Following a packed March, concert season is finally in full swing this April with countless incredible artists coming through Colorado. If you’re anything like us, you might be having a hard time narrowing down the shows you want to catch this month, so we’re here to deliver eleven must-see performances in Colorado this April. From Bon Iver’s first show in Colorado in five years and Thursday’s triumphant comeback tour to smaller local benefits at The Marquis and intimate shows at Larimer Lounge, there is no shortage of diverse music in Denver.
What shows are you excited to see during this busy month? Who should we check out? Let us know in the comments!
4/5 – Colony House & Knox Hamilton @ The Bluebird Theater
This double hitter is the perfect show to keep the busy concert season going during the first week of April! Franklin, TN four-piece Colony House are currently riding the waves of success from their sophomore release, Only The Lonely, while Knox Hamilton have built quite a frenzy with their debut full-length, The Heights, which dropped last month. With these two killer artists in one place, you’re going to want to be there just to tell your friends that you saw them first.
4/7 – Defend DIY Benefit featuring innerspace, The Coast Is Ours & more @ The Marquis Theater
Want to catch some killer local music while also supporting a great cause? Then look no further! The members of Colorado alternative/progressive rock band innerspace have always been quite outspoken when it comes to bettering not only our local scene, but the country as a whole. Back in November, members of the band took some time off of promoting their new full-length in order to travel to South Dakota to aid in the protests at Standing Rock. This time around, they’re focusing on Colorado’s DIY music scene, with a killer show to benefit the recently closed venues, Rhinoceropolis and The Flux Capacitor. Fellow local artists, The Coast Is Ours, False Report & Clayton Wyatt will join them. To catch some great local music and learn how to help your scene, check this show out!
4/7 – Just Enough Food @ Larimer Lounge
If rock music isn’t really your speed, then you can catch some good old fashioned hip hop at the Larimer Lounge on Friday night as well! With doors opening at 8:00, it’ll still give you some time to make it down even if you get off work late to catch Just Enough Food’s album release show alongside a stacked lineup including a special guest performance from Travellers Music.
4/11 – Bon Iver @ 1st Bank Center
It has been five years since Bon Iver played Colorado last, yet thankfully tickets for the singer-songwriter’s upcoming show at the 1st Bank Center haven’t quite sold out yet. With his massive new album, 22, A Million out now, it’s the perfect time to catch him, because you never know – it might be another five years until he’s back again.
4/14 – State Champs @ Summit Music Hall
Although State Champs come through Colorado very frequently, their live performances are something you don’t want to miss. The pop-punk band is sure to bring high energy, sing-alongs, crowd surfing and maybe even a couple of stage dives to Summit Music Hall as they tour in support of their recently announced DVD and deluxe edition of Around The World And Back. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, then maybe a killer lineup will. Against The Current and With Confidence are sure to get the energy going early into the night, and UK breakout band Don Broco will finally be hitting US soil on this run. Having played massive arenas alongside Bring Me The Horizon and 5 Seconds Of Summer, these guys are sure to steal the show.
4/17 – Thursday @ Summit Music Hall
If you missed Thursday’s comeback performance at Riot Fest or their intimate and emotional aftershow at The Marquis last year, then now is your chance to see them. (And if you were at either or both of those shows, then you know why you need to catch them again.) After a nearly six year split, the band are finally back and touring once more, and right when we need them the most. Not only are Thursday bringing some incredible support with them on the road (Touche Amore, Basement & Cities Aviv will be playing alongside them in Denver) but they’ve also been very vocal in their support of refugees and equal rights. The band recently partnered with the ACLU to create a tour poster that carries the message of this current tour: “Refugees Welcome Here.”
4/22 – MONA @ Larimer Lounge
Nashville indie rock band MONA are one to watch, and the Larimer Lounge is the perfect place to catch them for the first time. With their new EP, In The Middle, the band’s first new music in two years, a new label – Bright Antenna Records – a new team and an extraordinary new batch of songs, the band is more on top of their game than ever.
4/22 – Beats Antique @ The Fillmore Auditorium
A Beats Antique show is something you just have to experience to understand. With a sound that is impossible to describe with just a single genre and a live performance that feels like a mix between a concert and cirque du soleil, it’s certainly a one of a kind experience that will beat out any old fashioned rock show any day. While cramming into a tiny room and singing songs you love with a band is always fun, sometimes sitting back and watching a carefully orchestrated performance is even better, and that’s what you’ll find if you catch Beats Antique at The Fillmore this month.
4/25 – Bishop Briggs @ The Bluebird Theater
Surely nothing can beat getting up at the crack of dawn to catch Bishop Briggs at Channel 93.3’s Kegs & Eggs last month, but if you’re less of a morning person, then her headlining show at The Bluebird Theater is just for you! The LA powerhouse has been quickly rising due to her unique brand of pop, and we won’t be surprised if this is the last time she plays a venue as small as The Bluebird in Denver.
4/26 – Emo Nite @ The Marquis Theater
You might recall our suggestion to check out Emo Nite back in February for the first Denver event of 2017, and if you were there, then you know just how wild it got. Not only did it sell out, but by the end of the night, the Emo Night crew and emo music lovers had completely drained The Marquis’ bar of all of their PBR. That’s right. It was that crazy.
Although Emo Nite isn’t technically a show, it is one event that you don’t want to miss this month. In case you’re not familiar, Emo Nite is a monthly emo rock music party started by three friends that brings together people who share a love of emo music from the 90’s, 2000’s and today. It’s an excuse to rock out and dance the night away while singing along to the greatest songs of your teenage years. For their upcoming event in New York, Emo Nite has tapped members of Thursday, Chiodos, Emarosa and more to perform. Who knows what’ll happen in Denver!
28 – Viretta, P O P F I L T E R & Valienta @ Larimer Lounge
This upcoming locals only show at Larimer Lounge is unlike any other. Although combined it is already well worth it to come out to catch Viretta, P O P F I L T E R and Valienta, these three bands will also be playing exciting cover sets! Come see Viretta performing songs by Radiohead, P O P F I L T E R performing songs by Phoenix and Valienta performing songs by The Killers and sing your heart out!