By Brooke WilliamsUnderground Music Showcase,

7 hours ago

DENVER (KDVR) — The largest and longest-running independent music festival in Colorado announced Tuesday that this year’s event will be its last.

One last time, the Underground Music Showcase will give talented artists a chance to take the stage in front of the Denver community for the 25th year this July 25-27.

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What started as a handful of bands and a few dozen fans in a dive bar basement has pressed on over the last quarter of a century with its mission of making space for Colorado’s music scene to grow.

UMS said in a press release that this year’s showcase will be the last, “at least in its current form.”

“As the community looks toward what’s next for Colorado’s music scene, UMS owners, Two Parts and Youth on Record, will be reaching out to the incredible artist community for ideas, opinions, and inspiration about what comes next. But for now, UMS as it’s been known is taking the stage for the last time,” UMS stated.

After presenting over 10,000 performances, a few hundred more are scheduled for the final showcase. UMS said the event will be unforgetabble, and the festival weekend is designed to “celebrate everything that made this movement matter.”

“We’ve poured our love, sweat, and tears into this festival. Year after year, giving it everything we’ve got. The 25th Anniversary will be no different,” said Casey Berry, co-owner of UMS. “No regrets, no pity parties — just a celebration for the ages!”

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For the final year of UMS, the festival is honoring its legacy via Instagram with “The Final Countdown: 25 UMS Moments to Remember,” celebrating upcoming shows and remembering throwbacks that made the movement.

UMS said fans should look forward to a great festival that will “make history.” The festival said there will be rare sets and surprise appearances, a music summit, a birthday bash, throwback merchandise and more unique to the 2025 event.

DeVotchKa will headline Sunday night and perform at the final festival, just as the band did for the first ever UMS.

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