Looks like a banger of a way to lose time for an entire weekend. Inhale the mountain air till you pass out, wheel yourself into Denver’s Bar 404 and set up shop for three days of curated heavy local and farflung (though not the band Farflung), find your bliss and if you’re lucky you might even remember it afterward. The first-ever HUFR Fest — gonna be more like a HUGR Fest by the time everybody’s done giving hugs — will launch with a bang. Looking for something without the same headliners you’ve seen a hundred times? Here’s an event digging into the underground for real and finding something to offer apart from the did-you-know-High-on-Fire-won-a-Grammy norm. I don’t even know Vashon Seed, but I’m keen to find out.

Okay I took two seconds and googled. Roots in Sub Pop pre-grunge Seattle noise, heavy punker approach, one record out in Sept. 2020 (hell of a time for a debut), find it below. See how easy and fun it can be to learn new things?

Six bands Friday, six bands Saturday, five on Sunday. Deer Creek seem to have dropped off, which is unfortunate, but there’s still nary a clunker to be found. If you go to this one, I hope it’s as much of a blast as it looks:

HUFR FEST: Mile High Riffs

April 24–26, 2026 | Bar 404, Denver, CO

The Heavy Underground Farm Report proudly presents HUFR FEST: Mile High Riffs, a three-day celebration of Colorado’s heaviest underground sounds. From stoner rock and doom to psychedelic and desert grooves, this festival unites local legends and national rising acts for a weekend of riffs, community, and fuzz-soaked vibes.

LINEUP
Friday, April 24
Vashon Seed
Hibernaut
Violet Rising
Lord Velvet
Sonolith
Lost Relics

Saturday, April 25
Psalm
Momovudu
Godzillionaire
Luna Sol
Blue Heron
Cobranoid

Sunday, April 26
Nomestomper
Black Sunrise
Messiahvore
Shadow of Jupiter
Peach Street Revival

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/650816331403023/

Weekend passes are $65 and on sale now.

Don’t miss your chance to experience three days of pure, riff-driven energy in the heart of Denver’s underground scene.

Venue: Bar 404, Denver, CO
Dates: April 24–26, 2026
Tickets: Available now through official HUFR FEST channels

https://www.instagram.com/TheHeavyUndergroundFarmReport
https://www.facebook.com/TheHeavyUndergroundFarmReport

Blue Heron, Emulations (2025)

The Vashon Seed, Tardigrade (2020)

Mind you, I don’t know that the upcoming first-ever HUFR Fest in Denver is pronouncing itself as “huffer,” but I’m certainly happy to pretend they are either way. In any case, it stands for Heavy Underground Farm Report, which is helmed by Sean Patrick Brooks, and has been put together with the express purpose of showcasing the Mile High City’s homegrown fare alongside the regionally-imported strains of Blue Heron, Luna Sol, Psalm, Sonolith, Godzillionaire and others. It’s a classic-enough formula, and as missions go, there are few more honorable than pulling a crowd into a room and showing them a piece of the scene they’re standing in, whether a given attendee is from there or not.

However you want to say it, HUFR Fest in running three days is showing itself to be not at all without ambition this first time out. They’re calling it, somewhat inevitably, ‘Mile High Riffs,’ and given the largesse of some of these bands — I just heard Blue Heron‘s take on “Head Like a Hole” for the first time; good fun — that would seem to be the standard they’re applying. Looks like fun.

From social media:

HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs

Denver, Colorado is about to get heavier. Created by Sean Brooks, Andrea Thomas-Brooks, and Zeth Pedulla, HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs is a three-day celebration of stoner, doom, and riff-driven rock, happening April 24–26, 2026 at Bar 404 in the heart of Denver.

With 17 bands across the weekend, HUFR FEST brings the crushing weight of doom, the fuzzed-out haze of stoner rock, and the psychedelic grooves of heavy underground music to the Mile High City. More than just a festival, it’s a gathering for the heavy music community—fans, bands, artists, and riff worshippers alike.

Prepare for walls of sound, swirling smoke, and the kind of communal energy that only heavy music can create. Welcome to HUFR FEST – Mile High Riffs.

Tickets on sale soon!

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/650816331403023

https://www.youtube.com/@spatrickbrooks666
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563958192484

Deer Creek, The Hiraeth Pit (2024)

Godzillionaire, Diminishing Returns (2025)

Two things to immediately note in this second lineup announcement from Burque Rock City 2023. One, it’s Brant Bjork solo, which means Stöner are still on the backburner as he and Nick Oliveri dip back into their own stuff. Two, this will be the first live performance from Yawning Balch, which is the amalgam of Yawning Man and Bob Balch of Fu Manchu. Yawning Man recently brought in Greg Saenz on drums ahead of their European tour, and presumably he’ll do this gig as well, though I suppose it’s always possible Bill Stinson could sit in for it. One way or the other, jams will be had.

I’m hopeful for a new Year of the Cobra album, if not this year then next. They had some exciting growth pre-pandemic and toured like mad, and have been somewhat quieter since, but hopefully this Fall they’re back at it hard. Tenderizor were — I’m not sure if they still are — affiliated with hometown Albuquerque weirdo heroes Leeches of Lore, so that’s a cool local tie, and Red Mesa features Roman Barham, who is organizing this fest and is a co-founder of Monolith on the Mesa of which Burque Rock City is an offshoot, maybe just for this year. Bringing in Fatso Jetson only enhances the desert vibe, and Electric Citizen will be on hand to lend their particular take on classic heavy. With Ojo Malo and Nomestomper and Street Tombs filling out, it’s a solid announcement for the two-dayer; a kind of conceptual preview for the likes of RippleFest Texas and Desertfest New York in substance if not geography. A lot to like, is the bottom line.

Tickets are on sale now, early-bird style. Dig it, and check out the TubeVision show I stumbled on from Brant Bjork, 2003 in San Francisco. Bros.-era. 20 god damned years ago. Pretty badass:

BURQUE ROCK CITY FEST: Announces MORE BANDS!

Burque Rock City Is Happy To Announce Another Round Of Bands For August 4th & 5th Downtown ABQ At The Historic El Rey Theater & Insideout Bar

Burque Rock City Would Love to Welcome:

Brant Bjork * Yawning Balch * Year Of The Cobra * Fatso Jetson * Electric Citizen * Tenderizor * Street Tombs * Red Mesa * Ojo Malo * Nomestomper

First Wave of Amazing Bands Previously Announced:

Weedeater * Pike Vs The Automaton * Belzebong * Early Moods * High Desert Queen * Thunder Horse * Sorcia * Prism Bitch * Coma Revovery

Get Your Early Bird Tickets NOW!! Once Full Lineup Is Announced, Tickets Will Go Up!

Early Bird Day Pass-$100: https://holdmyticket.com/event/412535

Early Bird 2 Day Pass-$200: https://holdmyticket.com/event/412537

Roman Barham, co-founder of Monolith on the Mesa, has been quietly working on Burque Rock City Fest.

Branching south from the Monolith On The Mesa tree is Burque Rock City Fest in Albuquerque, NM At The Historic El Rey Theater & Insideout Bar On Friday August 4th & Saturday August 5th 2023.

More band announcements & more exciting info soon.

monolithonthemesa.com
instagram.com/monolithonthemesa
facebook.com/monolithonthemesa
twitter.com/onmonolith

Brant Bjork & The Bros., Live at Bottom of the Hill, San Francisco, CA, Sept. 7, 2003