Denver Finally Gets A New Music Festival—And It’s A Doozy

San Francisco has Outside Lands. Chicago has Lollapalooza. Indio has Coachella. Denver… well, it’s been eight years since the Mile High Music Festival last rocked the city. But that’s finally about to change.

From September 14 to 16, Overland Park Golf Course in south Denver will host Grandoozy, a three-day extravaganza of music, food, and art. (Yeah, we’re hoping the name grows on us, too.) The event is hosted by Superfly, the organizer behind well-known festivals including Outside Lands and Bonnaroo in Tennessee.

“Denver has one of the best music markets in the country,” Rick Farman, co-founder of Superfly, said in a press event on Thursday morning. “[Overland had] the right recipe: great location, access to bike paths and light rail, and the beauty of the park itself.”

It took four years of talks and research to put Grandoozy together. Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver, thinks all of that work is going to pay off for the city. “Music festivals today are economic drivers and reinforce a brand,” he told 5280. “We know there are certain things that drive demand, and music is one of those things today. This is going to [give] residents and the region and out-of-towners a great taste of who we are as a city.”

(Read why Denver’s live music scene is better than ever)

Specific details are still scarce, but Jonathan Mayers, another Superfly co-founder, said in Thursday’s press conference that audiences should expect both international headliners and local talent (there will be three or four main stages), an “elevated food and beverage program,” the integration of visual arts, and experiences that “nod to the outdoor lifestyle.”

“We hope this is an annual event that draws people locally and from all over,” Mayers said.

Stay tuned for the initial lineup announcement on March 20.

Update 3/20/2018: The Grandoozy lineup includes Kendrick Lamar, Florence + The Machine, Stevie Wonder, The Chainsmokers, Logic, De La Soul, Tennis, Poolside, Lost Lakes and more. Click here for the full schedule.