LoHi Music Festival in Denver, CO

by Kelly DayJul 20, 2017Music, Reviews1 comment

Colorado is simply teeming with incredible music. With some of the most impressive lineups gracing our stages every week, my FOMO can get pretty intense in this amazing state. But sometimes you don’t even have to look at the schedules at the big venues, because sometimes someone just shuts down a neighborhood street to throw an epic one-day music festival.

That sometimes was this past weekend, and that someone was actually the crew from Highland Tap and Burger. The annual LoHi Music Festival returned to the hip Lower Highland neighborhood in Denver on Saturday (July 15th), so we decided to swing by to get our groove on.

Sidenote: Before we got our groove on, we stopped by Highland Tap and Burger to get our grub on. As we basked in the Colorado sunshine, we enjoyed delicious burgers and beers while bobbing to the beats from the stage. We loved the idea of getting to eat out at a restaurant while at a music festival. We sure are fancy!

If you haven’t checked out this street fest, here’s what you are missing:

Great Music

There aren’t many one-day street festivals with this caliber of music on their line-ups year after year. This year was no exception. LoHi Music Festival brought in Liver Down the River to kick things off, and DJ Ichiban kept the beats going between all of the acts. The Main Squeeze and Tauk were the meat of this music sandwich, both bringing the crowd to their dancing feet with their funky beats. The New Mastersounds closed out of the festival with their funky good times. Tiger Party and Tauk (and friends) kept the party rocking until the morning hours at the Cervantes’ After-Party.

If we had to pick two bands from the festival to keep an eye on, these are the ones to watch out for:

Liver Down the River was throwing down their signature “Funkadeligrass” jams as the festival kicked off. This 6-piece from Durango, Colorado takes bluegrass to new depths and heights. Inspired by their love of the river (as noted by their attire), Liver Down the River puts on a show that perfectly ebbs and flows from bluegrass to funk. Their unique, psychedelic jams kicked off the festival with high energy to get us all going.

When the Main Squeeze took the stage, the festival’s energy shot straight up to the sun. The powerful vocals of the band’s lead singer, Corey Freye, simply shook your soul to its core. The band beautifully transitioned from soul to funk, all while kicking off the dance party in the street. The Main Squeeze is quickly catapulting to the top of the funk music world. Look for their latest studio album, Without a Sound.

Simplicity at its Best

The beauty of LoHi Music Festival is that it’s just so damn easy. It’s only one-day, and it’s in an easy-to-access Denver neighborhood. They provide all of the essentials. There’s a convenient water-filling station, plus several tents serving delicious cocktails and local brews. Food can be purchased from one of the outdoor vendors, or grab a seat and a burger at Highland Tap. They even give you a fancy wristband that connects to your credit card – so you can go without cash and pay with the swipe of your hand. (That’s making it almost too easy!) If you want to take it even easier, upgrade your ticket to VIP and enjoy the VIP lounge with plenty of perks.

Community Vibes

LoHi Music Festival is all about the local community. It was started by the crew of employees and friends at the Highland Tap and Burger in 2011. They wanted to throw a street party in front of their restaurant, and they have found success ever since. Why not shut down the street, showcase local Colorado music and invite the locals to a dance party? It’s truly a community coming together to support local businesses and local music.