Day Trip Block Party Denver Delivered 9 hours of House Music Excellence

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A Purple Disco Machine sunset set highlighted a gorgeous day of house music at The JunkYard for the second edition of Day Trip Block Party Denver.

Insomniac‘s Day Trip series has become one of the most recognizable names in the house music scene in recent years. With countless block parties and events like Day Trip Festival, Night Trip Festival, and the brand-new Day Trip Festival NorCal, the brand has found a home in cities across the country, including Long Beach, Seattle, Scottsdale, and more.

One of the brand’s newer events, Day Trip Black Party Denver, just hosted its second edition at JunkYard, one of the area’s hottest venues. The lineup for this year’s edition was released in April and featured names like Coco & Breezy, Swimming Paul, Purple Disco Machine, LP Giobbi, and ZHU as the headliner. After missing last year’s Denver block party, I knew I couldn’t sleep on it again.

Photo Credit: Carlie Adair

JunkYard remains one of Denver’s best outdoor venues.

One reason I was most excited for this event was the venue. Nestled near downtown, Junkyard brings a gritty and industrial vibe that other places just can’t deliver. And while ride share can be a little congested getting to or from the event, public transportation options are a short walk away.

From my few experiences at JunkYard, everything is pretty fast and easy. Security and ticket lines are a breeze, and there are plenty of amenities once inside. There’s a massive row of Porta-Potties, so restroom wait times are minimal. Bars surround the sides and back of the venue, making drink options plentiful, and for the Block Party, each bar offered Day Trip’s signature fishbowl and rubber ducky.

The production is also top notch, with a massive stage as the centerpiece. The GA dance floor is large and spacious, and the VIP sections don’t take up much room, with both VIP areas serving as elevated viewing decks. The sound was also great, with the bass bumping and only getting louder as the night went on. The stage featured its expected Day Trip flair, with a large disco ball and neon “Day Trip” sign hanging above the decks, and a nice assortment of plants in front of the DJ.

Photo Credit: Carlie Adair

The unique Day Trip lineup delivered a groovy and chill experience, with Purple Disco Machine stealing the show.

Most Day Trip lineups tend to be very tech house heavy, and last year’s Day Trip Block Party in Denver was no exception. This year, Insomniac took a much different approach, and I couldn’t have been happier with it. Every artist on the lineup had a unique, eclectic sound that differentiated the Block Party from other Day Trip lineups.

One sign it was going to be a beautiful day of house music was the weather: a perfect 81 degrees. The first few artists to play when doors opened included local names Lily Nova and Sonrizas, who set the vibe early. Next up were Black Rave Culture and Coco & Breezy, who kept the chill vibes I was craving.

Up until this point, the music matched my expectations, but the next set was when the night ramped up. Swimming Paul surprised me with a performance filled with nostalgic-sounding beats, and he sprinkled in quite a few filthy deep cuts I wasn’t expecting. I’d heard of him before, but now he definitely has my attention.

Purple Disco Machine performed the sunset set, and it was my favorite of the night by far. He’s an artist I’ve always wanted to catch but never had the chance to prior to this opportunity. He left me with an experience that had me smiling for the rest of the night. His selection of groovy tracks was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, filling the set with so much love. It made me think of my dad. He grew up in the disco era, so his music taste heavily influenced mine, and I couldn’t be more grateful.

Standing at the rail near the center of the stage while PDM ripped funky house remixes of songs from artists like Michael Jackson, the Bee Gees, and Tavares was a spiritual experience. The best moment of the set for me was when he played one of my favorite songs of all time, “I Want Your Love” by CHIC. It reminded me of car rides with my dad when I was a kid, and I haven’t felt that in a long time. My dad’s still here with us today, to be clear, but any set that makes you feel that kind of appreciation for a loved one is special.

ZHU closed out the night with a thrilling set filled with darker bass and wonderful vocals. I was somewhat disappointed the first time I saw him, but he left me more than satisfied and bookended an excellent day of house music.

Photo Credit: Carlie Adair

This was one of my favorite Day Trip events to date.

I’ve always had a great time at Day Trip events, but this one felt different. The vibes were incredible from start to finish, and everyone moved and grooved all night long. Maybe it was the brand’s unique lineup, or maybe it was the older demographic the artists drew. Either way, it was one of my favorite crowds all year. Everyone remained dancing and extremely respectful.

There was plenty of room to dance at the rail, and nobody pushed or shoved to get a spot. People fanned each other all night and passed water through the crowd. It felt like one big family dancing together to end the summer in the Mile High City.

It’s kind of ironic that one of my favorite events that I’ve experienced in the Bass Capital was a show that with a chiller vibe. Let it be known: Denver knows how to get down to house music.