A funk-soul-rock band from Louisiana that marries spirituality, protest, Black feminism, and Afrofuturism, Seratones will headline the Underground Music Showcase's inaugural Impact Show on Saturday, July 30.

Led by the enigmatic frontwoman and reproductive rights advocate A.J. Haynes, Seratones will join more than 600 artists to perform during the Underground Music Showcase (UMS), Denver's largest multi-day, multi-venue festival. The Mental Wellness Impact Show will take place on the festival's largest outdoor stage, the “Showcase Stage” on Broadway and Archer.

Seratones were most recently seen on The Late Show with Steven Colbert, and released their album, "Love & Algorhythms," on April 29th, 2022, under New West Records. Youth on Record’s team met the band in February 2017 when they performed at YOR’s recording studio as a part of the nonprofit’s YOR Sessions.

“Seratones are the ideal band to orient our audience to mental wellness for all. Not only are they focused on the good – but they are real and authentic when discussing the more distressing and painful parts of life. Their music lifts you, makes you feel your feelings, and make you feel better,” says Jami Duffy, UMS Co-Manager and YOR Executive Director. “Seratones provide a magical experience and we’re so excited to share it with our community of UMS fest goers.”

New to UMS this year, the Impact Show is part of a festival-wide focus on supporting mental wellness and the prevention of substance misuse among musicians and an anticipated 10,000 festival attendees. Other mission-aligned programs include Impact Days, a two-day, industry-focused summit that will connect artists, music industry and community leaders for resource-sharing and skill-building; and Sober Bars, which will provide alternatives to traditional bars at each of the festival's mainstage venues. More information on each program is below.

The focus on mental wellness and substance misuse prevention was born of a new partnership between Youth on Record and Two Parts, which joined forces in March in an effort to expand the festival's social impact with a threefold focus of Artistic Excellence, Community Impact, and Economic Sustainability.  The word is catching on, and some of Colorado’s most respected mental wellness funders and providers are coming to the table with financial contributions and resources in support of the new mission-alignment at UMS. The Colorado Health Foundation, Rose Community Foundation, Caring for Denver Foundation, and Colorado Enterprise Fund are early supporters of the music festival’s focus on mental wellness, with more supporters joining each week.

Jami Duffy, Executive Director of Youth on Record and Co-Manager of the UMS, says the partnership created a unique opportunity to support Denver's diverse creative community, which has faced unprecedented challenges throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Mental wellness is at the forefront of our minds, especially the mental wellness of historically under-represented artists and musicians," says Duffy, who led the Denver-based nonprofit to invest in the UMS following a $1M grant from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. "Musicians and artists did so much to care for all of us over the past two years. Their art calmed us, healed us, and got us through. So our question is: What’s getting our artists through? How can a music festival support artists and lift audiences at the same time?”

Why focus on mental wellness and substance misuse prevention?

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, young creatives and artists in Denver were 25% more likely to suffer from mental health and substance misuse issues. The chronic stress of the past two years – which brought civil unrest, racial injustice, and severe economic instability within the creative industries – greatly intensified these challenges.

Many of these stressors were experienced most acutely within communities of color. Yet the stigma associated with mental health treatment, as well as a historically rooted mistrust of medical and mental health professionals, often prevents individuals of color from seeking the care they need.

A music festival is an opportunity to reduce stigma by providing health and accessible resources for wellness within a community of care. By creating an environment where mental wellness and substance misuse are discussed openly, those who struggle with either or both issues will know that they're not alone – and may leave the festival more ready to seek support in the future.

Mission-Aligned Programming at the UMS:

Impact Show, Saturday, July 30

A new feature that will become a hallmark of every UMS, the Impact Show will showcase an artist on the UMS mainstage who is committed to an issue that impacts everyone. Community organizations engaged in that issue will be invited to participate. The goal is to expand these impact shows year over year in an effort to tie UMS artists to a broader mission of community impact through music.

In keeping with this year's focus on mental wellness, leading community organizations that work in mental health will be on site to connect and provide resources to performing artists and attendees.

Impact Days: Wednesday, July 27 & Thursday, July 28, noon-6 pm daily

A two-day intensive hosted by Youth on Record and open to all musicians and artists participating in the UMS, Impact Days will serve as an industry-focused kick-off for the festival. Artists, music industry and community leaders will provide skill-sharing workshops, networking, professional development, and wellness coaching opportunities to local and emerging artists. Focused on artmaking, Impact, and Economic Opportunity, Impact Days are designed to build the foundation for institutional resources that will serve musicians, artists, and the creative industries for years to come.

