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The 11th annual UMS — the Denver Post Underground Music Showcase — is all about PMC. Honestly, the largest indie music festival in the Rocky Mountain region would be nowhere without the PEOPLE, the MUSIC, and the COMMUNITY. Each contributes greatly to making the UMS the can’t miss event of the summer.
People are the life blood of the festival. People sharing their talents. People volunteering their time to help produce an unforgettable experience. People coming out to South Broadway, in droves, to take part in the most legitimate, comprehensive fete of music the region has to offer.
Music is the heart of the festival. Music from the indie acts that have graced its many stages over the years. Past editions have featured performances by nationally known acts Flobots, DeVotchka, El Ten Eleven, 16 Horsepower, These United States, Nathaniel Rateliff, Paper Bird, Gregory Alan Isakov, Meese, Isaac Slade of The Fray, Langhorne Slim, Bowerbirds, and Dressy Bessy. Music from an act you hadn’t heard of before. What beats the excitement of connecting with a new artist? Not much, we say!
Community is the soul of the festival. The Business Community on South Broadway donates space for performances. The Creative Community of Denver is so mutually supportive. The Community of neighbors in the Baker Historic District who, so willingly, let us fill their neighborhood. New this year, the UMS’s beneficiary will be The Denver Post Community Foundation. As a new addition to the portfolio of Denver Post Community Signature Events, all proceeds from the event will be distributed locally. The mission of The Denver Post Community Foundation is to improve and enrich the quality of life in our Community through the support of programs that benefit Arts, Youth, Education and Human Services.
Our friends, of which there are many, know our proud history. If you are new to the UMS, welcome! And, please read on! Let’s get familiar…
The yearly celebration of music known as the UMS has always been at the forefront of Colorado’s burgeoning local music community. The festival started out as a delicately curated night of music at the Bluebird Theater with 100 percent of ticket sales going to the bands. The first year was modest, with 300 people coming out to hear four bands, but after a number of years bouncing between the Bluebird and Gothic theaters, the UMS moved to South Broadway in the Baker Historic District in the summer of 2006.
The first year on Broadway started simple: 25 bands in five rock clubs, all within walking distance of each other. A couple years later, the UMS was a different beast entirely: About 4,000 fans in attendance to see 150-plus local artists in more than 20 venues across two days – and with ticket revenues still going directly to the artists.
In 2009, the UMS expanded to a four-day music and art festival that included 225-plus local and national-level performers in its fold of rock bands, comedians and singer-songwriters.
In 2010, the UMS was four days of exceptional goodness from July 22-25 — featuring more than 300 skilled bands and artists in over 25 venues.
For 2011, the UMS is determined to top last year. Over 325 performances on 25 stages! Stay tuned for more information on our great venues and vast array of performers.
The UMS has come a long way in ten years, and has grown with the support of the Denver music community. You can share your past UMS memories by adding photos to Flickr and add the tag dpums.
