Musical lineup loaded for Mile High Music Festival

From international stars to home-grown bands, festival hopes to establish a summer tradition

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published March 18, 2008 at 7:56 a.m.

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Photo by George Kochaniec Jr. / The Rocky

The Mile High Music Festival will be held on soccer fields at Dick's Sporting Goods Park.

Festival stars, from left, Dave Matthews, Tom Petty and John Mayer

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With a lineup that includes international rock stars and up-and-coming local bands, the Mile High Music Festival hopes to have something for every music fan - and become a Colorado tradition.

Tuesday's announcement of the lineup at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, including the previously leaked headliners Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers and the Dave Matthews Band, formally launched a festival that organizers hope will endure for decades.

"This is the biggest thing in terms of music festivals that this state has ever seen," said Gov. Bill Ritter, who was on hand for the announcement. "This is a great way for us to celebrate aspects of our culture. And it's a great economic event."

"This is the first annual," promoter Chuck Morris, of festival promoter AEG Live, emphasized. "We expect to be here for 10, 20, 30 years."

The July 19-20 festival will be held on soccer fields outside the stadium. The lineup has a scope that ranges from veterans Steve Winwood to fan favorites such as John Mayer and The Black Crowes, as well as local up-and- comers.

More than 35 acts are confirmed, with more than a dozen more on the way. Morris says the festival has the capacity to sell 50,000 tickets daily. Officials are betting fans will pay the two-day pass price of $150 to see bands that often sell out Red Rocks along with dozens of other acts.

A strong contingent from Denver's surging music scene also will be a heavy presence at the festival, with appearances from The Flobots, Meese, Born in the Flood, Railbenders, The Photo Atlas, OneRepublic, Leftover Salmon, Rose Hill Drive and more.

Bands will perform on five stages. Misting and shade tents will be available, including one tent the size of a football field, Morris said. Besides using the stadium facilities for food and concessions, Denver restaurants will provide food. An artists' village and other amenities are planned.

The concerts originally were planned for City Park in the urban-festival style of the Austin City Limits festival.

Objections from Denver Zoo officials over the possibility of trauma to its animals from the loud music scuttled that plan.

The subsequent move to Dick's Sporting Goods Park addressed potential problems such as parking, neighborhood concerns and food and beverage supplies that were points of contention in the City Park deal.

And, Morris said, the new site is closer than some people think: just nine miles from downtown Denver. "I think there's a little bit of a myth that we're in Kansas or something."

brownm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2674

Festival fun in Commerce City

* When and where: noon to 11 p.m. July 19-20 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City

* Tickets

$150 for two-day passes or $85 per day.

* A presale through radio station KBCO-FM (97.3) starts at 10 a.m. today; sign up at kbco.com. Public sale begins March 29 through TicketHorse.com (Children under 10 free with paid adult admission).

* July 19 lineup: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Steve Winwood, Michael Franti and Spearhead, O.A.R. (Of A Revolution), Spoon, moe., Citizen Cope, Brett Dennen, Newton Faulkner, Andrew Bird, Josh Ritter, State Radio, JJ Grey & Mofro, Bob Schneider, Meese, Born in the Flood, Railbenders.

* July 20 lineup: Dave Matthews Band, John Mayer, The Black Crowes, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Colbie Caillat, Ingrid Michaelson, OneRepublic, Flogging Molly, The Roots, Leftover Salmon, Martin Sexton, Flobots, Grace Potter & The Nocturnals, Tea Leaf Green, Rose Hill Drive, The New Mastersounds, Serena Ryder, The Photo Atlas.

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Comments

March 18, 2008

9:48 a.m.

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TheDenverB writes:

nice. too bad its in lack-of-commerce city though.

they need to get more bluegrass for that second night.
March 18, 2008

11:32 a.m.

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incognitoboy writes:

more bluegrass?

isn't that what telluride is for? or don't they do that anymore.....
March 18, 2008

12:02 p.m.

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J_Phil writes:

Lame... Buncha hippies... Petty is the only band worth seeing-- The Roots aren't bad, but I wouldn't pay to see them. The rest of those artists are certifiable garbage.
March 18, 2008

12:47 p.m.

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redwhiteandBLUE writes:

Sounds like cool music, but in Commerce ****y?
March 18, 2008

1:07 p.m.

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drdrakeramore writes:

decent line-up, but do you really expect folks to come to Denver to see a show in...Stapleton?? Come on! A show of this size should be hosted downtown: more restaurants, more hotels, more bars, more to do! I always find it nice to have walking options (a la Austin) for a show like this; if ACL festival was not in the park, I hardly imagine it would get the same turn out.

Besides, I'm pretty sure the animals like music..."soothe the savage beast" and all that
March 18, 2008

1:18 p.m.

