The American state of Colorado

Colorado

Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...

 has many music scenes and venues, especially in the larger cities like Denver and Colorado Springs.

Colorado's orchestra

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...

s include the Colorado Springs Symphony, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra

Boulder philharmonic orchestra

The Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, founded in 1958, is a fully professional orchestra based in Boulder, Colorado. It is the successor to the Civic Symphony Orchestra, and it is directed by Michael Butterman...

, Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra, Telluride Chamber Orchestra, Pikes Peak Philharmonic, Pueblo Symphony (affiliated with Colorado State University-Pueblo, Music Department) http://chass.colostate-pueblo.edu/music/index.htm, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Colorado’s only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year...

, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra and the Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra.

Folk

Folk music

Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....

 and traditional music in Colorado has been an intricate part of the local popular culture in the last century. The Colorado Bluegrass Music Society exists to promote Coloradan bluegrass music

Bluegrass music

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...

, and publishes a magazine called Pow'r Pickin.

There are also online communities developed to promote Colorado music, such as COStandUp.com (that opened January 1, 2009) that is dedicated to the publishing of articles surrounding the Colorado hip-hop scene.

Colorado Bands and Artists

Local bands and musicians as well as those often associated with Colorado include:

• 16 Horsepower
  16 Horsepower
  16 Horsepower was an American alternative country music group based in Denver, Colorado. Their music often invoked religious imagery dealing with conflict, redemption, punishment, and guilt through David Eugene Edwards's lyrics and the heavy use of traditional bluegrass, gospel, and Appalachian...
  
   (Indie-Gothic-Country-Rock)
• 3OH!3
  3OH!3
  3OH!3 is an American electro hop duo from Boulder, Colorado, made up of Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte. They are best known for their single "Don't Trust Me" from their album Want, which reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100...
  
   (Emotronic)
• 3 The Hard Way
  3 The Hard Way
  3 The Hard Way is a New Zealand hiphop group formed in 1994.-History:3 The Hard Ways first release was Hip Hop Holiday, which was released in 1994. The song spent five weeks at the top of the New Zealand charts, selling in excess of thirty thousand copies, and became a Kiwi anthem...
  
   (Hip-Hop)
• Air Dubai
  Air Dubai
  Air Dubai is a seven-piece hip hop band from Denver, Colorado. The band is composed of vocalists Julian Thomas and Jon Shockness, with Lawrence Grivich , Michael Ray , Taylor Tait , Wesley Watkins and Nick Spreigl...
  
   (Alternative Hip-Hop)
• Antonia Brico
  Antonia Brico
  Antonia Brico was a conductor and pianist.Brico was born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. She and her foster parents immigrated to the United States in 1908 and settled in California. On leaving high school in Oakland in 1919 she was already an accomplished pianist and had experience in conducting...
  
   (Classical)
• The Apples in Stereo
  The Apples in Stereo
  The Apples in Stereo, styled The Apples in stereo, is an American indie rock band associated with The Elephant Six Collective, a group of bands also including Neutral Milk Hotel and The Olivia Tremor Control. The band is largely a product of lead vocalist/guitarist Robert Schneider, who writes the...
  
   (Indie/Pop)
• The Astronauts (Surf)
• Big Head Todd and the Monsters
  Big Head Todd and the Monsters
  Big Head Todd & the Monsters is a rock band formed in 1986 in Colorado. The band has released a number of albums since 1989 with their 1993 album Sister Sweetly going platinum in the United States...
  
   (Rock)
• Breathe Carolina
  Breathe Carolina
  Breathe Carolina is an American electronic rock musical duo from Denver, Colorado, composed of David Schmitt and Kyle Even. Breathe Carolina have released three albums, one EP, and five music videos to date.-Beginnings :...
  
   (Emotronic)
• Cephalic Carnage
  Cephalic Carnage
  Cephalic Carnage is an American grindcore band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado. The band comprises vocalist Lenzig Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos...
  
   (Grindcore/Death Metal)
• Choke the Word
  Choke the Word
  Choke the Word is a Denver-based alt-prog band formed in 2008. They are distinguished by their use of a violin and cello in addition to the standard guitar, bass, and drums...
  
