As part of its commitment to building community through music, Swallow Hill Music is proud to present two sensory-friendly concerts this fall.
Jakob Mueller of Colorado indie-rock outfit Slow Caves will perform a solo show on Saturday, October 19, while Denver’s King Cardinal will present their DIY Americana on Saturday, December 6. Both concerts take place at 11 am, with doors at 10 am.
These concerts are free, but attendees are asked to RSVP in advance.
Sensory-friendly concerts at Swallow Hill present live music in a relaxed atmosphere for people of all ages with disabilities or sensory sensitivities, or who may be on the autism spectrum. Attendees and their families can move around, dance, and sing along in a fun, judgment-free environment.
Some elements at Swallow Hill’s sensory-friendly concerts are:
- Lighting that is neither too bright nor completely dark. Lights aren’t strobing or changing abruptly. This helps lessen light contrast sensitivities.
- The music is at medium or lower volume levels to help mediate abrupt or overall loud noises. This might include finger snaps instead of clapping, because they create less noise.
- A side room to provide a break area in case anyone feels overwhelmed.
- Wider space between rows or aisles. This helps everyone maneuver in and out more easily.
Swallow Hill started presenting sensory-friendly concerts in 2016. While the concerts have evolved over that time, the core goal of creating a welcoming concert environment for those with sensory sensitivities remains the same.
Outreach Program Manager Michael John McKee currently books and produces the concerts. He sees Swallow Hill’s intimate performance environment as uniquely suited to presenting these types of concerts.
“On the whole, Swallow Hill is closer on the spectrum of low sensory input; our lighting is not intense, and as a listening room environment our volume is well suited for the room. Overall, we try to curate an experience where it’s not a struggle to hear the music over other audience members or other factors like people ordering at the bar.”
He adds that having the concerts begin at 11 on a Saturday morning also makes it easier for many people who are juggling busy work and school schedules, and even varied sleeping arrangements, to attend.
With regards to the performers, McKee encourages the musicians to play as they always would, but to communicate more clearly to the audience what to expect from the music.
“I coach bands to think about the arc of their set. For instance, having a super soft song and then a very loud, quick song can be really jolting, so I ask them to consider grouping their calm songs and their loud songs and think about that arc.”
Ultimately, McKee is proud that Swallow Hill has kept these concerts going for eight years, and he’s excited to continue doing them in the future. “We have the capacity to provide sensory-friendly concerts and we want to do it because it’s something that we value.”
Sensory-Friendly Concerts at Swallow Hill Music
Jakob Mueller (of Slow Caves) on Saturday, October 19 at 11 am (doors at 10 am)
Jakob Mueller is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and graphic designer based in Fort Collins. He is a founding member of the nationally recognized band Slow Caves. Jakob’s songwriting influences range from 90s British-inspired Shoegaze/Britpop to 60s/70s-inspired singer-songwriter/folk. Additionally, Jakob put out a solo record in 2021 entitled Lean Forward, under the name Cody.
King Cardinal on Saturday, December 7 at 11 am (doors at 10 am)
Known for their DIY ethos, Denver’s King Cardinal released their latest album, Land Lines, earlier this year. The band self-produced most of the songs at their homebase studio, Clubhouse Recorders. With the support of the Denver community and collaborations with artists like Anna Morsett (The Still Tide), Sarah Anderson (Heavy Diamond Ring, Paper Bird), Ben Wysocki (The Fray), Jess Parsons (Bluebook), and Chris Weist (Wood Belly), they’ve crafted a diverse collection ranging from blue-eyed soul to Dad Rock, experimental synth, and folk. Despite the varied influences, the songs seamlessly coalesce into a cohesive musical journey.