Denver music festivals plan separate dates for 2027 season
Organizers of Blucifer, UMS, and PorchFest held a meeting on November 5 to coordinate schedules after their events overlapped in July.
By Vikram Harrison ·
Denver music festival organizers met on November 5 to coordinate their 2027 schedules and avoid the date conflicts that occurred last summer.
The group included representatives from Blucifer, the Underground Music Showcase, and the RiNo BID Board. Terry Madeksza, executive director of the RiNo BID, stated that the goal of the discussion was to find ways for all live music events to thrive in the city.
Last summer, Blucifer and UMS operated on the same weekend in July 2026. Blucifer, a festival founded by musicians Mike Young and Gillian Pasley, took place at 17 independent venues and 17 house shows in the Baker neighborhood. It featured 259 local acts and drew more than 3,000 attendees over four days. Organizers reported that the event paid $124,000 to Colorado musicians through its partnership with the nonprofit Holy Fool.
UMS returned to the RiNo neighborhood that same weekend after selling a 50 percent stake to the RiNo BID Board. Keanan Stoner, CEO of Two Parts, said the festival drew more than 6,000 ticket holders per day in the Larimer corridor. More than 50 businesses participated by hosting bands or offering discounts.
Following these events, Bradley Schwartz organized Denver PorchFest on October 3, 2026. The free event featured approximately 200 local bands playing on 84 front porches in the Baker neighborhood. Schwartz estimated that 25,000 people attended the single-day festival, making it the largest in Colorado by attendance and number of acts.
Blucifer has already secured dates for its second edition, scheduled for July 22 through 25, 2027. Young said the festival aims to maintain a lineup of around 270 bands while increasing the number of house parties and basement shows. The organizers plan to distribute more money directly to artists.
UMS has not announced specific dates for 2027 but indicated it will avoid the July conflict. The festival plans to share details on social media at the beginning of the year. PorchFest is also planning a second edition for late next year, with further information expected in the spring.
Stoner described the atmosphere of the November 5 meeting as one of mutual support. He stated that the more the festivals communicate and learn from one another, the stronger the local live music scene becomes.