   (Alt/prog rock)
• The Czars
  The Czars
  The Czars was an alternative rock band, formed in 1994 in Denver by John Grant and Chris Pearson. They released six studio albums, one EP, and three singles in the duration of their career. After the release of Goodbye in 2004, five of the six members of The Czars left the band over the span of...
  
   (Rock/Indie/Alternative)
• DeVotchKa
  DeVotchKa
  DeVotchKa is a four-piece multi-instrumental and vocal ensemble. They take their name from the Russian word devochka , meaning "girl"...
  
   (Indie/Alternative - Post Rock)
• Dianne Reeves
  Dianne Reeves
  Dianne Reeves is an American jazz singer. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado.-Early life:Reeves was born in Detroit, Michigan to a very musical family. Her father, who died when she was two years old, was also a singer. Her mother, Vada Swanson, played trumpet. A cousin, George Duke, is a...
  
   (Jazz)
• Dressy Bessy
  Dressy Bessy
  Dressy Bessy is an indie rock band from Denver, Colorado, associated with the Elephant Six Collective. Guitarist John Hill also plays with The Apples in Stereo. Lead vocalist/guitarist Tammy Ealom formed the band with drummer Darren Albert and guitarist turned bassist Rob Greene in 1996. The name...
  
   (Indie)
• Drop Dead, Gorgeous
  Drop Dead, Gorgeous
  Drop Dead, Gorgeous is a band from Denver, Colorado. They are currently signed to Suretone Records. The band consists of frontman Danny Stillman , Kyle Browning , Jake Hansen and Danny Cooper...
  
   (Pitiful)
• Elephant Revival
  Elephant Revival
  Elephant Revival is a folk music group from Nederland, Colorado, formed in 2006. The band consists of Bonnie Paine , Sage Cook , Dango Rose , Daniel Rodriguez and Bridget Law Elephant Revival is a folk music group from Nederland, Colorado, formed in 2006. The band consists of Bonnie Paine (vocals,...
  
   (Folk)
• Fear Before the March of Flames (Mathcore)
• Firefall
  Firefall
  Firefall is a rock band that formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974. It was founded by Rick Roberts, who had been in the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Jock Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr. The band's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman", peaked at #9 on the Billboard charts...
  
   (rock)
• Five Iron Frenzy
  Five Iron Frenzy
  Five Iron Frenzy is a Christian ska band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1995 and disbanded in 2003. The band announced they were recording new material on November 22, 2011....
  
   (Ska)
• Flobots
  Flobots
  The Flobots are a political rock and hip hop musical group from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2000 by Jamie Laurie. Flobots found mainstream success with their major label debut Fight with Tools , featuring the single "Handlebars", which became a popular hit on Modern Rock radio in April 2008.-Early...
  
   (Rap-Rock)
• The Fray
  The Fray (band)
  The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand...
  
   (Adult Contemporary Soft Rock)
• Hit and Run (band)
  Hit and Run (band)
  Hit and Run is a bluegrass band from Boulder, Colorado.-History:Hit and Run Bluegrass formed in Colorado in late 2001 with the mutual desire to play authentic-yet-modern bluegrass. They have released two compact discs to date...
  
   (Bluegrass)
• India.Arie
  India.Arie
  India.Arie is a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter and record producer . She has sold over 3.3 million records in the U.S. and 10 million worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards from her 21 nominations, including Best R&B Album.-Background:Simpson was born in Denver, Colorado...
  
   (R&B/Soul)
• Jill Sobule
  Jill Sobule
  Jill Sobule is an American singer-songwriter best known for the 1995 single "I Kissed a Girl", and "Supermodel" from the soundtrack of the 1995 film Clueless...
  
   (Folk)
• John Denver
  John Denver
  Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
  
   (Folk)
• Judy Collins
  Judy Collins
  Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
  
   (Folk)
• Kan'Nal
  Kan'Nal
  Kan'Nal is a rock music band first formed in Guatemala in 2001 and has for most of their touring career operated from areas around Boulder, CO. The band originally was composed of lead singer and songwriter Tzol and guitarist Tierro, later adding bassist Rodolfo Escobar, performance artist and...
  
