here are Colorado’s 20 biggest live music venues, in order of size.

Empower Field at Mile High

Capacity: 76,125
Opened in 2001, the home of the Denver Broncos is also is also the largest concert venue in Colorado. The Eagles played the first concert there, but Mile High has gone on to host dozens more. This year, it has already welcomed Post Malone, Coldplay, the Weeknd and two nights of Metallica. As with most sports venues, concert capacity can rise or fall with field seating, or the closure of certain sections to maximize audience views. If you’re U2, you can even play in-the-round (as they did in 2011).

Coors Field

Capacity: 50,398
While concerts at the Colorado Rockies’ 30-year-old baseball stadium are rarer than at Empower Field, the capacity at Coors Field ensures big names and turnout — see recent shows from Billy Joel, Green Day, Kane Brown and Def Leppard. Booking has been relatively light so far this season.
Still to come: Chris Brown (Sept. 24), Paul McCartney (Oct. 11)

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

Capacity: 27,000
As Commerce City’s largest venue, the home of the Colorado Rapids also hosted the annual Phish run on Labor Day weekend for many years (this year it’s at Folsom Field in Boulder) and the gigantic Mile High Music Fest (with Tool, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews Band and others). Opened in 2007, its concerts these days are fewer, but the airy layout of the 18,000-seat stadium lends itself to party-heavy events and dancing, with recent performers such as Imagine Dragons, Weezer and Bassnectar. Field seating adds a whopping 9,000 capacity — or just under the entire capacity of Red Rocks.

Ball Arena

Capacity: 21,000
The home of the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche and Colorado Mammoth since 1999, Ball Arena, is a year-round concert venue that hosts the biggest names in touring. Floor seats and section closures put concert capacity around 20,000 or below, but in-the-round shows can make it feel less cavernous; see past visits from Metallica, or Tim McGraw and Faith Hill.

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Capacity: 17,000
The state’s largest-capacity amphitheater tends to book artists who are too big for a single night at Red Rocks, but who might also fit comfortably in Ball Arena, depending on the time of year. In 2025, that has included Earth, Wind & Fire, Keith Urban, Wu-Tang Clan, and AJR. Having opened in 1988, the Greenwood Village venue also specializes in presenting live orchestral movie scores, package tours and themed throwback nights.
Still to come: Haim (Oct. 3)

Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Capacity: 9,525
Arguably the most famous amphitheater in the world — and, since the pandemic, inarguably the best-attended and most lucrative one — Red Rocks is a unique historical wonder in the Morrison foothills that’s a must-visit for music fans. have graced its outdoor stage, which peers up at a wide bowl between the towering formations of Ship Rock and Creation Rock, offering ideal natural acoustics and stunning vistas. Since it officially opened in 1941, notables have included The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Jimi Hendrix, the Grateful Dead, Bonnie Raitt, U2, Fleetwood Mac, Widespread Panic, Radiohead, Daft Punk and Blues Traveler’s legendary Fourth of July run. This year, there are shows through October, and then some.
Still to come: Lorde (Oct. 15)

Ford Amphitheater

Capacity: 8,000
Not to be confused with Vail’s more modest Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater (a.k.a. The Amp, which opened in 1987), this luxury-minded Colorado Springs newcomer has since 2024 soaked up performers looking to turn their Denver or high-country visit into a lucrative Front Range run. Colorado pop-rock juggernauts OneRepublic opened the venue last summer, and it’s since hosted a crowd-pleasing mix of country, hard rock, hip-hop, pop and other acts.

