BandWagon Magazine - April 2026 - Qoncert Allstars Class of '26

Estin and the 86’d Big News

Since 2018, Estin and the 86’d has been serving Colorado’s Front Range catchy, country-tinged rock songs catalogued in the form of two full-length studio albums. Along the way they have provided the soundtrack to big, fun parties in the form of countless memorable live performances.

Now, the band has released another offering, but this time, Estin and the 86’d have a different story to tell.

The latest EP from Estin and the 86’d, Big News, still comes with the band’s previously established honesty, especially lyrically. This record echoes a new sense of maturity with less of the party attitude and more personal reflection.

The new five-song offering is arguably the best representation of the skills of each member of Estin and the 86’d to date. With cool, crunchy basslines from

Wyatt Beck, heavy hitting yet contained drumwork from Tannen Brand, and big, driving rhythm guitar work from Josh Romero, Big News sits upon nothing short of a rock hard foundation.

The lead guitar work, provided by shredder Zach Shepard, is showcased throughout the disc with fast, intricate, yet not overthe-top or self indulgent solos that add a perfectly portioned amount of hot sauce to the catchy, rocking tracks.

The namesake of the band, Estin McGraw, appears to tell a story through the five tracks about heartbreak, loss, self-reflection, regret, and hope. The listener is taken through a journey as the protagonist appears to reflect on a failed relationship from start to finish, reflecting on his role in it in anguish while recognizing that although the process is painful; there’s still a light at the end of the tunnel.

Big News is easily the most rock-oriented effort from Estin and the 86’d and while many of the band’s earlier country influences have seemed to have gone by the wayside on the new disc. It is also arguably the catchiest and most polished record from the band to date.

Estin and the 86’d will be taking the stage at the Moxi Theater in Greeley on Saturday, April 11.

Siege Perilous Becoming the Dragon

Nate Wilde BandWagon Magazine

Fantasy has long been a genre of books, games, and even music that has been popular for centuries. Tales of knights, castles, and dragon slaying have been topics of interest in the forms of games like Dungeons and Dragons, gatherings such as the Renaissance Festival, and in recent years, a phenomenon called LARPing, a shortened version of the term Live Action Role Playing.

As fantasy has become more mainstream in the not-so-distant past, particularly thanks to the popularity of the HBO series Game of Thrones, the genre has also

penetrated the music industry. On the local level, one Colorado band, Siege Perilous, has become synonymous with these kinds of epic tales, and has just released its most epic tale to date, an album called Becoming the Dragon, and is taking the story on the road.

Siege Perilous is a self-described “epic Power Metal band,’ and on March 27, 2026, unleashed the group’s first full-length studio album, Becoming the Dragon, upon the world.

Becoming the Dragon is a concept album that takes the listener through an epic journey, telling the tale of a protagonist fulfilling a quest to engage in battle and slay a dragon, with a surprising twist.

The story is told through galloping drums and basslines from drummer Mark Girard and bassist Eric Fischer, a rhythm section that answers the question, “what would Iron Maiden sound like if they began in the 21st Century?” With their indelible precision and virtuosity, the drummer and bassist lay down nothing short of a solid foundation for the story.

The record also highlights the skills of guitarists Scott Hancock and Ryan Flanagan with impressive leads from Hancock throughout,

accompanied by Flanagan’s equally impressive rhythm playing.

The mythical tale of dragon slaying and adventure is narrated by vocalist Shaughnessy McDaniel, a powerhouse singer with a range that sees him, at times, roaring like a lion, screaming like a banshee at others, all

while keeping the listener engaged through the sonic storybook.

Siege Perilous will be telling this epic tale alongside Wicked Vixen and Starwraith at the release show for Becoming the Dragon at the Moxi Theater on April 4th.

The Bright Collide The Quiet

Fort Collins has long been known to be home to a vibrant music scene and, because northern Colorado is an undisputedly great place to live, it’s far from uncommon to find musicians bouncing from band to band and new bands starting up from the remnants of other bands on a consistent basis.

A fairly recent example of this common phenomenon can be seen in one of The Choice City’s highest regarded new indie rock bands, The Bright Collide.

The Bright Collide began as a solo project for Fort Collins singer/ guitarist Brian Maier, perhaps best known in the local music scene as the leader of the alternative rock outfit Race to Neptune, but that quickly changed with the addition of drummer Matt Petersen and bassist Daniel Robbins.