   (Indie/Alternative)
• Leftover Salmon
  Leftover Salmon
  Leftover Salmon is a jam band from Boulder, Colorado, formed in 1989. Their unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun/Zydeco, which the band calls "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass", has found favor with the jam band scene...
  
   (Jam)
• Loveland Opera Theatre
  Loveland Opera Theatre
  The Loveland Opera Theatre is an opera company located in Loveland, Colorado.-External links and sources:*...
  
  (Opera)
• The Minders
  The Minders
  The Minders is a band closely associated with The Elephant Six Collective. Started by Martyn Leaper in Denver, Colorado in 1996, the band's original members included Leaper on guitars and vocals, Rebecca Cole on drums, Jeff Almond on guitar, and Marc Willhite on bass.Leaper formed the Minders in...
  
   (Indie)
• Meese
• OneRepublic
  OneRepublic
  OneRepublic is an American pop rock band from Colorado Springs, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by Ryan Tedder and Zach Filkins, the band achieved massive success on MySpace, becoming the most prominent unsigned act on the website then...
  
   (Pop/Rock)
• Opera Colorado
  Opera Colorado
  Opera Colorado is an opera company located in Denver, Colorado. Founded in 1981, it presents an annual season of three to four fully staged productions...
  
   (Opera)
• Philip Bailey
  Philip Bailey
  Philip Irvin Bailey is an American R&B, soul, gospel and funk singer, songwriter, percussionist and actor, best known as one of the longtime members of Earth, Wind & Fire. Together with Verdine White, B. David Whitworth, and Ralph Johnson he forms the heart of the current EWF line-up on...
  
   (R&B/Funk)
• Playalitical
  Playalitical
  Playalitical , March 7, 1982 in Denver, Colorado is an American rap artist and the current President and CEO of Illuminated Entertainment Group. Known for his deep raspy voice, traditional lyricism, and word play he discusses lived stories of pimping and hustiling...
  
   (Rap/Hip-Hop)
• The Photo Atlas
  The Photo Atlas
  The Photo Atlas are a Dance-punk quartet originating from Denver, Colorado. The band consists of Alan Andrews Jr on vocals and guitar, Bill Threlkeld III on guitar, Mark Hawkins on bass, and Joshua Taylor on drums....
  
   (Post-Hardcore)
• Pretty Lights
  Pretty Lights
  Pretty Lights, real name Derek Vincent Smith, is an American electronic music artist from Fort Collins, Colorado.-History:...
  
   (Electronic)
• The Pseudo Dates
  The Pseudo Dates
  The Pseudo Dates is a Denver, Colorado indie rock band formed in September 2007 by bassist and vocalist Suzi Allegra, guitarist and vocalist Nathan Brasil, and drummer John Fate. The members began collaborating while working with other projects, including Allegra's other bands My Sister Outlaw,...
  
   (Indie rock / indie pop)
• Roper
  Roper (band)
  Roper was a Christian pop-punk band formed in Denver, Colorado. The band consisted of Reese Roper on lead vocals, Jonathan Byrnside on lead guitar, Jonathan Till on bass, Matt Emmett on rhythm guitar, and Nick White on drums.-Background :Guerilla RodeoGuerilla Rodeo was a short-lived project...
  
   (Pop/Punk)
• The Samples
  The Samples
  The Samples were a band formed in Boulder, Colorado in early 1987. The band's name came from the members' early sustenance of food samples from the local King Soopers grocery store. The music has been described as "reggae influenced rock/pop" and a cross between The Police and the Grateful Dead...
  
   (Jam)
• Slim Cessna's Auto Club
  Slim Cessna's Auto Club
  Slim Cessna's Auto Club is an alternative country-gothabilly band formed in 1992 in Denver, Colorado. The constant in the band has been Slim Cessna, formerly a member of The Denver Gentlemen along with David Eugene Edwards and Jeffery-Paul of 16 Horsepower. Jay Munly is also a key member of the...
  