Broadmoor World Arena

Capacity: About 8,000
The multi-purpose event center opened its doors in 1998 and has hosted classical music, bull riding, circuses, the Harlem Globetrotters, religious gatherings and, of course, tunes from acts such as Carrie Underwood, Alan Jackson, and Elton John.
Still to come: Alice Cooper and Judas Priest (Oct. 10), and A Day to Remember and Yellowcard (Oct. 28)

Blue FCU Arena

Capacity: 7,200
Northern Colorado residents are well served by this venue, which opened in 2003 as the Budweiser Events Center, and which is part of Loveland’s growing Ranch Events Complex, thanks to investments from Larimer County and others. It’s taken on more stature since FirstBank Center closed in Broomfield in 2023, having already hosted entertainers like Nate Bargatze, Weezer, Salt-N-Pepa, and even David Bowie.
Still to come: Cole Swindell (Oct. 2), and Brantley Gilbert (Oct. 12)

Levitt Pavilion

Capacity: 7,000
Situated in the otherwise quiet Ruby Hill Park, Levitt is a nonprofit outdoor venue that hosts more than 50 free, high-quality concerts each year for all ages. Its bookings since 2017 have developed into an even mix of rock, pop, hip-hop, metal, soul, R&B, country, folk and impressively diverse acts from outside the U.S., with an emphasis on supporting local and up-and-coming artists.

Bellco Theatre

Capacity: 5,000
This perky venue inside the Colorado Convention Center arrived in 2005 as part of a larger renovation, but it stands alone with its booking, which has included one of the city’s most winning mix of musicians, big-name comedians, lecturers, and hybrid movie screenings.
Still to come: David Byrne (Nov. 6-7)

Mission Ballroom

Capacity: 2,200-3,950
The flexible stage at this high-tech, artist-favorite venue allows owner AEG Presents Rocky Mountains to customize the space to different acts’ audience draw, whether that’s Jack White, Olivia Rodrigo or Devo. The layout for in-venue bars, bathrooms, and accessible seating is state-of-the-art and a welcome change from most crowded theaters with mediocre sight lines to the stage.

Dillon Amphitheater

Capacity: 3,656
This high-country amphitheater with gorgeous views first opened in 1993, with a major renovation in 2018, and has, since the pandemic, been supercharged with acts that would normally just play Red Rocks. That includes Bob Dylan, Alison Krauss, String Cheese Incident, Modest Mouse, Pretty Lights and Cypress Hill. Some shows are even free.

Fillmore Auditorium

Capacity: 3,600
Longtime Denverites will recall the long, curved-roof building at East Colfax Avenue and Clarkson Street as the Mammoth Events Center. Owned by promoter Live Nation, it has for most of the time since its 1999 rebranding been the Mile High City’s premier mid-size venue hosting rock, hip-hop, metal, electronic music and drag shows (at least until rival promoter AEG Presents, owned by Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz, built Mission Ballroom to compete against it.) A note for music historians: it was redesigned in the style of promoter Bill Graham’s seminal Fillmore venue in San Francisco.

Buell Theatre

Capacity: 2,839
While the 34-year-old Buell — full name Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, after the prolific and influential Colorado architect — mostly welcomes touring Broadway productions for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the city-owned theater also books musical artists.
Still to come: Morrissey (Oct. 2)

Boettcher Concert Hall

Capacity: 2,679
Music lovers continue to debate the acoustics at the Colorado Symphony’s home in the Denver Performing Arts Complex, but the mainstream profile of acts there has helped diversify the symphony’s audiences in recent years. That includes collaborations in-the-round with Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff and DeVotchKa, as well as indie firebrands The Flaming Lips, in addition to standard orchestral fare and familiar classical-crossover acts such as Andrea Bocelli and Lindsey Stirling. Did we mention live movie scores from “Jurassic Park,” “Star Wars,” “Home Alone 2” and others?
Still to come: Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas (Sept. 25)

Ellie Caulkins Opera House

Capacity: 2,200
One of Colorado’s oldest venues is also its most majestic, hosting thousands of dancers, touring comedians, musicians, theater productions, and celebrity speakers since opening in 1908. Along with the Buell (next door), it’s the biggest venue in the bustling Denver Performing Arts Complex and a beacon of classic Denver style.

