2015 was a big year for music. Though that can be said for just about any year, it seems that 2015 marked a change in the way that we consume our music and the artists that we’re paying attention to. From artists like Adele who chose not to stream her new album, 25 on Spotify and Taylor Swift who decided to pull all of her music from the streaming service completely, to bands like Bring Me The Horizon who shocked fans by changing their sound entirely, this year has been full of ups and downs, big headlines and drama. But above all, it has been filled with great new music, making it nearly impossible for us to rate any albums from best to worst. Instead, The Prelude Press staff chose to highlight some of our favorite albums of 2015 in no particular order.

Gerard Way & Tape get emotional at Emo’s in Austin, TX. 

Melanie Martinez played her second of two shows in Denver at The Ogden Theatre to a very full (yet not quite sold out) house on Wednesday night. Originally set to perform two sold out shows at the much smaller Larimer Lounge, the send show was moved to the larger Ogden Theatre to accommodate high ticket demand, and moments after arriving at the venue, it was obvious why. Melanie Martinez fans are a devoted and passionate bunch. Much of the crowd was dressed quite like Martinez does – with childish babydoll dresses, bright colors and wild makeup to top it all off. These fans seemed like a family, complimenting one another on their wild outfits before even stepping foot in the door, and suddenly, I felt very underdressed in my jeans and t-shirt.

What started off as a fairly quiet and slow Thursday night at the Larimer Lounge proved to be a very full and diverse show. Indie-folk group, The Lighthouse and the Whaler and indie-pop group, Born Cages played a rather full room with local support from Chris Heckman of The Epilogues.

The last time The Neighbourhood headlined The Ogden Theatre in Denver last year, it was to a tightly packed and sold-out crowd, so when the California group came back through Denver at the same venue in support of their upcoming album, Wiped Out, it was no surprise that the venue seemed even fuller and more excited than last time. It’s safe to say that The Neighbourhood, with their black and white aesthetic and moody songs have a bit of a cult following, and those fans were packed right up at the front of the crowd, waiting eagerly for the band to take the stage.

On Wednesday, July 29th, I attended and photographed the Shot Boys of Summer tour at the Masquerade Atlanta, with the headlining band of State Champs. The lineup also included Hit the Lights, Tiny Moving Parts, Let It Happen, and Northbound.  Each band provided energy for the full venue that lit up the stage the entire night. Be sure to check out Northbound; I had never heard their live set before and it was absolutely amazing. What started out as an acoustic solo project with lead singer, Jonothan Fraser, has blossomed into an easycore pop-punk group. 

With the Vans Warped Tour making its stop in Denver, Colorado in just a few short days, the self-proclaimed Warped veterans at The Prelude Press have compiled a survival guide for any and all Warped Tour newbies, as well as festival-goers in need of a refresher before they hit the asphalt for a grueling twelve hours of live music. 

If you are an avid concert-goer, there’s a big chance that you are familiar with Sound Rink, as it seems that with every tour announcement comes a VIP upgrade for all die-hard and devoted fans. Co-founder Cody Delong talks about the rise of the VIP ticketing service. 

To be honest, I can’t think of a better lineup than Third Eye Blind, Dashboard Confessional and Augustana. Before I even stepped foot inside The Fillmore Auditorium on Thursday night, I knew I was in for a real treat, but by the end of the night, my expectations were blown away.