Denver Underground Music Showcase Announcement

Press Release:

DENVER – June 2, 2009 – Now in its ninth year, The Underground Music Showcase – now known simply as The UMS – welcomes Floyd’s 99 Barbershops as the new presenting sponsor of the 2009 event. The UMS, which has grown to be the largest indie music festival in Colorado, will take place on a half mile stretch of South Broadway in Denver, Colorado over 4 days – July 23 thru July 26 – including over 200 bands, singer-songwriters, and comedians at 20 local shops, restaurants and live music venues. In an effort to make the Floyd’s 99 brand synonymous with music, the Denver based company will align The UMS partnership with the launch of Floyd’s 99 Radio, a live stream of Floyd’s 99-style music, found both in their local shops and online at www.floydsbarbershop.com.

The UMS started out as a delicately curated night of music at the Bluebird Theater with a modest 300 people coming out to hear four bands, but after a number of years bouncing between the Bluebird and Gothic theaters, the UMS was moved to South Broadway in the Baker Historic District in the summer of 2006. The first year on Broadway started simple: 25 bands in five rock clubs, all within walking distance of each other. A couple years later, theUMS had grown into a different beast entirely, entertaining about 5,000 local music fans. TheUMS was already the premier festival of local music and art in the region. And now the UMSyearns to become the foremost festival of independent music in the Western United States – focusing on both national and local independent artists. It is referred to as “the South By Southwest of Denver”, by Heather Browne, editor of the popular music blog, I Am Fuel, You Are Friends.

At the UMS, the presentation of the music is as important as the music itself. It’s the punk band playing the parking lot stage outside the skateboard shop; the arena rock band playing the packed rock club; the neo-folk collective playing inside the church’s sanctuary; the indie rock band playing the outdoor stage in the park; the singer-songwriter playing original compositions in an indie clothing shop. The Fray’s lead singer Isaac Slade played a surprise solo set at The UMS - right as his band’s debut was crossing the 2 million mark in sales. And while the festival has also hosted performances from other major label acts, such as DeVotchKa, Meese and the Photo Atlas, its heart is with the indie acts like Dressy Bessy, Born in the Flood and 16 Horsepower that have graced its many stages over the years. And keeping with the spirit of artistry, the UMS is looking forward to the growth and evolution to come.

The Underground Music Showcase (The UMS) will feature food, beverage and retail vendors on-site, offering product samplings, giveaways and other promotions all weekend long. The event is sponsored by Rolling Rock, Scion, Gigbot, Soundstructure Studios, Fuze, Car Toys, Planned Parenthood, Red Bull, Evergroove Studios, The Walnut Room, Bocumast, Notably Fine Audio, The Lockerpartners, Indie 101.5, Radio 1190 and The Deuce.

UMS Website

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