Welcome to The Weekly Mixdown! It’s your front-row pass to what’s happening in music right now. The latest news, fresh voices, underground gems, and culture stories that keep the scene alive — all in one mix.
Nov. 20
Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman Announce Tour
It will be a co-headlining solo tour.
Nov. 13
Aimee Mann Cover The Carpenters
Aimee Mann covered The Carpenters’ “Rainy Days and Mondays” for the new Tim Robinson show, The Chair Company. Listen here!
Nov. 6
Katie Crutchfield & Allison Crutchfield’s New Music Project: Snocaps
Learn more by reading Ben’s Music Discovery Article!
Oct. 30
The Wedding Present Announce Seamonsters 35th Anniversary Tour
They will be at Meow Wolf on April 21, 2026. Get the details at our Concert Calendar.
Oct. 23
Echo & The Bunnymen Announce North American Tour
Echo & The Bunnymen will tour North America in 2026.
Oct. 16
R&B/Neo-Soul legend D’Angelo passes away at 51.
The Neo-Soul icon passed away from pancreatic cancer.
Grizzly Bear play first show in 6 years
They never officially broke up, but we’re still calling this a reunion.
Oct. 9
Rush adds more shows to 2026 North American Tour
The band now has a total of 23 dates!
Blondshell announces ‘Another Picture’ out November 14
Featuring Conor Oberst, Samia and Gigi Perez.
Dropkick Murphys Announce Annual St. Patrick’s Day Residency
The band celebrates its 30th birthday next year with its annual St. Patrick’s Day residency in Boston.
Gorillaz share new single “The Manifesto”
Featuring former D12 member Proof and Argentine rapper Trueno.
Paul McCartney Performs “Help!” For the First Time in 35 Years
He used the Höfner bass he was recently reunited with after 50 years to play the song.
Sept. 25
Bluebird Music Festival
The 2026 lineup is revealed!
Boulder Roots Music Fest
Boulder’s newest music festival debuts next month – and the lineup has been revealed for this one as well!
RIP Sonny Curtis
He was a member of the Crickets with Buddy Holly, and he also wrote some pretty timeless songs (including the theme to a well-known TV show).
“Barracuda”
At a recent New York show, Chappell Roan brought out Heart’s Nancy Wilson for version of the band’s classic song.
Oasis unplugged
Listen to a new ‘unplugged’ version of “Morning Glory” from an upcoming 30th anniversary release of the band’s classic album (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?
U2 and Woody Guthrie
U2 has been chosen to receive the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize, joining the likes of Pete Seeger, Mavis Staples, Joan Baez, and Bruce Springsteen.
RIP Danny Thompson
A British folk music icon, Thompson was a founder of the band Pentangle and a collaborator with many more artists including John Martyn, Nick Drake, June Tabor, and the Incredible String Band.
Graceland…for sale?
Not so fast. “Experts were baffled by the attempt to sell off one of the most storied pieces of real estate in the country.”
Sept. 18
Bluebird Music Festival
The festival returns to Boulder in 2026, and they will announce the artist lineup next week.
FoCoMX 2026
Next year’s dates have been announced!
Robert Redford in Colorado
Did you know that the late Robert Redford not only attended CU Boulder but worked at this Denver theater?
Cereal box records
Perhaps you – or your parents – remember collecting these?
Home Alone…the tour?
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the film, Macaulay Culkin promises “terrible trivia questions” and “Joe Pesci stories.” And yes, there’s a Denver stop.t
The Definitive Decoration Day
Drive-By Truckers announced a new 4-LP version of their debut album with Jason Isbell.
“Psycho Killer”
David Byrne performs the Talking Heads classic for the first time in nearly 2 decades during his Who Is the Sky? tour opening night. Yes of course there’s video.
Sept. 11
The Land
Mitski announces a new concert film based on her 2024 performances in Atlanta.
RIP Bruce Loose
He was the frontman for San Francisco punk band Flipper (“Sex Bomb”).
VMA highlights
Who won, who performed, what they wore – all the good stuff you need to know.
Nebraska box set
Bruce Springsteen’s latest box set, Nebraska ’82: Expanded Edition, arrives Oct. 17 and includes the long-rumored ‘electric Nebraska‘ sessions.