Dozens of industry and arts leaders will host panels, workshops and coaching sessions; industry and arts leaders will be paid for their time. During the pilot year, the event is free to all participating artists. Between sessions, participants will be invited to participate in "care" practices including yoga, access to mental health resources, sober bars, and healthy foods.

Sober Bars

Also new this year, UMS will provide alcohol-free refreshments at Sober Bars at all mainstage venues. Sober Bars are for everyone, and are part of a mission-aligned strategy to:

    Provide alternatives to alcohol, to slow down the rate of consumption and keep festival attendees and performers safe

    Provide high-quality, alcohol-free alternatives to those who abstain from alcohol for a whatever reason

    Normalize the choice to stay sober or drink less

Tickets to the UMS are on sale now. A portion of all sales will benefit Youth on Record.

For information on philanthropic and corporate sponsorship, visit Youth on Record's website.

For the fifth year in a row, Youth on Record has assembled an incredible roster of partners to amplify a significant message: Music Matters.

“Youth on Record is an integrated part of the Denver community and we’re always excited to engage local businesses around our creative youth development mission. YOR offers music-centered programs intended to equip young people with the skills needed to advance their academic success, increase their economic opportunities, and strengthen their community connections and networks. This year we served over 1,700 youth in 54 different zip codes across the Greater Denver Area through our for-credit classes, out-of-school programs, fellowship programs, and more. Supporting any of our many Music Matters March partners all over Denver will continue to help our reach expand to include more incredible young people,” said Andrea Viarrial-Murphy, Deputy Director.

We have nearly 40 partners confirmed!

Here are some of the confirmed partnerships supporting the work at Youth on Record (and there are more to come!):

    Tito's Handmade Vodka is matching up to $5000 raised at all participating locations that feature a Tito's Handmade Vodka Cocktail!

    The 6th Clothing Co. has designed this year’s Boombox mascot and an additional 10% on the YOR items only (16% of purchase price) will go to YOR & 6% of sales price, for all other items, will be automatically donated to YOR when you add to cart through the end of March (aside from products for other nonprofit partners).

    At Dazzle Denver, ticket buyers can add donations to their tickets on the checkout page on our website.

    Empourium Brewing will be contributing 10% of of sales of "Peace, Love and Pale Ale" their Extra Pale Ale for the month of March.

    Nocturne Jazz Donate $1 for every cover charge or dinner and a show reservation for March. Plus! You can donate with any pre-paid reservation in March - featuring Tito's.

    Illegal Pete’s will have music and drink specials at all of their Colorado locations

    You can see an updated list of partners here https://www.youthonrecord.org/event/music-matters-march

Stay up to date on all participating locations and planned festivities at https://www.youthonrecord.org/event/music-matters-march

Youth on Rewind is a new podcast from Youth on Record (YOR) which will amplify the voices, stories, and ideas of young storytellers. The show will feature an array of youth produced stories, interviews, poetry, music, and other audio art guided by the creative visions of paid podcasting interns.

An episode of Youth on Rewind will be released each month beginning in May 2023. The first episode takes a nuanced approach to mental health and wellness. It was produced by former intern and current YOR Fellow, Sydney Yllanes, with supplemental pieces produced by former interns Tierney Worthen and Genevieve Glimp. The episode asks college students, “What does mental health mean to you?" and investigates the daily inner conflicts that someone who lives with depression may experience, and highlights what it’s like to live with OCD.

The second episode of the show, which will be released in June 2023, was produced by former intern and recent University of Colorado, Denver graduate Sreeja Chakrabarty. This episode will examine the dynamic of “art versus the artist.” Chakrabarty speaks with local musicians and artists about how to navigate their own creative processes with nuance and intentionality.

“The Youth on Record Podcasting Internship has been amazing,” podcasting intern and MSU senior Xavier Gauthier said. “Although our team came in with different skill sets, we've all been able to grow in other areas with each other’s help. David and the rest of the YOR team have also been such a big help in broadening our skills so that we're ready to thrive in our respective fields.”

