TIME TO CHECK OUT SUMMER LINEUP FOR RED ROCKS
The complete 2018 lineup, and what to watch for
Never mind the price of tickets, the traffic or the wild weather: Seeing a concert at Red Rocks Amphitheatre is easier than it’s ever been.
That’s because multimillion-dollar incentives have encouraged an increasing number of musicians and their fans to flock to the city-owned venue, which (surprise surprise) isn’t exactly cheap to rent.
Ride-sharing services have also made the 9,500-seat space easier to get to, despite the oft-nightmarish lines of cars that snake through the hilly grounds. And diverse genres, from hip-hop and avant-pop to Christian music and orchestral collaborations, have diversified the appeal of its calendar over the usual jam bands, EDM and classic rock.
Formerly relegated to June through September, Red Rocks’ “summer” concert season now spans most of the year. And while the shows have already begun, the majority are yet to come.
Here’s our full list, with breakouts and highlights. Shows with available tickets are not sold out as of press time. See prices, on-sale information and more at redrocksonline.com.
MAY
May 2: Post Malone’s inescapable, darkly spare “Rockstar” has been kicking around hip-hop radio for awhile, but as the lead single to his forthcoming sophomore album, “Beerbongs and Bentleys” (arriving April 27), it’s just a taste of what the 22-year-old New York rapper has in store for Red Rocks. With 21 Savage and SOB x RBE.
May 3: X Ambassadors
May 4: Twiddle, Stick Figure
May 5: Phil Lesh & the Terrapin Family Band, Leftover Salmon
May 6: Primus, Mastodon
May 10: Even the best tribute shows barely rate an artistic mention, but The Purple Xperience — a Prince cover act founded by Matt “Doctor” Fink, keyboardist for Prince’s backing band The Revolution — has a leg up. The fact that Prince’s death still feels so raw for so many also won’t hurt attendance for this massive sing-along, which benefits Colorado Public Television Channel12.
May 11: Tchami and Malaa
May 12: Global Dub Festival feat. Ganja White Night, Zomboy
May 13: Modest Mouse (sold out)
May 14: Khalid
May 15: “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (Film on the Rocks)
May 19: Above & Beyond May 20: Elephant Revival May 21: Phantogram, Tycho
May 22: The Decemberists
May 24: Louis The Child & Big Wild
May 25: The Devil Makes Three
May 26: Emancipator Ensemble
May 27: The Disco Biscuits
May 28: Haim
May 29: Five Finger Death Punch
May 30: Vance Joy May 31: Colorado Symphony has been on an artistic roll, marrying its precise, versatile playing with the accessible and smiling presence of music director Brett Mitchell — whose goal of bringing new audiences into the classical realm is being met showby-show. If a recent Rachmaninoff performance at the Buell Theatre (before a stirring “Rite of Spring”) is any indication, this performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 will offer an ideal balance of sparkle and comfort. With pianist Natasha Paremski.
JUNE
June 1:
Michael Franti & Spearhead are Red Rocks
veterans, which is why the jammy, socially conscious singer and his longtime band are comfortable enough at the venue to hold a 4:30 p.m. “yoga jam session” before their 7 p.m. concert. If that seems at odds with the decidedly un-health-conscious pregaming in the parking lot, you don’t know Franti’s fans. With Xavier Rudd and Victoria Canal.
June 2: The Motet, Boombox
June 3: Marshmello June 5-6: Whether they’re struggling to follow The Flaming Lips on a coheadlining bill or setting up for a triumphant twonight run of their own, Ween has run the gamut (and gauntlet) of Red Rocks experiences. For a duo of sarcastically mischievous songwriters, Ween also has a knack for jam band-worthy concerts, replete with epic renditions of modest songs and searing guitar solos. Prepare thyself.
