Denver, CO

My Morning Jacket, Death Cab For Cutie, Tash Sultana Elevate Denver’s Outside Days Festival

Published

3 weeks ago

June 6, 2026

My Morning Jacket, Death Cab For Cutie, Tash Sultana Elevate Denver’s Outside Days Festival

Sometimes, music can be an awesome addendum to other activities without being the whole raison d’etre for a festival.

In 2019, Amazon put together a spectacular lineup for Intersect—with Foo Fighters, Beck, and Kacey Musgraves among the biggest names—which was essentially an extension of the e-commerce giant’s company conference in Las Vegas. In Arizona, Innings Festival and Extra Innings Festival have emerged as tentpole events in the desert by using live music to draw in baseball fans visiting the area for spring training. In Las Vegas, SEMA Fest has treated motorsports lovers to large-scale rock concerts, in between thrilling scenes of car and bike stunts.

Over the last three years, Outside Days has begun to make its mark in the category of not-just-a-music-festival festivals. In this case, the three-day event is built on top of Outside Magazine’s professional conference, which brings together brands and companies from the outdoors industry with active-lifestyle enthusiasts and those either working therein or looking to break into the field.

This year, all of those same brands—from REI and The North Face to Capital One, Jeep and many more—got additional exposure via marketing activations and booths spread across Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, while the previous location (Civic Center Park) underwent renovations.

Though film screenings and panel discussions were also part of the proceedings, the vast majority of the 30,000 attendees seemed rightly focused on the acts performing on the stage that dominated the Tivoli Quad at Metropolitan State University of Denver. From one day to the next, there were no misses; only superb sets played (nearly) perfectly for a citizenry that’s turned Denver into one of America’s great hubs for live music.

Friday’s lineup brought more of an indie bent to the air, thanks in no small part to Death Cab For Cutie. Ben Gibbard and company leaned into their new album, I Built You A Tower, with an opener of “Riptide” and the live debut of “Trap Door.” Those songs, as well as “Punching The Flowers,” “Stone Over Water,” and the title track from their latest release, fit seamlessly alongside tried-and-true Death Cab classics like “The New Year,” “I Will Follow You Into The Dark,” “Crooked Teeth” and “Soul Meets Body.”

Japanese Breakfast and Goth Babe both did their part to warm up the crowd for DCFC. The former peppered the populace with indie pop favorites like “Paprika,” “Picture Window,” “Everybody Wants To Love You” and “Be Sweet.” The latter followed that up with feel-good songs like “Mexico,” “Encinitas” and “Weekend Friend,” as well as a cover of Weezer’s “Undone – The Sweater Song.” That is, when they weren’t busy encouraging fans to crowd surf on camping mattresses or doling out household appliances as prizes for cheering.

Saturday took a decisive turn toward jams—a prime pivot, given the Mile High City’s proclivities for musical improv. My Morning Jacket certainly seemed to understand that assignment. The outfit’s sprawling, two-hour set incorporated seemingly every highlight from their discography, starting with “Wordless Chorus” and ending with “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream Pt. 2.” In between, the Louisville-based group broke into “Off The Record,” “Anytime,” “Gideon,” “One Big Holiday,” “Circuital”, “Victory Dance,” and a version of “Spring (Among The Living)” that included a sprinkling of The Beatles’ “Dear Prudence.” Even with a setlist so jam-packed, lead singer and guitarist Jim James managed to squeeze in not one, but two callouts of the full moon that was on brilliant display in the Denver sky.

That all came as a thrilling finale to a day that saw Karina Rykman take her bass out for much more than a walk in the park, Eggy egg on the jams with “Laurel,” “Waiting Game” and “Through The Mist;” and Dawes put an L.A.-style spin on jam rock with “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” “When My Time Comes,” “Most People” and “All Your Favorite Bands.”

The only fly in the ointment on Saturday showed up at the start of The Flaming Lips’ allotted time. Lead singer Wayne Coyne announced that a piece of the band’s equipment had blown out, prompting a 15-minute delay. That didn’t stop them from pulling out most of their usual theatrical stops, from the towering inflatable robots for both parts of “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” and giant eyes and lips for “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)” to an American flag cape for a cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs,” a blowup rainbow during “Do You Realize??”, a bubble for Wayne on “A Spoonful Weighs a Ton,” and various other stage toys along the way.

(Perhaps, though, the technical difficulties were a bad omen for The Flaming Lips’ hometown team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, whose NBA title defense came to an end that night, while most of the band wore the team’s jerseys onstage.)

Sunday at Outside Days was tailor-made for those seeking an edgier approach to rock music. Girl Tones gave the audience an early taste of Bowling Green, Kentucky’s punk spirit, courtesy of sisters Kenzie and Laila Crowe. GROUPLOVE infused the day with a bit of pop sensibility by way of a well-tested combination of “Tongue Tied” into a Beatles-esque cover of The Top Notes’ “Twist and Shout.”