Grizzly Rose

Capacity: About 2,000
Since 1989, the Rose has been one of metro Denver’s only dedicated country music venues with a rich history of launching huge performers (see Taylor Swift’s first-ever Denver concert) and bagging acts that would normally play larger venues. Rough-hewn wood, line dancing, cold bottles of beer, barbecue and mechanical bulls bolster the estimable list of country, hard rock, roots and crossover acts that regularly play on Friday nights.

Macky Auditorium

Capacity: 2,036
The University of Colorado’s handsomely renovated Macky Auditorium, which held its first concert in 1923, hosts music festivals, ballet, circus performers, musical theater, symphonic tributes and more — and has been floated as a primary screening venue for the Sundance Film Festival when it moves to Boulder in 2027.
Still to come: Ballet Hispanico (Oct. 9), and Cirque Kalabante (Oct. Nov. 7)

Pikes Peak Center

Capacity: 2,000
Comics such as Jerry Seinfeld and Marlon Wayans, and musical acts including Dream Theater, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett and Hauser, find a cozy reception in this stately venue in downtown Colorado Springs, which opened in 1982, and which can feel much bigger depending on who’s on stage.

There’s the mounting anticipation of seeing a favorite act, the time spent in front of the mirror inspecting outfits, the dreaded waiting in line to get into the venue, and the minutes standing between openers that seem to never end. And that’s all ����ڴǰ�����the headliner takes the stage.

As such, food shouldn’t go by the wayside, whether that’s before, during or after a show. These restaurants and dives, located in live music and entertainment across the Front Range, were recommended by friends and readers of The Denver Post, as well as avid concertgoers.

Bluebird Theater/Lost Lake Lounge

Both of these venues are on East Colfax Avenue, which is undergoing a three-year construction project, and restaurants in the area say they are struggling now more than ever. Atomic Cowboy (3237 E. Colfax Ave.) is the choice for many standing outside the Bluebird Theatre — and who would turn down a stand-up slice of pizza? In between that venue and Lost Lake Lounge is Tommy’s Thai (3410 E. Colfax Ave.), an airy family restaurant on the strip since 1988; Q House (3421 E. Colfax Ave.), an upscale Chinese restaurant; and Machete Tequila + Tacos (3570 E. Colfax Ave.), a Mexican restaurant dishing out more than a dozen types of tacos made with corn tortillas. Goosetown Tavern & Restaurant (3242 E. Colfax Ave.) is a cozy bar and grill as well as a music venue across the street from the Bluebird.

Boulder Theater/The Fox Theatre

Both The Fox Theatre and Boulder Theater are surrounded by places to get food. A popular and convenient option is Avanti Food & Beverage, a food hall currently home to an Italian deli, Mediterranean restaurant, pizza spot, ramen bar and more. Both venues are graced by having dumplings nearby: Zoe Ma Ma (919 Pearl St.) by the Boulder Theater and Nana’s Dim Sum & Dumplings (1125 13th St.) by the Fox. If you’re lucky, maybe you can grab a table at Pasta Jay’s (1001 Pearl St.) and order a pizza from the Pearl Street staple.

Fillmore Auditorium/The Ogden Theatre

Further west on East Colfax — but still in the path of the East Colfax BRT project — are two other stages drawing major talent to Denver. It’s not uncommon to see a line of teens and young adults before a show at either venue. Dependable handheld bites are across the street at Gyroz (880 E. Colfax Ave.), Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard (808 E. Colfax Ave.), Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs (638 E. Colfax Ave.) and SliceWorks (700 E. Colfax Ave.). New to the neighborhood are Uptown Banh Mi & Pho (1201 E. Colfax Ave.) and Champagne Tiger (601 E. Colfax Ave.), which is keeping alive the former home of Tom’s Starlight.

