I recently went to a show in Denver that may have not been the destination of many but was a show that lit up the RiNo district with amazing musical acts like headliner Silversun Pickups and St. Lucia. The RiNo District in Denver is slowly growing, becoming a hot spot for young people and for festivals to thrive fitting into the busy Denver lifestyle. Located near the center of Downtown Denver, what was once seen as not an ideal place to stay is flourishing with life and adventure.
The first band that performed that night was A Silent Film. This indie rock band came all the way from England to open at this festival. They began the night with their spectacular song Harbor Lights, a favorite for many. Their band of a few members managed to enlighten the small crowd of people that had gathered around the stage to see this English group. This is definitely a band I would not miss if they came to town. I would rate their performance a seven out of ten.
The second band that performed that night was Bishop Briggs. A female fronted band lead by Bishop herself, their set was filled with heavy, electronic, pop music. Singing some of her songs like River and Wild Horses, Bishop engaged the crowd and showed how incredible her live shows are. She would later come back to Denver on Monday to perform with Coldplay at the Pepsi Center, showing off her and her band's talent to a larger Denver crowd. Overall I would rate Bishop Briggs' performance an eight out of ten.
Performing third was the wonderful local band out of Denver, 888. One of the best live shows I have seen them perform, 888 brings and interesting flare to the stage each time they have a show. Their song Critical Mistakes is always fun to dance and move around to live in concert. Overall, the Denver crowd enjoyed the local band and were enlightened by their set deserving a rating of eight out of ten.
Following 888 was St. Lucia, a band out of Brooklyn, New York. These New Yorkers stunned the crowd with hits like Dancing on Glass and Elevate. Lead singer Jean-Philip Grobler joined the crowd during the middle of their set for their song Love Somebody captivating fans and filling the crowd with excitement. Overall their performance was a great leeway to the band that would end the night, the headliner Silver Sun Pickups. St. Lucia's performance earned a rating of seven out of ten.
The final band that played that night was the Silversun Pickups. Brian Aubert's grungy vocals mixed with Nikki Monninger's light vocals presented an excellent mix on stage. The excitement of the show did not disappoint. The band played hit songs like Panic Switch and Lazy Eye. This 2000's band continues to impress its audience in even the smallest of venues. Overall I would give their performance a nine out of ten.
Not only was their excellent music at this festival but there was also fantastic food. The food vendors at the festival sold a plethora of food items meant to fit every dietary restriction. Food truck Wong Way Veg introduced excellent vegan cuisine to the festival, a personal favorite of mine. There were also a few trucks selling bratwursts and a smoothie stand. Concert goers did not only have easy access to food but also alcohol. Right across from where the venue was located there is a Blue Moon tavern, a perfect place for those over 21 to grab a few beers to savor while watching the show.
When the night came to a close, it was time to jump back into reality. This show was enjoyed by many and was a thrill for both the artists and the attendees. I would rate the RiNo Music Festival a nine out of ten; it was definitely a festival anyone in Denver should attend.
