The Flaming Lips, Saint Motel to play 2022 Westword Music Showcase in RiNo, with dozens of local sets

Denver alt-weekly Westword this week announced the headliners for its 2022 Westword Music Showcase, including performances by The Flaming Lips, Saint Motel, KennyHoopla, Wet Leg and dozens of sets from local bands.

Much like Denver’s long-running Underground Music Showcase (a.k.a. The UMS), Westword Music Showcase has consistently reserved most of its stage spots for local bands, from notable names to up-and-comers who have graduated to national and international acclaim (see Tennis, Nathaniel Rateliff, etc.).

This year’s Sept. 9-10 event will again take place in the River North Art District. The first day will feature more than 50 local bands playing in 10-plus venues in the district, including the Larimer Lounge, Catbird Hotel, ReelWorks, Tracks, Bierstadt Lagerhaus, Number Thirty Eight, Ironton Distillery, RiNo Beer Garden and others.

On Saturday, Sept. 10, the festival moves to the area outside Mission Ballroom — AEG Presents’ gleaming new venue on the ever-expanding edge of RiNo — with more local bands, as well performances from dance-friendly national headliners The Flaming Lips, Saint Motel, Wet Leg, KennyHoopla, Cannons and The Main Squeeze.

The Friday night shows are 21-and-up, while the Saturday shows are all-ages. Pre-sale tickets for two-day admission are available for $45 (regular passes) and $85 for VIP passes, via westwordshowcase.com/tickets, with the presale code “localmusic.” The presale prices are available now through 10 p.m. on Thursday, April 21; after that, they increase.

The Showcase started in Lower Downtown nearly 30 years ago, Westword wrote in its announcement post, before moving to the Golden Triangle neighborhood. Last year, it moved on to RiNo and expanded to a two-day event.

“And the 2022 edition, which will take place September 9 and 10, will be even bigger and better,” organizers wrote.

They’re backing that up by coordinating with Art Rino, a new mural-centric event that will run from Sept. 5 to 11 and culminate in the Westword Music Showcase.

“In between, there will be live painting, classes and workshops, a fundraiser for ArtPark and six new murals added to the district,” organizers wrote.

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