Don’t want to cross Colfax? You’ll find vegan hotspot Watercourse Foods (837 E. 17th Ave.) a few blocks away, as well as bar and grill Park & Co (439 E. 17th Ave.), and Revival Denver Public House (630 E. 17th Ave.), a swanky restaurant serving rich comfort food like buffalo gumbo and shrimp and grits.

Gothic Theatre/Swallow Hill Music

Several restaurants along South Broadway approach the Gothic Theatre and Swallow Hill Music. Swallow Hill senior manager Barry Osborne recommends Mexican food restaurant El Tejado (2651 S. Broadway, Denver), Colore Italian Restaurant (2700 S. Broadway, Englewood), and brewery and pizzeria Brewability (3445 S. Broadway, Englewood).

If you crave some post-show breakfast food while your eardrums readjust, Denny’s (275 W. Hampden Ave., Englewood) is open 24 hours. Lastly, Moe’s Original BBQ (3295 S. Broadway, Englewood) is a familiar barbecue restaurant that also happens to be a venue and bowling alley.

Larimer Lounge/The Mission Ballroom

In the wide swath of former warehouses known as the River North Art District, there are more (and better) places to eat than what first meets the eye. Left Hand Brewing Co. (4180 Wynkoop St.) is next to the Mission Ballroom, as is a new Mexican food restaurant, Chubby Unicorn Cantina (4180 Wynkoop St.). Closer to Larimer Lounge are Redeemer Pizza (2705 Larimer St.) and Dio Mio (3264 Larimer St.), both from the Mamas & Papas Hospitality Group. If a food court is more your style, vendors at Denver Central Market (2669 Larimer St.) and Zeppelin Station (3501 Wazee St.) are open until at least 9 p.m.

Other Colorado venues

Venues tucked into the mountains, such as Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison and Mishawaka Amphitheatre in Bellvue, are near restaurants that have themselves become destinations, such as The Mishawaka (13714 Poudre Canyon Road, Bellvue) and The Fort (19192 CO-8, Morrison).

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre is another large outdoor venue away from the city center, though still with restaurants like I.C. Brewhouse (6460 S. Syracuse Way, Centennial) and Carrera’s Tacos (7939 E. Arapahoe Road, Greenwood Village) nearby to fuel up before a show.

And in a burgeoning sector of Colorado Springs, three music venues exist within a mile of each other: The Black Sheep, Vultures and the stage at What’s Left Records. Grab a po’ boy at Po’ Brothers (2101 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs), a Cuban tamal at Arelita Authentic Cuban Food (2306 E. Platte Ave., Colorado Springs) or traditional German food at Uwe’s German Restaurant (31 Iowa Ave., Colorado Springs).

Friday-Sunday. While we wait for the Denver Film Festival to return in November, nonprofit producer Denver Film is back with the excellent CinemaQ Film Festival, a celebration of . Headed up by Sie FilmCenter artistic director Keith Garcia, the 17th annual event is bookended by the dark comedy “Twinless,” on opening night, Friday, Aug. 8, and closing film “Jimpa,” starring Olivia Colman and John Lithgow, on Sunday, Aug. 10.

There’s also the opening-night Double Rainbow Party; a SaturGAY Morning Cartoon + Cereal Party; a party celebrating the Black, queer roots of house music called Move Ya Body House Party (also Saturday); and the Pride Palooza featuring local LGBTQ-owned businesses, arts & crafts, drinks, music and more on Sunday.

It runs overall from Friday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 10, at 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Festival passes are $85 and individual tickets are $16. Buy passes and see the full schedule of screenings, panels and more at and .

A legend’s victory lap

Tuesday. For fans of Cyndi Lauper, this is the end of the line. The enduring pop legend will visit the metro area on Tuesday, Aug. 12, as part of the back half of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour, which finds Lauper, 72,  delivering hit after hit across 25 summer dates. Yes — that includes the tour’s title track, along with “Time After Time,” “She Bop,” “True Colors,” “Money Changes Everything” and more.

