Club & Music Scene in Denver
3 Kings Tavern
Tel: 303/777-7352
60 S. Broadway
A hard rock venue in the up-and-coming Baker neighborhood, 3 Kings offers a hip vibe, a nice dose of Elvis paraphernalia, and plenty of rockabilly, punk, metal, and country.
Bluebird Theater
Tel: 303/322-2308
3317 E. Colfax Ave
This historic theater, built in 1913 to show silent movies, has been restored and now offers a diverse selection of rock, alternative, and other live music, as well as films. The performers generally target teens and 20-somethings. Tickets usually run $7 to $20.
El Chapultepec
Tel: 303/295-9126
1962 Market St
Denver's oldest jazz club, the "Pec" offers live jazz nightly in a noisy, friendly atmosphere. You'll often find standing-room only, not to mention a hearty helping of local color -- young and old, poor and rich, in equal measure. A small burrito kitchen and poolroom adjoin the club.
Fillmore Auditorium
Tel: 303/837-0360
1510 Clarkson St
The 3,600-seat Fillmore is the former Mammoth Gardens, which was recently renovated by proprietors of the legendary Fillmore in San Francisco. The slickly remodeled venue is now one of Denver's best, loaded with bars and countless vintage rock photos. It attracts national rock acts from Ween to Bob Dylan. Tickets generally cost $20 to $100.
Gothic Theatre
Tel: 303/380-2333
3263 S. Broadway
One of metro Denver's best-looking (and best-sounding) midsize venues, the Gothic is light-years beyond the heavy-metal dive it was in the 1980s. Both local and national acts play the stage here. Tickets usually cost $7 to $30.
Grizzly Rose
Tel: 303/295-1330
5450 N. Valley Hwy
Known to locals as "the Griz" or "the Rose," its 5,000-square-foot dance floor beneath a 1-acre roof draws such national acts as George Thorogood, Garth Brooks, Willie Nelson, Don Williams, LeAnn Rimes, Tanya Tucker, and Johnny Paycheck. There's live music Tuesday through Saturday; Sunday is family night. The cafe serves a full-service menu, and dance lessons are available.
Larimer Lounge
Tel: 303/291-1007
2721 Larimer St
This bar on old Larimer Street has been serving drinks since 1892 and serving loud punk rock and alternative music since 2003. The place is out of the hustle and bustle of LoDo, in an old neighborhood east of Broadway, and has seen such national acts as J Mascis and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club take the stage. The average patron is young, tattooed, and a bit rough around the edges.
Mercury Cafe
Tel: 303/294-9258
2199 California St
It's hard to classify the Mercury as specializing in any genre of music, but there's always something exciting happening, even on poetry night. It attracts a casual, eclectic clientele. Offerings usually range from avant-garde jazz to classical violin and harp to big band to progressive rock. A healthful-oriented restaurant is also here.