Underground Music Showcase to move from Broadway to RiNo

The long-running Denver music festival is leaving its longtime home, drawing mixed reactions from the community.

Feb. 9, 2026 at 7:55pm

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The Underground Music Showcase, Denver's longest-running music festival, has announced it will be moving from its longtime home on Broadway to the River North Arts District (RiNo). The move has drawn a range of reactions, from relief that the festival will continue to disappointment and even allegations of betrayal from the Broadway community, which has long been associated with the festival's independent music roots.

Why it matters

The Underground Music Showcase has been a fixture on Broadway for 25 years, helping to establish the corridor as Denver's independent music hub. The move to the more corporate-leaning RiNo neighborhood is seen by some as a betrayal of the festival's origins, while others are optimistic the change will breathe new life into the event.

The details

The festival's co-organizer, Youth on Record, is selling its 50% stake to the RiNo Business Improvement District. Co-founder Ricardo Baca had proposed the move to RiNo years ago, citing the neighborhood's greater number of venues, youthful energy, and festival-friendly infrastructure. However, some business owners on Broadway feel betrayed by the move, with one bar owner saying he was "lied to over and over" about the festival's future. Denver City Councilmember Flor Alvidrez expressed disappointment, noting that RiNo is home to more corporate businesses compared to the community-based independent scene on Broadway.

  • The Underground Music Showcase has been held on Broadway for 25 years.
  • The festival announced the move to RiNo on Monday, February 10, 2026.

The players

Underground Music Showcase

A long-running music festival in Denver that has been held on Broadway for 25 years.

Youth on Record

The co-organizer of the Underground Music Showcase that is selling its 50% stake to the RiNo Business Improvement District.

Ricardo Baca

The co-founder of the Underground Music Showcase who proposed the move to RiNo years ago.

John Moore

The co-founder of the Underground Music Showcase who was optimistic about the shift to RiNo.

Flor Alvidrez

The Denver City Councilmember who represents the Baker neighborhood where the Underground Music Showcase was previously held on Broadway.

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What they’re saying

“I love South Broadway, and it remains one of my favorite neighborhoods in Colorado — but even back then it was clear that RiNo was fast growing into the neighborhood that would help usher in a new era of The UMS.”

— Ricardo Baca, Co-founder of the Underground Music Showcase (Denverite)

“Without knowing any of the details, I will always say anything that allows our local musicians to be seen and celebrated, I celebrate as well.”

— John Moore, Co-founder of the Underground Music Showcase (Denverite)

“I can't imagine the UMS not on Broadway.”

— Kalyn Heffernan, Musician, Wheelchair Sports Camp (Denverite)

“I think it's awesome that a deal was able to be made and even more amazing that Youth on Record zoomed out from the situation and did what's best for the sustainability of the festival.”

— DNA Picasso, Hip-hop artist (Denverite)

“Just having a whole new neighborhood with whole new places will give this a whole new feel. It's a whole new festival all over again.”

— Dana Meyers, Morning host, Indie 102.3 (Denverite)

What’s next

The Broadway General Improvement District is planning to launch its own music event that will stay in the neighborhood in perpetuity, though details are still being formed.

The takeaway

The move of the Underground Music Showcase from its longtime home on Broadway to the RiNo neighborhood highlights the tension between preserving a festival's independent roots and adapting to a changing urban landscape. While some see the move as a betrayal of the festival's origins, others are optimistic it will breathe new life into the event and help ensure its long-term sustainability.