Tash Sultana stepped up as, arguably, the single most talented musician to take the stage at Outside Days. The Australian multi-instrumentalist emerged with a full band for a cover of The Wailers’ “I Shot The Sheriff” before eventually shifting toward their usual solo show, with loops of drums, keys, bass and synths laid behind vocals, guitar riffs, bits of trumpet and saxophone to form songs like “Milk & Honey,” “Notion,” and “Jungle.” At one point, Tash took a moment to acknowledge a rainbow in the distance, speaking about it as a sign of her recently departed dog looking out from the heavens.

As much as Outside Days knocked it out of the proverbial park with marquee acts, the festival and its organizers also did well to create time and space for local artists and bands. On Friday, that slot fell to Wildermiss, a Phantogram-esque indie rock band led by Emma Cole on vocals and synth bass, Joshua Hester on guitar, and Caleb Thoemke on drums. Saturday saw The Brothers of Brass—who bill themselves as Denver’s only New Orleans-style brass band—add to the ambiance with brassy covers of Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You,” Bill Withers’ “Just The Two of Us,” Aaliyah’s “Try Again” and Destiny Child’s “Survivor,” both onstage during their main set and during some interstitial busking on the festival grounds. Come Sunday, the lineup included spots for both the indie rock of The Mañanas and the edgy pop provisioned by N3ptune.

Those acts, in particular, lent additional heart and soul to an event that, while very much corporate in nature, didn’t leave attendees drowning in a sea of brand marketing. If anything, the music of it all made it more than held its own as the strongest gravitational force on the grounds. (Save for, perhaps, the Cotopaxi booth and the Capital One lounge, both of which had perpetual lines that seemingly extended into infinity.)

Still, in the grand scheme, it was impressive to see Outside Days not only put together a top-flight event in just its third year, but also draw such a substantial crowd given the competition in town—between Morgan Wallen at Empower Field and FAN EXPO Denver at the Colorado Convention Center.

With any luck, Outside Days will continue to grow in both scope and lineup strength in the years to come. And even if it doesn’t, it’s always worthy of being a staple on anyone’s live music calendar, especially for those who call the Rocky Mountains home.

Below, check out a selection of photos from the 2026 edition of Outside Days via Josh Martin.

Outside Days Festival | Various Artists | Denver, CO | 5/29/26–5/31/26 | Photos: Josh Martin

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Denver, CO

Denver Transplant Games sets Guinness World Record for mos living donors, recipients in one place at one time

Published

3 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Denver Transplant Games sets Guinness World Record for mos living donors, recipients in one place at one time

DENVER (KMGH) — The biennial Transplant Games wrapped up in Denver this week, bringing hundreds of organ donors and recipients together to compete in everything from cycling and swimming to darts and trivia at venues all over the city.

In fact, the games set a Guinness World Record for most living donors and recipients in one place at one time, with 966 gathering at the Colorado Convention Center.

Angela Laino, who used to live in Boulder, came back to Colorado to compete in the games. She donated a kidney to a stranger in January before running in the 5K event.

“I’m what they call a non-directed living kidney donor, which means that I don’t know who my recipient was,” she explained. “So I just said, ‘Whoever needs my kidney, I’m sure they’ll find the best match for it.’”

Laino said she was inspired by her job, working “on and off” as a dialysis social worker for 17 years.

“I really saw the challenges that my patients faced,” she said. “I saw what they had to go through to get on the [transplant] wait list… I know what transplant means for people. I’ve seen it firsthand. And to be able to see them come out here, compete, they’re doing basketball, they’re doing badminton, they’re swimming, they’re cycling, they’re running. They are living their full lives, and that’s really what transplant can do for people.”

Laino said the games unite the community and show off its resilience.

“When you go through the transplant process, sometimes you feel alone, you feel like you’re the only one going through this,” Laino said. “And then you come to an event like this and you literally see thousands of people. You see recipients, living donors, donor families coming together for the same cause. It’s really inspiring, because it really helps to get the word out, spread awareness about the organ shortage, and it shows people what recipients and donors can do after they have the surgery.”

Dr. Michael O’Shea — a nephrologist, a doctor who cares for kidney disease patients and the kidneys in general — agrees. But he said more needs to be down to support patients and spread the word about the need for organ donations.

The National Kidney Foundation estimates 37 million Americans have Chronic Kidney Disease, which occurs when kidneys cannot filter the blood properly, leading to serious health issues. Because symptoms can be minimal in early stages of the disease, many patients don’t realize they have it.

“I think education about kidney transplant, both on the patient side as well as on the potential donor side, could be markedly ramped up and improved,” Dr. O’Shea said. “It’s struggles with communication between transplant centers, patients, and community nephrologists. No one’s fault. It’s just a very complicated delivery system.”