Sept. 4
Portishead reunites
It’s a one-off performance for Brian Eno’s “Together for Palestine,” taking place Sept. 17 at London’s Wembley Arena. Proceeds go to Choose Love, a British charity partnered with Palestinian-led organizations in Gaza to provide humanitarian relief.
David Byrne’s wedding playlist
Not only is David Byrne releasing a new album and going on tour, he’s also getting married! No, we weren’t invited either, but he is sharing his wedding playlist with us, so that’s pretty cool.
Sex Pistols tour
Upcoming tour dates with Frank Carter were postponed because Steve Jones broke his wrist. Get well soon, Steve!
The Smiths are…for sale?
Morrissey has put his business interest in the band up for sale.
August 28
Calm down already
As NPR wonders, maybe some overzealous brands need to just take a breath.
Denver’s best concerts ever?
Some seem undeniable, but others…well, see what you think.
“Let Down”
Thanks to TikTok, the Radiohead song became the band’s fourth-ever to enter the Billboard Hot 100.
Ron and Marc Bolan
Next Wed. (Sept. 3) in Boulder, catch Ron when hosts a talkback after a screening of Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex.
A Pogues ‘punk musical’?
The Wire creator David Simon has expressed interest and mentioned it again in a recent interview.
Sting sued
His former Police bandmates are suing over alleged lost songwriting royalties from one of their best-known songs.
New Mavis Staples album
Legendary artist Mavis Staples announced a new album, Sad and Beautiful World, due Nov. 7. Guests include Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Jeff Tweedy, Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman, Justin Vernon, and Derek Trucks.
August 21
RIP Brent Hinds
The cofounder of Grammy-winning heavy-metal band Mastadon was killed in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta.
Remembering Terence Stamp
The actor and writer was acclaimed for a wide range of roles in films such as Superman, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and Steven Soderbergh’s The Limey.
Fake Bieber tricks DJ Gryffin
A Justin Bieber impersonator was able to get on stage at the Wynn Encore in Las Vegas after convincing headliner DJ Gryffin that he was the real deal.
Kneecap update
“The criminal case against the Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh should be thrown out, a court has heard.”
Five Leaves Left
A new box set dives deep into Nick Drake’s legendary debut album.
10 bygone Denver music venues
From El Chapultepec to the 15th Street Tavern and beyond.
Nick Cave vs. AI
A new “Tupelo” video by filmmaker Andrew Dominik, featuring “a floating AI Elvis,” seems to have given Cave a new perspective. “As I watched Andrew’s surreal little film, I felt my view of AI as an artistic device soften. To some extent, my mind was changed.”
Robert Wilson
Tom Waits shares a tribute to the renowned playwright and theater director, who passed away recently. “No one could paint like Bob with light…he found all the things that live between the membrane and the weathervane.”
Here, together
In honor of World Photography Day (Aug. 19), NPR shared images from member station photographers exploring “everyday moments” that are “big and small, joyful and challenging, ordinary and extraordinary.”
August 14
Primus Had a Full List of Surprise Guests at Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on Aug. 6
The eclectic list included Tool drummer Danny Carey and bassist Justin Chancellor, opening act Ty Segall, South Park co-creator Matt Stone, comedian Bill Burr and bass virtuoso MonoNeon onstage at various points.
Chrissie Hynde Drafts Dave Gahan, Brandon Flowers For Duets LP
Chrissie Hynde has rounded up a host of rock’n’roll heavy hitters for the new album Duets Special, which will be released Oct. 17. The project features a different special guest on each of its 13 songs, including the late Mark Lanegan, the Killers’ Brandon Flowers, Depeche Mode’s Dave Gahan, Garbage’s Shirley Manson, Cat Power and k.d. lang.
The Mountain Goats to Reissue The Sunset Tree for 20th Anniversary
The newly remastered edition is out October 17 via 4AD. The album houses “This Year,” long considered the band’s most popular song until “No Children” saw a surge in popularity via TikTok.
August 7
Gigi Perez, Coldplay and Green Day Nominated for MTV Awards
The 2025 MTV Video Music Awards take place on Sunday, September 7. Lady Gaga leads the pack with 12 nominations. There are also numerous first-time nominees, including Mac Miller, who is being recognized posthumously for the visual accompaniment to Balloonerism.
