The joy of music has a unique life force in the city of Fort Collins. Every day of the week, no matter what time of year, you can find a local musician playing somewhere in the city whether it be house shows, coffee shops, or professionally lit stages. The Fort Collins Musicians Association recognized this and created a music festival based out of old town that has kept the spirit of local music alive in Colorado for the past 18 years. This year marked my third time getting to attend FoCoMX and I will be highlighting 13 fantastic acts from this weekend that you may have missed.

Funscreen

This 3-piece psych rock group is the pinnacle of musical storytelling. The group was playing at Gilded Goat brewery and their Friday evening time slot allowed them to draw people into the storm that FoCoMX weekend is. From the moment they set stage in their medieval garb, you know you are in for an adventure. They create such an immersive experience by detailing a hero named Connor’s journey before playing a tune that perfectly reflects the background set by the previous narrations. The group packed the brewery’s standing room full and even had people staging outside of the patio to hear some of Connor’s story. You can catch Funscreen at LunaFest this June 20th in Longmont, CO.

DVNEHPPY

Photo credit: Jackson Blunt

If you want to talk about stage presence, you need to include DVNEHPPY in that conversation. Here at KCSU we interviewed Divine and JG of Hot Boys last year before they performed with Soulja Boy at the Aggie Theater. Since then, Divine has been experimenting with new live arrangements, collaborators, and dance tracks all while retaining the magnetic performance quality that got him where he is now. For his set at the Magic Rat, it became clear why there is no “I” in “DVNEHPPY”, it’s because nobody in the crowd was able to ignore the energy coming from the stage. He even invited several of his collaborators, JG, TheRiverSings, and K8ie and more to join him on the stage. What seemed like a quiet lounge behind the Elizabeth hotel became overcome with hypnotizing beats and 2-steps. You can keep your eyes peeled for DVNEHPPY’s next project set to come out this summer.

Feverishh

Feverishh has been self described as “slow & loud & sad & slightly strange”. Taking the stage at R Bar, the group leaned into their signature sounds that begin with a lamenting, almost droning feel before picking up into a rhythmically driven and slightly psychedelic sound. With the venue at capacity there was a line outside the door of festival goers enjoying from the outdoor patio, despite the cold weather, just to hear this set. One thing you can always look forward to at a Feverishh show is front person Maddy’s french horn prowess with a personalized piece of brass adorned with lacy ribbons tied into bows. The addition of the horn adds a spacious and timeless quality to the group’s sound. You can see Feverishh for yourself on May 9th at the Aggie Theater as a part of the lineup for “A Night In Limbo”.

Flahoola

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

This power metal trio brought enough energy to fill the Atrium 3 times over. The room was packed from the front of the stage to the door at the back of the venue and everyone’s attention was turned toward the big stained glass window where the band was playing. The trio sounded extremely tight and no one instrument was overpowering another, it was a great blend of sounds that still allowed space for solos when they felt right. I would also like to shout out the vocal power in this group. I’ve noticed that packed venues can make it difficult to keep a voice audible but you were able to hear everything clearly no matter where you were standing. On top of a great sounding set, the group was extremely engaging with the crowd, there was plenty of movement with the instruments and even hopping into the crowd to join a mosh pit from time to time. The heavy sounds and dark room contrasting with the neon glow of the window behind this group truly made this a standout set from the weekend. You can catch Flahoola on May 1st at the Larimer Lounge.

Bitchflower

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

Psych-punk standout Bitchflower took the stage of the Aggie theater for the second year in a row and for good reason. Bitchflower is known to be able to draw a crowd for their raw energy and stage presence. Front woman Brooke always sets the tone for a punk show with a primal power coming from her voice, sporting a shirt with the word “FERAL” bedazzled across the front it was clear that the outfit was simply a sneak peak of the energy that would be under the stage lights. Supported by her band’s guitar heavy instrumentals, the physicality of this group makes it impossible to keep your feet still as they play. Bitchflower’s next show will also be at the Aggie Theater on May 22nd.

The Mañanas

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

The next group to take the stage of the Aggie was Denver based indie rock group The Mañanas. Out of the whole weekend this group easily brought the most joy to the stage. With a surf-rock inspired sound the drummer was keeping the vibes night and light with some jokes before introducing each song. Building the rapport with the audience was super natural for this group as they sang in English and Spanish and pointed out how beautiful it is for an entirely hispanic rock band to be playing on a stage here. With two different types of drums included in their rhythm section and Cumbia inspired sound the crowd took like a fish to water embracing the danceability. You can catch The Mañanas as a part of the lineup for Outside Days in Denver alongside legendary acts such as Death Cab For Cutie, Cage The Elephant, and Japanese Breakfast on May 31st.