   (Indie-Gothic-Country-Rock)
• The String Cheese Incident (Jam)
• The Subdudes
  The Subdudes
  The Subdudes are an American roots rock group from New Orleans. Their music is a blending of American folk, swamp rock, New Orleans rhythm and blues, Louisiana blues, country, cajun, zydeco, funk, soul and gospel with harmonic vocals...
  
  
• Tickle Me Pink
  Tickle me Pink
  Tickle Me Pink is an American rock band from Fort Collins, Colorado currently signed to Wind-Up Records. The band is composed of Sean Kennedy , Stefan Runstrom , Joey Barba and Steven Beck...
  
   (Pop)
• Single File
  Single File (band)
  Single File is a band from Westminster, Colorado. After achieving local success, the band was signed to Reprise Records in 2006.- History :The group started out originally as a swing jazz trio when its members were in high school, though members Sloan Anderson and Chris Depew had been playing...
  
   (Pop)
• Tommy Bolin
  Tommy Bolin
  Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
  
  
• Vaux
  Vaux (band)
  -History:Vaux was formed in 1997 in Denver, Colorado, under the original name Eiffel. They released a 7" single themselves, To Write A Symphony, in 1998. Indie label Undecided Records signed the band after they had toured the East Coast extensively for two years, and the band's debut album...
  
   (Alternative)
• Velvet Acid Christ
  Velvet Acid Christ
  Velvet Acid Christ is an electro-industrial band based in Denver, Colorado. The band was formed in 1990, gaining limited popularity in Europe's underground nightclub scene during the mid-1990s before expanding into other markets in the goth and industrial subcultures...
  
    (electronica/industrial)
• Yonder Mountain String Band
  Yonder Mountain String Band
  The Yonder Mountain String Band is an American progressive bluegrass group from Nederland, Colorado. Composed of Dave Johnston, Jeff Austin, Ben Kaufmann, and Adam Aijala, the band has released five studio albums and several live recordings to date.- History :The band's history stretches back to...
  
   (Bluegrass)
• Whiskey Tango (Jam/Bluegrass)
• Zephyr
  Zephyr (band)
  Zephyr was a blues-based hard rock band formed in 1969 in Boulder, Colorado by guitarist Tommy Bolin, keyboardist John Faris, David Givens on bass guitar, Robbie Chamberlin on drums and Candy Givens on vocals. Although the charismatic performances by Candy Givens were originally the focal point for...
  
   (Punk)

Boulder

• Fox Theatre, 1135 13th St.
• Macky Auditorium, CU-Boulder campus

Denver

• Fillmore Auditorium
  Fillmore Auditorium (Denver, Colorado)
  The Fillmore Auditorium is a concert venue located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Denver, Colorado. Since opening in 1907, the venue has hosted numerous functions both private and public...
  
  , 1510 Clarkson St.
• Magness Arena
  Magness Arena
  Magness Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose collegiate sports arena in Denver, Colorado. It was built from 1997 to 1999 as part of the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, a $84 million, sports complex at the University of Denver. It is home to the University of Denver Pioneers ice...
  
  , 2240 E. Buchtel Blvd.
• Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave.
• Pepsi Center
  Pepsi Center
  Pepsi Center is a multi-purpose arena in Denver, Colorado, United States. The building is home to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association, the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League, and the Colorado Mammoth of the National Lacrosse League...
  
  , 1000 Chopper Pl.
• Bluebird Theater
  Bluebird Theater
  The Bluebird Theater in Denver, Colorado was designed by Harry W.J. Edbrooke and built during 1913-1914 as Thompson Theater. It was renamed to or Blue Bird Theater or Bluebird Theater in 1922....
  
  , 930 W. 7th Ave. Denver, CO 80204

Greenwood Village

• Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
  Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre (Greenwood Village, Colorado)
  Comfort Dental Amphitheatre is a 18,000 capacity amphitheatre located in Greenwood Village, Colorado. It is the largest outdoor amphitheatre in the Denver metropolitan area. The amphitheatre is generally open every year from May to September....