16 Northglenn-Thornton • Westminster Window
LOCAL
June 14, 2018J
LIFE
Bringing the concert experience home
House shows are simple, low-impact concerts that are hosted in spaces - either indoor or outdoor - where musicians can perform. That can even be a kitchen area. PHOTOS COURTESY OF LYMLIGHT
House shows are growing in popularity for fans, musicians BY CLARKE READER CREADER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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ometimes, the best experience a person can have with music is when it’s performed live. But going to concerts can be a pricey endeavor, plus there’s the cost of getting a drink or two, dealing with the crowd, and fighting for a good spot. Those in search of a way to experience a different kind of live music should consider a growing trend — one closer to home. “Even at small clubs, there’s still a kind of invisible force field between you and the audience, because you’re on stage and they’re not,” said Kyle Hauser, a Berklee School of Music graduate and former touring musician. “But playing a house show allows you to make a genuine connection with people in a way you
House shows are an increasingly popular way for musicians to spare themselves many of the costs that come with playing venues and connect with audiences. can’t otherwise.” House shows are exactly what they sound like — people open up their homes to anywhere from 10 to 30 people for a special performance in their living room, backyard, or any other large space they have.
“What a great way to see live music house shows are,” said Daniel Prewitt, a Morrison resident who has hosted several such events in recent years. “There’s no more intimate way to experience music than with just a few other people in an environment like a home.” As these concerts are so small, there’s not a lot in the way of promotional materials — it mostly comes down to word of mouth and friends of friends. Hauser said there’s a kind of informal list of people who host house shows shared between musicians, but Andrea McKee, founder of Lymlight, aims to make the process easier for both musicians and hosts alike. “Lymlight is an online platform that connects performers with people who want to host shows,” McKee explained. “As a singersongwriter myself, I had a hard time finding gigs where I could play my own material and where I wouldn’t feel like background music. But when I heard about house shows, I loved the energy they provide.” SEE CONCERT, P17
PrideFest returning for its 44th year
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lthough it has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, Denver’s PrideFest can trace its roots all the way back to 1975. And this year’s event is going to be the biggest yet. “We’re going to have more than 200 exhibitors and three stages-worth of entertainment,” said Rex Fuller, vice president of communiCOMING cations and corporate ATTRACTIONS giving with The GLBT Community Center of Colorado, which has been organizing the festival for 28 years. “At this free festival we have a lot going on, including areas for families, youth and seniors.” Denver PrideFest, the region’s largest celebraClarke Reader tion of LGBT Pride, returns to Civic Center, 101 W. 14th Ave., on Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17. Events on the 16th begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 11 p.m.; on the 17th, they start at 9 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m. The event expects more than 350,000 people stopping by to participate in a range of activities, including the Coors Light PrideFest Parade, which is the centerpiece of PrideFest. This year’s parade will include more than 200 entries that celebrate the diversity of the LGBTQ community and its supporters. “We wanted to focus on cross-cultural programming, and we’re bringing all kinds of entertainment to our stages,” Fuller said. “It allows us to showcase that the LGBTQ community includes people from all walks of life.” Other activities going on during the festival include dance music legend Crystal Waters performing, Kameron Michaels from “Ru Paul’s Drag Race,” DJ Barry Harris, an installation by Lonnie Hanzon, the Pride 5K and Denver Pride Rally for Equality. “This year’s theme is ‘Say It Loud, Say It Proud,’” Fuller added. “We want everyone in our community to remain visible and speaking about their rights.” Proceeds from Denver PrideFest support the GLBT Community Center of Colorado. Visit www.denverpride.org. A new story of everyone’s favorite neighbor Fred Rogers, better known as Mr. Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” played a critical role in the upbringing of generations of children during his time on PBS. Now one of the most anticipated films of the year is “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” a documentary all about the ever-popular children’s show host. Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at Sloan’s Lake, 4255 W. Colfax Ave., and Littleton, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive, are hosting benefit screenings of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” Sloan’s Lake’s screening is on June 15 and Littleton is on June 22. A $1 donation from every ticket sold goes to the local PBS station. Visit www. drafthouse.com/denver for tickets. SEE READER, P17