Since solidifying the current lineup, The Bright Collide has released three singles, first introducing the world to the new, polished sound of the trio with

“Colorful Wishes,” a love song of sorts with spacy, clean guitars contrasted with intense drums, all punctuated with a passionate guitar solo that gets the point across without being overly complicated.

The second single from the band, “The Hours,” picks up right where the previous release left off, echoing the relaxing yet emotional feel of bands like The Cure and The Smiths, this time with a fuzzed-out breakdown and guitar solo serving as the second bookend of the track.

The latest effort from The Bright Collide, released in 2025, is arguably the band’s brightest-shining contribution to date; a sparse, heavenly light yet also intense track, perhaps appropriately titled, “The Quiet.”

Like the band’s previous releases, “The Quiet” contrasts clean, echoey guitar sounds with fast drums, giving the listener a peaceful yet delightfully unnerving sonic experience.

While only being in existence for a small handful of years, The Bright Collide has already been celebrated by numerous media outlets, even being labeled “Northern Colorado’s Newest Gem” by The B-Side Guys Music Podcast and Blog and with just three singles under their belt, Maier and company appear to be on the right track to live up to the praise.

ALLSTARS

A NEW WAVE OF INDEPENDENT TALENT RISING THROUGH THE QONCERT MOVEMENT

BY DAVID EAUX

Hypnautic and King Tef, also known as Top Flite Empire, have spent nearly two decades navigating the independent music world as full-time artists. After performing more than 500 shows, headlining their own concerts and tours, and building their fanbase from the ground up, they’ve lived every side of the artist grind. From starving artists to sold-out rooms, national placements, and grassroots touring across the country, they have done it all. Along the way, they handled nearly every aspect of their careers themselves, shooting their own videos and marketing their music to booking tours, and building fanbases city by city. That experience ultimately led them to build the Qoncert App, a platform designed to give

independent artists something the industry rarely offers: real stages, real audiences, and a clear path to growth.

What began as a way to solve challenges they experienced themselves has grown into a nationwide network connecting over 7,000 artists across more than 30 states. Through Qoncert, artists have the opportunity to open shows, headline their own events, and tour new markets, helping make music a real day job for those willing to put in the work. In the process, Qoncert has helped make headlining your own show and touring more accessible for independent artists across the United States, especially in the state they proudly call home—Colorado.

King Tef often keeps the philosophy simple: “The only metric that really matters is putting butts in seats.” For independent artists hoping to live off music alone, building real fans who show up to shows is what separates a hobby from a career.

The artists featured on this cover, JayDubbThaRuler, NEVV, Alex “AJ” Johnson, Sauce K, and Tapp, represent a snapshot of the talent within the Qoncert community and will all be performing the May 1st show at MOXI Theater in Greeley.

In partnership with Bandwagon Magazine, the Qoncert Allstars event will celebrate independent music—and the first 100 tickets are free for readers who scan the QR code.

JAYDUBBTHARULER

@JAYDUBBTHARULER

A standout emerging from the Qoncert network, JayDubbThaRuler has built a growing fanbase across multiple markets. He has toured Europe twice independently and completed a national U.S. run with Qoncert, collaborating with artists including Westside Boogie, Lil Durk, T-Rell, T-Wayne, Caskey, and Skeme.

NEVV

@THEREALNEVV

Denver native NEVV is a rapidly rising independent voice blending melodic hip-hop with emotionally raw storytelling. With 17M Spotify streams, 15M YouTube views, and 20M TikTok plays, his breakout single Fake Smiles helped build a global audience. After catching the attention of Adelio Lombardi of Side 3 Studios, his momentum continues to grow.

ALEX “AJ” JOHNSON

@AJ_IAM

Super-producer, engineer, and creative architect, Alex “AJ” Johnson (AJ_iAM) has spent 15+ years shaping independent artists’ sound. The primary producer behind Top Flite Empire and Hypnautic, AJ has helped many Qoncert artists refine their music. His recent release Dead Wrong by Grayson Ratliff has already surpassed 200K streams.

_TAPP

@_TAPP

Blending old-school influence with newwave energy, Greeley artist Tapp has become a hometown favorite, known for nearly soldout shows and performances across markets including Denver, Atlanta, and New York.

