Heavy metal band Knife Knife play outside Music City Hot Chicken, one of many Fort Collins venues that supports the music scene (photo provided).

Fort Collins group Last Call Romance delivers a blend of indie bluesy-swing (photo by Michael Emanuel of Backstage Flash).

Michael Kirkpatrick is a singer-songwriter and producer who will play at the Armory in Fort Collins on Jan. 25 (photo by Michael Emanuel of Backstage Flash).

Pink Fuzz plays “high-speed desert rock” at shows across the Front Range (photo by Michael Emanuel of Backstage Flash).

Fort Collins rock band Slow Caves has gained a national following and opened for Third Eye Blind, Cold War Kids and other prominent bands (photo by Michael Emanuel of Backstage Flash).

Drummer Rob Otto holds down the beat for The Syrup, a Fort Collins roots reggae band (photo by Michael Emanuel of Backstage Flash).

The Timberline is an emo-punk influenced band with a Jan. 17 show at Black Buzzard in Denver (photo provided).

Write Minded is an award-winning six-piece band that has been blending hip hop, rock and funk for 10 years (photo provided).