Article Contributed by Elliot Engebretson
Published on January 6, 2026
Bluebird Theater | Denver, Colorado | January 3rd, 2026 – photos by Elliot Engebretson
What makes a scene truly special? Is it a distinct sound or attitude, a certain authenticity found in a world obsessed with social media and fake identity? Perhaps it’s the physical space that matters—old, broken-down basements, converted clubs and community centers, forgotten buildings born again to the gift of light and sound, breathing life into the city behind some back-alley BBQ stand.
While the physical space provides a canvas, the engine of community in its purest form is the people who surround it. A group of people not following a billboard or some trendy advertisement, but getting together for something they believe in, regardless of its perception or status. In Denver, Colorado—a place where the music scene shines as vibrant as the people who dance amongst it—this essence of community shined in raw, simplistic beauty at the Bluebird Theater on East Colfax Saturday night, as local legends Photon and RADO teamed together to deliver some of their most mesmerizing and memorable performances to date.
On what is typically a cold, blustering night in downtown Denver, this past Saturday felt different. An abnormally warm winter has Coloradans singing their finest snow prayers to the high heavens, while quietly ecstatic for an extension of warmth. As the doors of the Bluebird Theater opened to the public, friends gathered outside the legendary East Colfax venue in eager anticipation.
Originally built in 1913 by Harry W.J. Edbrooke, the Bluebird Theater was originally named after the prominent Denver grocer and druggist John Thompson, before changing its name to the Bluebird a number of years later. Nestled between Congress Park and City Park, the Bluebird has gone through many iterations over the years, serving as a neighborhood movie house in the roaring ’20s, a live-theater space in the 1960s, and even a short-lived pornographic film space in the 1970s.
By 1987, however, the doors to the Bluebird had been shut until Chris Swank and his business partner Evan Dechtman invested in turning the building into a music venue in 1994. Since that date, the legendary venue has risen to prominence in the Denver community, hosting a number of legendary up-and-coming artists while also serving as a place of solitude for well-known and established acts. At just over 500-person capacity, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
As the lights dimmed in the historic theater, Denver-based jam quartet RADO took the stage for the first of four interlocking sets with co-headlining act Photon. Both bands thrive in the live setting, exploring interdimensional jams dosed with heavy Moog, pounding breakbeats, and a general curiosity for what happens next.
RADO opened the night with an extended “Run and Hyde” off their 2024 studio debut, Baker’s Measurements. Soaring synths brought to life by James Hatch filled the Bluebird with sound, as the band locked in flawlessly through the chorus and into the exploratory segments of the tune. Weaving between the fretboards, Dylan Tuthill led the band into the debut of “Searchin,” which proved to be the first of many new debuts for the triumphant band that night.
The subtly placed and flawlessly executed rendition of Talking Heads’ “Slippery People” followed, striking joy into a well-versed musical audience. From the bottom to the top, the band climbed, with bassist Kevin MacKinnon holding down the low end of the vibrations and drummer Jeremy Deitz locking in the rhythm section.
The new addition of Deitz behind the kit continues to provide exploratory ground for the band. With his attention to detail and precision on fills, dynamic use of accents and ghost notes, and keen ear for leading changes, RADO continues to thrive from its newest member.
Next came fan favorite “Back Nine,” also off Baker’s Measurements, before rounding things off with the debut of “Within Hour.” Then, seamlessly—almost like actors on a stage—members of RADO disappeared one by one as new members appeared.
Enter Photon, a futuristic musical enigma masterminded by Philadelphia-based pianist Jimmy Dunstan. Backed by bassist Dan Africano of Thievery Corporation, drummer Neal Evans of Dopapod, and jazz guitarist Tim Wendel, Photon elevates through the cosmos surrounding us, blending thoughtful, charismatic jazz motifs with psychedelic soundscapes and electronic improvisation.
Like if early STS9 went out for a cup of coffee with Herbie Hancock, Photon delivers a refreshing shot of energy into the improvisational world, jamming through innate, complex pieces that could fill a thoughtful discovery scene from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Dunstand’s high energy and charismatic facial expressions lit up the Bluebird as the crowd danced and swayed to mesmerizing phenomena.
“We have some songs about mice… this next one is about a penguin,” Dunstand playfully informed the crowd. Live electronica bounced around the room like elementary particles; quantum light and space-aged sound collided with time as particles danced and swirled throughout.
The theater seemed to morph into different galaxies, acting as a canvas painted by Boulder’s own Liquid JPEG, whose one-of-a-kind sensory experience only enhanced the uniqueness of the production. Energy transmitted from person to person at the speed of light as Photon painted serious improvisation over tracks like “Bubble Up,” “Renegade,” and of course, “Chickens in Space.”
All possibilities exist with Photon on stage, and the crowd reciprocated that notion. Fans of electronic and jazz music alike should keep their eyes peeled for Photon’s next movements as they continue to push the idea that opportunities are endless.
After a short set by DJ Oz, RADO re-took the stage for Set II, and this time it was strictly business. The crowd was loose, the vibes were high as “Light Source > My Dreams” opened the set. Both FTPs for the band, the enthusiastic response was all RADO needed to send the music further into hyperspace.
MacKinnon and Deitz ferociously marched through the new tracks while Hatch and Tuthill meticulously buttered the bread with delicate sprinkles of funk and toasty groove. The aptly named “Alien March” followed, morphing the Bluebird into an altered universe before the set closed with the RADO classic “Back Nine.”
Photon then fired up the cannons once again, diving back into their signature soaring cadence with a more laid-back, jazzy approach than RADO’s fierce funk. Breakbeats dosed in synthesizer flowed like the Yampa River through the Bluebird Theater.
By the second set, all conscious thought had left the audience. Any sense of being anywhere other than the here and now was gone, replaced by a beautiful moment suspended in perpetual consciousness. One of the most beautiful aspects of improvisational music is the ability to let go—no hit song expectations, no filler, just organic unfolding.
On a more earthly level, one of the most intriguing elements of the night was the interlocking sets. Watching the musicians greet each other on stage, find their rhythm, and direct the musical ship was a true treat—like long-lost friends reuniting after a journey.
As the night drew to a close, both bands jammed together in elegance and grace, giving praise to the committed Denver audience that didn’t stop moving from start to finish. Wendel and Tuthill’s guitar tones screamed to the heavens as Dunstand and Hatch danced playfully around one another.
One of the night’s most special moments came from the drummers, as Deitz and Evans played thunderously together—driving home a four-on-the-floor beat infused with harmonious tribal rhythms. It was a masterclass in execution, a blueprint for electronic improvisation, and a monumental achievement for the Denver music scene.
Proof that within our beautiful community—behind painted walls and coveted canvases in theaters like the Bluebird—beautiful music thrives around every corner. The people of Colorado, alive with magic and the willingness to embark on a journey together, dance united with music as our guide and the thoughtfulness of sound as our North Star. Our community.
