Denver Weekend Preview July 31 to August 2, 2014

DJOYbeat Event Spotlight

HARD Summer Red Rocks ft. Nero, Dillon Francis, Destructo, Rudimental, Samo Sound Boy and Julio Bashmore, Thursday, July 31

The landscape of dance music has changed since Gary Richards (better known by his stage name, Destructo) threw the first HARD Music Festival in Los Angeles in 2007. Among the headliners were Justice, Peaches and 2 Live Crew – and even though Hard Summer Red Rocks takes place half a country away from the flagship festival, performances by co-headliners Nero and Dillon Francis as well as a set by Richards himself make it an affair not to miss.

The Weekend Rundown

Thursday, July 31

NRG Thursdays ft. Ilan Bluestone, DJ Jerome Isma-Ae and Sergio Santana @ Beta Nightclub

Between London-based trance up-and-comer Ilan Bluestone and across-the-board progressive DJ Jerome Isma-Ae from Germany, Beta Nightclub’s Funktion-1s will be blasting out an intelligent, ethereal mix of EDM in stark contrast to the bass-heavy lineup of HARD Summer Red Rocks. As with all installments of NRG Thursdays, Sergio Santana will warm up the decks on the main stage.

Joker @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom

Named the “2009 king of bass music” by XLR8R Magazine, Bristol, UK-born Joker’s dubstep/grime-heavy set is bound for a warm reception at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Five Points. Between local promotional company Sub.mission’s  influence on the venue and Denver’s staunch love affair with bass music, a lot of feet will likely come through the door of this party.

Friday, August 1

Bassic Fridays ft. Sub Focus, Fury & Grym and P.U.N.C.H.I.S. @ Beta Nightclub

Another bass music mainstay, Sub Focus (born Nick Douwma) makes perfect sense as the headliner of this week’s installment of Bassic Fridays. One of the earlier purveyors of dubstep, his knack for blending in electro and drum ‘n’ bass will make for a hyphy closing set on Beta’s main stage.

Rooftop House Essentials ft. Jleet, Marshall Monica, DJ Max Kruse and T-Rx @ Funky Buddha Lounge

Denver DJ collective Fundamental Frequencies will take over the top floor of Funky Buddha this Friday, which boasts one of the most underrated rooftops in the local nightlife scene. Local favorites like Jleet, Marshall Monica, DJ Max Kruse and T-Rx can be expected to touch on every shade of the house spectrum for this event.

Kraddy @ Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom

Having participated in the esteemed world of drum ‘n’ bass since the ’90s, Kraddy (born Matthew Kratz) is another artist perfect for the Cervantes crowd. One of the co-founders of The Glitch Mob, his history in EDM is as far reaching as it is long.

Saturday, August 2

Proper Saturdays ft. No Regular Play, Marshall Monica and Mahesh Presents @ Beta Nightclub

Having been steeped in Jazz and Afro-Cuban rhythm, the two childhood friends that comprise No Regular Play are indeed not of the typical musical background that most Beta headliners fall into. Their largely instrumental live set will make for an engaging audience experience with an opening set by the ever-skillful Marshall Monica.

Shiba San, Keepers and Action 52 @ Club Vinyl

With the success of “Okay” on the Beatport charts and his involvement with Claude Von Stroke’s Dirtybird label, 2014 is making out to be quite a year for Shiba San. With opening sets by local favorites Keepers and Action 52, Vinyl’s the place to be for anyone craving that deep-house sound with a little hip-hop influence mixed in for good measure.

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