The sun was hot, the beats were hotter, and Denver’s Civic Center Park turned into a neon playground of weird, wild, and downright sweaty fun for the Deadbeats Backyard Jamboree on July 4. They don’t call Denver the capital of bass for no reason, with Zeds Dead anchoring the madness and a stacked main stage lineup including Ravenscoon, Cool Customer, Nikita, The Wicked, and more. There were people in full costume, people in zero costume, and a whole lot of people ready to throw down. But the chaos had a rhythm, and at the center of it all was the music.

From the moment the gates opened, you could feel the energy pulsing. Vendors lined the lawn. Fans came dressed like they raided a hot dog stand on acid. And in true Deadbeats fashion, the music never let up. Noises, Soki, Keenan Mathias, and PapaJay brought the early crowd into focus with genre-bending sets that were anything but background noise. 

Don Jamal kicked off like a neighbor who shows up early to help set up the grill— chill, solid, and surprisingly key to making the whole thing vibe right. His set didn’t rush anything. It let the day breathe, gave early arrivers a beat to stretch into, and helped form the foundational layer of dust on the speakers.

Just as the crowd was getting comfy, Skellytn stepped up and yanked things left in the best way. A heavier, darker vibe crept in. Basslines with bite, visuals that leaned into the strange, it was less “day party” and more “ritual in progress.” The kind of set that makes you realize you’re at more than just a show, you’re in something now.

Let’s talk about what really made this Jamboree feel like a twisted Americana fever dream: the 5th Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest. It was disgusting. It was hilarious. It was perfect. Crowd-fueled chaos erupted as contestants fought tooth and gag for eternal glory – and a bellyache that’ll last ‘til next year. In the middle of a bass-heavy block party, it somehow made total sense.

The transition into Nikita, the Wicked felt like switching gears from curiosity to combustion. He brought an infectious, fast-paced rhythm that demanded movement. His set was tight, relentless, and gave off the energy of someone who knew exactly how to steer a crowd. This was when you started seeing people leaving the comfort of the shade in droves, fully locked in.

Cool Customer pulled us back into dance mode, gliding between funky basslines and glitchy playfulness. His set felt clean and fresh, not overly flashy, but confident. It was the sonic equivalent of throwing on sunglasses and nodding like, “Yeah, I got this.” He knew the job and nailed the assignment.

Just when the sun started dipping low and folks were good and loose, Ravenscoon took the stage and flipped the whole park upside down. His set was massive, emotional, chaos that hit every register. One minute it was cinematic, the next it was thunder. There were moments of quiet build, then boom, your bones remembered why you wore comfy shoes. He played more than just tracks; he curated an experience. The field was his.

And then came the kings. Zeds Dead hit the stage just as the sky turned that deep Denver blue, and the temperature dropped just enough to make the lights look sharper. There was no introduction needed, the crowd shifted immediately, faces turned forward, and the volume of everything else dropped.

Their set was absolutely historic. Exclusive cuts, old anthems, seamless transitions, and that unmistakable Zeds Dead touch. You could feel people realizing mid set that they were witnessing something that would replay in their heads for months. It didn’t matter how dusty or tired or sunburned anyone was, this was the exhale after one hell of a ride.

This was my first time shooting a Deadbeats daytime throwdown like this, and yeah, it was chaos to frame, but worth every sweaty second. From bodies bouncing on the lawn to ketchup-streaked competitors mid-bite, this was a party where no moment went undocumented.

Whether you came for the music, the hot dogs, or just to vibe out and party with friends in the true Denver spirit, the Jamboree didn’t miss. This was a perfect finale to Deadrocks XI and it was a full on blast getting to cover every second of it!