Usually, the phrase “back to school” means a return to late-night cram sessions, endless procrastination on social media, over-caffeinated conversations and hitting your head against the wall after finding a copy of your quarter’s tuition bill. However, the radio station Channel 93.3 and the arrival of brand-new festivals and national bands is bound to make for a great fall.

A whole slew of new music, ranging from well-known and barely known, is hitting the Denver scene soon.
Leading the way is the 2014-2015 Riot Fest. With headliners such as the Violent Femmes, Social Distortion, The National and City and Colour, the festival promises to be an eclectic mix of the classics and modern. Riot Fest takes place in three cities, with the first two stops in Toronto, then Chicago and finally to Denver. If you’re looking for just a one-day pass, the Saturday line up includes Bring Me The Horizon, A Day to Remember, and The Cure.

This year, the venue was changed to its current location, which happens to be home of Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos: Sports Authority Stadium. 2014 marks the 10 year anniversary of Riot Fest, and it’s been hailed as one of the best lineups thus far.

K.Flay, a Bay area based indie hip-hop artist, will be performing at Hi-Dive September 24. On tour with a new record, Life As A Dog, this concert is not one to be missed. Singles like “Can’t Sleep” and “Wishing it was You” combine mellow synth-beats with fast-paced lyrics, creating an entirely unique and dynamic sound. Fans of Chilean rapper Anna Tijioux and Kimbra will fall for the combination of K.Flay’s unique voice and intricate hip-hop melodies.

For fans of jazz and soulful vocalists, Fly Moon Royalty comes to Denver Sept. 26.This musical duo is the unique brainchild of Adra Boo, the vocalist, and DJ/Producer/Emcee Action J, who act in harmony together to cultivate an entirely new sound. The band is based out of Seattle, Washington, and plans to bring a new sound to Colorado. Their recently released EP, Unfinished Business, and dynamic singles such as “DNA” make this band a must-see.

That same Sept. 26 weekend, BIG GIGANTIC’s “Rowdytown III” makes a return to Red Rocks amphitheatre for the fourth year running. The lineup for Friday the 26 includes Savoy, DVBBS, The Floozies and Trippy Turtle. For Saturday the 27, The New Deal, Caked Up, and HeRobust take the stage in a show that can’t be missed for fans of Colorado’s EDM scene. Expect lasers, smoke and blisters on your feet the day after from dancing.
Channel 93.3, the radio station with it’s pulse in all of Denver’s indie/alternative bands, is presenting more than a few big names for the fall/winter concert season as well. Kings of Leon, Lorde, alt-J, the Airborne Toxic Event and the 1975 are already established, and in small theatres such as the Fillmore, are bound to make for some epic and local concerts. Their concert blog, www.area93.com, caters to collegiate music nerds everywhere with concert information, tickets, venues and more. Regardless of your music taste, chances are, Channel 93.3 has something for you.

So the next time you’re cramming at the library, using the pages of your Biochem textbook to dry your tears in Chem lab or drowning your sorrows in Illegal Pete’s queso, bring along your headphones and go out on a high note.