The Westword Music Showcase is Denver’s very own version of SXSW, albeit a smaller one. The yearly event, hosted by the free alternative weekly across 8 blocks of the Denver’s Golden Triangle neighborhood lasts just one day. But don’t let this take away from the fact that it is one of the best events in the area to take in the burgeoning Denver music scene and catch some amazing national acts as well. And it’s cheap. Just $15 in advance and $30 day of.

This year’s event has one of the best lineups to date for indie fans with headliners including Ghostland Observatory (Austin), Dirty Projectors, and Neon Indian. Other stand-out local acts include The Still City, Eleanor, Hello Kavita, Taun Taun, and Kill Paradise. See below for Lux’s picks for this year’s Westword Music Showcase.

FULL SCHEDULE / VENUE MAP
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Dirty Projectors
Hometown: Brooklyn
Genre: Vocally Deep Experimental Indie
Time & Venue: 5:45 – 6:45pm (Main Stage)
MySpace | Website

mp3: Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is the Move

Neon Indian
Hometown: Brooklyn/Austin
Genre: Psychedelic Electro Pop
Time & Venue: 4:30 – 5:30pm (Main Stage)
MySpace

mp3: Neon Indian – Terminally Chill

Ghostland Observatory
Hometown: Austin
Genre: Electro Punk
Time & Venue: 8:30 – 9:55pm (Main Stage)
MySpace | Website

mp3: Ghostland Observatory – Sad Sad City

Eleanor
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Intimate Indie Folk
Time & Venue: 2:25 – 3:00pm (Mo’s)
MySpace

mp3: Eleanor – It Takes One to Know One _ Reprise

The Still City
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Pensive Indie Rock
Time & Venue: 5:15 – 6:00pm (Sutra)
MySpace | Website

Hello Kavita
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Softly Styled Indie Rock
Time & Venue: 4:15 – 5:00pm (Curious Theater)
MySpace | Website

mp3: Hello Kavita – To A Loved One

John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Earnest Indie Folk
Time & Venue: 1:15 – 2:00pm (Curious Theater)
MySpace | Website

mp3: John Common – Good Heart

Kill Paradise
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Electronic, candy pop
Time & Venue: 6:15 – 7:00pm (City Hall)
MySpace

mp3: Kill Paradise – Just Friends

Air Dubai
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Smooth, soulful hip-hop
Time & Venue: 3:00 – 4:15pm (City Hall)
MySpace

mp3: Air Dubai – Ten Weeks

Accordion Crimes
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Hard Esoteric Indie
Time & Venue: 3:15 – 4:00pm (Sutra)
MySpace

Achille Lauro
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Pop-imbued Indie Rock
Time & Venue: 1:15 – 2:00pm (Curious Theater)
MySpace

Fresh2Death
Hometown: Boulder
Genre: Hyphy Crunk Electronica
Time & Venue: 6:15 – 7:00pm (Bar Standard Patio)
MySpace

TaunTaun
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Melodic Metal
Time & Venue: 6:15 – 7:00pm (Broadways)
MySpace

Flashbulb Fires
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Textural Indie Pop
Time & Venue: 12:15 – 1:00pm (Curious Theater)
MySpace | Website

mp3: Flashbulb Fires – Twenty-Something

The Chain Gang of 1974
Hometown: Denver
Genre: Electro Pop
Time & Venue: 5:15 – 6:00pm (City Hall)
MySpace

Boombox
Hometown: Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Genre: Electro Dance Funk
Time & Venue: 11:00pm – 1:00am (City Hall)
MySpace | Website

mp3: Boombox – Midnight on the Run

FULL SCHEDULE / VENUE MAP

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Tags: Accordion Crimes, Achille Lauro, Air Dubai, Boombox, Dirty Projectors, Eleanor, Flashbulb Fires, Fresh2Death, Ghostland Observatory, Hello Kavita, John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light, Kill Paradise, Neon Indian, TaunTaun, The Chain Gang of 1974, The Still City, Westword Music Showcase

Denver-based songwriter/singer/musician, John Common and his band, Blinding Flashes of Lights, will be debuting their new record, entitled Beautiful Empty, at Casselman’s in Denver, CO on January 16th, 2010. The CD release will be a collaborative event that offers independent music, film and visual art, all related to and inspired by the new record. The band features John Common (vocals/guitar/keys), Jess DeNicola (vocals), Wes Michaels (cello/sax), Adam Revell (keys), Jimmy Stofer (bass/vocals) and Carl Sorensen (drums). The band will be joined on stage by a string section and other musical guests. Also playing that night are two popular Colorado artists, both who are superb: Achille Lauro and Danielle Ate the Sandwich.

Tickets are $15 presale and include an exclusive bonus EP (digital download), a copy of the new CD (given at the door) and other surprises on the night of the show. Tickets are $20 day of show and come with a copy of the new CD and the fabulous surprises, but no bonus track.

Earlier this fall a collaborative short film festival was organized for this event, named the Beautiful Empty Short Film Conspiracy. A call went out to Colorado-based independent filmmakers who shot and submitted their short films, all inspired by and incorporating songs from Beautiful Empty. A handful of the most interesting short films will be shown throughout the night of the CD release.

The event will also feature box art by 60 artists from across the U.S. who were invited to create unique works of art inspired by what would eventually become the new record, Beautiful Empty. Each artist was sent a simple wooden box, along with early stage lyrics, images and music. They then mixed it all together into a beautiful collaboration called the Common Box Project. The final exhibit of the Common Box Project will happen the night of the CD release inside the venue. For more information visit .

Date: Saturday, January 16th, 2010
Location: Casselman’s Bar and Venue (26th and Walnut, Denver, CO)
Music: John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light, Achille Lauro, Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Film: The Beautiful Empty Short Film Conspiracy
Art Exhibit: The Common Box Project
Tickets: $15 presale / $20 day of show. Price of ticket includes a copy of the new CD, other surprises and an exclusive bonus EP (digital download) for those who buy tickets in advance
Doors: 7pm / Show starts at 7:30pm
Ages: 21+
Buy tickets: Casselman’s | John Common

Listen to some gorgeous tracks off the new album. It is thoughfully written and the vocal harmonies between Common and DeNicola are almost as stunning here as they are live.

mp3: John Common – Good Heart
mp3: John Common – Turnaround
mp3: John Common – Love Is A Shark

MySpace | Website

Download through Amazon: Beautiful Empty

Tags: Achille Lauro, Danielle Ate The Sandwich, John Common