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Shaupeen writes:

Wait! What about the effect such loud music will have on the prairie dogs!!??

What if doesn't kill them all?
March 18, 2008

1:48 p.m.

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jmkratt writes:

J-Phil - you are a fool. The festival is going to be a great time, I am really looking forward to it.
March 18, 2008

3:22 p.m.

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Shaupeen writes:

In case you haven't heard of them, I highly recommend seeing moe. They are great in concert--lots of improvisation and jamming. They never play the same song the same way. Just watch out for the twirling hippie chicks.
March 18, 2008

3:46 p.m.

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jjwood64 writes:

There are only a handful of artists I'd want to see, and it's not worth it to me to "sit" through the others to get to Winwood and Petty. Many of the artists listed simply don't do it for me.

I'll stick to Telluride, Rockygrass and Grand Targhee as my choice of festivals.
March 18, 2008

4:40 p.m.

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hikingartist writes:

I urge everyone to focus on this festival and do not pay any attention to tickets sales for Widespread Panic at Red Rocks. Buncha hippies, haha!
March 18, 2008

5:06 p.m.

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AKuser writes:

Not a bad lineup but if you dont want to drive out to C city you could always help J-Phil tune up his Trans Am and comb his mullet.
March 18, 2008

6:34 p.m.

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TheDenverB writes:

i;ll get both, and you can ebay some of those RR tickets from me for tippy-top dollar.

;)
March 18, 2008

6:58 p.m.

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jmkratt writes:

Good call Kuser, lol
March 19, 2008

6:07 a.m.

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troopermsu writes:

How about some hard rock/metal? Something for every music fan? Yeah, right.
March 19, 2008

8:22 a.m.

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Marshdale writes:

J_Phil. What is the problem man. Have you ever seen Tea Leaf Green, or Rose Hill Drive. Pete Townsend happens to think they are fantastic. I'm not sure where you derive your opinion from but I think I'll trust Pete.
March 19, 2008

8:34 a.m.

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stuckiniowa writes:

Shaupeen -- moe is no different from any of the crappy "jam" bands that came before them. Grateful Dead, Phish -- every other musician who thinks that riffing on the same chords over and over and over is actually creating something. At least in Jazz and Blues they use all of the chords. Jam bands might as well be hippy punk. Ignore moe and enjoy the other actual musicians who are playing the other stages.
March 19, 2008

9:03 a.m.

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jjwood64 writes:

Tea Leaf Green...all wank and no soul! I saw them once at the Fox in Boulder and left after an hour. The guitarist was thoroughly one-dimensional in every solo, and the majority of what I've heard has (a) been done before where (b) nothing was said. And please...there was more soul in Jerry Garcia's pinky than there is in moe and Tea Leaf Green combined!
March 19, 2008

9:44 a.m.

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TheDenverB writes:

being stuck in iowa must really get to you.

they use ALL the chords in blues??? wow. do you even know what you are saying here? i LOVE LOVE LOVE blues music, but it is by far some of the most simple chord progressions around with the same 12-bar solos over the top.

really though, people who blindly lump jambands together, or who truly can't appreciate the grateful dead and their impact on music as a whole really shouldn't be talking here. you don't have to like the dead, but to say it is simply "riffing on the same chords over and over and over" is ignorant and shows how little you have likely broadened your musical tastes over the years.

a wide range of people enjoyed the dead, from lsd-addled hippies to music professors who saw the jazz influence and free-form improvisation to be on par with that of later miles davis.

not to mention the WIDE variety of music the dead played, from BLUES to JAZZ to rock to folk... but hey, it's all just "truckin'" to you, i bet.

and don't get me started on phish... any guitarist worth his strings will tell you that trey was not simply wanking away up there.

and hippy punk? where did you get that comparison from? if anything, punk and blues have more similarities in their simplicity and soul...
March 19, 2008

11:17 a.m.

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cterryr2 writes:

Another concert for the rich only.
March 19, 2008

1:22 p.m.

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Shaupeen writes:

Good point TheDenverB. The standard 12 bar blues progression is just 3 chords (I, IV, and V).

But stuckiniowa, that's exactly why they will have multiple stages--so you can go see bands that you like, and I can go see bands that I like. I was just trying to draw some attention to a band that might not get a lot of publicity here in Denver. If you don't like them, then don't go see them. (That's one less person standing in front of me!)

And Trey is pretty damn good on the guitar.

One other thing to think about--a two day, outdoor festival in July. Bring water. And sunscreen. Lots of both.

But hopefully this is something that will stick around, and grow, and ultimately bring more shows to the Denver area. Live music is great.
March 19, 2008

1:50 p.m.

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TheDenverB writes:

"Another concert for the rich only."

what? it's a major music festival with top name bands for less than $100 per day.

it's a great deal, and i am in NO WAY rich.

if you don't like that, then there are PLENTY of free jazz and classical concerts around town this summer.
March 19, 2008

2:04 p.m.