The all-ages concert, with opener Jake Wesley Rogers, takes place at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 Greenwood Village Blvd. in Greenwood Village. Tickets: $56-$1,041 via .

Water Blossom Festival

Sunday. Despite the slowdown in growing season, water is especially on the minds of gardeners at this time of year as temperatures soar and precipitation dips. And if you’re lucky enough to have a pond, water feature or other submerged garden? Colorado Water Garden Society has you covered.

The group’s annual Water Blossom Celebration will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at Denver Botanic Gardens on Sunday, Aug. 10, with experts answering questions on how to get started (and thrive) with a water garden, tours of the site’s own water gardens, a carnivorous plant education table, an aquatic plant cart and, of course, free plants for you to take home.

It takes place in and around the Hive Deck Area at the gardens, 1007 York St. in Denver, and is included with general admission: $16 for adults, $12.25 for seniors and military, and $11.75 for children 3-15 (free for ages 2 and under). Learn more at and .

Josh Blue: from stage to page

Friday. As one of Denver’s best-known comics in a city packed with national-quality stand-ups, Josh Blue has for the last couple of decades held the scene’s torch aloft. But how did the acclaimed and world-touring stand-up, writer, soccer player, cannabis advocate, painter and dad end up writing his first memoir, “Something to Stare At”?

Find out at his book release party on Friday, Aug. 8, at RiNo’s 73 Art Agency, where Blue will officially christen the book with a reading and signing that starts at 6 p.m. Tickets include a paperback copy of the book, a quick-howdy/selfie with Blue, Q&A session, light refreshments, merch giveaways, and “an exclusive chance to purchase one of Josh’s signature pig paintings — priced so low, it����ap a disgrace to the art community,” as organizers wrote online.

It takes place at 2601 Blake St. in Denver, with tickets at $28.52.

Through Sunday. The biggest annual gathering of celebrities in Colorado is back with Fan Expo Denver, running Thursday, July 3, to Sunday, July 6, at the Colorado Convention Center. The pop-culture party draws tens of thousands downtown each year for comics and anime, gaming, merchandise and artist signings, cosplay, competitions galore, authors, performances and more.

This year’s notables include a Superman slate (all the living movie and TV Supermen, minus the newest one); a “Twilight” fan experience; movie stars such as John Cena, Jennifer Beals, William Shatner, John Boyega, Brendan Fraser, Bruce Campbell, Alan Tudyk, Cassandra Peterson (a.k.a. Elvira) and dozens more. Bonus: There will be opportunities to get autographs and photos for a fee. (And don’t miss the “Cobra Kai” trio of Martin Kove, Brandon H. Lee and Patrick Luwis.)

Single-day passes for the event, taking place at 700 14th St. in Denver, are $50-$71, with youth passes (ages 13-17) at $45-$51 and child passes (6-12) at $12. Full-fest passes start at $109, with family discounts available. Visit for more.

Cherry Creek Arts Fest

Friday-Sunday. The sprawling Cherry Creek Arts Festival — one of the country’s biggest juried art exhibitions — returns to the Cherry Creek North shopping district Friday, July 4, through Sunday, July 6, with 260 exhibiting artists, free hands-on crafts for kids and adults, a family-friendly and walkable layout, and live performances, food and drink vendors, and other activities.

Don’t miss Cleo Parker Robinson Dance’s appearance on the main stage at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday; tickets are free and available online. The overall event runs 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday (with an accessibility hour starting at 9 a.m.) and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday. Secure bike parking is on Second Avenue near Adams Street. Paid parking is available at Cherry Creek Shopping Center, in the Whole Foods garage, and along the surrounding streets. Admission is free. Visit for an artist list and detailed festival map.