Youth on Record's podcast programs are intended to prepare young creatives for work in the growing podcast and audio arts industry. The program has gained national attention with students featured on NPR’s Here and Now last spring after submitting short essays the students wrote and recorded during their internship.

Youth on Record’s Youth Success Manager David Ladon is the executive producer of Youth on Rewind and supports all podcast interns as they learn the professional skills required to thrive in the audio arts and entertainment industry. Other podcasts released by the program have included the Official Underground Music Showcase Podcast, Underground and the Showcase and a podcast produced in collaboration with Colorado Young Leaders, Generation Collaboration.

“Youth on Rewind offers listeners a sample of the compelling work our podcasting interns have produced,” Ladon said. “Conversations about representation in the media often overlook youth perspectives, or lack thereof. We are excited to be carving out space for youth voices to shine in Colorado’s robust independent media ecosystem.”

You can find this podcast on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Google Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

About Youth on Record:

At Youth on Record, we believe that all young people, including those who are at-risk and written-off, have the ability to turn their lives around. We are committed to ensuring that the youth we serve graduate from high school and are ready to enter the workforce, and transition to college or enter advanced technical training and careers.

Our programs empower 1,700 teens in some of Denver’s most vulnerable communities to make life choices that positively impact their future by teaching them to develop the coping tools, inspiration, and wherewithal to succeed in today’s world and to become leaders of tomorrow.

Generation Collaboration is one of those crucial programs. Not only is it a way to plug graduates into careers, but it presents an opportunity for current students to learn critical technical skills and prepare them to enter the creative industry.

For more visit youthonrecord.org and on social media @youthonrecord

Youth on Record's Block Party and Community Celebration will bring together hundreds of community members on June 10th for a day-long youth-led music festival. This is a Youth Led and Youth Designed event with support from Youth on Record (YOR) Staff. The event will take place from 1pm-7pm at the Youth on Record Studio and neighboring streets. Plus, day-long performances will feature a talented lineup of YOR students!

The event is free to the community and will include engaging block party activities and a variety of workshops including art making opportunities, community health partners, and career advancement opportunities. There will also be delicious food, fun swag, and community vendors filling the streets! View more information here.

A few things you can look forward to are:

    Live music from Youth on Record students

    Free swag and snacks

    Interactive elements including Career Advancement, Health and Wellness, and Art Making

    Art making with Crafty Chassis

    Community sculpture project with YOR

    Interactive activities with The Mobile Studio  

    Career advancement opportunities with CU Denver College of Arts and Media

    Free t-shirts and swag for youth - grab and go at Youth on Record

    Logo and t-shirts designed by Regi Worles / YOR Fellow

    Kids’ crafts and family-friendly programs

    Local food trucks

    Wellness tent from Denver Housing Authority and and free meal vouchers for residents in the Mariposa neighborhood

All community neighbors, YOR supporters, school and philanthropic partners, elected officials, and young people are encouraged to attend.

WHEN:   Saturday June 10th, 2023 1pm-7pm

WHERE: Youth on Record, 1301 W 10th Ave, Denver, CO 80204

SPONSORS: YOR wishes to thank the following sponsors: CU Denver College of Arts & Media, Denver Housing Authority, Meow Wolf, The Colorado Trust, and Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA).

GET INVOLVED: YOR encourages the community to attend and support the next generation of artists and musicians who will be performing at the block party.

Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Website: https://www.youthonrecord.org/event/block-party-yor-youth-music-fest-20…

Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/3BcxJndOk

The life of a performing artist often means spending hours piled inside tour vans, crammed into hotel rooms, and sweating through rehearsals.  In the midst of the chaos, the Underground Music Showcase (UMS) is committed to providing the hundreds of artists that play its festival each year with benefits that include thriving artist wages, mental health resources, and a reimagined green room dubbed “The Artist Care Lounge.”

These initiatives are all part of The UMS’s mission-aligned partnership with Youth on Record (YOR), a Denver nonprofit that joined Two Parts as co-owner of the festival in March 2022. The festival released its 2022 Impact Report detailing its goals and achievements from the collaboration. This year, UMS is deepening its commitment to accessibility, sober initiatives, professional development for artists, and overall artist care.

“At the UMS, we're all about embracing the transformative power of treating artists like our VIP clients at the music festival. Our goal? To take care of their well-being and fuel their creativity, making UMS an unforgettable experience for both our talented artists and the fest-goers that join us. We truly believe that when artists are taken care of, magic happens,” UMS Co-Manager and YOR Executive Director Jami Duffy said.

