Outside Days is a three-day music festival hosted on Denver’s Auraria Campus. Although the festival revolves around its lineup of live music performances, the experience stretches far beyond the music. From rock-climbing walls and fly-fishing to local food and drink vendors, Outside Days successfully showcased Colorado’s unique outdoor and music culture in one place.
Last Sunday was the third and final day of the music festival. As the clock wound down on the weekend, the musicians delivered performances that did not disappoint.
Opening the day was The Mañana’s. Although the Denver based band has a relatively small following, their 60’s rock sound has wowed the local music scene and snagged them a spot as the first act.
Next in the lineup was fellow Denver artist, N3PTUNE. N3PTUNE released his first album “RENAISSANCE (THE REVIVAL)” back in 2023, the same year he was named Best Breakout Artist of 2023 by Westword Magazine, and has only continued to build momentum.
Charged with keeping the energy high as the midday sun approached was Girl Tones, a rock duo made up of sisters Kenzie and Laila. Despite having only two members, the band delivered a performance that felt much larger, bringing a relentless punk-rock energy to the stage. This performance was one of many stops on the siblings’ cross-country tour in their grandma’s mini van.
Following Girl Tones was GROUPLOVE, who delivered a phenomenal set. The band worked through fan favorites including “Raspberry,” “Ways to Go” and for all the BoJack Horseman fans in the crowd, “Back in the 90’s.” Lead vocalists Christian Zucconi and Hannah Hooper brought infectious energy to the stage, closing out the set with the crowd-favorite “Tongue Tied.”
Switching the vibe entirely was the next act, Tash Sultana, who opened the set with a cover of “I Shot the Sheriff,” originally by Bob Marley. While the performance began with support from a drummer and guitarist, the accompanying musicians exited after the first few songs, leaving Sultana alone on stage.
Moving seamlessly between instruments and looping layers of sound in real time, Sultana built an expansive soundscape that felt as though it were being created by an entire band. From the saxophone and electric guitar to the bass, piano, flute and more, Sultana left the crowd wondering if there was an instrument they couldn’t play. As a rainbow emerged in the distance, Sultana spoke for the first time in the set, reflecting on the recent loss of their dog, transforming the moment into a heartfelt connection with the crowd.
The final act of the night were headliners Cage the Elephant, who started their set hot as fire literally shot from beside them as “Broken Boy” began playing. The crowd, which had steadily grown throughout the evening, was now packed tight. As lead singer Matt Shultz jumped from all corners of the stage, fans in the pit matched his energy, jumping and singing along from the start.
Although the band released record “Neon Pill” in 2024, much of the set was composed of songs from older material — going as far back to their 2009 album “Cage the Elephant” featuring songs like “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and “Back Against the Wall.”
Toward the end of their high-energy set, Shultz paused to reflect on two decades as a band and thanked the crowd for their support.
“Beyond all of this, we’d probably all be friends, because we are already connecting on a pretty deep level,” he said.
Their set lasted an hour and a half, yet the energy never dipped throughout the entire show. Still, for many fans, it felt like it could have gone on all night. As Cage the Elephant closed their set, chants for an encore that would sadly never happen rang out.
The three-day festival was more than just music. It reminded everyone of the importance of getting outside, respecting the land we stand on and appreciating the little things.
