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Rad Things (to) Do - September 2023

If September was part of a Lunchable, it would be the delicious, albeit questionable, bricks of cheese and ham slices that bring the whole package together. Sandwiched between the summer and winter months, September is the ideal time of the year to get outside and enjoy the best of what Denver has to offer… and Denver is offering something for literally everyone this month in this insanely stacked edition of Rad Things (to) Do!

Reminder: Fare collection has resumed for customers ages 20 and above. Youth ages 19 and under can ride RTD services at no cost through August 2024 as part of the Zero Fare for Youth pilot program. Learn more about the program by clicking here.

Sports

IT’S FINALLY SPORTS SEASON IN THE MILE HIGH! This month, Denverites get to enjoy the return of (a hopefully better) Denver Broncos team, complete with a legendary new head coach and renewed sense of optimism. Additionally, the Colorado Buffs take to the turf underneath the shadow of the Flatirons at Folsom Field this month, carrying with them incredible levels of hype from the hiring of Deion Sanders as head coach, the absolutely shocking performance Buffs wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter had against Texas Christian University (TCU) on Sept. 2, and the subsequent jaw-dropping upset of TCU on the same day. Never have the Buffs had this much momentum heading into the second game of the season.

Of course, with the highs of college and pro football returning, we (finally) get to wave goodbye to the lows of yet another forgettable season for the Colorado Rockies as they wrap up another season without a postseason appearance.

BUT WAIT, THAT’S THE WWE’s MUSIC! That’s right, not only do Denverites get to enjoy the return of football this month, but they will also get to enjoy the high-flying excitement of the nationally televised World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE)’s Friday Night Smackdown at Ball Arena. The biggest WWE Superstars on Smackdown’s roster spear, frog splash, clothesline and dropkick their way into the ring right in the heart of downtown, featuring appearances by John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Jimmy Uso (Author’s note: please let the “Bloodline” storyline end, WWE. It’s been three years now. Let someone else be WWE Champion please.), Rey Mysterio and many more. After the WWE rolls heads out of town, the Colorado Avalanche return to the ice to kick off their pre-season!

Check out all the sports happening around the 303 this month, just a short walk away from RTD services!

Empower Field at Mile High Stadium (accessible via the E and W lines at Empower Field at Mile High Station)

Sept. 10: Denver Broncos vs. Las Vegas Raiders Sept. 17: Denver Broncos vs. Washington Commanders

Broncos faithful attend the 2022 season opener vs. Houston Texans. (Photo credit: Austin Nettleton) 

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Elitch Gardens· Ball Arena Station)

  • Sept. 15: WWE Friday Night Smackdown
  • Sept. 24: Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild
  • Sept. 25: Colorado Avalanche vs. Vegas Golden Knights

Folsom Field (accessible via routes FF1, AB1, 204, 205, 225, DASH, SKIP and JUMP at the Broadway and Pleasant Street stop)

  • Sept. 9: University of Colorado Buffaloes vs. University of Nebraska Cornhuskers
  • Sept. 16: University of Colorado Buffaloes vs. Colorado State University Rams
  • Sept. 30: University of Colorado Buffaloes vs. University of Southern California Trojans

Coors Field (accessible via any Union Station-bound bus or train)

  • Sept. 11-13: Colorado Rockies vs. Chicago Cubs
  • Sept. 14-17: Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco GiantsSept. 26-28: Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Sept. 29-30: Colorado Rockies vs. Minnesota Twins

Concerts

Metalheads, get the necks stretched and the horns up, because September is going to be heavier than the combined weight of all of the plutonium on Earth. Some of the biggest acts in the metal scene will throw down in the 303 this month, including Avenged Sevenfold, Sleep Token, Parkway Drive, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Bad Omens, Fit For A King and Babymetal, among many others.

Metalheads aren’t the only ones feasting this month, as hip-hop heads are in for an incredible month of nonstop concerts from the biggest rappers on the planet, including Playboi Carti, Wu-Tang Clan and Run The Jewels.

Fans of pop, Latin, country, hard rock, post-hardcore, pop punk and emo are in for a great month of shows as well. Everyone gets to enjoy a full month of live music, all just steps away from RTD stops and stations. Let RTD do the driving.

Ball Arena (accessible via the E and W lines at Elitch Gardens· Ball Arena Station)

  • Sept. 10: RBD (Latin) – Soy Rebelde Tour 2023
  • Sept. 14: Jonas Brothers (pop) – FIVE ALBUMS. ONE NIGHT.
  • Sept. 16: Eric Clapton (rock)
  • Sept. 23: Las Temerarios (Latin) – USA Tour
  • Sept. 28: Avenged Sevenfold (rock/metal) – Life Is But A Dream North American Tour
  • Sept. 29: Maná (Latin) – México Lindo y Querido