Jesus Christ Taxi Driver

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

The final performance at the Aggie Theater for day one of the festival was Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, a staple of the Colorado music scene. Their sound blends punk and jazz for a uniquely punchy yet groovy energy. The group is notable for a pragmatic delivery of ironic or absurd lyrics. Every song they played was injected with a unique character and everyone on stage was invested in sounding like they had something to prove. The audience’s energy was also undeniable as before nearly every song I could hear some long time fans shouting “I love this song” or something in that vein. The group also makes reference to another local band, The Crooked Rugs, citing them as an inspiration in one of their songs. Much of this performance was composed of the group’s new songs from their latest album “Taxi the Rich” which is now available on streaming, and you can catch their “Jam In The Van” session from their Instagram.

Planet Claire

Planet Claire is the closest thing we have to a Fort Collins local music supergroup. Every member of this band is in a part of at least one other band native to the Northern Colorado music scene. Having only formed last fall, the group has quickly amassed a cult following for their punk inspired sound. Planet Claire has been a staple of the house show scene since September, also making appearances at Aggie Theater’s Lover’s Fest and the Sun Spot. Taking inspiration from bands like Mannequin Pussy, Wet Leg, and Amyl and the Sniffers this is the set to see to get your fix of fantastically sassy grrrl riot sounds. They played their first and last FoCoMX set at Soundbar, kicking off the second day of the festival for much of the crowd. While the band will be heading their separate ways as graduation looms, word on the street is that Planet Claire will have some recordings out soon to immortalize their year in the Fort Collins local scene.

The Dirty Turkeys

Continuing the Soundbar’s lineup for Saturday was Boulder based psych-rock group The Dirty Turkeys. I had no idea what to expect going into this set, upon first appearance I thought this band was Australian, probably due to a certain Australian looking hat, but that was not the case. Regardless, they were similar to some of my favorite Australian psych-rock bands in their blend of high energy songs with charismatic narrative lyricism, and more hypnotic vocal leaning tracks. Their sound check included turkey calls which was very exciting and a motif that was reflected throughout the show. The Dirty Turkeys took the stage in the early afternoon and had the entire room packed to the point that many people were watching the set from the TVs in the lobby of the Soundbar. You can catch The Dirty Turkeys in Fort Collins once again on June 4th at The Atrium.

Shadow Work

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

The next set I caught was Shadow Work at the Aggie Theater, this trio complemented each other so well from the bass reverberating through the room, the power of the vocals, and punch of the drums in perfect balance. The songwriting particularly stood out to me, with imagery of growing up in Mississippi I was able to picture every word despite having never been there. Even on more emotionally driven tracks, the personal touches in the singing made everything feel tangible. Beyond outstanding vocals and lyricism, the instrumental were layered in a mesmerizing pattern using different time signatures to allow each track to stand out. You can check out their latest music video “Something’s Burning” on YouTube.

Dry Ice

Dominating the rooftop of Illegal Pete’s was one of my long time favorite Colorado punk-rock groups, Dry Ice. Having just gotten off tour, the 4 members of the band brought enough power to cave that rooftop in if they wanted to. With moshing, crowd surfing, and a self-made amphitheater of patio chairs everybody wanted to get a chance to be a part of the action this group always promises. Fast, hard, and loud are always the defining features of a Dry Ice appearance. You can stream their music online and check out their music videos for “Bloodsucker” and “Dysfigure” on YouTube.

Rosebay

Photo credit: Jackson Blunt

Rosebay’s Saturday night set was an energetic mix of 90s punk and 60s surf rock, creating a unique vibe that was equally danceable and moshable. The set was a journey between gorgeous vocals, screaming punk, and even a guest verse from DVNEHPPY. One of the craziest parts was the group’s cover of a TURNSTILE song resulting in a mosh pit that would make anyone who missed it jealous. If you ask me I think the group deserved a much bigger and better venue that could accommodate the energy of the band and the fans. You can catch Rosebay at a much better suited venue on May 9th at the Sun Spot.

Horsebitch

Photo credit: Ritika Janapati

If you’re looking for whimsy, a Horsebitch show is the place to find it. They embody the feeling of each song and add a humorous twist every time. A tune emanating a sea shanty is accompanied by a vocalist in a bright yellow raincoat. The pedal steel player will have several accessories from wigs to hockey helmets. With so much to look at you’ll be able to keep your focus on the music every time someone takes a solo. From fiddle to saxophone the sonic journey that band takes you on is truly one of a kind. You can catch Horsebitch’s Midtopia session on YouTube.

If you didn’t get a chance to attend FoCoMX this year, I hope this inspires you to put it in your calendar way in advance for 2027. Many of these bands will be back next year with new music and more energy than ever before. This festival is the pinnacle of supporting local music and a great way to find a new favorite act.

Article by Ritika Janapati. Photos by Ritika Janapati (Flahoola, Bitchflower, The Mañanas, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, Shadow Work, Horsebitch) and Jackson Blunt (DVNEHPPY, Rosebay).