June 7: Brit Floyd (Pink Floyd tribute)
June 8: Rage Rocks feat. Lettuce and the Floozies, Junk Hunter, Jaw Gems
June 9: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
June 10: John Butler Trio June 11: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (Film on the Rocks)
June 12: Bryan Adams June 13: Turnpike Troubadors
June 14: Ryan Adams June 15-16: Odesza June 17: Dispatch June 18: “Heathers” (Film on the Rocks)
June 19: Barenaked Ladies
June 20: Kaleo
June 22-24: Widespread Panic’s PR handlers love to advertise the fact that the beloved jam band holds the record for the most sell-outs in Red Rocks history. And why shouldn’t they? That’s an accomplishment that speaks to the Phish-like fan base Widespread has earned with its bluesy, often surprisingly straightforward music. Three consecutive shows at Red Rocks is far too little for many fans. June 26: Dirty Heads June 27: Third Day June 28: Chromeo, The Glitch Mob
June 29-July 1: The Avett Brothers (June 29 sold out)
JULY
July 1: The Avett Brothers
July 2-3: Zeds Dead July 4: Blues Traveler July 5-7: Umphrey’s Mcgee
July 8: For Dark Star Orchestra, the Grateful Dead tribute act that’s been known to faithfully recreate the latter’s most famous concerts, July 8 isn’t just another date. That’s the night, in 1978, when the Dead performed one of its most beloved and acclaimed sets at Red Rocks, which has been credited with kicking off the modern jam-band movement. We’re betting this 40th anniversary show recaptures some of that same magic — if only in the minds of Deadheads. With Keller Williams.
July 9: “The Big Lebowski” (Film on the Rocks) July 10: Ray Lamontagne July 12: moe.
July 13-14: GRIZ
July 15: Seal with the Colorado Symphony
July 16: Imagine Dragons is one of the biggest names on Red Rocks’ summer calendar, given that the Las Vegas pop-rock band could easily play a Colorado venue two to three times the size of Red Rocks and sell it out. With the fast-moving weather there, don’t be surprised if the band’s hit “Thunder” is accented by actual thunder during the show. With Grace Vanderwaal. 17: Jackson Browne July 18: Sylvan Esso July 19: Trampled by Turtles
July 20-22: The String Cheese Incident
July 23: “Happy Gilmore” (Film on the Rocks) July 24: Paramore July 25: Killer Queen July 26: Sarah Mclachlan with the Colorado Symphony
July 27: Beats Antique, The Polish Ambassador
July 28-29: Tedeschi Trucks Band
July 30: Halsey
July 31: Nas and Black Star are co-headlining one of Red Rock’s few hip-hop shows this year, and the acts could hardly be more complementary — Nas being the influential New York rapper behind “Illmatic” and other multiplatinum classics, and Black Star being the superduo of (similarly legendary) rappers Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) and Talib Kweli. Their mutually enduring legacies ensure an attentive crowd of old-school ‘heads. With Pusha T, Brother Ali and The Reminders.
AUGUST
Aug. 1: Yo-yo Ma performs Bach
Aug. 2: HARD Red Rocks feat. DJ Snake, Virtual Self, Mija, GG Magree, Hekler
Aug. 3: Lucero, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls
Aug. 4: Yonder Mountain String Band, The Infamous Stringdusters
Aug. 5: Joe Bonamassa Aug. 6: Steve Martin and Martin Short, The Steep Canyon Rangers, Jeff Babko
Aug. 7: “The Goonies” (Film on the Rocks)
Aug. 8: Portugal. The Man
Aug. 9: Leon Bridges is a retro-soul artist who actually delivers the musical goods, breaking little ground creatively while having a joyous time doing it. Beloved in England while still trickling into the U.S. mainstream, this Texan’s live show is where it’s at, with more songs to choose from than ever thanks to Bridges’ forthcoming sophomore effort “Good Thing.” With Khruangbin and Masego.
Aug. 10-11: Pretty Lights’ 10th anniversary shows Aug. 12: Brandi Carlile Aug. 13: “Black Panther” (Film on the Rocks)
Aug. 14: Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Dwight Yoakam
Aug. 15: Father John Misty
Aug. 16: Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
Aug. 17: Old Crow Medicine Show
Aug. 18: Railroad Earth Aug. 19: The Cult, Stone Temple Pilots, Bush
Aug. 20: Niall Horan, Maren Morris
Aug. 21: Rodrigo y Gabriela
Aug. 22-23:
Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats first headlined Red
Rocks last August, and 2018 marks another highwater mark for the band’s live prowess. As well it should: Denver’s Rateliff, formerly of promising indie band Born in the Flood, and then a quietly literate, pained singer-songwriter, has found his mainstream niche with the Night Sweats. But can any of the band’s new material live up to the raucous sing-along “S.O.B.”? Only time (about four months of it) will tell when it comes to Red Rocks. With Tank and the Bangas.