Who Doesn’t Love A Good Covers Album?
Iron & Wine’s Sam Beam and Band of Horses’ Ben Bridwell announced their second covers album will be out in September and will include their renditions of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” Kendrick Lamar/SZA’s “Luther,” and Foreigner’s “I Want To Know What Love Is.”
British Rocker Terry Reid Dies at 75
Known as Superlungs for his indomitable voice, the singer-songwriter became a cult hero after declining to front Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple
Ozzy Osbourne Exhibition Has Had Over 96,000 Visitors
An exhibition in Birmingham, England dedicated to Ozzy Osbourne has been extended by more than three months due to public demand.
July 31
New Foo Fighters Drummer Announced
From Nine Inch Nails to the Foo Fighters. Ilan Rubin has been welcomed to the band after Josh Freese was fired a few months ago.
Tyler, The Creator and Ozzy Ozbourne Top the Charts
Topping the Billboard album charts this week is a new creation and proof that Ozzy will be missed.
July 24
RIP Chuck Mangione
He was best known for the massive 1978 pop-jazz instrumental hit “Feels So Good,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Record of the Year at the Grammys. (Later, he had a recurring role playing himself on the animated series King of the Hill.)
Farewell Ozzy Osbourne
“It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away. He was with his family and surrounded by love,” the Osbourne family said in a statement.
Black Sabbath’s origin story
“Don’t you think it’s strange how people pay money to get frightened? Why don’t we start writing horror music?”
Getting married soon?
Lucy Dacus just might officiate your wedding at one of her shows.
A new Blaze Foley song?
Not so fast. Despite being published on Spotify, ‘new’ songs from the late Blaze Foley and Guy Clark are most likely AI.
Song peddler earns $20
All he had to do was sing “Kodachrome.”
RIP George Kooymans
The founding singer-guitarist of Dutch rock band Golden Earring (“Radar Love”) has died at age 77.
The Russian government vs. Pussy Riot
The Russian parliament “passed new legislation that makes it a punishable offense to merely search for content deemed ‘extremist.’” And this includes videos by the punk collective Pussy Riot.
The books that shaped you
NPR wants to know about books you read in high school that have had a lasting impact.
Zach + Bruce
At a recent New Jersey show, Bruce Springsteen pops on stage with Zach Bryan to duet on “Atlantic City.” Watch a video.
July 17, 2025
RIP Andrea Gibson
Colorado’s Poet Laureate died this week at age 49. “Dying is the opposite of leaving,” they wrote shortly before they died. “When I left my body, I did not go away. That portal of light was not a portal to elsewhere, but a portal to here. I am more here than I ever was before.”
And also Connie Francis
Pop singer Connie Francis, the first female singer to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100, has passed away at age 87. She was best known for songs like “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” and “Who’s Sorry Now?” but sold a whopping 40 million records by the time she was only 25.
Emmy nominations
See all complete list of 2025 nominees – and a separate list highlighting all the music categories. (What, no nomination for “Turn the Other Cheek”?)
Stranger Things teaser
Watch a new trailer/teaser for Stranger Thing‘s fifth and final season.
Beyoncé music stolen
Unreleased Beyoncé music was among items stolen from a rental car earlier this month during her Cowboy Carter tour stop in Atlanta.
Stones guitar resurfaces
Speaking of thievery, a Les Paul guitar stolen from the Rolling Stones during the Exile on Main St sessions in the 1970s has turned up in an unlikely place.
Let the lawsuits begin
Jane’s Addiction band members sue Perry Farrell…and he sues back.
A single disc simply won’t suffice
Jeff Tweedy announces an upcoming triple album, Twilight Override.
Bespoke shoemaker
Francis Waplinger makes shoes by hand – this illustrated story of his career journey is fascinating, and fun.
Colorado Symphony
Three musicians give a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like working with the world-renowned orchestra.
July 10, 2025
Paul McCartney on tour
His ‘Got Back’ tour will stop at Coors Field in Denver Oct. 11.
Black Sabbath’s final show
The all-day affair featured many special guest performers and was capped by a 4-song Black Sabbath set. (Profits from the event are being split by 3 charities. More feelings shared here.)
