88 MARCH 26-APRIL 1, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | CONTENTS | summer since the independent nonprofi t venue opened in 2017. Situated in Ruby Hill Park, the 6,500-capacity outdoor venue is spacious and perfect for bringing your own chairs and picnic blankets to soak up live music. Each year, Levitt Pavilion presents more than forty free concerts and commu- nity events as well as ticketed shows, and this year’s lineup is looking extra sweet, with free shows including such old favorites as Flobots and Shakedown Street, as well as an all-local lineup on May 23 with iZCALLi, Monica The Great, Fruta Brutal and El Jag. Best Place to Put Your Band’s Sticker Lost Lake Lounge 3602 East Colfax Avenue lost-lake.com Any local band knows slapping its sticker any- where and everywhere around town is a great way to get its name out there. Whether it be bathroom stalls, pipes, the glass barrier at Ille- gal Pete’s or a sound booth, band stickers deco- rate tons of spaces in Denver. The green room at Lost Lake Lounge is small, sure, but that makes it all the more perfect a place to slap your sticker the fi rst time you play there. Put it on the literally green wall, the tiny fridge, or, if you run out of space there, the bathroom mirror. This small but mighty venue has seen every band in the scene, and its green room is a refl ection of years of local music. Best Producer to Help Elevate Your Sound Ben Pisano/Corsicana We all know and love indie musician Ben Pisano, known as Corsicana, who’s been re- leasing dreamy folk and indie tunes for years, fi lling venues with loyal listeners. It’s clear from his own music that his production skills are next level, but he’s also the best when it comes to producing songs for others. Step into the studio with Ben and show him a ba- sic voice memo of your idea, and you’ll leave with an elevated, polished song true to your sound. You won’t have to worry about the song coming out completely different than you imagined. Every melody, beat and instru- ment is meant to make the song truly yours. Best Band Bluebook Bluebook is one of our favorite Colorado bands, known for its ethereal, rich sound that recalls such seminal bands as Radiohead. Fronted by Julie Davis, whose vocals are ab- solutely captivating, evocative and stunning, the band has been a staple in the community, with shows that feel more like a coven ritual than an ordinary concert. The band’s latest EP, Holy Rider, soars with songs that give the impression they were born in a Gothic cathedral or from the depths of a forest un- der a full moon. Put on your headphones, close your eyes, and you’ll be completely im- mersed in an almost spiritual experience. Or better yet, catch the group live. Best Rock Band Jesus Christ Taxi Driver WWJD? Probably listen to Jesus Christ Taxi Driver. This rock band’s energy is unparalleled and inexhaustible, with some of the best live shows you’ll see in town or at festivals like Psychs Peak. Frontman Ian Ehrhart freneti- cally bounds around the stage and throughout the audience with energy that recalls such energetic frontmen as Mick Jagger or Lux In- terior of legendary cowpunkers the Cramps, while the band absolutely shreds. The band just released its new album, Taxi the Rich, with physical copies on March 19 via Midtopia’s Buy Before You Stream initiative; it will be available to stream on April 24. But trust us: This album is well worth buying in advance. Best Funk-Rock Album Three of Swords May Be Fern May Be Fern is one of the hardest-working bands in Denver, performing hundreds of shows each year, on tour and at local spots from Bar 404 to Globe Hall to the Bluebird Theater. And its effort shines through with the concise polish of Three of Swords, the band’s latest album that dropped in Sep- tember. Inspired by Tarot, Three of Swords is a piece of unmatched sonic sorcery, with biting lyricism and addictive rhythms that make it a must-listen from front to back. Each bandmate brings their all, from Madi Spillman’s tantalizing guitar solos to Kate Fern’s breathtaking vocals and basslines, and Hannah May’s spellbinding cascade of keys as well as vocals, with Ian Spillman holding it down on drums. Be sure to check out May Be Fern’s upcoming EP of ’80s covers, which drops with a show at Globe Hall on April 3. Best Debut Album ROSEWORLD DOGTAGS The nine-piece Denver band DOGTAGS had quite the year in Music & Venues continued from page 84 continued on page 91 ILLUSTRATIONS BY GETT Y IMAGES
