The 2018 Underground Music Showcase is upon on us this week and the lineup that boasts near 200 acts, the ability to choose from the crowded field can be daunting. I went through the UMS Spotify playlist that is local artist heavy to make selections of acts that I haven’t seen or new to me. I’ve included the date/time of each act and a clip of what you can expect to hear. I’m impressed by the level of talent that keeps coming to Denver in late July to take over South Broadway and excited about the direction that new owners Two Parts plan on doing with the festival spinoff.

Related: THE UNDERGROUND MUSIC SHOWCASE 2015

On an important note, Two Parts would like to kindly suggest some minor housekeeping issues to enhance your festival-going experience with the following:

• Drink copious amounts of water. You’re at a music festival 5,280 feet above sea level and you’ll be going hard. Enough said.
• Wear comfortable shoes. UMS takes place at venues on Denver’s South Broadway and you’re bound to do some traveling up and down this historic corridor. We know you obviously don’t want to crimp your #festivalfashion but do your feet a favor, and wear comfy shoes. Pro tip: bring along some new/fresh socks–have you ever put a fresh pair of socks on mid-festival? Game changer.
• Make sure to check out Sesh Stage. One of the summer’s best beer festivals, Sesh Fest, is now living inside of the UMS – accessible with your UMS tickets. Some of the BEST damn breweries in the state, including New Belgium, Renegade, Oskar Blues, Ratio, and Upslope, will be in attendance offering 4, 8 or 12-ounce pours. Colorado Cider Co. and Stem will be on-site pouring their delicious ciders. Kick it in a boozy lounge, hosted by Molly’s Spirits, and grab an icy cocktail from Stranahan’s airstream. Red Bull will create a summer oasis, backyard party vibe with lawn games. Sesh Stage only tickets are available for $40, which includes access to the Sesh Stage on Saturday and Sunday (it’s closed Friday) and 20 drink tokens. Sesh Stage will be located at the Fentress Architects Lot at 4th and Broadway. Slow Caves, White Denim, Hot 8 Brass Band, a super secret headliner and more than a dozen other bands are slated to perform on the Sesh Stage. For more information on all of the bands playing on Sesh stage, click here.
• Pace yo’ self! Don’t start pounding drinks at noon. This is a legit marathon, so don’t get burnt out right away and risk missing your favorite band.
• Don’t dance on an empty stomach. South Broadway is home to some awesome eateries and there’s no reason to neglect your taste buds. Bonus points for locations where you can grab a bite and catch a live act including Illegal Pete’s, Moe’s Original BBQ, Punch Bowl Social, The Hornet, Blue Ice Lounge, Sputnik, The Irish Rover, and Gary Lee’s Motor Club & Grub.
• Explore! Sticking with what you know = boring! Pop into a random venue to check out a band you’ve never heard of before. Check out ALL of the outdoor stages. This is a discovery festival, and your goal should be to listen and check out as many acts you’ve never seen before as you can! If you’re looking to make the most of your UMS experience, be sure to join The Underground, a unique festival experience that will keep you in the know about surprise happenings in advance of and throughout the weekend, including surprise sets, giveaway opportunities, and pop-up parties.

Andy Immerman Irish Rover Saturday 7-8

Big J Beats Skylark Friday 1-2

Chloe Tang Illegal Pete’s Friday 7-8

Deezie Brown Blue Ice Saturday 8-9

Jerney Blue Ice Saturday 3-4

Jess Parsons South Broadway Christian Church Friday 7-8

Jon Medina Irish Rover Saturday 6-7

New Mexican BAERE BREWING COMPANY Sunday 5-6