Opening This Month, Site Will Be Cherry Creek’s First Live Music Space
By Glen Rochardson
Groovy Group: Funk-rock band Opie Gone Bad will entertain at the newly opened Soiled Dove on May 14.
Soiled Dove, the venue long-time residents remember as the Soiled Dove Underground beneath the Tavern in Lowry, is reopening. The new location is above ground at Choppers Sports Grill on South Madison Street in Cherry Creek North. While there are live music venues such as Dazzle downtown, Soiled Dove is the first in Cherry Creek.
The space has been redesigned to offer the production value of a large-scale venue coupled with the vibe of an intimate and up-close setting. Above all, the venue will offer an unparalleled close-by experience for nearby Glendale-Chery Creek music fans.
The room is different, and it will sound different. An acoustic designer has soundproofed the building. Moreover, a city sound engineer was brought in early to make sure residents won’t have any reason to complain.
Soiled Dove Site: Choppers Sports Grill on South Madison Street in Cherry Creek North is reopening as the Soiled Dove.
Railbinders Gig
The Railbenders with special guest Chris Stake will christen the new Soiled Dove stage at Chopper’s Sports Grill on May 9. Group is an American country band formed in Denver in 2000 by Jim Dalton and Tyson Murray. Westword Music Showcase named The Railbenders Denver’s Top Country-Roots act in 2002 and 2003. Stake is a roots-rock, country-soul singer.
Funk-rock band Opie Gone Bad will follow on May 14. The band is known for shows at Herman’s Hideaway and other area venues. Band features Jake Schroeder doing vocals, with Randy Chavez on guitars, Tarell Martin on drums, and Windall Armour on bass.
Upcoming performances are likely to include local acts such as Hazel Miller, The Samples, and Stone Beat Invasion. A chance to hear throwback bands, and cover bands is expected to add a “fun factor” in a neighborhood that has never had live entertainment.
Start As Rick’ Cafe
Choppers got its start as Rick’s Cafe back in the late ’70s, when it was one of the city’s first fern bars. The space showed off its solar-powered dishwasher to then-President Jimmy Carter. It then turned into Chopper’s Sports Grill, named after beloved Nuggets trainer Bob “Chopper” Travaglini. THG took over management early in 2015, then bought the property outright in May 2015 for just over $4 million.
To make sure “the sports piece” is still in the space, there will be no opening acts so that people can still drink and dine before the music start. Guests can then clear out before the music starts. When there are bi
Opening Performance: The Railbenders will christen the new Soiled Dove stage at Chopper’s Sports Grill on May 9. Photo: Mark Tepsic
g games, the schedule will be juggled.
“I want to make it clear that this is a sports bar first, and then live music,” says owner Frank Schultz. He predicts there might be four to six ticketed shows a month. “So, when the Nuggets have playoff games we won’t have shows, it’s as simple as that. And we’ll only be booking shows when we’ve got the right show to book.”