In the case of kidneys, people can become diseased donors — who register to donate in the case of their sudden death — or living donors, who donate one kidney will relying on the other. Dr. O’Shea said both are critical to meet nationwide demand for life-saving transplants, though the living donations tend to have a longer lifespan — around roughly 20 years — for recipients.

“A number of folks get transplanted every year off this list,” O’Shea explained. “It is also true that a greater number of folks get added to the list every year.”

To register to become a deceased donor, Coloradans can visit their local Department of Motor Vehicles office or visit registerme.org.

O’Shea said those considering living donations face an “exceedingly small” medical risk for end-stage kidney disease, but should consult with their doctor about the decision.

Even as the games leave Denver, a reminder will stick around through the summer. Denver Parks and Recreation, the Downtown Denver Partnership and DaVita have partnered to set up a basketball court in Skyline Park near Arapahoe and 17th Streets, in order to keep the spirit of the games alive and honor the resilience of organ donors, recipients and their families.

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Denver, CO

Pat Surtain II Gets More Bad News Amid Broncos’ Uncertainty

Published

14 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Pat Surtain II Gets More Bad News Amid Broncos’ Uncertainty

Getty

Denver Broncos star Pat Surtain II is navigating uncertainty on and off the field.

Pat Surtain II and the Denver Broncos could already have to overcome not having outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper for an indeterminate length of time amid his ongoing legal matters, and the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year is now facing another hurdle.

This one affects Surtain off the field, and personally.

It will be but a footnote on his 2026 season, but the standout defender’s recent experiences are reminders about how quickly things can change in the NFL.

Broncos’ Pat Surtain II Gets More Bad News

Pat Surtain II cornerback Denver Broncos

GettyPat Surtain II could have forced to make a difficult decision about one of his ventures off the field.

In addition to his award-winning play on the field for the Broncos, Surtain has also taken on podcasting during his spare time. He co-hosts the “Closed on Sundays” podcast with fellow Alabama alum and current Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold.

The duo’s joint venture is in imminent danger.

“#Broncos star Pat Surtain II has a successful podcast with Arnold,” The Denver Post’s Troy Renck posted on X on June 24. “Now, Arnold is facing some serious charges.”

Our office will file a pretrial detention motion to argue that Arnold remain behind bars until trial. The date for that hearing has not yet been scheduled. Arnold’s codefendants are all currently behind bars in connection with the crime.

According to NFL.com’s Grant Gordon on June 24, “Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold has been arrested in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa, Florida, the Hillsborough County State Attorney announced late Wednesday night.

“Arnold, 23, turned himself in at Orient Road Jail (Florida) on Wednesday and is facing eight total felony charges — four for robbery with a firearm or deadly weapon and four for kidnapping, the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s Office told NFL.com. Arnold is being held with no bond and is due in court Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET, per the Sherriff’s office.”

Arnold’s charges “carry a potential life sentence in prison,” per Gordon.

Gordon also noted that prosecutors will request he remain in custody until his trial. That is in addition to his current no-bond status.

The matter all stems from an alleged retaliation attempt after Arnold and several friends had their property stolen from an AirBNB they were staying in. Arnold is the alleged mastermind of the plot, which targeted individuals police say were not involved with the initial theft.

Broncos Navigating Distractions

GettyPat Surtain II and the Denver Broncos are navigating legal issues with a player on their roster.

Surtain and Arnold last put out an episode of the podcast in February. Moreover, the Lions corner’s status and their podcast must come after Surtain’s commitment to the Broncos, who are once again expected to be one of the top teams in the NFL.

They face an internal threat to that, with Cooper.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton said they are following the NFL’s lead on handling the matter, while Surtain expressed support for his teammate.

“He’s our brother at the end of the day, and we all rally behind Coop,” Surtain told reporters on June 16 when asked directly. “We just wish him the best with everything, but just keeping him in good spirits.”

Cooper’s situation, obviously, affects the Broncos–and, by default, Surtain–directly.

Still, the star corner could need a new podcast partner, lest he prefer to sunset the endeavor entirely, as well as hope Denver can replace a key piece in Cooper if necessary.

Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter

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Denver, CO

RTD to bring back BroncosRide bus service after 5-year suspension

Published

24 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

RTD to bring back BroncosRide bus service after 5-year suspension

The Regional Transportation District’s BroncosRide buses, running from Park-n-Ride lots around metro Denver to Broncos football games, will be back this fall after a five-year suspension.

RTD directors this week voted 10-5 to reinstate the service.

The agency suspended the service before the Broncos’ 2020-21 season due to bus driver shortages and agency concerns about public transit equity.

Despite RTD’s current budget crisis, the directors decided that the BroncosRide — which will cost $1.6 million, according to information that agency staff provided to directors — will help boost RTD’s lagging overall ridership and increase the appeal of public transit.

If the buses are full, Director Chris Nicholson said, fare revenues estimated at $497,855 will offset the cost.

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