Duran Duran, Bastille + Nile Rodgers & Chic at Red Rocks

I’ve said it often how lucky I am with this site – that I get to photograph my faves, especially those I have loved all my life. Such was the case at Red Rocks when Duran Duran came back to Denver in concert. I was in my early teens when they hit America and all their photos were on my walls. But their music has endured – and I still listen to the old records all the time. And! Lucky for us, they are still putting out great stuff, such as their latest album, Future Past and new single from just last month “Black Moonlight.”

They also know how to throw a party, with openers like Bastille and Nile Rodgers/Chic. The whole place was dancing from start to finish. It was fun to overhear people talking about Nile Rodgers. As Chic played hit after hit, they realized how much music he has touched. To which I say, all hail Nile – because it’s not just Chic. He’s worked with just about everyone in the biz.

Bastille is a British indie-pop band formed in London in 2010, so they were the young kids on the tour. But Dan Smith and his crew held up their end of the bargain, continuing the party between Nile and Duran Duran.

The guys appeared in silhouette at first, whetting our appetite with bright lights and bold graphics. The show continued like that with an eclectic mix of their hits and fun songs fans were happy to hear (set list below). After photographing, I joined friends and sang along with nearly 10,000 fans at the top of my lungs.

Simon’s voice is still impeccable and I have always been fascinated with how underrated John is as a bass player. Roger still rips on the drums and oh, how we all wish we could be as cool as Nick, just for one day even! Also, Duran Duran has always been known for incredible visuals, which were still on point across Red Rocks screens all night.

Next up for the band? Their 16th album to be released just in time for Halloween: Dance Macabre. It will have lots of collaborations, but one of major note: Andy Taylor, original DD member who has been taking time off to battle cancer. The good news: Andy is on new medication that he believes will extend his life and has been working with the band again.

Happy Halloween to Duranies everywhere; this will definitely be a special treat!

Photos displayed in random order. Click any thumbnail for a larger version. Then use the navigation arrows (or your keyboard arrow keys) to move left and right through the photographs.

Nile Rodgers & Chic – Denver Concert Photos

Bastille – Denver Concert Photos

Duran Duran – Denver Concert Photos

Duran Duran Setlist
08/28/23 Red Rocks

Night Boat
The Wild Boys
Hungry Like the Wolf
A View to a Kill
Notorious
GIVE IT ALL UP
Lonely in Your Nightmare / Super Freak
Is There Something I Should Know?
ANNIVERSARY
Friends of Mine
Careless Memories
Ordinary World
Come Undone
Planet Earth
White Lines (Don’t Don’t Do It) (Grandmaster Melle Mel cover)
The Reflex
Girls on Film / Acceptable in the 80’s

Encore:
Save a Prayer
Rio

See our other posts from Red Rocks!