Oasis vs. Blur
Damon Albarn of Blur wishes Oasis well but says he’s “too busy” to attend one of their shows this summer.
The Velvet Sundown
Your new favorite band just might be…AI. “It turned out the hoax was part of a bigger hoax.”
Reverse lightning bolts
What is a “gigantic jet”? It’s a lightning bolt that shoots UP toward space. And it’s real. See the photo.
Wet Leg visits the Tiny Desk
“Fans might be surprised by how much Wet Leg leans into [its] more understated side.”
Federal Theater
The owners behind the Oriental Theater and HQ hope to have the Federal Theater in Denver open as a 650-seat music venue by the end of September. “It just felt too good not to do, to be able to revitalize this building.”
Pitch perfect
Meet the piano tuner who keeps Fort Collins’ outdoor pianos in tune (and while you’re at it, learn about the public art project itself, Pianos About Town).
Neon Grey Midnight Green
Neko Case announced her first new album in 7 years. “It is my vision. It is my veto power. It is my taste.”
Matt Cameron
The Pearl Jam drummer is stepping down after 27 years. “It’s been an incredible journey. More to follow.”
Bon Iver and the Minnesota Lynx
The Grammy-winning musician and the WNBA team announced a first-of-its-kind partnership focused on gender equity and community impact.
July 3, 2025
Independence Day celebrations
KUNC shares where you can catch fireworks, festivals, and more in towns and cities along the Front Range. Westword offers even more choices for fireworks.
Tiny Desk – behind the scenes
Step behind the ‘desk’ to to get the story of NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series in this super-fun video – and see some of the amazing items artists have left behind.
Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
And speaking of Tiny Desk Concerts, check out the latest featuring these two Americana icons.
The final UMS?
This month’s Underground Music Showcase (UMS) in Denver will be the last in its current form. “We’ve been having conversations for the last three years about the sustainability of the festival.”
The future of music festivals
UMS isn’t alone – other festivals are facing a crunch, too. “Money’s tight, and the way people discover and experience music today is changing.”
Ascending Everest…by drone
Watch this mesmerizing drone footage showing an ascent of Mt. Everest from the Tibetan side.
Bob Vylan
The English punk duo had their U.S. visas revoked after their Glastonbury performance.
Amy and the Sniffers
In the wake of the Glastonbury controversy, the Australian band released a statement in support of Bob Vylan and fellow outspoken artists Kneecap.
“Best song of the night”
A fan launches into an unplanned song during his on-stage Green Day moment, and it doesn’t go over well.
June 26, 2025
Glastonbury 2025
Follow the Guardian’s Glastonbury live blog for up-to-date reviews of this year’s festival. (And if you want to stream it live, here are some options.)
Lion’s Lair building sold
The building housing the infamous Lion’s Lair on East Colfax in Denver has sold, for the first time in a century.
RIP Bobby Sherman
He was a teen idol singer, actor, and…believe it or not…later in life become an emergency medical technician. “There’s not a better feeling than the one you get from helping somebody out.”
The Weeknd in Denver
His recent show at Empower Field at Mile High broke a new record.
King Gizzard’s unique European tour
The band played five different cities for three-night runs in historic or otherwise curious venues, including the panopticon Lukiškės prison in Vilnius and the Lycabettus hill theatre in Athens.
David Lynch estate auction
“I just really wanted to tap into the David Lynch energy and be here to absorb this experience,” said one fan. “I’m rebuilding stuff, so I kind of wanted something meaningful,” said another.
Terry Riley turns 90
The minimalist composer is best known for his 1964 composition In C. “When we first started rehearsing it, nobody, including me, knew how to play it.”
Living Colour Tiny Desk Concert
“Did we really squeeze the big sound of Living Colour behind the Tiny Desk? Yes, we did. And, yet, the band lost none of its intensity.”
Syringe attacks
Some 145 people reported being pricked by a needle during a nationwide festival in France.
Carly Simon on Sabrina Carpenter
Carly also once gained media attention for a ‘provocative’ album cover.
June 19, 2025
RIP Charles Burrell
Colorado Music Hall of Famer Charles Burrell – the first African American to sign a full-time contract with a major American symphony orchestra – has passed away at age 104. “What a loving, gifted soul.”
