Written by and all photos by Rebecca Hollman
Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico based art collective and group known for their wild, trippy, immersive art installations and experiences in Santa Fe. Recently, Meow Wolf has expanded to include a new location in Denver, Colorado. To commemorate their new location, Meow Wolf had a music festival in Denver in 2019 called Meow Wolf Dark Palace. They just announced that Dark Palace will be returning to Denver this year in April taking place over 3 days at the National Western Complex.
The company’s first location showcases the international sensation, House Of Eternal Return, where over one and a half million visitors have discovered a multidimensional mystery house with secret passages, portals to magical worlds, climbing apparatus, and surreal, maximalist & mesmerizing art exhibits along with a Learning Center and Float Café. The location is also home to a music venue, bar, and outdoor dining scene. In 2018, