Rad Things (to) Do - January 2024

2024 is finally here, bringing with it a year of incredible events, concerts and the hope that maybe, just maybe, the Colorado Rockies will have a winning season for once (let’s not bring up the Denver Broncos right now).

January looks to kick things off on the right foot with a fantastic slate of concerts, parades, sports, plays and festivals that will get Denverites out –and about, headlined by the annual National Western Stock Show and the long-awaited doubleheader concert at Ball Arena by arguably the biggest rapper on the planet, Drake, as he takes in the views of the 303. Sounds like a “Fair Trade” to us.

Check out everything happening within walking distance of RTD stops and stations this month in January’s edition of Rad Things (to) Do!
Reminder: RTD’s new fare structure is now in effect. Review the changes to fares at https://www.rtd-denver.com/fares-passes/fares.

Festivals, parades and holiday-themed events

Jan. 6-21: National Western Stock Show and Parade at the National Western Complex (accessible via the N Line at 48th and Brighton·National Western Complex Station)

The premier livestock, rodeo and horse show in the United States returns once again to the National Western Complex Jan. 6-21. For 16 days, enjoy a celebration of the agriculture industry with rodeos, educational opportunities, horse and livestock shows, equestrian competitions and the Xtreme Dogs Show.

All the activity kicks off Jan. 4 with the National Western Stock Show Parade, which has traveled through downtown Denver since the 1960s. The parade begins at noon at Union Station and follows 17th Street down to Glenarm Place. Come check out all the livestock and horses that will be trotting down 17th Street!

The National Western Stock Show can be accessed via the N Line at 48th and Brighton·National Western Complex Station, and the parade can be accessed via any Union Station-bound bus or train. Note that there will be route and line detours and suspensions due to the parade. And watch for RTD’s participation in the parade!

Jan. 15: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marade

Honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his accomplishments in this one-of-a-kind march/parade hybrid event. The annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marade brings together all for a celebration of equality, prosperity and a desire to continue the minister’s vision of a better world.

The Marade begins at 9:30 a.m. at East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street and proceeds westbound to Civic Center Park, where community leaders will lay a wreath in honor of the civil rights champion.

Bus routes and rail lines will be on detour for the duration of the Marade, so be sure to check the Service Alerts page of the RTD website for details and plan your trips ahead of time using the Trip Planner app.

Sports

Well, so much for those Broncos playoffs hopes. Thanks, Kansas City. With that, the Broncos are done for the season, at least at home.

It’s not all doom –andgloom for Denver sports, though, as the Nuggets are in third place in the Western Conference, just a couple of games behind the Thunder and Timberwolves. And while the ice may be cool, the Avalanche are hotter than Gordon Ramsay after both kitchens fail to get food out to diners in an episode of “Hell’s Kitchen.”Currently leading the Western Division and sitting in first place in the NHL, the Avs are a force to be reckoned with this season.

Among the many home games from both the Nuggets and Avalanche, the Professional Bull Riders circuit comes to town this month, the Buffs’ men’s and women’s basketball teams continue their seasons up in Boulder, and the University of Denver Pioneers have more ice time as they seek to return to the Frozen Four and reclaim their title as the best collegiate hockey team in the nation.

Check out all of the sporting events happening around RTD stops and stations this month below!

National Western Complex (accessible via the N Line at 48th and Brighton·National Western Complex Station)

• Jan. 9-10: Professional Bull Riders Pendleton Whisky Tour Chute Out

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station, as well as Routes 1, 15L and 20 at Auraria Parkway and 9th Street)

Colorado Avalanche (NHL):

• Jan. 6: vs. Florida Panthers
• Jan. 8: vs. Boston Bruins
• Jan. 10: vs. Vegas Golden Knights
• Jan. 24: vs. Washington Capitals
• Jan. 26: vs. Los Angeles Kings

Denver Nuggets (NBA):

• Jan. 5: vs. Orlando Magic
• Jan. 7: vs. Detroit Pistons
• Jan. 12: vs. New Orleans Pelicans
• Jan. 14: vs. Indiana Pacers
• Jan. 27: vs. Philadelphia 76ers
• Jan. 29: vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Colorado Mammoth (NLL):

• Jan. 13: vs. San Diego Seals
• Jan. 20: vs. Calgary Roughnecks

Magness Arena (accessible via the E and H lines at University of Denver Station)

University of Denver Pioneers (NCAA men’s hockey):

• Jan. 5-6: vs. Niagara University
• Jan. 12-13: vs. St. Cloud State University

University of Colorado Events Center (accessible via Routes 204, 225, DASH, GS, SKIP and FF1 at Broadway and Regent Drive)

University of Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA men’s basketball):

• Jan. 13: vs. University of Southern California
• Jan. 18: vs. University of Oregon
• Jan. 20: vs. Oregon State University

University of Colorado Buffaloes (NCAA women’s basketball):

• Jan. 12: vs. University of California
• Jan. 14: vs. Stanford University
• Jan. 19: vs. University of California – Los Angeles
• Jan. 21: vs. University of Southern California

Concerts

2024’s calendar of events is absolutely stacked, and it all kicks off this month with an impressive slate of major performers coming to town, including Playboi Carti, DJ Diesel (also known as the one and only Shaq) and comedian Jim Gaffigan, all headlined by the long-awaited arrival of Drake and J. Cole.

While the concert calendar this month may be a bit lighter in comparison with later months, that doesn’t mean the star power is lacking. Check out all the concerts happening around the region and kick the new year off right with some great live music!

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Ball Arena·Elitch Gardens Station, as well as Routes 1, 15L and 20 at Auraria Parkway and 9th Street)

• Jan. 15: Playboi Carti (hip-hop/rap)
  • Supporting acts: Destroy Lonely, Ken Carson and Homixide Gang (hip-hop/rap)
• Jan. 18-19: Drake and J. Cole (hip-hop/rap) – “It’s All A Blur Tour – Big As The What?”

Mission Ballroom (accessible via the A Line at 38th·Blake Station)

• Jan. 5: Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal (EDM/bass) – “Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Denver”
  • Supporting acts: Layz, So Tuff So Cute, Aimmia and Softest Hard (EDM/bass/hardstep)
• Jan. 11-13: Colter Wall (country)
• Jan. 18-19: Charley Crockett (country)
• Jan. 20: Beats Antique (world fusion/glitch hop) – “The Metamorphosis: A Generative Art Experience”
  • Supporting acts: Balkan Bump, Dimond Saints and Kr3ture (livetronica/glitch hop)
• Jan. 27: The Infamous Stringdusters (bluegrass/jam band)
  • Supporting acts: Lindsay Lou and Clay Street Unit (bluegrass)

Paramount Theatre (accessible via the D, H and L lines at 16th·California Station or the Free MallRide at 17th Street and Glenarm Place)

• Jan. 6: The Bald & The Beautiful (podcast) – “A Live Podcast Recording”
• Jan. 9-14: Jim Gaffigan (comedy) – “Barely Alive Tour”
• Jan. 20: Hairball (rock/comedy)
• Jan. 26: Mania: The Abba Tribute (cover band)
• Jan. 31: Dante Gebel (comedy) – “Presidante 2023 Tour”

Fillmore Auditorium (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Emerson Street or Colfax Avenue and Clarkson Street)

• Jan. 27: Isaiah Rashad (hip-hop/rap)

Ogden Theatre (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Emerson Street or Colfax Avenue and Clarkson Street)

• Jan. 12: Kompany (dubstep) – “Frontier Futurism”
  • Supporting acts: Ivory and Gorilla T (dubstep)
• Jan. 13: A Hundred Drums (bass)
  • Supporting acts: Atyya, Zen Selekta, Vide and Milla (dubstep/bass)
• Jan. 16-17: Qveen Herby (hip-hop/trap)
• Jan. 19: Wreckno (downtempo bass)
  • Supporting acts: Moore Kismet (dubstep), Thelem (dubstep) and Eyezic (bass)
• Jan. 20: Big Richard (bluegrass)
  • Supporting act: Town Mountain (americana/bluegrass)
• Jan. 26: Andy Frasco & The U.N. (blues/rock)
  • Supporting act: Tenth Mountain Division (bluegrass/jam band)
• Jan. 27: Miss Monique (electronica) – “128 Day”
• Jan. 30: Digable Planets (hip-hop) – “Reachin’ 30th Anniversary Tour”
  • Supporting act: Kassa Overall (indie/jazz)

Oriental Theater (accessible via Route 44 at West 44th Avenue and Tennyson Street)

• Jan. 5: My Blue Sky (cover band/jam band)
  • Supporting act: Lies or Lullabies (cover band/jam band)
• Jan. 6: Tanner Ursey (Texas country)
  • Supporting act: Nolan Taylor (americana/country)
• Jan. 13: Pink Hawks (indie)
  • Supporting acts: Don Chicarrón (indie), 2MX2 (rap) and FuyaFuya (indie/rap)
• Jan. 19: Sammy Mayfield and His Blues Band (blues)
  • Supporting act: Jack Hadley (blues)
• Jan. 20: Sisters of Rock (cover band/jam band) – “Journey to the Heart of Zepplin”
  • Supporting act: Project Foreigner (cover band/jam band)
• Jan. 27: Willie Barcena (comedy)
• Jan. 28: Albert Castiglia (blues/rock)
  • Supporting act: The Delta Sonics (blues)

Bluebird Theater (accessible via Route 15 at Colfax Avenue and Cook Street)

• Jan. 5: Bad Britton (psychedelic/hip-hop/soul)
  • Supporting acts: Dayton Stone and The Undertones (indie), Kaepora (jamtronica/indie/funk) and French Cuffs (funk/jamtronica)
• Jan. 11: The Delta Bombers (psychobilly) and The GD Gallows (deathgrass/cowpunk)
  • Supporting act: Volk (deathgrass/americana)
• Jan. 12: Mind Incision (metalcore/post-hardcore)
  • Supporting acts: The Burial Plot (hardcore), Carnal Contempt (deathcore/black metal), Thrash Hard City (hardcore/punk) and Defected (deathcore)
• Jan. 13: Pink Fuzz (punk)
  • Supporting acts: Ritmo Cascabel (psychedelic/indie) and Horse B---- (indie)
• Jan. 14: Bijou (house) – “Bijou Presents: ‘Lights Out’”
  • Supporting acts: Drezo and No Thanks (house)
• Jan. 18: Odie Leigh (pop)
  • Supporting act: The Official Bard of Baldwin County (folk/americana)
• Jan. 20: Calcium (dubstep)
• Jan. 21: Trash (alternative/pop punk) – “Trash Bash”
  • Supporting acts: Bury Mia, Compass & Cavern and Hospital Socks (alternative/punk)
• Jan. 26: Jamie Wyatt (americana) – “The Feel Good Tour”
  • Supporting act: Joshua Quimby (americana/indie)
• Jan. 27: Young Gun Silver Fox (yacht rock)
  • Supporting act: Dragondeer(alternative/indie)

HQ (accessible via Route 0 at South Broadway and West Bayaud Avenue)

• Jan. 5: Swashbuckling Doctors(ska/punk) – “Ska Night at HQ featuring Swashbuckling Doctors”
  • Supporting acts: Better Than Dead, It Gets Worse and Day Traitor (ska/punk)
• Jan. 11: Years Down (pop punk)
  • Supporting acts: A Lack of Champions, Frog Team and Hero’s Dose (pop punk)
• Jan. 13: Tyler Jacobson, Steve Cervantes and Dogboy (soul/funk/R&B) – “Mile High Soul Club”
• Jan. 18: Cryptic Witch (stoner rock/metal)
  • Supporting acts: Harbor (metalcore/deathcore) and Abstract Delusions (deathcore)
• Jan. 19: Lord Velvet (stoner rock/alternative metal) and Temporal Driver (sludge metal/stoner rock)
  • Supporting acts: Kamru (doom metal) and Vandhali(metal)
• Jan. 25: Teratanthropos (black metal/slam metal)
  • Supporting acts: Torn From Existence and Buried In Lies (death metal/slam metal)
• Jan. 26: Guttermouth (ska/punk)
  • Supporting acts: Bricheros, The Losers Club and Self Service (ska/punk/pop punk)

Gothic Theatre (accessible via Route 0 at South Broadway and Eastman Avenue, or South Broadway and West Floyd Avenue)

• Jan. 6: Treaty Oak Revival (country)
  • Supporting act: The Wyatt Weaver Band (country)
• Jan. 11: North Mississippi Allstars (blues/southern rock) – “World Tour 2024”
  • Supporting act: Bag Men (blues/southern rock/americana)
• Jan. 12-13: Boombox (house/soul/blues)
  • Supporting acts: Tep No (house, Jan. 12) and Blockhead (hip-hop/electronica, Jan. 13)
• Jan. 14: The Record Company (rock‘n’ roll/punk) – “Roll With It Tour”
  • Supporting act: Jesse Ahern (celtic punk/ rock n’ roll)
• Jan. 26: Veil of Maya (metalcore) – “United States Winter Tour 2024”
  • Supporting acts: Angelmaker (deathcore), Left To Suffer (metalcore/deathcore), Reflections (metalcore/deathcore) and Alluvial (metalcore)
• Jan. 27: DJ Shadow (trip hop/electronica) – “Action Adventure: The Tour”

Summit Music Hall (accessible via Routes 0, 9, 15 and 20 at 18th and Blake streets, or via Route 52 at 20th and Blake streets)

• Jan. 6: The Orchestrator (glitch hop/livetronica/dubstep) and Afroman (rap/comedy)
  • Supporting acts: Edalo, Robert Roca and Yahtdoo (jamtronica/dubstep/rap)
• Jan. 12: Leaether Strip (industrial/darkwave)
  • Supporting acts: DJSlave1 and Damascus Knives (darkwave/bass)
• Jan. 13: Record Thieves (punk)
  • Supporting acts: Flight Kamikaze, The Frickashinas and Replica City (punk/pop punk)
• Jan. 26: Lil Texas (bass/hardstyle)
• Jan. 29: Kate Kennedy (comedy) – “One In A Millennial Tour: Be There In 2005”

Marquis Theatre (accessible via Routes 52 and RX at 20th and Larimer streets, or via Route 38 at Larimer and 21st streets)

Hailing all the way from Cardiff, Wales in the United Kingdom, Holding Absence performs at the Marquis Theatre on Jan. 26, supporting their new album "The Noble Art of Self-Destruction," out now via SharpTone Records.

• Jan. 5: Friend of a Friend (cover band/jam band)
• Jan. 19: Vulllgur (dubstep)
• Jan. 20: Pandas & People (folk/rock)
• Jan. 26: Holding Absence (post-hardcore) – “The Noble Art of Self-Destruction: North America Tour”
  • Supporting acts: Casey (post-hardcore/emo), Capstan (post-hardcore) and Acres (metalcore)
• Jan. 27: Peezy (hip-hop/rap)

Theatre

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is kicking off 2024 with a bang, bringing to town some legendary productions, including “Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Chicago.” Check out what’s going on this month below, and snag tickets at https://www.denvercenter.org/tickets-events/.

DCPA can be accessed via the D and H lines at Theatre District·Convention Center Station and via the Free MallRide at 15th and Curtis streets.

Buell Theatre

• Jan. 23-28: “Jesus Christ Superstar”
• Jan. 3-Feb. 4: “Chicago”

Singleton Theatre

• Jan. 26-Mar. 10: “Cebollas”

Garner Galleria Theatre

• Jan. 3-28: “The Secret Comedy of Women”