Denver Weekend Preview: July 3 to 6, 2014

DJOYbeat Event Spotlight

Dead Rocks ft. Zeds Dead, Dada Life, Joey Bada$$, Manic Focus, Grand Theft and Omar Linx @ Red Rocks Amphitheater, Friday, June 13

It’s no secret that Denver loves some bass. Dubstep may have been the awkward high school phase that dance music fans from every other city in the country prefer not to bring up, but around here it’s a way of life. Zeds Dead cemented their legacy in the Mile High City when they played their first show here at the Ogden Theater in 2011, so it’s no surprise to see their name at the top of the lineup for a Red Rocks show – let alone incorporated into the title of the event. A performance by ever-engaging Swedish electro duo Dada Life will paint the night in a lighter shade of insanity, in addition to opening sets by Joey Bada$$, Manic Focus, Grand Theft and special guest Omar Linx.

The Weekend Rundown

Thursday, July 3

NRG Thursdays ft. Emma Hewitt, Dragon and Sang Dinh @ Beta Nightclub

With more and more EDM vocalists speaking out on the lack of credit they receive for their contributions to big-name artists’ tracks, Emma Hewitt headlining Beta Nightclub for this weekend’s installment of NRG Thursdays is certainly a welcome development. Having made a name for herself as a trance vocalist with her work on Chris Lake’s “Carry Me Away,” which took Britney Spears’ place as No. 1 on the US Billboard Charts, she went on to claim another No. 1 spot on the Global Trance Charts and continued to release top singles on Beatport while working with some of the biggest names in EDM. Lower on the bill are Colorado local and Beta Nightclub resident DJs Dragon and Sang Dinh.

Sub.Mission Presents TWRK @ Club Vinyl

After years of success hosting Electronic Tuesdays at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Five Points, Colorado, Denver bass mainstay Sub.Mission recently started a new weekly residency at SoCo Nightlife’s own Club Vinyl. This week, they’ve brought out TWRK, a collaborative project between New York DJ/producers DJ Esentrik and Benzi who have made a considerable mark on the trap scene since their the release of their first mix tape, Volume One, a year ago. Given trap’s meteoric rise in the EDM genre battle and Sub.Mission’s devoted fan base, this event should draw a crowd uncharacteristic of the waning off-Broadway nightlife scene.

Friday, July 4

Bassic Fridays 4th of July Celebration ft. 12th Planet and Two Fresh with Mystical Influence and P.U.N.C.H.I.S. @ Beta Nightclub

The last time jungle/drum ‘n’ bass/dubstep legend 12th Planet graced the decks of Beta Nightclub for a January installment of Bassic Fridays, just about every basshead in Denver got down and dirty. Having co-founded the record label SMOG as well as sharing stages with the likes of Skrillex at festivals like Ultra Music Festival, it comes as no surprise—and the additional lineup will bring even more feet through the door as well. Two Fresh, consisting of brothers Sherwyn and Kendrick Nicholls as well as live drummer Colby Buckler, consistently sell out venues by playing an eclectic mix of tunes. Denver local DJ crew P.U.N.C.H.I.S. will hold down their regular residency upstairs in the Beatport Lounge and Canada-born Mystical Influence will open the 4th of July celebration.

Home On The Rooftop ft. Keepers, Need & Necessity and Lil’ Will @ Bar Standard

If you didn’t already know that deep house and fireworks were a match made in Heaven, you probably need to hit up more festivals. If you don’t have half a grand to blow this weekend, though, Bar Standard’s got you covered with the cheapest rooftop party in town. Since it’s got no cover before 10:00 p.m. and only $5 entry the rest of the night, the party will be a perfect avenue for HOME Denver to showcase new local talent. Keepers—a collaboration between Colorado natives Colin McKenna and Peter Washington—will lay down sexy deep house and nu disco beats well into the night, while homegrown duo Need & Necessity (born Ross Kiser and Matt Friedman) will spin some of their own.

Saturday, July 5

Proper Saturdays with Green Velvet and Cognition &T-Rav @ Beta Nightclub

One of the early DJ/producers in the legendary Chicago house scene, Green Velvet (born Curtis Jones) boasts a music career dating all the way back to 1991. Adopting the moniker Cajmere at the time (a play on his initials “CAJ”), he would go on to start his own record label and even have a single of his, “Brighter Days,” enter No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play charts before adopting his current stage name. Expect all the old heads to come out of the woodwork any time Green Velvet graces the decks of Beta’s main floor, and make sure to wear your dancing shoes. Residents Cognition and T-Rav will warm up the decks, and as with every Saturday Mahesh Presents will hold down the Beatport Lounge upstairs.

AA Presents Adriatique “Under The Sun” Rooftop ft. Adriatique, Tony Rodelli, DJ Sense and Marshall Monica @ Club Vinyl

Adriatique, a tech house duo consisting of two guys (both named Adrian) from Zurich, Switzerland, have made such lasting impressions at festivals like BPM and Sonar that Denver’s EDM hipsters eagerly anticipate their three-hour performance on the rooftop of Club Vinyl. Unlike most Denver parties, doors open at 2:00 PM and opening sets by Boogie Boutique’s Tony Rodelli, Casa Del Soul’s DJ Sense and New Orleans-based Marshall Monica will provide an introspective backdrop to a night of dance music’s more sophisticated side.

Didn’t find the right party for you? Visit our events page for the rundown on Denver’s festivities.

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