Hey there! My name is Sadie Gonzales and I’m a student at MSU Denver graduating this December with degrees in journalism and theatre. One of my favorite things about Denver is the music scene. I did the math recently and as of writing this, I have been to 48 concerts in the past five years, 37 have been since 2022, so it goes without saying—I see a lot of live music!
Denver is not typically known as a music city compared to places like Nashville and New York City, but Denver is home to many iconic music venues and has a very lively music scene. Red Rocks is a dream venue for many artists, but seeing a concert there feels so impersonal.
One of the reasons I can go to so many shows is that I only go to smaller standing rooms, also known as general admission (GA) venues. These venues host anywhere from local artists to national touring acts and they are a completely different experience if you’ve only ever seen concerts at places like Ball Arena or Red Rocks.
If you want to see more live music without breaking the bank, this guide is for you!
Summit Music Hall
Summit Music Hall was my first experience with a GA venue in 2017. I was seeing The Maine, my favorite band, for the first time. Seeing that show sparked my concert addiction, and I have seen them every time they have visited Denver since.
Summit holds about 1,100 people total, but it also can be converted to a smaller space called The Moon Room, which holds roughly 300. A curtain separates a large section of the venue and transforms a corner in the front, which usually houses merchandise stands, into a smaller stage.
Something that’s nice about this venue is that they sell pizza in the far left corner, so if you get hungry in the middle of a set, you can grab a large slice of New York-style pizza.Â
Summit is located right in the heart of LoDo, with plenty of food and drink options within walking distance of the venue. There is street parking and a paid lot behind the venue. If you don’t feel like driving, its also 2 blocks from Union Station, so hop on public transit to avoid paying for parking.Â
Some of my favorite shows that I’ve seen at Summit Music Hall include The Maine, Night Riots (in The Moon Room) and I Dont Know How But They Found Me.
Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake Street, Denver. Learn more at www.summitdenver.com/shows.
Mission Ballroom
Mission Ballroom opened its doors in 2019, making it one of Denver’s newest music venues. The first time I visited Mission Ballroom was in August 2021, when I attended Side Summer, a smaller version of Sad Summer Music Festival. It was my first concert back after COVID lockdowns.
Compared to the other venues on this list, Mission Ballroom is the largest, both in terms of capacity (2,200 to 3,950 people) and square footage (60,000 square feet according to the venue’s website).
One of my favorite features of this venue is the amphitheater-style seating in the back, so if standing for up to 7 hours is what keeps you from seeing GA concerts in Denver, this could be the venue for you. Another quirky fact about Mission Ballroom is that it was voted in Westword’s Best of Denver of 2023 for “Best Bathrooms in a Venue,” something I cosign.
My strategy for attending a show at this venue is to get a drink at one of the many full-service bars on the sides, then head to the seats in the back and hang out. If you want more adventure, head to the front of the stage; however, if you are as short as I am, I would recommend arriving one hour before the doors open to try to see the stage.
This venue is a good place to begin the transition from stadium to GA concerts in Denver. It retains the large and electric feel of a busy arena show while also allowing for artist interactions similar to those found at a GA venue.
There is only paid parking near Mission Ballroom, either in the venue’s lot or in various lots across Brighton Blvd. The venue is about a seven-minute walk from the RTD station at 38th and Blake, so you can avoid paying for parking by taking the train or bus.
My favorite shows that I’ve seen at Mission Ballroom are The Band CAMINO, Neck Deep and Waterparks.
Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop Street, Denver. Learn more at missionballroom.com.
Gothic Theatre
While technically located in Englewood, the Gothic Theatre is strikingly similar to Denver venues such as the Bluebird Theater and the Ogden Theatre. The Gothic was converted from a movie theater to a music venue, as indicated by its name. The theater was built in the 1920s and has undergone several renovations over the decades. The renovations aimed to keep the historic interior, which is why this venue specifically is on the list.Â
I’ve seen a few shows at the Gothic and it still is one of the prettiest venues I have ever stepped foot in. The walls and ceilings are beautifully painted, and walking through the door takes your breath away.
The Gothic holds 1,100 people and is mostly standing room only. There are some seats on the balcony, but they are limited and may be restricted to VIP access depending on the artist. Because the venue was converted from a theater, the floor has several layers. If you end up standing further back, those sections are slightly raised, giving you a better view than if it were completely flat.
The Gothic is located on South Broadway, near Highway 285. It is about 20 minutes from a public transportation station. If you are driving to the venue, arrive early. There is limited street parking, and surrounding lots fill up quickly.
My favorite shows I’ve seen at this venue are Dodie, Vinyl Theatre and Strfkr.
Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood. Learn more at www.gothictheatre.com.
Marquis Theater
The Marquis Theater is one of the smaller ones on this list, with a maximum capacity of 450 people. Because this venue is so small, there is no barricade separating the stage from the audience; the stage is only slightly elevated. I saw a band called Between You & Me at this venue in March, and the lead singer told everyone to get on stage, so my friend and I jumped on stage and screamed and sang the song they were performing.
This is another location where you can get a slice of pizza during the show. It is one of my favorite places to get pizza when I am not at a show because they have a walk-up window where you can order pizza to go. If you don’t feel like going to a concert but want to see what the Marquis Theater has to offer, this is one option.
In the same way that Mission Ballroom is a strong place to start when transitioning to GA venues, The Marquis Theater is an excellent place to transition to even smaller venues because it feels like a room—and I mean that in the best way possible. You can get used to the lack of a barricade and elevated stage while also determining whether being so close to other concertgoers is for you.
The Marquis Theater is located in Five Points, just off 20th Street. Because of the proximity to Union Station and Coors Field, this area has a variety of public transportation options. If you choose to drive, there are several paid parking lots in the vicinity.
My favorite shows that I’ve seen at The Marquis Theater are Between You & Me, The Happy Fits and Night Riots.
Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer Street, Denver. Learn more at www.marquisdenver.com.
Lost Lake Lounge
Out of all of the venues on this list, I have seen the least amount of shows at Lost Lake Lounge. Even though I have not seen many shows here, they have all been a blast. I am fairly active in the Denver music scene, and this venue makes me feel like a part of it.
If you are interested, Lost Lake Lounge is a place to start seeing Denver-based musicians. When you see a show put on by a local artist, it is truly special. The sense of community is palpable as friends gather for the night to see their friends perform. It’s a supportive environment that feels like people hanging out in addition to seeing a show.
Lost Lake Lounge holds around 75 people. There is an elevated stage and a large room where people can stand. Towards the back of the venue is a wall that separates the bar from the floor. It makes it difficult to watch the show from the bar if that is how you prefer to enjoy live music, but the performances can still be heard clearly.
This is one of the more consistently affordable venues to attend, so if you want to see a show by an unknown artist, this is a good place to start expanding your musical tastes. This venue is located on East Colfax and has numerous food, beverage and transportation options nearby.
Some of my favorite shows I’ve seen at this venue are Elektric Animals and Mean World Records Singer Songwriter Showcase.
Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 East Colfax Avenue, Denver. Learn more at lost-lake.com.
Attending live music has played an important role in shaping me into the person I am today. It’s the whole reason I’m a journalist, so I can write about music. If you want to hear more thoughts on the scene, you can read some more of my work on Mean World Records.
I hope this guide provides some starting points. Being in a crowd full of people who enjoy the artist as much, if not more than I do, and yelling the lyrics together is an electrifying experience. It instills a new appreciation for music and everything that goes into it because some artists create music that is meant to be heard live.