This year, The UMS is bringing in incredible partners to support artist care including Denver’s only multiversal transit station, Meow Wolf.

Thanks to an installation from talented Meow Wolf artist, Andrea Fischer, the Artist Care Lounge will be layered with colorful textile art that will inspire, comfort, and soothe artists. And if anyone knows how to appeal to artists, it’s an artist herself.

This year’s Artist Care Lounge will be a substance-free, calming space that offers healthy snacks, health and wellness workshops, a nap area, and access to mental health providers, art-making stations, and a vibe that lets artists know that UMS has their backs.

Youth on Record is also hosting the second annual “Impact Days,” a two-day series of workshops serving UMS performing artists and local musicians/industry professionals with professional development resources, creative opportunities, and networking.

“Impact Days is bringing together some of the country's brightest music minds to share experience, knowledge, and opportunity with regional musicians. It's an unparalleled opportunity for artists to learn, network, and navigate career choice in a tough and ever-changing industry. Impact Days explores industry topics like radio strategy and income opportunities for musicians such as teaching practice, venue ownership, and grant funding,” Impact Days Lead Coordinator Alysia Kraft said.

This is the first year that tickets to Impact Days are available to the public and the festival hopes to see all of Denver’s performing artists and music industry professionals utilize this opportunity.

Initiatives to improve the attendee experience are growing, too. Last year, The UMS rolled out its first ever Sober Bars, which offered alcohol-free mocktails at each of the three stages and received rave reviews on social media. The Sober Bars will reprise again this year, with expanded footprints to all four UMS operated stages, and a Recovery Cards Project, a partnership with Lift the Label, that encourages artists on a sober journey through inspirational greeting cards. Back for a second year, WellPower will co-sponsor the sober bars and provide mental wellness support throughout the fest.

Plus, The UMS 2023 will mark the beginning of a comprehensive three-year accessibility plan to improve how musicians and attendees with disabilities experience every aspect of the festival, from the website and app to stages, venues, vendors, and participating businesses. To spearhead this plan, the festival welcomed two artists with disabilities onto its team in accordance with its inclusivity mission, “Nothing about us without us.” These artists are Jessica Wallach, an artist and long-time disability and accessibility advocate, and Kalyn Heffernan, activist, educator, and emcee of Wheelchair Sports Camp.

"We're learning so much about what it really takes to make our hometown hero festival more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. Finally, we have a chance to do something with all our complaints and make this an extraordinary weekend for way more types of people,” Heffernan said.

To achieve its goals, the UMS has doubled its mission-aligned funding this year, receiving a combined $100,000 from government and philanthropic sponsors including: Notley Rising Tide, Colorado Health Foundation, WellPower, Keep the Party Safe, Lift the Label, Denver Arts & Venues, Denver Art Museum, Wana Brands, Rose Community Foundation, Vinyl Me Please, The Music Room Audio, and Meow Wolf.

"The support of government and philanthropy is crucial in fostering music festivals as containers for community care. Bringing important resources to the party is a strategy that not only enriches the festival experience but also strengthens our community. We are so impressed by the partnership support sponsors like Notley Rising Tide, Colorado Health Foundation, WellPower, and others, as it allows us to actualize our mission and create a more inclusive and supportive event for everyone,” Duffy said.

And for community members who want to support these initiatives, the festival says the best thing they can do is just buy a ticket and join the fun.

Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Marsha Blackburn introduced the bipartisan American Music Tourism Act to support and increase music tourism by requiring the Commerce Department to implement a plan to increase and attract domestic and international visitors to venues nationwide.

“Music venues are keepers of our culture. From Red Rocks to the Grand Ole Opry, and hundreds of small venues across our country, millions visit Colorado and all our states to hear world class musicians and connect with each other,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “Our bipartisan American Music Tourism Act will support these venues by helping our music tourism industry grow and expand.”

“Tennesseans know a thing or two about the positive impact that music tourism has on the economy and culture,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Volunteer State is proud to be home to so many iconic musical landmarks for tourists to enjoy – from Graceland in Memphis to the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, and the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in Bristol. This bipartisan legislation promotes music tourism’s fast-growing industry and ensures fans from all over the world can celebrate the rich history of music for generations to come.”

