For 10 years, the Fort Collins Music eXperiment has celebrated the music that makes Colorado special. But with more than 300 acts at 30 venues over only two days, deciding who to see can be a challenge.
We’ve put together a guide to help fans of all kinds plan their FoCoMX experience.
For the newbie: FoCoMX branches out but it also brings local favorites back again and again. If you’re looking for an introduction into the Colorado music scene, check out these tried-and-true artists:
- The Burroughs -- soul (11 p.m. Saturday, Washington's)
- Gora Gora Orkestar -- brass band (8 p.m. Friday, Downtown Artery)
Credit Stacy Nick / KUNC/KUNCGora Gora Orkestar at the 2017 FoCoMX. - Stella Luce -- indie-rock (Midnight Saturday, Hodi's Half Note)
- The Patti Fiasco -- alt-country/rock (11 p.m. Friday, Washington's)
- Cary Morin -- blues (6:30 p.m. Saturday, Avogadro's)
- Brent Cowles -- indie-rock (Midnight Friday, Aggie Theatre)
- Porlolo -- indie-pop (11:45 p.m. Saturday, The Whisk(e)y)
- RL Cole & The Hell You Say -- rock (8:30 p.m. Friday, Aggie Theatre)
- Qbala -- rap (7:15 p.m. Saturday, Washington's)
- Wasteland Hop -- hip-hop (9 p.m. Friday, Hodi's Half Note)
For the fan looking for something different: Lady Gang is the latest project from Jen Korte (of Jen Korte & The Loss, Dirty Femmes). This intricate mix of live loops with bass and guitar make for the ultimate one-woman band. (9:30 p.m. Saturday, Magic Rat)
Forty-Five Plus One with DJ Alf(4 p.m. Friday, New Belgium Brewing Co.) will feature a mix of vinyl with a rotation of live artist collaborations.
There’s also the one-man robotic 3-D laser ninja (you must see it to get it) HYZENBORG (7:15 p.m. Friday, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery).
And for something completely different, KUNC’s own All Things Considered host Desmond O’Boyle will show off his bagpiping skills to kick off the festival (3:30 and 5 p.m. Friday, Old Town Square).
For the little fans: On Saturday, check out a host of young performers, including groups from area Little Kids Rock programs (various times, locations).
There’s also children’s musician Mr. Marty (4 p.m. Saturday, Everyday Joe’s Coffee House).
In general, FoCoMX shows at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery and Everyday Joe’s Coffee House lean towards the family-friendly.
For the person looking for something besides music: For a music festival, FoCoMX has a surprising number of things that are not concerts.
See what happens when local bands and filmmakers have just 53 hours and 14 minutes to create an original music video start to finish at the screenings of the 53:14 Music Video Festival(various times, The Lyric).
You can also laugh it up with local comedians, including Zach Welch (various times, locations).
In addition to pulling out some of the most eclectic vinyl imaginable for his “Incredibly Strange Dance Party” (11:45 p.m. Saturday, Downtown Artery), Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedys also will speak at a special keynote conversation about his time in the music scene (4 p.m. Saturday, The Armory).
For the cover band fan: Whether your tastes run towards Rage Against the Machine (Guerilla Radio), Beastie Boys (Sabotage), or Grateful Dead (Switchman Sleepin’), there will definitely be something familiar-yet-new (various times, locations).
Members of In the Whale and Tickle Me Pink will join forces for a tribute to Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell (11:45 p.m. Friday, Downtown Artery).
Also, intriguing is the all-female Weird Al tribute act, Weird gAl (6:45 p.m. Saturday, R Bar).
For fans of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: Check out the Wyoming-based, Buffy-inspired post-punk band Sunnydale High (2 p.m. Saturday, New Belgium Brewing Co.).