Thanks but no thanks
Carol Kaye was due to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year, but she is declining. “It wasn’t something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.”
Summer reading suggestions
These book recommendations are from KUNC staff and listeners (and maybe a few of you, too).
Deliver Me from Nowhere
See the first trailer for the Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White.
Nezza
The L.A.-based singer defied the rules and sang the National Anthem in Spanish at a recent Dodgers game. “The outpouring of love has been unbelievable.”
That’s Entertainment!
The story behind Gang of Four‘s now-classic debut album. “Whenever we play the songs now, I’m almost depressed that they’re still relevant.”
“Archbishop Harold Holmes”
Watch the new video for the 2024 Jack White song, which stars John C. Reilly in an ‘electrifying’ performance.
Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky Festival returns
Taking place Jan. 15-19 in Riviera Maya, Mexico, the lineup includes Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, Valerie June, Hurray for the Riff Raff, and Yo La Tengo.
Bonnaroo
Due to weather, the festival canceled the whole shebang after the first day, offering 75% refunds…and fans are not happy.
“We are not the story”
A huge crowd (including Paul Weller) came out to support Mo Chara from Irish band Kneecap, who appeared in court over terrorism charges.
June 12, 2025
RIP Sly Stone
With his band Sly and the Family Stone, “Sly changed the way that everyone heard pop music and then changed it again.”
RIP Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys
“We realize that we are sharing our grief with the world.”
Isle of Wight festival
Festival founder Ray Foulk on how they managed to ‘steal’ Bob Dylan away from Woodstock (“it felt like winning the lottery”), myths about unruly crowds, and why it stands as “a blueprint for the modern [music] festival.”
“Watch Me”
Ricky L. Hawk (a.k.a. Silentó) had a hit 10 years ago with the song “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae).” Now he’s going to prison.
The story behind Vinyl Me, Please
We’ve been referencing the company’s dramatic ups and downs a lot lately – here’s a bit more background.
David Byrne is back
Well, truth is he never really left, right? But he’s got a new album on the way (Who Is the Sky? will feature some killer collabs) and a tour set to fire up this fall, including 2 Denver dates.
June 5, 2025
Taylor Swift’s masters
Taylor Swift has acquired the rights to her master recordings. “I almost stopped thinking it could ever happen, after 20 years of having the carrot dangled and yanked away. But that’s all in the past now.”
Vinyl Me, Please acquired
Record subscription service Vinyl Me, Please has been acquired out of bankruptcy by VNYL Inc., a company that already runs two other vinyl clubs (so hopefully they know what they’re doing).
Tank and the Bangas
Their Grammy award gets delivered…to the wrong address. (We hate it when this happens!)
RIP Simpsons composer Alf Clausen
He was responsible for all the incidental music including “Treehouse of Horror” episodes, the “Itchy & Scratchy” theme, and songs like “We Put the Spring in Springfield.”
Will Ferrell’s Eurovision coming to Broadway
Ferrell and Harper Steele are bringing their 2020 movie Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga to Broadway. “The stage musical is a perfect place to continue our celebration of all the things we love about this amazing and unifying song competition.”
He may not sing again
Morten Harket, frontman of Norwegian synth-pop band a-ha, revealed he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. “The question is whether I can express myself with my voice.”
“I photographed the world”
See some of the stunning images created by the late Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado.
The ‘naked poster’
The Guerrilla Girls, formed 40 years ago, gained widespread fame after highlighting how women artists are vastly underrepresented in major museums. “How did museums get away with celebrating the history of patriarchy instead of the history of art?”!
May 29, 2025
Global Sounds in Fort Collins
The annual free concert happens Saturday, May 31 and features Ozomatli, CIMAFUNK, Blessing Bled Chimanga, Banda La Patrona, and more. We’ll be there, too – come say hello!
King of the Hill is back
During the show’s original run (1997-2010), Tom Petty voiced the character Elroy “Lucky” Kleinschmidt and other musician guests included Tammy Wynette, Willie Nelson, Gwen Stefani, the Chicks, and ZZ Top’s Dusty Hill. The new season starts Aug. 4.