Music tourism is projected to bring in over $11.3 billion in revenue nationwide by 2032. The United States boasts one of the world’s largest music industries that generates over $43 billion in revenue each year and is one of the main beneficiaries of this international interest in music tourism.

Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would:

    Require the Commerce Department’s Assistant Secretary for Travel and Tourism to implement a plan to support and increase music tourism for both domestic and international visitors.
    Require a report to Congress on the findings and achievements of the Assistant Secretary’s efforts to promote travel and tourism.

This legislation is supported by the Colorado Creative Industries of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, Denver Arts & Venues, the Recording Academy, the Recording Industry Association of America, Live Nation Entertainment, the National Independent Venues Association, the Nashville Songwriter’s Association International, Colorado Music Hall of Fame, Colorado Chamber Players, Youth on Record, Underground Music Showcase, Jazz Aspen Snowmass, Swallow Hill Music, and eTown Music.

“Colorado Creative Industries in the Office of Economic Development and International Trade at the State of Colorado recognizes the critical, far-reaching impacts the music industry contributes to Colorado’s creative economy, to our lifestyle and to our wellbeing. Music industry tourism contributes to our thriving music scene, supporting our music workers and concert venues. The American Music Tourism Act elevates Colorado’s music industry with increased investments that will highlight and promote the transformative work of musicians, technicians, promoters and venues across Colorado and throughout the United States,” said Josh Blanchard, Director, Colorado Creative Industries, Colorado’s state art agency.

“The American Tourism Act is music to the proverbial ears of venues and cultural facilities nationwide. The visits by cultural tourists drive ticket sales, hotel stays, food and beverage spending and dollars spread across the transportation sector. Any effort to extend this sector of the arts economy is welcomed and worthwhile,” said Gretchen Hollrah, Executive Director, Denver Arts & Venues.

“The Recording Academy is pleased to support the American Music Tourism Act and applauds Senators Blackburn and Hickenlooper for their continued dedication to lifting up the music community. Music has long played an important role in our economy and culture. This bill will amplify the music community’s contributions to economic growth and increase understanding of music’s impact on the U.S. and the world,” said Todd Dupler, Chief Advocacy and Public Policy Officer of the Recording Academy.

“From the historic Grand Ole Opry to the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival, America’s music story comes alive at iconic venues and landmarks all across the country. We applaud Senators Blackburn and Hickenlooper for introducing the American Music Tourism Act, which will encourage even more music fans to experience the rich legacy of American music firsthand,” said Mitch Glazier, Chairman & CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America.

“From rural communities to city centers, independent stages attract investment and visitors for the artists and professionals that put on shows and the restaurants, retail, and attractions around them. The American Music Tourism Act finally recognizes music tourism as a catalyst for economic development and ensures its growth is a national priority. We applaud Senators Marsha Blackburn and John Hickenlooper for aligning the nation’s tourism strategy with the venues and festivals across our country that the world travels to experience,” said Stephen Parker, Executive Director of the National Independent Venue Association.

“As the executive leadership of Colorado Music Hall of Fame, we wholeheartedly support the proposed American Music Tourism Act!” said Karen Radman, Executive Director, Colorado Music Hall of Fame.

“This legislation has the potential of bringing additional focus and intention to Music Tourism in ways that could benefit the broader ecosystem, including providing much needed resources for independent venues and mission-based music festivals,” said Jami Duffy, Executive Director, Youth on Record and Co-Manager, Underground Music Showcase.

“Our organization would not be able to survive and thrive as we have through decades without the reality of Music Tourism. Yet it remains a fact that this kind of organized government support is irreplaceable going forward. The Music Industry needs this support now. We applaud Senators Hickenlooper’s and Blackburn’s leadership in marshaling this bill through to its hopeful adoption,” said James Horowitz, CEO & Founder, Jazz Aspen Snowmass.

“Music tourism is critical to the economic vitality of many states, including Colorado. Our businesses create meaningful experiences that are highly valued by people – so much so that people are willing to travel all over the United States to see their favorite band, or one that is new to them. This generates income from hotels, restaurants, and airlines, among multitudes of other revenue generation. Recent studies have shown that music tourism is forecasted to reach $11.3 billion by 2032. The American Music Tourism Act would build on existing framework, and further promote music tourism,” said Jessy Clark, CEO, Swallow Hill Music.