Civic Center’s Backyard Jamboree

Through Sunday. There are plenty of concert options in town this weekend, including Wu-Tang Clan and Run the Jewels at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre (Friday, July 4) and Blues Traveler’s impressive Fourth of July return to Red Rocks Amphitheatre (playing there nearly every year since 1992 — minus 1999 and 2020, according to venue records).

Still, there’s hardly a bigger fan draw than Toronto’s Zeds Dead, as the bass-focused DJ-producer duo swings through both Morrison and Denver for packed shows. After playing a pair of concerts at Red Rocks as part of its DeadRocks XI run (July 2-3, sold out in advance), the band jumps over to Civic Center park (101 West 14th Ave. in Denver) for the fifth annual Backyard Jamboree on Friday, July 4, with openers Ravenscoon, Cool Customer, Villager and lots more.

The family-friendly event, which includes a hot-dog eating contest, food and drinks vendors, and lawn games, should draw about 10,000 EDM fans to central Denver. Tickets, $89.95-$112.94, are still available via .

Warm Cookies of the Revolution

Friday. Denver nonprofit Warm Cookies of the Revolution, which turns civic engagement into fun, all-ages creative gatherings, is about drawing connections rather than dividing, and its latest event reminds us that the Fourth of July holiday belongs to all of us.

The Interdependence Day Celebration takes place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Friday, July 4, at the southeast corner of Huston Lake Park (850 S. Bryant St. in Denver), with live performances, traditional Mixtec Oaxacan cuisine from La Reyna del Sur, an herbalist walk “with magical medicine man Monticue Connally,” poetry from Molina Speaks, henna tattoos, lawn games and all-ages activities, chalk artwork, awards and more.

It’s free, all-ages and family-friendly. Visit to RSVP.

While its calendar is still coming together, Fiddler’s has already announced a few huge, must-see shows — plus some fun ones, if you’ve got the wherewithal.

Here are our picks.

Goose

This two-night stand proves the growing draw of Goose’s modern-day jams, with the Connecticut band having made its name opening for titans of the genre such as Dead & Co. and Phish leader Trey Anastasio. These will be long sets — just the way fans like it. June 6-7

Earth, Wind & Fire

Soul-funk legend Earth, Wind & Fire has, to our knowledge, not delivered anything less than a vigorously sweaty, crowd-pleasing set in Denver in recent years, so its upcoming concert — featuring Denver’s own Philip Bailey on vocals — will no doubt live up to the band’s many great performances. June 14

The Music of John Williams with the Colorado Symphony

Live orchestral scores set to film (or films) are old hat, but the choice of venue here shows the enduring power of John Williams’ music. The composer for “Jaws,” “Superman,” “Star Wars,” “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “E.T.,” “Home Alone” and dozens more is perfect for a soaring, outdoor concert on a summer night. No nostalgia required. June 29

Wu-Tang Clan

This influential hip hop group’s shows can sometimes feel chaotic, given all the cooks in the kitchen, but they’re never less than thrilling. A night of rap-along hits will be preceded by opener Run the Jewels, a headliner in its own right whose lacerating songs and social justice yen dovetails nicely with Wu-Tang’s sharp aesthetic. July 4

Koe Wetzel

This Birthday Bash concert from 98.5 KYGO-FM is going appropriately big with Wetzel, the powerhouse country-rock star and Texas native whose songs recall a grittier time in Americana music, despite his smooth voice and the odd genre-crossing experiment (grunge? Hip hop? Why not?). With Kip Moore, Corey Kent, The Castellows, and Bayker Blankenship. July 6

Santa Fe Klan and Shoreline Mafia

Although huge Spanish-language acts aren’t hard to find at Ball Arena, this joint tour is the rare Spanish-leaning show at Fiddler’s. Mexican rapper and songwriter Santa Fe Klan (Ángel Jair Quezada Jasso) and revived L.A. duo Shoreline Mafia make great bedfellows, along with the stacked opening lineup of Tornillo, Peysoh, and Bravo the Bagchaser. July 11

