The Underground Music Showcase started in 2001. John Moore of The Denver Post was already writing about local music, but he wanted to add a live-music component to his poll of local bands—a survey of local music experts that crowned Denver’s top acts, a tradition that continues today.


In 2001, The Post’s top act was international heroes 16 Horsepower, lead by David Eugene Edwards. DeVotchKa took the belt the following year, and Planes Mistaken for Stars a year later. As The Post’s poll grew in stature and mass—Dressy Bessy in 2004, Matson Jones in ‘05, Munly and the Lee Lewis Harlots in ‘06 and Born in the Flood in ‘07—the coinciding festival also gained speed with the guidance of Post music critic Ricardo Baca and the Hi-Dive’s Ben Desoto.


And what was once a four-band bill at the Bluebird Theater is now a 100-band, multi-day festival thrown on a walkable stretch of South Broadway. It’s like South by Southwest, only right here in Denver—and with an epic cast of all-Colorado talent.


The UMS is the premiere manifestation of Colorado’s burgeoning music scene.


The bands have always been at the heart of the UMS. At this year’s 8th annual UMS, 100 percent of the ticket sales will go to the artists—a claim no other event in the state can make. We’re able to do that only because we have the most excellent sponsors and the best volunteers known to man.


Come to the UMS this year, and you’ll feel the good vibes flowing down Broadway. Everybody’s psyched because everybody contributed in one way or another. There’s a reason why one of our regular artists recently said: “The UMS is the best thing about the best music scene on the planet. Thank you for what you do for all of us.”


We’d like to thank you for stopping by, for coming out and for supporting local music. If you have any questions, please let me know.


Ricardo Baca
rbaca@denverpost.com