RIP Rick Derringer
Yes he sang the classic rock staple “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” (Stranger Things fans will know this song) and was behind Ohio’s official state rock song of 1985, “Hang on Sloopy.” But the guitarist also produced and worked with numerous artists including Edgar Winter, Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Cyndi Lauper, Patti Smith, and Weird Al Yankovic. He was even friends with Andy Warhol!
Irma Thomas interview
“I didn’t mind the Stones recording the song. What I did resent was when audiences would request I ‘sing the Stones song.’ Well, no thank you.”
Buena Vista Social Club
Watch the cast of the Broadway musical perform a Tiny Desk Concert.
David Lynch’s espresso machine
That and more than 450 other items from his personal archive are set to hit the auction block on June 18.
RIP photographer Sebastião Salgado
“Salgado, who produced more than 500,000 images while meticulously documenting every continent on Earth and many of the major geopolitical events since the second world war, will be remembered as one of the world’s most prodigious and relentlessly empathetic chroniclers of the human condition.”
Miller moths…
…are actually cool?
Keep the Beat
The Colorado Music Hall of Fame will provide up to $1,000 toward mental health and/or addiction counseling from licensed mental health professionals for eligible Colorado musicians, music industry professionals, and gig workers.
Maximum Rocknroll
The world’s largest collection of punk records is moving to Tennessee. “In one fell swoop, the Center for Popular Music is going to be the new epicenter of punk-related research.”
May 22, 2025
Steve Perry interview
The former Journey vocalist talks about his new collaboration with Willie Nelson, among other topics.
Kneecap
Mo Chara, a member of the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, has been charged with a terror offense after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a London gig.
Queen’s final Denver show
D’Art Gallery in Denver will feature an exhibit of photos by Ben Perea from Queen’s final show in Denver in 1982.
May 19, 2025
Jim Morrison returns
Or rather, is returned. “After 37 years of absence, the bust of Jim Morrison, stolen in 1988 from the Père Lachaise cemetery, has been found.”
“Voices Carry”
“This is the song that made us recognizable in airports across America,” says Aimee Mann, who reunited with Til Tuesday for the first time in 35 years at Cruel World Festival in Pasadena this past Saturday. (She also talked about the reunion in a recent interview.)
Guided By Voices
According to Bobby Bare, Jr., who’s been a member of the band since 2016, GBV is never going to play live again. (But then Rolling Stone shared a different take….)
Zak Starkey
The Who fires longtime drummer Zak Starkey…again? “I was fired two weeks after reinstatement,” he said in a post on Instagram, “and asked to make a statement saying I had quit.”
Eurovision
And the 2025 winner is….
May 15, 2025
Eurovision 2025
The competition is heating up! Hear songs from 10 of the semifinalists who have qualified to compete in this year’s Grand Final. A second semifinal round takes place May 15, and the final showdown is May 17. You can watch both on YouTube.
Farm Aid
The 40th anniversary will take place Sept. 20 in Minneapolis. The lineup includes Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews, Margo Price, Billy Strings, Nathaniel Rateliff, Waxahatchee, Eric Burton of Black Pumas, and more.
Beth Gibbons plays Tiny Desk
The Portishead singer’s voice “acts as reassurance that our aching world is worth loving and fighting for. To experience that voice is humbling; up close, it’s breathtaking.”
Hear Willie Nelson sing with…Steve Perry
It’s a new take on a classic Journey song. Proceeds from the duet benefit Farm Aid in celebration of the nonprofit organization’s 40th anniversary.
Amazing fan-made record sleeves
Have you ever drawn on a record sleeve? You’re not alone. See photos from Sleeve Notes, a new photo book from artist Dominique Russell. “I feel like these [hand-drawn inner record sleeves] speak to a time when people felt a real connection to their music collection.”
The Kooks and Hard-Fi
“We’re at that point where teenagers start going back to listen to the music their parents grew up with.”
Steve Albini ‘estate sale’
And you’re invited. Every Friday you have a chance to buy something from his “closet” of books, records, cassettes, zines, T-shirts, and other oddities. Proceeds benefit Albini’s estate.
Improving accessibility at venues
For fans and artists living with disability, “going to or performing at a live gig can be challenging.”