Quote: “If I was any cooler, I’d be a popsicle.”

SAUCE K

@SAUCEK18

Colorado artist Sauce K has built national recognition through high-energy performances and collaborations, including working with West Coast legend Murs, placements with Assemble Sound/Hulu, and features in XXL. Known for packing out shows in Greeley, his single Ease the Pain reached #14 on the UK iTunes Rap Chart.

MEDITATIONS ON STOKE: THE DEPTH OF CHAD

When a young Chad Kroeger (real name Tom Allen) and best friend JT Parr went before the Los Angeles city council eight years ago to fight for their right to throw house parties in the Hollywood hills, little did they know how pivotal that meeting would be. “I saw a video of someone doing a city council, and I was like, ‘oh, they filmed these’, so I thought it would be funny to, like, go to a city council and give a speech. And I didn’t think much of it,” recalls Kroeger in our recent interview. The video in question features Kroeger standing before the city council uttering the

BY JED MURPHY

now iconic phrase, “What up, council,” before going on a diatribe about the positive impact house parties had on his coming of age. After quickly being dismissed, Parr takes the podium with his own, “What up, council,” to the dismay of the officials.

“I think it's actually a service that we're doing, because, you know, the city council members have to deal with citizens who are incredibly rude to them, so I think it's kind of a palate cleanser,” muses Kroeger.

After seeing the viral potential of the city council speeches and low cost to produce, the duo did several more, spring boarding

them to a national audience with what they would call ‘stokeness’ and ‘bro activism’. This success launched their comedy careers, landing them appearances on the talk show circuit as well as work as extras on popular TV shows like the HBO series, Barry; and now their own series on Netflix.

Currently, Kroeger is hitting the road with his one man show titled, “The How To Be Stoked Tour,” that includes three stops in Colorado.

For Kroeger, ‘stokeness’ is a channeling of the chill, surfer attitude often associated with the west coast. Growing up in the Sunshine

State, Kroeger internalized this mentality which would eventually embody his comedy. “I think I naturally have anxiety, so I was always kind of searching for ways to have a chill vibe. People would be like, ‘you use these things like surfing, and getting tan, and going to, like, Disneyland maybe as ways to escape.’ I’ve always looked for ways to transcend that kind of thinking.’”

This tour for Kroeger is a chance to expand his philosophy behind ‘stoke’, which on the surface feels cheeky, but carries a surprising amount of depth.

Kroeger studied philosophy in college where he was drawn to thinkers like Marcus Aurelius and the ideas of mindful living. “I really took to specific philosophies that teach you how to live, and how to live well, and how to not let the external world bring you down,” recalls Kroeger. “My buddy got me into this book The Vedanta Treaties. I guess you could classify as livable knowledge where you’re able to access a kind of objectification of the world where you’re not letting your emotions get too tied into your attachments. Then you find peace through action.”

This philosophical journey became a bedrock for Kroeger’s comedy where under the unassuming guise of ‘stokeness’ he explores the ideas of finding peace in the simple things that you can control. “It’s about having a strong mind and not letting the external world destroy your peace,” explains Kroeger.

So, in his new Netflix series Chad and JT Goes Deep, when he and JT set up

a booth on the beach with a petition to “Protect or Boarders,” they actually mean skateboarders. The subsequent trolling of the petition signers becomes a bizarre exercise in Kroeger’s philosophy. Kroeger and Parr stay unrelenting in their ignorance of the implications because to them, the skateboarders on that stretch of beach need to be protected.

The journey from pestering city councils to a Netflix deal was a winding one, but for Kroeger and Parr, a TV show was always the goal. “JT worked at Abso, the production company that does Nathan For You and Eric Andre, and Tim and Eric,” recalls Kroeger. Those connections gave their ideas an outlet, and for the next eight years they grinded out social media content and stand up comedy sets, until they got the call from Netflix. “‘Now I’ve made it’ was the initial feeling and I guess you can be kind of naive early on. But you don’t realize that the work continues, probably more so after that. We work hard on the show, but even outside the show you have to keep working and putting stuff out there. You can’t get complacent, but initially, I was like, ‘dude, this is it’.”

Looking ahead, Kroeger would like to pursue more acting as well as continue to up his comedy game. In the meantime, he is excited to share his philosophies on tour. “It’s like a stoke TED Talk. It teaches you the fundamentals of how to be stoked forever.”

