Denver Blog

Why would promoters/venue owners/and these highly bankable acts put on free city concerts when they'd all make more performing at the clubs?

A) Something like this (may) work in Salt Lake because there's really no established channels for touring artists. Thus, in SLC, it makes sense for the city to step in and provide resources.

B) Something like this works in Austin and New York because bands get invaluable exposure through Austin City Limits, Summer Stage, etc. Not to mention they can play these high profile "free" events, and then play a sold out gig at a club the next night--in the same city. Not sure if this would be the case in Denver.

I discovered this concert series about a year ago when Josh Ritter & Andrew Bird were sharing a bill. I contemplated getting in a car and driving over the rockies...then gas hit $4. Oh the summer of '08.

I think this would work in Denver, as the act could hop to Boulder or Fort Collins for the next night or previous evening...play a smaller, intimate gig. There are enough great, intimate venues in this state that the concert series could even partner with one. Automatic promo for the venue and the artist's show there.

I asked this same question when Iowa announced the 80/35 festival in Des Moines. I live in Ft. Collins, & there's no reason FC couldn't sustain a festival on a smaller scale than the Mile High...and that doesn't just appeal to the champagne drinkers like New West Fest.

Yo yo,

Why you gotta hate on SLC Mr. Knowitall?

SLC actually has a great music scene and amazing touring bands that come through all the time, don't get it twisted.

These concerts don't happen because there isn't anything else going on, we just happen to have a City Arts Council that kicks ass!

Most of these bands head to Denver after anyway, so you're welcome! :)

My question would be who actually is underwriting these shows?

Oh wait... yeah upon looking at the website there are 16 corporate sponsors and 7 media sponsors. Anything can be free with the right amount of corporate sponsorship.

The bands I assure you are NOT playing for free and probably garner their regular rates. There is someone paying for the concerts, I promise you. I congratulate the Salt Lake City Arts Council for making a popular music series happen there. I agree with you Dave H... we should have something like this in the Denver Metro! Don't you know someone? Certainly you must know someone!

Let's get it done Denver! I travel all over the country as a touring musician and Denver is one of the only cities that doesn't do this for free... silly. The bands make great money with their merch and get the best exposure you can find since there is no ticket price. It's a win/win for the bands and the music fan.

So basically, after all the silly rhetoric and proverbial links to what we can all find on the web - what everyone is saying is that yes, we do need free shows of this caliber in Denver, for free. I love the art in this town and I'm ecstatic, probably more so than anyone, that we have established ourselves in that community - however - 2 million dollars on a statue in the park next to the convention center? I won't even mention the annual upkeep fees for cleaning the brown paint off their taints every time a juvenile thinks that is funny and original.

Long story short - that money would be better spent at a free concert series. No shit they get paid - but not as much as you'd think. I'm with you Dave, let's make it happen.