In our City Beats series, we explore underground scenes in cities all around the world, and today we're shining a spotlight on Denver, Colorado.

Many people in the bass music world regard the capital city of Colorado as America’s low-end stronghold. Perhaps something about being sandwiched between High Plains to the East and the Rocky Mountains to the West lends itself to producing filthy dubstep and grotty drum & bass. In this article, we’ll take a look at the artists, venues, radio stations and festivals championing Denver’s low-end frequencies, and dig into the energy behind the city’s thriving bass music scene.

Venues

Denver’s bass culture thrives across three iconic venues, each bringing a slightly different flavor to the city’s scene. The Black Box is at the heart of Denver’s low-end community — an intimate, no-frills space built around a world-class, rib-rattling sound system that pounds out dubstep, drum & bass, experimental bass and halftime. It’s home to Sub.mission events and responsible for countless underground debuts.

A few blocks away, you’ll find Club Vinyl — a multi-level venue that bridges underground and mainstream, with bass-heavy nights like Bassrush and Drum & Bass Ops utilising its Funktion-One rig while the rooftop hosts house music. Club Vinyl’s scale and programming give it a festival feel while staying true to Denver’s underground essence.

Then there’s The Church, a grand old historic Denver church turned nightclub where bass goes cinematic. This historic venue is home to Badlands on Thursdays, Ritual on Fridays, and ‘Noches en la Catedral’ Latin Night Saturdays, with massive acoustics and immersive light shows that turn bass sets into full-body experiences.

Together, these venues form the backbone of Denver’s bass ecosystem, each one essential to the city’s low-end identity.

Denver Dance Radio

This online SoundCloud channel has become a key platform for bass music genres in Denver. The show features episodes of dubstep, UK garage, 140 bass, psybass, psydub, and tech house, and showcases both local and regional artists.

Electric Demons Radio

An outlet that dives into genres like dubstep, halftime, freeform, and other bass-adjacent sounds, bringing in both local DJs and mixes that push beyond the mainstream. This DIY station is where the community comes together.

Mersiv (Anderson Benoit Gallegos)

One of the most prominent names in Denver’s bass scene right now, Mersiv’s known for “Pretty Dark Loud,” which blends deep and heavy bass drops with emotional, psychedelic textures. Launched in 2015, the project gained major momentum after a standout performance at Electric Forest 2018, followed by a string of releases that propelled him onto global tours and major festival lineups like Shambala, Bonnaroo, Dead Rocks, and Okeechobee.

Brondo

A local favorite famous for gritty synths, hard-hitting dubstep and a signature energy that destroys dancefloors, Brondo has become known as the “bass jungle king.” He always puts on a show with his unique take on creative visuals, electrifying drops and enough bass to make all of Denver quake.

Decadon

Mixing rock-influenced vocals, melodic overtones, and traditional D&B, Decadon has carved out a niche referred to as “rockstep.” He blends raw guitars and vocals with dubstep and bass elements to bridge genres in a totally unique and oddly satisfying way.

Sub.mission

This pioneering collective is synonymous with Denver’s bass scene. Founded in 2007, they helped the city earn its “Bass Capital” nickname with their motto “Moving People Through Sound, Not Hype.” This crew focuses on deep, high-quality sound and community over trends, and their flagship venue, The Black Box, houses one of the state’s finest sound systems – ideal for hosting global bookings like Truth, J:Kenzo, and Ternion Sound.

Dub Wub

Dub Wub is a monthly experimental bass event held at a venue called RIVER, and showcases regional artists and underground experimental bass styles. Revellers describe it as intimate, intense and with a focus on low-end textures.

Warehouse Shows

Denver has a strong tradition of warehouse raves, smaller after-dark parties, and secret location bass shows. These events often attract experimental or harder-hitting bass DJs, and are a big part of what makes the scene feel alive and community-driven.

Klutch Beat's Bass N Bounce

This day-time event is coming up on November 8, 2025, at Bounce Empire in Lafayette which is the world’s largest inflatable amusement park. They combine heavy bass music on a 360° hydraulic stage, creating a high-energy fusion of music, fun and adrenaline.

Global Dance Festival

This is Denver’s flagship electronic music event, transforming the Empower Field grounds into a multi-stage celebration of sound and light each summer. Known for its massive production, cutting-edge visuals and diverse lineup, the festival brings together global superstars and underground bass artists alike — from dubstep and trap to house and techno.

Badger Bass Camp

Though outside of Denver proper, this 3-day underground bass festival in Hartsel, Colorado, attracts lots of bass-heads from Denver and beyond. It’s celebrated for its intimate, community-driven vibe and deep, immersive sets spanning dubstep, drum & bass, glitch, and experimental sounds. With its DIY ethos, art installations, and outdoor camping atmosphere, many say that Badger Bass Camp feels more like a family gathering than a festival.

What’s different about Denver?

Geography, culture and community makes Denver’s bass scene stand out; and it’s constantly evolving. The city’s mountainous backdrop and outdoor culture cultivates a nightlife scene where deep cuts thrive. Artists can graduate from small, sweaty club sets to major festival stages within a short period of time, and no single style defines the sound. It’s a city where melodic bass, dubstep, halftime, and drum & bass all collide under one roof.

Beneath the surface there’s an underground network of warehouse parties, after-hours events, and creative collectives that keep things authentic and fresh. But as the scene grows, it faces familiar challenges: limited venues, festival permit hurdles and the tension between underground roots and mainstream success. Supporting emerging artists and grassroots venues is vital, not just for the health of the scene but for the energy and spirit of the city itself.

Ultimately, Denver’s bass culture is diverse, resilient and vibrant. If you crave heavy drops, filthy basslines and music you can feel deep in your bones, then make sure you get down to Denver.