The 2022 UMS: A quick guide to this weekend’s indie-music festival in Denver

The 2022 Underground Music Showcase is a comforting reminder that life goes on, even amid the tornado of trash that has been the last few years.

And by “comforting,” we mean ready to test our eardrums and live-music endurance in the most excellent of ways. Back with three full days of live performances from more than 150 local and national acts, the event takes over three outdoor stages and even more indoor venues in the Baker neighborhood from Friday, July 29, through Sunday, July 31.

The lineup is also more diverse than ever, with rising and established indie rock, folk, hip hop, pop, EDM and other acts from across the globe. Highlights include Audrey Nuna, The Knocks, Faye Webster, The Beths, Seratones, Sudan Archives, Jawny, Bully, The Beths, Companion, Brasstracks and so many more.

There are too many local acts to count, and we recommend popping in and out of whatever sounds good to you, as your wristband grants access to all venues, South by Southwest-style. The first day alone offers highlights (in no particular order) such as Los Mocochetes, N3PTUNE, Izcalli, Pink Hawks, Schama Noel, Jen Korte & the Loss, Kid Astronaut, Nina de Freitas, Big Dopes, Kayla Marque, Destino, Lady Denim, Ray Reed, Wes Watkins, Don Chicharron, Fast Eddy, Tres Leches, Flaural, and Hex Kitten.

Visit denverpostmusic.com for archived profiles of many of this year’s artists, and Colorado Public Radio’s Indie 102.3 for expert picks.

See the full, interactive list and schedule at undergroundmusicshowcase.com/lineup.

As a rule of thumb, remember to bring sunscreen and stay hydrated, and be patient with venue and festival staff, as the whole thing’s more of a jog than a sprint, with an estimated 10,00 attendees over the three days. Whether you’re new to the sprawling, walkable event or a festival veteran, here’s how this year’s refreshed UMS works:

• Tickets can be purchased for the entire festival or individual days. A full-weekend pass costs $100 (a bargain, if you ask us), while single-day tickets are $50 for Friday and Sunday, and $65 for Saturday. Kids under 10 are free. Kids 10 and up are full price. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times, “no exceptions,” organizers wrote. Many stages and venues are 21 and up, so call or Google ahead. Visit bit.ly/3z52yDq for tickets and more details.
• Venues are spread out along the South Broadway corridor between Sixth and Alameda avenues, just south of downtown Denver, where scooters and bike rentals are available. See the top-rated shops for bike rentals at bit.ly/3OyLz2l. RTD’s Route 0 runs the entire length; see the schedule at rtd-denver.com/app/route/0/schedule. There’s no on-site parking.
• The festival’s largest areas are between East First Avenue and West Third Avenue, where the outdoor UMS Stage and Oasis Stage are located, and the outdoor Showcase Stage, between Ellsworth and Bayaud avenues. Outdoor stages close at 10 p.m.
• This year’s event has a new nonprofit component and sober bars at every outdoor stage. Denver music-education organization Youth on Record is now co-owner of the festival, along with existing owner and producer Two Parts. It has instituted higher pay rates for artists, and has coordinated a number of booths offering mental health resources. Its impact show, at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, takes place at the Showcase Stage. For more, visit bit.ly/3S6vVhn.
• For all this, the full day-by-day schedule, and more on your smartphone, download the free UMS app from the App Store or Google Play at undergroundmusicshowcase.com/app. And happy UMS!

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