GRiZ Hosts Free Outdoor Event in Denver with Maddy O’Neal

GRiZ returned to Denver this weekend to play a free, surprise show with Maddy O’Neal at The Junkyard, throwing down for thousands of people on a beautiful Sunday. 

This weekend, GRiZ announced on Twitter that he would be hosting a free, surprise show in Colorado, causing Denver locals to scramble to find more information. Fans patiently waited on Sunday morning for confirmation of the address and began lining around the block before noon. GRiZ officially released the details about an hour later.

The show went down at The Junkyard, an open space surrounded by warehouses right off of the main highway. Denver native Maddy O’Neal opened the show, building the vibe of the crowd with bouncy, chill bass. Her own music perfectly matched the sunny weather and GRiZ’s own funk-inspired style.

Maddy O’Neal played while the crowd continued to fill in, giving everyone in attendance a glimpse of her talent. After her hour-long set, GRiZ took the stage, immediately flipping his and Zeds Dead’s collaboration, “Ecstasy of the Soul.” His soul-inspired electronic discography delivered exactly what the crowd was in search of, keeping people dancing and headbanging. 

The free show at The Junkyard followed his surprise set in Aspen, Colorado, just days prior. Despite being in the burning sun and 75-degree weather, attendees were immersed in the set and community that formed in line and continued into the show.  

Based in Denver, GRiZ has been popping up around the city to play free shows from as early as 2016. His strong fanbase makes sure to stay up-to-date on these events from him, anticipating the weekends that he announces a pop-up. After taking time off from playing independent shows to curate festivals, the musician has made an effort to bring his electro-funk back to Coloradans. 

Both GRiZ and Maddy O’Neal are playing Bonnaroo Music Festival this June, along with a few shows throughout the summer. To stay on top of GRiZ’s surprise shows in Colorado for the people, follow him on Twitter here. Listen to his most recent release, “Ecstasy of the Soul” with Zeds Dead here: 

Madison Duncan

Hi! My name is Madison and I was born and raised in Colorado, giving me immediate access to some of the best live music. I have two degrees from the University of Denver in Media Studies and Criminology and am passionate about music journalism. Some of my favorite artists are, but not limited to, Disco Lines, Tape B, Space Laces, and Whyte Fang.

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