Hamlet Hail to the Thief
The play is “billed as a unique live experience that brings Shakespeare’s great tragedy and Radiohead’s seminal album together for an experience fusing theatre, music and movement. The parallels [between the two works] are strikingly clear.”
Future Ruins
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have announced a new music and arts festival that celebrates film and TV composers. Taking place Nov. 8 in L.A., the lineup includes Questlove, Mark Mothersbaugh, Claudio Simonetti, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Terence Blanchard, and John Carpenter, along with Reznor and Ross.
Michael Shannon and R.E.M.
The actor talks about his new focus co-fronting an R.E.M. ‘cover band’ – and why it’s so satisfying. “The tour seemed to give everybody a boost, including us.”
May 9, 2025
Bluebird Music Festival returns to Fort Collins
Check the Concert Calendar for details on the who, what, when, and where.
Fort Collins Food Truck Rally
We are excited to again sponsor this awesome and fun food-and-music event in Fort Collins this summer! Get details and see the musical lineup.
Cave vs. Cage
Nicholas Cage says he’s often mistaken for Nick Cave.
Lemmy Kilmister statue
A bronze statue of the Motörhead frontman will be unveiled this week on Stoke-on-Trent. But not all the ingredients are bronze…..
André 3000
He moved from hip-hop to the flute, and now he’s embracing…the piano (and not just the one on his back at the Met Gala).
And speaking of the Met Gala…
NPR has red carpet photos, in case you’re curious. (You know you are.)
Pump up the bass
“A thumping bass may do more than light up a party—it could flat out extinguish it, thanks to a new sound-blasting fire extinguisher.”
Alvin Lucier’s ‘artificial brain’
In 2018, the composer – who died 3 years later – “began working with a group of artists and scientists on a project called ‘Revivification,’ which would continue generating art after his death.” Is it working?
May 2, 2025
RIP Jill Sobule
Jill Sobule, the award-winning singer-songwriter and human rights activist, who made history with her 1995 single “I Kissed a Girl,” died in a house fire in Minneapolis this week. “Who didn’t know of Jill Sobule in the mid-’90s?” says The Colorado Sound’s own Ron, a friend of Sobule. “Especially here in her home state? MTV loved playing the ‘I Kissed A Girl’ video, and Coloradans loved the attention to one of ‘our own.’”
RIP Mike Peters of the Alarm
Having lived with blood cancer for 30 years, Peters was a long-standing cancer campaigner and fundraiser. In 2018, he told Guitar World magazine that his “simple message” was “to stay alive and appreciate every second you’ve got. Live right up to the last breath and stay positive about the world, your family and the environment you live in.”
Rock Hall announces 2025 inductees
The White Stripes, OutKast, Warren Zevon, Cyndi Lauper, and Carol Kaye are among the 2025 inductees, which were announced by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this week.
A visual guide to Eurovision
This ‘visual guide’ to the famed international music competition is pretty great – and may help you understand what’s coming (this year’s competition is May 9-13 in Liverpool).
Studying death metal singers
Mark Garrett of the band Kardashev “and eight other singers from acclaimed death metal bands” have now “formed an unlikely partnership with University of Utah scientists to examine the biomechanics behind vocal distortion.”
Mobygratis
Moby makes 500 new instrumental tracks free for noncommercial use. “I want you to dive in, use the music and we can see, or you can see, what happens.”
Vinyl Me, Please
Customers are filing complaints against the Denver record club, citing orders not being fulfilled and questions going unanswered.
NoCo farmers markets
They are beginning to open up around Colorado – here are some NoCo choices (and there are lots more in the Denver metro).
The Bluebird School debuts
Founded by Bluebird Music Festival creator Travis Albright, the music school offers free instruction and “will provide a two-semester music program for children of teachers, first responders and mental health workers.”
“Steve’s Lava Chicken”
The Jack Black song sets the record for the shortest to ever crack the Billboard Top 100.
Related pages:
Soundboard newsletter – subscribe to get music news, presale codes, ticket giveaways, and other goodies every Thursday morning (it’s free)
Concert Calendar – hundreds of shows happening along the Front Range
Self Serve – submit song ideas for our new daily request show
Countdowns – see the songs you voted for during our recent music countdowns
Become a Colorado Sound member – join our awesome community of passionate music lovers