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coffman1999 writes:

Dear Chuck:

I found out tickets would be $85 per day or $150 for both days. OK...not too bad for the first ever concert like this in my home town.

I was than excited to learn that there is a $250 VIP ticket option and signed up to get presale tickets (which went on sale today) and was SHOCKED to find out that greed has once again reared its ugly head as the ticket is $250 per day! Per day???! Are you serious?? For what? A little closer parking and free cheap beer and better port-a-pottys??? WOW! Simply horrible!

I went to Woodstock '99 and I paid only $150 for 3-days of amazing music

I am ashamed at the greed shown already for this event - LAME
March 19, 2008

2:12 p.m.

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TheDenverB writes:

no one is forcing you to get VIP tickets.

have none of you been to or considered any music festivals in the past few years??? acl, vegoose, bonnarroo, 10klf, high sierra... because listening to your complaints, it sounds like you all have no clue what you are talking about.

they are all on par price=wise for this event, INCLUDING special VIP packages.

seriously folks. Dave Matthews alone would run you $60 a pop for tickets... $85 for that many bands in your own backyard is NOT a bad price by any standard.
March 19, 2008

2:39 p.m.

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Shaupeen writes:

I paid $65 alone for Foo Fighters at Red Rocks. What can you say; concerts are expensive. It boils down to what you want to spend your money on--what's important to you. Myself, I budget all year long for a ski pass for the winter and three or four concerts in the summer (and at least two of those at Red Rocks), and until I win the lottery, that's gonna have to do.

That is, I should say, until Led Zeppelin goes on tour. Then I'm selling a kidney. And maybe a lung.
March 19, 2008

4:32 p.m.

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Horribilis writes:

Bleh - maybe 3-4 acts I would consider seeing. Definitely needs a sharper edge for my tastes...as is, its a light adult contemporary fest.
March 20, 2008

11:35 a.m.

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wow writes:

Shaupeen--When Zepplin comes through I intend to offer up my first born son in trade for a ticket. He's handy around the house, and doesn't whine much about lawn work, but he does eats his own wheight in food daily...
Flobots are a good local band. I'm looking forward to this, even if it is in Commerce City.
March 20, 2008

12:38 p.m.

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Mark Brown writes:

Everyone keeps saying "Commerce City" and technically that's correct, but Dick's is a gorgeous new facility that has nothing to do with CC's image.

And folks, Led Zeppelin is NOT touring. Trust me.
March 26, 2008

9:23 p.m.

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Illoomination writes:

So, could someone help me with this... I've never attended a rock "festival," but if I wanted to just see Tom Petty (maybe Steve Winwood), and I'm assuming they go last, and I'll buy the one-day Saturday-only pass, is it reasonable to plan on walking in the gates at around 6 PM and being able to see the show?
May 8, 2008

10:49 p.m.

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Minnesota_chick writes:

Ok, really, are all of you haters absolutely insane? How can you say that this is a lame festival, just for hippies, and too expensive? If it were any cheaper it would be free, are you even considering the bands you're getting to see?!?!? Wow.

Denver B, my friend, you hit the nail on the head. I enjoyed your post.

I live in Minnesota, only 1/2 an hour away from 10klf, which I have gone to since the beginning of its time. This year, I am passing up 10k and heading down to Denver for Mile High, I am so far beyond pumped!

Anyone camping in Cherry Creek, let me know!! Can't wait to see everyone there!!!!
June 19, 2008

10:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Pete306 writes:

Is anyone interested in buying my ticket? I live in Breck and am broke, wish I could go but I could REALLY use the $150 asap.

Please email me at

plagrange@earthlink.net and we can set something up.
July 12, 2008

11:50 a.m.

potpie writes:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
July 13, 2008

9:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

dmbfan writes:

It is simple ignorance and poor judgement behind the commentary I just read. First of all who are any of us to judge a concert we have not even attended? For those of you from Denver you should be ashamed for insulting one of our suberbs. Commerce City may not be one of our most popular places but Denver has not only built a tremendous amount in that area but they have really cleaned up over there. Secondly those of you that are talking about this being a concert for the rich have obviously never been to a concert. Thirdly as far as the term "hippie" goes I would venture to guess you really wouldn't know a true hippie if they were sitting in front of you. Last but not least Dave Matthews Band is the sole reason I am going. If you have not seen the instrumental talent they have let alone heard the voice of Dave you have not experienced true God-given talent. I am appalled at the ridiculous commentary. I hope for all of you that have nothing better to do then spread negative crap you find a hobby. Those of us that appreciate music will go and have a great time. By the way if you don't have the money you should go-- most likely the same people that you are insulting may be kind enough to give you an extra ticket.

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