Getting started with local music, part two

Fissure Mystic

As I mentioned yesterday, it can be pretty damned daunting and difficult for a well-intentioned person to start exploring Denver's almost embarrassingly fertile local music scene. Sure, you can pore over Westword's listings, but how do you figure out what's both worth checking out and up your proverbial alley? In the last Mile High Makeout, I talked about the power of catching local opening acts for touring bands that you already know. Today, we'll look at another trick that I actually used to start making out with the Denver music scene.

If you can push yourself out of the comfort zone of checking out bands you already know (to be honest, I still have trouble doing that), multi-artist showcases and festivals are a great way to expose yourself to new local talent. Fortunately, the Denver area has no shortage of such events, and the season is just about to get started. The Westword Music Showcase -- in addition to several other major affairs of its ilk -- makes it both easy and affordable to promiscuously sample the wares of several artists in a very short time. Go ahead! Be a slut! Sleep around, in the musical sense, and get your fill of local musicians of all stripes.