Levitt Pavilion’s free summer concert series

If you love free summer concerts, Denver is a great city to live in — but there’s one series that stands out even among annual heavy-hitters like City Park Jazz: Levitt Pavilion’s slate of free shows.

The nonprofit amphitheater in Ruby Hill Park will host more than 40 free, all-ages concerts and events in 2025, from Flobots to Rebirth Brass Band and Central City Opera. Bring a picnic set-up — take in your own grub or purchase from food trucks on-site — and enjoy the truly local vibes that feel especially refreshing after battling crowds of tourists at Red Rocks. — Beth Rankin

1380 W. Florida Ave., levittdenver.org

Club Vinyl

One of dance promoter CoClub’s premier venues on Broadway, Club Vinyl stands out for its three floors and summertime view of the city. The rooftop has plenty of cushioned seating under misters, several bars and a hookah menu with more flavors than a Baskin Robbins. Its dance floor, where fans blow a cool breeze and the house and disco music packs the most punch, is a joyous respite from the summer heat. — Miguel Otarola

1082 Broadway, vinylnightclub.com

Wild Love Tigress

I love nothing more than a good local band that will make you dance, and Denver’s Wild Love Tigress does it every time. I first saw the nine-piece, high-energy funk band while on a date at the good ol’ Lost Lake Lounge on East Colfax and was hooked by the big energy, big sound and various tiger-themed costumes. The band released its second studio album this year and frequently plays at venues and festivals across the metro. — Elise Schmelzer

Look for upcoming dates and more at wildlovetigress.com.

ESP

ESP was one of the first bars in Denver to take its main inspiration from the “listening bars” of Japan, named for the audiophile-quality sound of the in-house speaker system and the clientele who are there as much to listen to rare vinyl records as they are to sip whiskey and smoke cigarettes. The sound at ESP is actually more rounded the closer you are to its speaker system, and its bartenders and guest DJs are more on point than pretentious with their picks. Plus, ESP’s wine menu is one of the best in the city. — Miguel Otarola

1029 Santa Fe Drive; esphifi.co

The Galentines

I saw The Galentines play at The General Store in Nederland in June and then talked about them endlessly for several days straight. The all-girl rock band out of Boulder fully captured my attention with their high-energy pop punk and incredible, incredible vocals. They put out their first album, “1140,” in 2024 and continue to do shows across the state. Go see them; you won’t regret it. — Elise Schmelzer

To see a video of the group and find out where they’re playing next, go to thegalentines-band.squarespace.com or find them on Instagram @thegalentines.band.

Meow Wolf’s Perplexiplex

For music fans who want a no-nonsense show with killer sound, excellent visuals and fees under $7 per ticket (which feels like a genuine miracle in Denver), don’t sleep on The Perplexiplex.

Meow Wolf’s 500-person venue inside Convergence Station is intimate, accessible and features a sensory experience with interactive projection-mapped visuals. The venue has some limitations — security will go through your bag more thoroughly than TSA on a bad day and parking and transit aren’t always easy, especially if there’s an event happening nearby at Empower Field — but the intimate space and amazing sound system make this a worthwhile visit if an artist you love is on the bill. Chances are, you’ll be standing inches away from them. — Beth Rankin

Upcoming shows include MC Chris, Uncle Lucius and Múm. 1338 First St.; meowwolf.com/visit/denver

Invincible Vinyl

The one-man establishment of owner and buyer Dave Cleland, Invincible Vinyl stays true to the name by offering unbeatable deals in town for an increasingly costly medium. The two-room shop has bins with everything from new and used jazz and electronic to rock divided by British, Irish and Scottish and Australian bands. Expect to listen in on a conversation about a beloved record or artist while browsing — or taking part in it yourself. — Miguel Otarola

99 Kalamath St., Denver; 720-645-2577. Open 12 to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Look for them on Facebook.

Pon Pon

A RiNo treasure that gets rowdier by the night as people keep filing in through its narrow entrance, the DJ keeps spinning rock records and the bar itself, not much longer than a dining room table, keeps the glasses overflowing. It’s dim, has an art gallery in the back and all sorts of vintage seating and furniture. Loosening up at Pon Pon is as confident and comfortable an experience as reclining on a Barcalounger after a long day of work. — Miguel Otarola

2528 Walnut St. #104, Denver; 303-867-5309. Open 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Find them on Instagram.

Dazzle Jazz

If you haven’t been to Denver’s premier jazz nightclub yet, what are you waiting for? Certainly, you should go just to support this club, a treasure that has been around since 1997 (and in its current space since 2023). But you will want to go for the cool, swinging, bluesy, sexy, jumpin’ sounds, from performers such as Monty Alexander, Purnell Steen, Keith Oxman, Nelson Rangel, Adam Bodine, Hazel Miller and many others. You can thank me later. — Barbara Ellis

1080 14th St., 303-839-5100; dazzledenver.com.

