21 MAY 14-20, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | The Auraria Campus is a higher educational facility in the heart of downtown Denver that houses the facilities of three separate schools: University of Colorado Denver, Community College of Denver, and Metropolitan State University of Denver. But this summer, the unique 150-acre campus will also serve as a new outdoor venue, hosting sev- eral concerts and events presented by AEG. First up is the Outside Days festival and industry conference, from Friday May, 29 to Sunday, May 31. Then on Saturday, July 4, Zeds Dead will celebrate complet- ing their twelfth annual Deadrocks shows at Red Rocks with their sixth annual Deadbeats Backyard Jambo- ree. Finally, Dutch DJ and producer Mau P will take over for a night-long house and techno dance party on Friday, July 31. All three events are all all-ages, so feel free to bring the whole family! Outside Days is a three-day festival combining live music, fi lm screen- ings, presentations from inspiring speakers, and interactive outdoor experiences, happening Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31 at the Auraria Campus. The festival was created in 2024 as a celebra- tion of outdoor exploration and culture, using music as a centerpiece to bring together athletes, artists, storytellers, and everyday folks who love the great outdoors. This year’s headliners are three indie rock legends: Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket, and Cage The Elephant. With sixteen acts perform- ing over the weekend, the lineup also includes beloved bands like Japanese Breakfast and Dawes, plus local favorites like N3ptune and The Mañanas. In addition to live music, Outside Days will showcase eleven shorts and documentaries from renowned and emerging fi lmmakers, with several of the fi lms’ directors and subjects hosting Q&A sessions following their screenings. Between sets and screenings, Outside Days will have activities all over the Aura- ria Campus for attendees to enjoy, like biking, climbing, and yoga. Don’t miss out on talks from featured speakers, ranging from Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins to acclaimed chef and TV host José An- drés. Single day tickets start at $137, and weekend passes start at $244 with a VIP upgrade available. Zeds Dead’s 2026 Deadrocks run is already sold out, but if you didn’t snag tickets, you still have a chance to see them live at their Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree on Saturday, July 4! The Canadian EDM duo started the Backyard Jamboree as something special for their extensive Denver fanbase, since their Red Rocks dates always sell out quickly. Previously held at Civic Center Park, the sixth annual Deadbeats Back- yard Jamboree is a daytime outdoor event in the spirit of a backyard bar- beque. General admission and VIP tickets are available now, starting at $99.50. Expect a lineup chock-full of some of the most exciting names in EDM, all personally selected by Zed’s Dead. Hailing from Amsterdam, DJ and producer Mau P will bring European discotheque vibes to the Auraria Campus on Friday, July 31. For- merly known as Maurice West, Mau P’s fi rst ever single, “Drugs From Amsterdam,” was named one of the Best 50 Dance Tracks of 2022 by Billboard. His gritty, bass-heavy tech-house and EDM has landed him on DJ Magazine’s list of Top 100 DJs worldwide for the last two years in a row. Starting at 6 p.m., Mau P will play a whopping fi ve-hour set, so get your dancing shoes ready for this epic night-long performance. General admission tickets start at $79.59, with a VIP upcharge option. Come to the Auraria Campus for the music, but stay to explore all the neighborhood has to offer! Make a day of it by checking out some of the nearby historical sites, like the stunning former church St. Cajetan’s or the Golda Mier House Museum. Architecture and history buffs alike will love Historic Ninth Street Park’s fourteen homes built between 1872 and 1906, lovingly restored in 1970 thanks to a grassroots movement to preserve the block’s buildings. Take a stroll down the 5280 Trail, and admire sculptures by artists Walter Ware III, Emily Zeek, and Joshua Ware. Or visit the Emmanuel Gallery, a former chapel, synagogue and artist’s studio that is now an award-winning non-profi t art gallery managed by the University of Colorado Denver. Established in 1976, the Auraria Campus is celebrating its fi ftieth an- niversary this year, so come check out one of Denver’s oldest and most storied neighborhoods while taking in live music from world-class artists! LIVE MUSIC ADVERTORIAL THE AURARIA CAMPUS IS DENVER’S NEWEST LIVE MUSIC DESTINATION