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

  • Sept. 8: DJ Diesel, Jessica Audiffred, So Tuff So Cute, Aimmia and Softest Hard (EDM) – Shaq’s Bass All-Stars Denver
  • Sept. 9: Yacht Rock Revue (rock) – Reverse Sunset Tour
  • Sept. 11: Sylvan Esso and GRRL (pop/EDM) – No Rules Tour
  • Sept. 14: Jai Wolf, Kasbo, Evan Giia and Myrne (EDM) – Blue Babu Tour
  • Sept. 15: Cinema in the Sky presents “Daily Bread Mission” ft. Canvas, CatParty, JetSet, Big K.R.I.T, Gladkill, Motifv, DJ Simone Says (hip-hop/EDM)
  • Sept. 20: Reneé Rapp, Alexander 23 and Towa Bird (pop) – Snow Hard Feelings Tour
  • Sept. 21: Local Natives and Chartreuse (indie/rock) – Time Will Wait For No One Tour
  • Sept. 22: Ben Böhmer, TSHA and Qrion (EDM) – Portraet
  • Sept. 23: Coheed and Cambria and Deafhaven (hard rock/metal) – Neverender NWFTWM Tour
  • Sept. 24: Ivan Cornejo (Latin) – Terapia North America Tour
  • Sept. 25: Sleep Token (metal) – North American Rituals Tour
  • Sept. 26-28: The Postal Service, Death Cab for Cutie and Warpaint (alternative/emo) – 20 Years of Give Up and Transatlanticism
  • Sept. 29: Parkway Drive, The Amity Affliction, Northlane and Make Them Suffer (metalcore) – Monsters of Oz North America Tour
  • Sept. 30 – Charlotte De Witte (EDM)

Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater (accessible via the E and H lines at Arapahoe at Village Center Station)

  • Sept. 8: Wu-Tang Clan, Run The Jewels and Deltron 3030 (rap/hip-hop)
  • Sept. 16: Rob Zombie (metal), Alice Cooper (hard rock), Ministry (metal) and Filter (hard rock) – Freaks on Parade Tour
  • Sept. 23: Justin Moore, Scotty McCreery, Tenille Arts, Drake Millgan, Dalton Dover and Austin Snell (country) – 98.5 KYGO Tracy and Fizz’s HoobaJoob
  • Sept. 29: Queens of the Stone Age, Viagra Boys and Jehnny Beth (rock) – The End is Nero Tour
  • Sept. 30: Tyler Childers, Wynonna Judd and the Travelin’ McCourys (country) – Send in the Hounds Tour

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

  • Sept. 13: Danna Paola (Latin/pop) – Xt4s1s Tour USA
  • Sept. 15: Diego El Cigala (Latin) – Obras Maestras
  • Sept. 16: Carbonaro (comedy) – Lies on Stage
  • Sept. 23: Matteo Lane (comedy) – The Al Dente Tour
  • Sept. 29: Joe Gatto (comedy) – Night of Comedy
  • Sept. 30: Kyle Kinane (comedy)

Fillmore Auditorium (accessible via the Route 15 at Colfax Ave and Clarkson Street)

Electronic metalcore band Electric Callboy parties with a sold out crowd at the Fillmore Auditorium on Sept. 3. (Photo credit: Austin Nettleton)

  • Sept. 16: Daniel Caesar and Orion Sun (R&B) – Superpowers World Tour
  • Sept. 20: Fit For A King, The Devil Wears Prada, Counterparts and LANDMVRKS (metalcore) – The Metalcore Dropouts Tour
  • Sept. 21: Common Kings, Steel Pulse and Jakobs Castle (reggae) – Celebration World Tour
  • Sept. 22: The All-American Rejects (alternative/emo), New Found Glory (pop punk), Motion City Soundtrack (pop punk/emo) and The Get Up Kids (pop punk) – Wet Hot All-American Summer Tour
  • Sept. 23: Chevelle (hard rock/alternative), Three Days Grace (hard rock) and Loathe (metalcore)
  • Sept. 26: Rina Sawayama, Empress of, Disko Cowboy (pop) – Hold The Girl Tour: Reloaded
  • Sept. 29: Bad Omens, Erra and I See Stars (metalcore) – Concrete Forever Tour
  • Sept. 30: Babymetal (Japanese metal) and Dethklok (metal) – The Babyklok Tour

Ogden Theatre (accessible via the Route 15 at Colfax Ave and Clarkson Street)

  • Sept. 7: Maisie Peters and Grace Enger (pop) – The Good Witch Comes To North America
  • Sept. 15: King Krule (pop/indie), LUCY (EDM)
  • Sept. 16: EAZYBAKED, Tiedye KY, Molokai, Milano, Charles Nimbus, The Bakers (EDM)
  • Sept. 18: Wolfmother and Fever Dog (rock)
  • Sept. 19: Hermanos Gutiérrez (Latin) – USA Tour September 2023
  • Sept. 21: The Walkmen and Yeah Baby (alternative)
  • Sept. 23: Cannons, Two Another and Jane Leo (indie/alternative) – The Heartbeat Highway Tour
  • Sept. 24: The Wombats and Red Rum Club (indie/alternative) – North America 2023 Tour
  • Sept. 26: Owl City and Augstana (indie/alternative)
  • Sept. 29: Chappell Roan (pop) – The Midwest Princess Tour
  • Sept. 30: Snarky Puppy and Empire Central (jazz) – North American Fall Tour 2023

