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In this series, the ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ Newsroom introduces readers to the world outside campus by exploring Denver and the near beyond.

Whether you’re a fan of rock, jazz, theater or comedy, Denver has no shortage of venues where you can catch a show most any night of the week.

Close to the ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ campus, is a haven for Deadheads and jam-band fans, while the offers everything from alt-rock to hip-hop to comedy to live podcasts. Just up the road, is a music school and concert hall for the acoustic folkie set.

A little farther north, three of Denver’s most popular concert halls sit near one another on a two-mile stretch of East Colfax Avenue: the , a wood-floored ballroom modeled after the famous Fillmore in San Francisco; the slightly smaller , a historic former movie palace whose fall concert lineup includes such acts as Stereolab, Sleater-Kinney and Pigeons Playing Ping Pong; and the intimate , another former movie house, which hosts local indie shows as well as smaller national touring acts.

A brand-new Denver rock hall that opened in August is already making a name for itself nationally: The 60,000-square-foot, 3,950-capacity is run by some of the city’s top concert promoters and already has seen performances by Trey Anastasio, the Steve Miller Band, Herbie Hancock and homegrown folk-rock sensation the Lumineers.

Thinking about starting a band or becoming part of the local music scene? Some of the Mile High City’s smallest rock clubs are also its most vibrant and welcoming: Check out the diverse show lineups at the , , , and . Not far from campus, is an old-school roadhouse and tour stop for lots of down-and-dirty rockers.

For bigger shows, venues such as and the world-famous Red Rocks host outdoor shows in the summer, while the (also home to the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche) is the place to catch big-name touring acts during the cold-weather months. The Pepsi Center’s 2019 schedule includes the Black Keys (Sept. 23), the Who (Sept. 29), the Jonas Brothers (Oct. 1) and Phil Collins (Oct. 13).

Denver has a great jazz scene, and fans can catch a mix of local and national acts at the city’s respectable collection of jazz venues, including downtown club (which also offers a killer Sunday brunch), supper club (owned by a ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ alumna and her husband and located in the trendy River North district) and the venerable , a divy LoDo jazz joint reputedly visited by Jack Kerouac back in the day.

Live theater is a big part of Denver’s nightlife scene as well — ground zero is the massive , which welcomes nationally touring Broadway musicals while staging its own diverse mix of plays, musicals, comedy shows and immersive art events. Other local theaters offering a mix of edgy and traditional fare include the in downtown Littleton, and in downtown Denver and the ultra-hip in the Highlands neighborhood.

While many of these venues offer the occasional comedy show, Denver has its own world-famous full-time comedy club that’s been around since 1981: , which brings in big-name talent and provides a training ground for up-and-coming locals. The club has two locations, one just off of Larimer Square in downtown Denver, and one in the Landmark shopping area just south of ÌÒ×ÓÖ±²¥ off of Belleview and I-25.