137 MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2025 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | SHOPPING & SERVICES | SPORTS & RECREATION | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | FOOD & DRINK | MUSIC & VENUES | the venue installed a permanent D&B audiotechnik KSL system designed to ensure that sound pours directly toward the audience rather than out the sides or backs of speakers. In layman’s terms, no matter what seat you’re in or which show you’re seeing, the music sounds great at Mission Ballroom. Although the Mission isn’t brand-new anymore, the sound sys- tem has stood the test of time — concerts sound just as great now as they did the month the venue opened. Artists come across crisply and clearly, providing the best possible listening experience at a Denver music venue. Mission: accom- plished. Best Venue for an Immersive Concert Experience The Perplexiplex at Meow Wolf 1338 1st Street 866-636-9969 meowwolf.com/visit/denver The music venue inside Meow Wolf’s Con- vergence Station refl ects the overall expe- rience of visiting the funky art museum: You’ll feel completely absorbed into the world of the concert. The wall-projection technology in the Perplexiplex allows outlines of the performers to be projected across the venue, giving even those not up front a sense of being right near the ac- tion. Plus, the artistic stage design evokes fantasy from the moment you step into the room. As the lights wash over concert- goers and the music gets loud, it’s easy to feel like you’re somewhere other than this world entirely. Best Venue for Networking Swallow Hill Music 71 East Yale Avenue 303-777-1003 swallowhillmusic.org Swallow Hill Music isn’t just a great place to learn music; it hosts a variety of concerts as well as open-mic nights and a vinyl lis- tening club that provides an easy way to meet like-minded creatives (and people who support creatives). The venue also hosts summits for music professionals to meet each other, such as the Colorado Roots Music Summit, which will happen this May, and the Auditorium, a music-in- dustry networking summit that it hosted last year. With a long history in the city and several outreach programs, Swallow Hill is a loyal champion for Denver’s music ecosystem. Best Ceiling at a Music Venue Gothic Theatre 3263 South Broadway, Englewood 303-789-9206 gothictheatre.com While the acts on stage at the Gothic The- atre in Englewood provide plenty to pay attention to, anyone who fi nds themselves wanting to enhance their visual experi- ence need only look up. The ceiling at the Gothic includes a cut-out portion painted with the image of a sky fi lled with wispy clouds, often lit up in hues of pink and red. The curvy cutout alone would be enticing, especially compared to the typical all-black industrial ceilings at most music venues, but the painting adds to the intrigue. We never get tired of this intimate venue, in part because of that stunning ceiling. Who woulda thought? Best Live Latin Music Venue Stampede 2430 South Havana Street, Aurora 303-696-7686 stampedeclub.net While bigger venues like Ball Arena cater to mainstream Latin stars such as Pitbull and Bad Bunny, Stampede seems to un- derstand what kind of music is enjoyed the most across Latin America. Its head- liners have included living legends like Mexican cumbia sonidera artist Alberto Pedraza, Dominican bachata great Héc- tor Acosta and the classic Puerto Rican reggaetón duo Jowell & Randy. For La- tinos who grew up listening to the top hits from the most beloved Latin genres — including regional favorites like norteño and Colombian salsa — Stampede brings back long-forgotten rhythms, and it’s fi lled with memorable artists that Latinos living in Denver probably thought they’d never see live. Best Dance Floor La Rumba 99 West 9th Avenue 303-572-8006 larumbadenver.com The four main genres of Latin dance — salsa, bachata, merengue and cumbia — involve gliding, sliding, scooting and spinning. You need a smooth and spacious fl oor to do it well, and the club with the best dance fl oor for these styles is La Rumba, a cornerstone of Denver’s small but strong Latin dance scene. While the fl oors at other clubs are often too crowded or too narrow, La Rumba stands out for its wide, polished hardwood that glistens under changing red, blue and green club lights. You know you can twirl and turn a partner there with- out worrying about twisting an ankle or knee, and even when the club is packed, it’s never too hard to carve your own space on the fl oor. Best Venue for Making Memories The Bluebird Theater 3317 East Colfax Avenue 303-377-1666 bluebirdtheater.net The Bluebird Theater is a favorite neigh- borhood venue; you’ll always leave buzzing from a memorable night. It’s often where you can see artists of all genres who are on the cusp of mainstream fame; notable past examples include the Lumineers and Billie Eilish. Jack White must have loved playing there with the White Stripes, be- cause he returned to perform a surprise show at the venue last year. The Bluebird’s capacity of 550 makes for an intimate affair, which makes us appreciate the theater’s multiple levels, where you can still see the stage without feeling too squeezed in. And you can’t help but get excited when you see that lit-up marquee, a reminder of all the great times you’ve had inside. ■