Best venue for short people

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is iconic for so many reasons, from its illustrious history to its world-class entertainment and topography. But for folks 5’5” and under, it’s a favorite for one very important reason: The venue boasts amazing sightlines, especially for music lovers who are short in stature.

Forget trying to weave between shoulders and other body parts to find the perfect viewing hole. Red Rocks “amps” up the concert experience by allowing shorties unfettered views of the stage. Whether you’re up close or in the higher-most sections, whether you’re on stage right or left, the world is a short king’s oyster here. — Tiney Ricciardi

South Broadway’s musical heart

The corner of South Broadway and Ellsworth Avenue in the Baker neighborhood has been central to Denver’s layout dating back to the 1880s, when Broadway first became the dividing line between east and west avenues, and Ellsworth the dividing line between north and south streets, according to Denver Public Library’s Special Collection

and Archives. But in the 21st century, it’s also become ground zero for some of the city’s best independent music, comedy and DIY culture. That’s because the Hi-Dive and Sputnik, two side-by-side businesses, have been booking many of the best local and national independent bands, and slinging some of the best food and drinks before and after shows, respectively, since the early 2000s.

We still miss Mutiny Information Cafe, which was pushed further south in 2024 by the rising rents and gentrification that have destabilized businesses everywhere. But it remains a vital corner for Denver’s underground music and stand-up scene, given the walkable festivals that have long been anchored there. Those include the Underground Music Showcase (various venues, July 25-27) and High Plains Comedy Festival (Sept. 18-20), which both paint a colorful sidewalk scene as people laugh, hug, smoke and dance while performances go on inside (including DJ sets at Sputnik). The larger stretch of South Broadway counts a lot of vital music venues — HQ (formerly 3 Kings Tavern), the Skylark, the Roxy Broadway, Gothic Theatre, Swallow Hill Music and more — but the corner of South Broadway and Ellsworth still pulses with an energy that can’t be duplicated anywhere else. — John Wenzel

Fort Greene

Named after the hip-happening neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y., the Fort Greene bar has had to walk a fine balance over the years between its aesthetic desires and those of the marginalized Globeville neighborhood it calls home. It does so respectfully, maintaining quiet hours and also serving as a hub for private events and community outreach. Its interior has an instant cooling effect, the

walls painted dark green and reflected in the back bar mirror. Fort Greene hosts regular DJ nights on weekends and special events featuring dancing and other entertainment. It feels like partying in your best friend’s living room. — Miguel Otarola

321 E. 45th Ave., Denver. Open 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Thursday, and 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. fortgreenebar.com

Pelican Bay

Looking to chill out to the oldies we know and love? Toss off your sandals and dig your toes into the sand at the Live! At the Lake summer concert series on Tiki Beach, located on the water at Pelican Bay in Cherry Creek Reservoir. Water laps at the shore and paddleboarders and kayakers pull up behind the stage to groove to the tunes.

There are chairs set up, or bring a blanket. Drinks and bar food (hot dogs, pretzels, etc.) are sold, but if you don’t like what you find there check out the food truck outside.

This year, shows are on Wednesdays during the month of August, at 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tap your feet (or even dance) to bands like Smokin’ ’70s (arena rock and Boston tribute), Those Crazy Nights (Journey and legends of the ’80s) and others.

In previous years, I saw Dolls in the Attic, an Aerosmith cover band, and Ten Years Gone, a Zeppelin cover band, there. It’s a sweet, low-key experience that will make you long for a simpler time. — Barbara Ellis

Tickets and information at liveatjacks.com, or go to pelicanbayevents.com/blog/denver-bands.

Switchfoot

I may not be an expert on Switchfoot, an alternative rock band from San Diego with a worldwide following, because I’ve only seen them 20 times. I do know if I could only listen to one band for the rest of my life, it would be them. I know they never put on a bad show, and that frontman Jon Foreman is the kind of human I aspire to be: humble, gracious and fun to be around (as I have witnessed up close in VIP sessions). I know the group’s values spring from a Christian foundation, but its music seeks to unify and inspire. One of their slogans is “Hope needs an anthem” — and they have given their fans many. — John Meyer

Visit switchfoot.com for tour dates and more.

City Park

Finally, we’d be remiss to ignore those free jazz concerts from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sundays at City Park. This year, starting in June, there has been a mix of mambo, funk, soul, brass band big band and more.

Grab some food and drinks, a blanket or low-profile chair and plant yourself on some grass around the pavilion. Remaining concerts: Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra on July 20; Dzirae Gold, on July 27; and a Brass Band Extravaganza, on Aug. 3. — Barbara Ellis

For more info, go to cityparkjazz.org.