Excision

Without Broomfield’s FirstBank Center to fill (that EDM-favorite venue was recently torn down), this electronic-music heavyweight is turning to a pair of nights at Fiddler’s — with a potential 36,000 fans in attendance across both shows. That’s not quite enough to fill, say, Coors Field, but certainly enough to warrant applause for this Canadian DJ’s rabid fan base. Aug. 1-2

Cyndi Lauper

This newly inducted Rock & Roll Hall of Famer is on the final leg of her farewell tour, so don’t miss this chance to see (and hear) “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Time After Time” and “True Colors” in concert. Trust us: she’s wonderful live. With opener Jake Wesley Rogers. Aug. 12

Neil Young and the Chrome Hearts

Neil Young’s tireless sonic exploration extends to his road jaunts, as his globe-spanning Love Earth Tour this year demonstrates. Expect songs from across his massive solo-and-band catalog of folk and rock hits, including extended jams that test the limits of both the venue’s volume and his own, constantly tortured guitar strings. Sept. 1

Haim

A melody-drenched new album from this California-reared sister act is due out June 2, making the I Quit Tour (named for the album) well-timed for a summer send-off. As with Red Rocks, however, keep an eye on the weather for this time of year and dress appropriately. With opener Dora Jar. Oct. 3

Shows are all-ages unless otherwise noted. See more at fiddlersgreenamp.com and buy tickets at axs.com.

While acts like Coldplay, Chris Stapleton, Post Malone, Metallica and The Lumineers will headline the major arenas and amphitheaters around Denver, smaller venues along the Front Range and in the high country are growing their nationally headlining roster at an astonishing rate — even if they will never match the calendar at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (more on that below).

But there are also plenty of questions for music fans about the future. Here are 6 of those questions, along with some answers, for the 2025 concert season, which is just around the corner as shows start at Red Rocks on March 8 with , featuring Gramatik.

1. Will promoters get bots under control?

Probably not. Malicious bots that snatch up large numbers of tickets the moment they go on sale — then drive up prices for the re-sale market — , with new ones sprouting up the moment another disappears. Industry professionals are skeptical they can tame them, though they’re trying, said AEG Presents Rocky Mountains president Don Strasburg.

Ticket seller AXS — a spin-off of AEG that was also founded by Colorado billionaire Philip Anschutz — says it fights bots with its virtual waiting room, “where fans can join before an event goes on sale, allowing the platform to filter out automated bots and randomly select users to access tickets …” It’s a fairness issue, said the company, which sells most of the concert tickets at Red Rocks and all the tickets at city-owned venues.

The Federal Trade Commission and state lawmakers continue to investigate bots and re-sellers as well, leading to progress such as Colorado’s transparency-in-pricing bill, which as of August allows buyers to see fees before they click “purchase.”

2. Has country overtaken jam bands as Colorado’s hottest music?

Yes. With the proviso that country has always been more mainstream than jam bands in terms of ticket sales, radio play, industry profile, and booking. They may not always dominate Red Rocks’ calendar, for example, but the number and size of country concerts in metro Denver is growing, with major shows from Morgan Wade (Feb. 23 at Mission Ballroom), Post Malone and Jelly Roll (June 15 at Empower Field), Keith Urban (July 17 at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre), and Chris Stapleton (Aug. 22 at Ball Arena) and dozens more this year.

Grand Junction’s Country Jam also returns June 26-28 with Luke Bryan, Bailey Zimmerman, Cody Johnson, Tracy Lawrence and more. That’s not even mentioning the artists in the sweet spot of the country-jam-band crossover, from Americana and bluegrass to the twangy singer-songwriters populating theaters and clubs. We’re also likely getting a new country bar in LoDo, as plans have been filed for a mechanical bull in the space . And the TouchTunes digital jukebox company reports that many of the most popular songs played in Colorado are by artists like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan and Toby Kieth.

