DESTINATIONS COLORADO | THE US


From live-music bars such as


locally renowned Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox – once a brothel, now a trendy cocktail lounge – to cinema- turned-concert-venue Bluebird Theater, Colorado’s capital could easily rival Nashville when it comes to its number of music venues. You’ll find intimate gig spots scattered across the city (especially around the trendy LoDo area), which is underpinned by a liberal, creative vibe that nurtures local talent. By far its most unusual spot


is Red Rocks Amphitheatre – the open-air, 9,000-capacity venue built into the rocks about half an hour out of the city, where long, wooden rows of seats rise in tiers above the stage.


Some of the biggest names in


the history of music have played here, including the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Elton John and Daft Punk (there’s a fascinating ‘hall of fame’ museum inside where visitors can see the full list), and it


BOOK IT


Funway Holidays offers a trip combining two nights in Denver, two nights in Fort Collins and three nights in Telluride from £1,675 per person. Price based on two adults sharing, with United Airlines flights from Heathrow, departing August 2. funway4agents.co.uk


travelweekly.co.uk 30 JANUARY 2020 77


didn’t take me long to see why. The setting is phenomenal; two ginormous monoliths poke up on either side, coloured a deep, desert red and carved with strips of purple, yellow and orange. Behind the stage, layers of mountains sprawl on and on, and in the distance you can just about see Denver, a cluster of silhouetted buildings set against a clear blue sky.


But it was when night fell that it


really came alive, as the city turned into a strip of glittering stars, strobe lights sparked off the pink-lit stage, and crowds cheered and danced beneath a sky covered in diamonds, untainted by any light pollution. The atmosphere was electric –


twangs of the guitar ricocheting off the rocks, bang of the bass vibrating in my chest – and I can safely say it was unlike any other concert I’ve experienced before. Although after Telluride’s amazing setting, I’d come to expect nothing less from this rocking, under-the-radar state. TW


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112