Pretty Lights headlining Red Rocks after release of new EP

Saturday, August 7th, is sure to be a day to remember for Colorado, as Pretty Lights headlines Red Rocks with Mimosa, Zion-I and Emancipator rounding out a killer lineup. Got Bass Music will be covering this from all angles.

As I write this, we are 1 hour away from the release of a brand new EP from Pretty Lights, which will be available for download on their website along with the other albums.

How huge has the Colorado-native Pretty Lights gotten in the US in the past year or two? Last week, I was having a conversation with my cousin from the Washington, DC area about dance music, as I was explaining what I was currently doing with music and what I have been listening to lately. He is someone who doesn’t know much about the genre at all, but when I mentioned it, he responded with “The only one I really know and listen to is Pretty Lights.”

This is just one instance of the rapid popularity increase and critical acclaim that the electronic project of Derek Vincent Smith, a Colorado native who grew up in Fort Collins and for awhile attended CU, before he began captivating audiences all over the state with his unique approach to dance music, attempting to blend many genres of music, from 1920′s style horn samples to vocals from The Notorious B.I.G. The group also used to include live drummer, another Colorado local named Cory Eberhard, who really brang the percussion during live performances. In late July 2010, Eberhard was replaced by Adam Deitch.

After selling out as many as four Colorado shows on one tour that spanned the entire United States into venues all over Europe, Pretty Lights brings its biggest headlining show to Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The show is set to include two different Pretty Lights sets, one thats low key and more relating to earlier Pretty Lights releases, and then a bumpin set that promises to get everyone in the amphitheatre and on the surrounding mountains to move. This show has sold out Red Rocks!

On July 29th, Pretty Lights released his newest EP, entitled Spilling Over Every Side. This new EP takes Pretty Lights furthur into his own direction, further using his knowledge of samples and synths to provide a new style for the EP, setting himself up for an epic show at Red Rocks.

The album begins with the track “High School Art Class” which has a bizarre mix of vocal and horn samples that for some reason, reminds me of high school art class. The next track “Hotter Than Dimes” has an incredible figdety contrast on the synths and the beat, perfect for banging loud with an insane light show. “Let the World Hurry By” is the next track that appears to be intended as a musical journey into the mind, great chill out song. Followed up by another great chill-out tune, “Look Both Ways” this part of the EP is gonna provide great tunes for a laid back and trippy part of the set.

This track, “Forever Lost”, appears fifth on the album and is a very trippy and banging tune that is perfect for the environment of Red Rocks.

All Pretty Lights albums are available for download on his website here.

This song, Ask Your Friends, appears on the full length “Passing By Behind Your Eyes”

This song, with a new feel for Pretty Lights, appears on the new EP “Making Up A Changing Mind”

For more information about Pretty Lights, be sure to check out their MySpace

Coming up right before Pretty Lights will be MiMOSA, the electronic project of Robert Callardo, and is self-described as “Crunk-Step Dub-Hop for the Soul”, a term that can be easily applied to the musical journey MiMOSA takes us on.
The album that strikes the hardest, in my opinion, is Flux For Life, with its dub builds and psychadelic banging drops, makes it a must have for all fans of electronic music or psychadelic music.

From ambient, spacey segments to huge drops with hammering kicks, the live show at Red Rocks promises to be nothing short of amazing. Be sure to check out their MySpace for more information.

A sample of what to expect from MiMosa, this song appears on the EP Flux For Life

Purchase the album from iTunes here.

Another example of Mimosa can be seen in the song “Pandora”

Adding an awesome contrast to the show will be the Oakland native duo of MC Zion and DJ/Producer Amp Live blend hip-hop that is inspired by spirituality and well-being with trip-hop beats. Zion-I has been touring since 2000. Find out more about the duo on their MySpace

This song, “Ride”, was released in 2007, and gave Zion-I critical accalim and public recognition for his creative lyrics.



This jam, titled “Takeover” is the title track from the duo’s newest LP The Take Over.



It is hard to believe, but Emancipator did not play his first live show until July of 2009, and since has become insanely popular, touring with the likes of Bassnectar and closing out shows for the band STS9 in Denver. The project of Doug Appling, Emancipator blends samples with unique instrumentation and a really cleanly produced sound that many people enjoy and will be perfect for the environment of Red Rocks.

More information can be found on his

This song, Lionheart translates well the style that Emancipator brings to the table.

Another song, “Maps” can be found for free download and listen here.

The show promises to be awesome, and Got Bass Music will be in attendance and hopefully backstage, so be sure to come say hi to us!

Red Rocks Amphitheater

Filed Under: Free Downloads

Tags: ableton, Aug 7th 2010, crunk, dance, denver nightlife, Derek Vincent, emancipator, EP, korg, mimosa, Pretty Lights, psychedelic, red rocks, Rob Bass, sample, Trance, trip-hop, zion-i