3. Have we reached full festival fatigue?

Yes. Promoters and artists have said there’s little room for new, multi-day events in the metro area, given that Colorado mountain towns are already bursting with them (see blues, folk and jazz fests through the summer in Telluride, Snowmass, Lyons, Vail, etc.).

Denver’s Underground Music Showcase, which returns July 26-28 along South Broadway, already features more than 100 local and national acts, while local mini-fests (see the excellent ) and packed bills have filled the demand for multi-performer events. That includes Civic Center’s returning Outside Festival (May 31-June 1), with Lord Huron, Khruangbin, Sylvan Esso, Trampled by Turtles and more.

On top of that, long-running fests that went on hiatus haven’t returned, such as the Westword Music Showcase, Arise Music Festival and Meow Wolf’s Vertex — not to mention the canceled Grandoozy, SnowBall, Velorama, and Mile High Music Festival of years past. The demand just isn’t there anymore.

“Festival fatigue is real,” said AEG’s Strasburg. “And one thing that’s been said before, but it’s true, is that Colorado already hosts the greatest festival in the world each year with its season of Red Rocks shows.”

4. Will Phish ever play Dick’s Sporting Goods Park again?

Maybe. The band this week confirmed a trio of dates at Folsom Field, July 3-5, marking its debut at the Boulder venue that typically hosts University of Colorado football games. Strasburg told The Denver Post that AEG Presents, which is handling the shows, works on a year-by-year basis and wouldn’t commit to a 2026 return.

So, it’s possible. But if the Folsom shows go well — and there’s every reason to believe they will, given Phish’s slick operations, constant sell-outs and fan loyalty — it would make sense for them to play a Colorado venue with fewer shows and more tickets than their annual Labor Day run at Dick’s in Commerce City, which has been going since 2011 (minus the 2020 off-year).

Phish is also well positioned to take over the regular Dead & Co. runs at Folsom, which ended in 2023, and make their multi-night stand a new summer tradition.

5. Has Red Rocks hit full calendar capacity?

Yes. For the first time, promoter AEG Presents, which books most Red Rocks shows, said the venue cannot fit any more events, minus the occasional rescheduled show or yet-to-be-announced booking. That bucks years of growth at the venue, which now hosts about 150 concerts each year through October and early November.

That’s a good thing for music fans seeing their favorite artist at arguably the world’s best venue. The revenue it generates for the city of Denver, which owns the historic amphitheater, ensures its upkeep and improvements, according to Denver Arts & Venues. But even as its calendar has expanded to winter months in recent years, there’s still a hard, seasonal wall that prevents most shows from reaching into December or February, promoters said.

There’s warm-weather room to grow at other amphitheaters, however, with bookings increasing in stature and number at Dillon Amphitheater, Buena Vista’s Meadow Creek, Ford Amphitheater, Levitt Pavilion Denver, and various high-country outdoor stages.

6. Will Ford Amphitheater and its neighbors ever come to terms?

Likely, but there’s no guarantee. Disagreements over noise levels at the luxury outdoor venue in Colorado Springs have pitted some neighbors against Venu, which owns the amphitheater that debuted in a big way just last year. But despite contentious city council meetings, constant emails from the Ford Hurts Families group, and public appeals, its owner, as well as promoter AEG Presents, are optimistic about putting a lid on it with new sound retention walls, tunnels, neighborhood noise-sensors, and other negotiated efforts.

“We recognized that we needed to bring this to a conclusion, and we have worked diligently with the city and residence of Colorado Springs to come to a resolution,” Venu owner JW Roth said via email this week. “We are jazzed about the upcoming season, and we feel great about the resolution that we accomplished!”

“We hope to see Venu make good on their promises …” critics wrote in the latest Ford Hurts Families newsletter, while noting that their current agreement could allow mitigations promised for 2025 not to be built until after the coming season, and attendant disruption, as they put it, has already occurred.