Gothic Theatre (accessible via the Route 0 at South Broadway and Eastman Avenue)

  • Sept. 8: Here Come the Mummies (funk/rock) and Perpetual Groove (funk)
  • Sept. 9: Fortunate Youth (reggae), Kash’d Out (reggae/rock) and Dubbest (reggae/dub)
  • Sept. 10: That Mexican OT (hip-hop)
  • Sept. 11: York Lore and Girlhouse (indie) – The Holy Havoc Tour
  • Sept. 16: Saint Motel and Juliana Madrid (alternative/indie)
  • Sept. 22: Todric Hall (pop/R&B) – Velvet Rage Tour
  • Sept. 24: George Clanton, Frost Children and Death’s Dynamic Shroud (EDM)
  • Sept. 25: Glaive (hyperpop) and Provoker (punk/metal) – I Care So Much That I Don’t Care At All Live in North America
  • Sept. 26: BOYWITHUKE (instrumental/alt-pop) and Naethan Apollo (hip-hop/rap)
  • Sept. 27: Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (EDM)
  • Sept. 28: Everclear (alternative), The Ataris (pop punk/emo) and The Pink Spiders (rock)
  • Sept. 29: Son Volt and Peter Bruntnell (folk) – 20 Years of Son Volt
  • Sept. 30: Samantha Fish (rock/funk/country) and Eric Johanson (blues) – Love Letters Tour

Summit Music Hall (accessible via the routes 0, 9, 15 and 20 at 18th and Blake streets or via the Route 52 at 20th and Blake streets, or a short walk from Union Station)

Concert tip: Reserve balcony seats at Summit Music Hall for the best view of the stage! Band: blessthefall (Photo credit: Austin Nettleton)

  • Sept. 10: Joy Oladokun and Becca Mancari (R&B/folk) – Living Proof Tour
  • Sept. 18: Neon Trees, Laundry Day and Silent Rival (alternative) – The Favorite Daze Tour
  • Sept. 22: Kiltro and Don Chicharrone (folk)
  • Sept. 23: The Fall of Troy (post-hardcore), Greyhaven (metal) and Zeta (metal)
  • Sept. 26: Röyskopp (EDM) – True Electric North America Tour 2023
  • Sept. 28: Senses Fail, Holding Absence and Thousand Below (post-hardcore) – Life Is Not A Waiting Room Tour
  • Sept. 30: Lastlings and Running Touch (pop) – Perfect World North America Tour

Marquis Theatre (accessible via the Route 52 at 20th and Larimer streets or a short walk from Union Station)

  • Sept. 8: Loumuzik (rap/hip-hop)
  • Sept. 9: Artix (EDM)
  • Sept. 14: Jake Miller (rap/hip-hop)
  • Sept. 16: The Anchor (Japanese metal) and Notions (metal)
  • Sept. 17: Cowgirl Clue, kumo 99 and Glixen (EDM)
  • Sept. 21: Field Medic (rock) and Olivia Barton (indie/folk)
  • Sept. 22: Bipul Chettri and the Travelling Band (Himalayan folk)
  • Sept. 23: Mike Steel (rap/hip-hop)
  • Sept. 25: The Red Pears (rock), Mexican Slum Rats (alternative/indie) and 60 juno (alternative)
  • Sept. 26: Malinda and Lonely Choir (folk/indie)
  • Sept. 27: Jockstrap (alternative/indie/art pop)
  • Sept. 28: Luna Luna and Michael Seyer (alternative/indie)
  • Sept. 29: Pacific Dub and Tunnel Vision (reggae)
  • Sept. 30: Hanabie (Japanese metal), Dropout Kings (metalcore/rap), Fox Lake (hardcore/rap) and Sin Eater (deathcore)

Theater

Word has it that if one says “Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice,” three times in the mirror, they will instantly find themselves purchasing tickets to one of the most anticipated musicals in the area this month. Oh, and Beetlejuice himself may also pop up, but don’t worry too much about that.

Aside from Beetlejuice popping up at the Buell Theatre, check out the other musicals and plays going on this month at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, accessible via the D and H lines at Theatre District•Convention Center Station or a short walk from the downtown loop stations along the L Line and the Free MallRide.

  • Miss Rhythm – The Legend of Ruth Brown
    • Ongoing through Oct. 22 at the Garner Galleria Theatre
  • A Midsummer Night’s Dream
    • Ongoing through Saturday at the Kilstrom Theatre
  • A Little Night Music
    • Now through Oct. 8 at the Wolf Theatre
  • Beetlejuice
    • Now through Sept. 17 at the Buell Theatre

Festivals

Yup, it is officially peak festival season, and Denver will have no shortage of music, film, food and beverage festivals, including the biggest freeski film festival this side of the Rocky Mountains and the return of every beer-lover’s dream festival. The good times (and beer) will flow all September, so head out to the following festivals and enjoy the best of Colorado.

Written by RTD Staff