4 JULY 9-15, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | NEWS | LETTERS | CONTENTS | W ® 10 SKY’S THE LIMIT City-funded arts projects have Denver on the rise, but some plans are crashing down. BY KRISTEN FIORE 6 HOLY SPIRITS This nomadic church redefi nes communion with beer and PB&Js. BY SAGE KELLEY 15 SECOND COURSE ChoLon chef reveals the secret cancer battle that changed everything. BY ANTONY BRUNO 19 TUNE IN Denver doom vets Khemmis have a stellar new record amongst the latest punk, indie and death-metal releases this month. BY JUSTIN CRIADO 10 Culture 15 Cafe 19 Music CONCERTS/CLUBS ................................... 20 26 Marijuana CANNABIS CALENDAR ............................ 26 HIGH NOTES ............................................. XX VOLUME 49 NUMBER 45 JULY 9-15, 2026 E D I T O R I A L Editor Emeritus Patricia Calhoun Senior Editor, News Thomas Mitchell Food and Drink Editor Antony Bruno Music Editor Emily Ferguson Culture Editor Kristen Fiore Social Media Editor Katrina Leibee Staff Writers Sage Kelley, Hannah Metzger Senior Contributors Brendan Joel Kelley, Alan Prendergast, Michael Roberts Contributors Gil Asakawa, Teague Bohlen, Justin Criado, Audrey Ferrer, Nick Hutchinson, Karl Christian Krumpholz, Skyler McKin- ley, Abigail Nueve, Ryan Pachmayer, Kristin Pazulski, Adam Perry, Evan Semón, Toni Tresca Music Listings Matthew Jones Cover Designer Monika Swiderski P R O D U C T I O N Production Manager Michael Wilson Assistant Production Manager Erin Kirk Graphic Designers Caleigh Gearheart, Tori O’Connor C R E A T I V E S E R V I C E S Senior Graphic Designer Allie Seidel A D V E R T I S I N G Senior Multimedia Account Executives Amy Camera, Aaron Lembke Multimedia Account Executives Remy Diamond, Rachel Gilmore, Keith Gordon, Trey Konsella, Kirby Quick, Dalton Wilson, Allison Wissink Operations Manager Carver Hodgkiss Digital Sales Coordinator Anne-Grace Hartman Director of Digital Sales Alan Heath C I R C U L A T I O N Circulation Manager Ty Koepke B U S I N E S S Director of Business and Operations Russell Breiter Financial Accountant Robert Scribner AR Coordinator Stacy Phillips IT Systems Manager Kris Robinson Receptionist Cindy Perez Associate Publisher Tracy Kontrelos Publisher Scott Tobias V O I C E M E D I A G R O U P Executive Editor Chelsey Dequaine-Jerabek National Editor Sam Eifl ing Editorial Operations Director Bridget Thomason Director of Membership and Community Development Jennifer Robinson Digital Operations & Audience Strategist Allison Stephenson Audience Strategist Lauren Antonoff Hart Corporate Controller Beth Cook Legal Counsel Steve Suskin Chief Financial Offi cer Jeff Mars Chief Executive Offi cer Scott Tobias V M G N A T I O N A L National Advertising: 1-888-278-9866, www.voicemediagroup.com Senior Vice President of Sales Operations Joe Larkin D I S T R I B U T I O N Westword is available free of charge. 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PHOTO BY VALERIA MUNCHMEYER I N D E P E N D E N T V E N U E S ’ P R O F I T S T R U G G L E S In 2024, independent Denver venues drove $898 million in state revenue, as well as $1.5 billion in economic output, $44.6 million in tax revenue and $192.7 million in off-site tourism spending from 3.6 million fans, ac- cording to a new report from the National Independent Venue Association. The State of Live report, which covered venues across the Denver area, also showed that the independent music scene supported 4,097 employees and 9,641 jobs, such as contractors, with $517.3 million in wages and benefi ts paid. “The Denver report covers indepen- dently owned and operated for-profi t and nonprofi t live entertainment venues, festi- vals, promoters and presenters,” says Kris Ferraro, the Austin principal for NIVA, noting that those factors are criteria to be a NIVA member. While venues report to NIVA confi- dentially, Ferraro notes that city-owned venues such as Red Rocks would fall into “the study’s eligible respondent population, while venues owned by multinational live entertainment companies [AEG or Live Nation] do not.” Denver is a music destination, for sure, and Red Rocks plays a large part in that, bringing tourists from around the world to shows like Widespread Panic. So while music’s strength in building the Mile High economy is clear, it isn’t necessarily refl ected on the smaller stages that bolster the local scene, which haven’t been seeing profi t- ability. According to the report, “only 25% of independent stages identifi ed themselves as profi table in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for solutions to ensure their survival and sustainability.” The Denver Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection has been looking at ways to help counter that, starting with a proposal to change licensing rules for the fi rst time in 40 years. In addition to narrow- ing license categories from the current 14 to three, the draft also proposes a 4 a.m. closing time for a nightlife entertainment business, which could provide for more late-night concert opportunities (although alcohol would still not be allowed past 2 a.m., per state rules). The proposal was passed unanimously by Denver City Council’s Finance and Business Committee, and the council is scheduled to hold a fi rst reading of the bill on July 13. If the proposal passes that reading, there will be a second and fi nal reading on July 20. —Emily Ferguson B O Y K I L L E D I N V E O E - B I K E C R A S H A child has died weeks after he was struck by a vehicle while riding a rentable electric bike in Denver. The 13-year-old boy reportedly at- tempted to cross West Colfax Avenue at a crosswalk while the no-walk signal was activated, according to the Denver Police Department. He was hit by a vehicle driving through a green traffi c light near the Knox Court intersection. The boy was blocks away from his middle school when the collision occurred on May 7 at around 4:30 p.m. He was rushed to the hospital but died of his injuries on June 10, according to the police report. The driver is not facing criminal charges. Police say the boy was riding a Veo e-bike. Spokesperson Paige Miller says Veo is “deeply saddened” by the incident and sends “heartfelt condolences” to the boy’s family. According to Miller, Veo is cooperating with law enforcement. Minors are not allowed to rent or oper- ate Veo vehicles under company policy; Veo relies on users to report their own ages without any offi cial verifi cation. Westword learned of the fatality via a social media post from the Denver Bicycle Lobby. His identity and autopsy report are not public because he is a minor. Westword determined his age based on social media posts from his family. Last year, eight people died while rid- ing standing e-scooters in Denver under the city’s former micromobility operators. Seven more e-scooter riders died between 2018 and 2024. — Hannah Metzger