Aug. 24: 1964 (Beatles tribute)
Aug. 25-26: Reggae on the Rocks 30th anniversary feat. Rebelution, Stephen Marley, Common Kings, New Kingston, Jesse Royal
Aug. 27-28: David Byrne stands with select other Rock and Roll Hall of Famers — Springsteen comes to mind — whose sprawling catalog and emphasis on heroic concerts continually endears him to fans, despite not having released any hits in years. The former Talking Heads front man is as exploratory as he is artistically sound, although we’re thinking the crowds at this late-aujuly gust run will be doing more partying than pondering.
Aug. 29: Illenium (sold out)
Aug. 30: Shakey Graves Aug. 31: Atmosphere
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 1: Gramatik Sept. 2: Jason Mraz Sept. 3: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Sept. 4: Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Sept. 5: Gary Clark Jr. Sept. 6: Lake Street Dive offers an even more pleasant, sanded-down version of neo-soul than the aforementioned Bridges, although its conservatory-trained members occasionally bring the grit. The real draw is singer Rachael Price, whose easy, hipshaking stage presence recalls ‘70s singer-songwriters in her earnest polish and jazzy range. With Josh Ritter.
Sept. 7-8: STS9 (Sound Tribe Sector 9)
Sept. 9: O.A.R.
Sept. 10: Mac Demarco Sept. 11: Rascal Flatts Sept. 12: Needtobreathe Sept. 13: The Revivalists Sept. 15: Rise Against Sept. 16: Trapfest feat. Nghtmre, Slander, Joyryde, Noisia
Sept. 17: Punch Brothers, Gillian Welch
Sept. 21: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Galactic
Sept. 22-23: Greensky Bluegrass
Sept. 24-25: Beck is another artist who must have liked Red Rocks so much during his last visit there (July 11) that he’s returning for a pair of dates. The chameleonic singer, rapper, dancer and all-around Socal weirdo (in a good way, of course) can be a glorious live presence when he brings it, and this run has all the makings of a tour de force, given that he’s still coasting on his dance-ready 2017 release “Colors.”
Sept. 26: Ms. Lauryn Hill Sept. 27: Get the Led Out (Led Zeppelin tribute) Sept. 28-29: Big Gigantic Sept. 30:
Gregory Alan
Isakov’s voice is probably better known than his name; the Colorado folkie’s delicate compositions have been heard on a number of commercials and TV shows (”Californication,” “The Black List,” “Girls,” “Rectify”). Isakov has a knack for collapsing the distance between performer and audience, which is no small feat at Red Rocks. With Patty Griffin.
OCTOBER
Oct. 5: Sluggtopia II feat. Snails
Oct. 9: The National’s reliably dour (if clever and elegant) music has felt a bit same-y on its recordings the last few years, but the band’s live intensity cannot be denied. Sincere almost to the point of selfparody, The National is a slow pleasure in the age of always-on everything allthe-time. And they rock, too. With Sharon Van Etten.
Oct. 11: Seven Lions Presents: Chronicles (Chapter 2) feat. Kill the Noise, Jason Ross, Mitis
Oct. 13: Rezz Rocks feat. Tokimonsta, Bleep Bloop, Charlesthefirst, Digital Ethos
Oct. 20: Paradox at the Rocks feat. Excision, Skism, Trampa, Barely Alive
Oct. 22: A Perfect Circle is far more active these days than singer Maynard James Keenan’s other band, Tool. And while Keenan’s always come off as mercurial and self-involved (to put it lightly), those same attributes make him a fascinating and unpredictable stage presence — whether he’s got his back turned to the crowd (as he did at Mile High Music Festival in 2009 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park) or is roaming it like a madman. This show coincides with A Perfect Circle’s first album in 14 years, “Eat the Elephant.”
John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or @johnwenzel