5/7 GREELEY, CO 5/9

CASPER, WY 5/8

CO. SPRINGS, CO

You can still hear the echo of boots on boardwalks, but now they’re headed downtown for happy hour.

Today in Cheyenne, murals pop, cocktails clink, and makers turn grit into something downright gorgeous.

STAY AWHILE. WE CLEAN UP NICE.

THE ESSENCE OF COLOMBIA MAKING ITS WAY TO DENVER PARA EL MUNDO. INTRODUCING:

TELLY.

BY ODALIS CANCHOLA

Shantelle Diaz, also known as Telly and La Colombiana-Americana, has been an ever expanding musical force in Denver, Colorado. Channeling her Columbian roots into modern trap music, Telly uses her flow to empower and uplift.

Telly understands how important it is for her to keep her music production full of variety. In the early stages of her musical career, she took inspiration from trap music, releasing her first singles in 2018. Keeping culture near and dear to her, she expanded in 2023 with her first Latin reggaeton single, “Caprichosa.”

As a child, Diaz struggled with a speech impediment, leading her to new and creative ways of expressing herself.. In elementary school, she was heavily inspired by the impact of creating sound. Her first memory of music was in school band, which led her to dive deeper into her musical passion at 18 with production and then stepping fully into vocals at the age of 21.

“When making music, I go with what I'm feeling at the moment,” says Diaz. “Always generating the hook is the first thing for me, it's mostly the melodies, when I hear sound, it just comes naturally to me.”

Last year, her Many Faces EP was released, laying out her vulnerability and versatility with deep heartfelt songs that range from trap, hiphop, and even country- trap. “I love music. I feel that there are no limits to it; the music I enjoy is as versatile as I am as an artist.”

Diaz grew up on a wide range of music. Hard rock was a staple in her home with bands like Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, and Flyleaf. She also considers herself to have had the average Latino experience of waking up on the weekends to Spanish music playing from the living room.

“I grew up in a household where every Saturday morning I’d be listening to salsa, cumbia, merengue, all that stuff just because my dad loves music and I believe that's where I inherited my passion for music as well.” Diaz adds, “I even remember the smell of cafecito and arepas being made.”

Para El Mundo 1 was Telly’s first Latin EP, released in 2024. Written with the help of her late mother, it is one of her most special projects. Diaz is deeply moved to continue honoring the EP. She is currently working on her debut album Para El Mundo 2, which will be dedicated to her mother. Listeners are expected to hear the complete unveiling of all of her genres come to life in one album, from reggaeton, cumbia, alt hip-hop, trap, and even salsa.

Her diverse musical background has led to many opportunities in the past two years. From feeling that hot Bellaquera heat on the Latin stage at Denver Pride to festivals like FocoMX, and a spot in Denver’s Underground Music Showcase (UMS). “I feel like I almost disappear in a sense, but at the same time I feel so alive.” When those feelings of anxiety sneak in for a moment before taking over the mic, she knows she's exactly where she belongs.

Telly’s current focus is "Luzid Unplugged: Box State Tour.” A Colorado tour alongside hyper-pop artist Ahjzae Dallas. The tour has invited special guest artists in each city, brought to you by Luzid Music Group LLC. A music business group initiated by Telly, Dallas, and Brettney Starks.

The crew is very excited to open opportunities for artists along the way. “It's a lot more fun when you have good people around you with the same goals, with a similar vision, who are able to support you,” says Diaz. “There's space for everyone, it's a big table, and everyone can eat.”

DON’T MISS TELLY LIVE ON THE LUZID UNPLUGGED: BOX STATE TOUR IN GREELEY 4/4 AT STELLA'S, FORT COLLINS 5/9 AT SOUND BAR, AND COLORADO SPRINGS 5/23 AT VULTURES.

Thursday, July 2 2 Jul NATE EyJ J SMITH H with Chase Matthew w

Whether you want all five concerts or there's just one you have to see, we've got you covered! While supplies last, get all five concerts with the SuperStars Series package starting at just $150. Or get an individual concert ticket starting at $47*.

Tickets are available online at greeleystampede.org (additional online fees apply). Or stop by the ticket office Monday–Friday, 10am–4pm at 600 N 14th Ave, Island Grove Park. Prefer the phone? Call 970-356-7787. *Ticket prices increase May 1, 2026.