The marquee of the Fox Theatre, a popular live music venue, on the Hill in Boulder. (Robert Hylton/CU Independent File)
Editor’s note: This story was cross-published on the Rocky Mountain Collegian’s website, as well as in a special collaborative print edition with the Rocky Mountain Collegian in honor of the 2024 Rocky Mountain Showdown.
The music scene in Colorado is full of diverse styles and artists. While Denver is home to multiple famous artists, such as the Lumineers and Earth, Wind & Fire, the college towns of Boulder and Fort Collins also boast talented musicians.
Boulder has many ties to the music world, including through the University of Colorado Boulder’s professors. One such example is the hip-hop duo 3OH!3. Warren Motte, a professor in CU Boulder’s Department of French and Italian, is the father of one of the duo’s DJs.
“Everyone knows 3OH!3. They were great in the early 2000s,” said Paris Correa, a Colorado resident.
Another artist hailing from Boulder is Thadeus Labuszewski, a CU Boulder graduate who is also known as Disco Lines.
Outside of Boulder’s dance music scene, other genres thrive within the city. The Velveteers, an alternative and indie band, are one such example.
“I’ve seen The Velveteers live,” said Correa. “Their music and stage presence are phenomenal. They definitely have a late ‘70s, early ‘80s rock vibe — not only with their music but also with their appearance, clothes, hair, makeup and more.”
All artists have to start somewhere, and one such band, The Dirty Turkeys, is currently making a name for itself.
Comprised of a group of CU Boulder students, the acid-rock band was recently interviewed by Westword and mentioned their recent tour and gigs at notable venues, including the legendary Viper Room on the Sunset Strip.
Turning to Fort Collins, notable musicians include Pretty Lights, one of Colorado’s most popular dance music artists, and Still Runnin’, a local band.
“I currently live in Fort Collins and haven’t gone to many concerts up here, but I did see Still Runnin’ a year ago. It was so much fun. I absolutely loved their music, and you can tell they love it too and love to perform,” said Gianna Vanvalkenburg, a student at Colorado State University.
Vanvalkenburg also enjoyed the well-known music of Pretty Lights.
“I’ve also listened to Pretty Lights recently and really enjoyed his music,” Vanvalkenburg said. “I added some of his popular songs to my playlist, like ‘Finally Moving,’ ‘Hot Like Hot Sauce’ and his track with Odesza, ‘One Day They’ll Know,’” she said.
Some Boulder residents, known for their love of dance and high-energy music, showed a preference for Disco Lines and Big Gigantic.
“The music is just so upbeat and vibrant. It gives me so much energy,” said Amelia Simmons, a senior at CU Boulder.
Still, there’s no shortage of musical talent in both cities.
“Although I do know more Boulder artists like Big Gigantic, 3OH!3 and The Velveteers, I think both places have great musicians,” Vanvalkenburg said. “You can’t go wrong with either, but Boulder definitely has more recognized artists and a wider range of genres.”
Contact CU Independent Assistant Arts Editor Lou Leclercq at louison.leclercq@colorado.edu.
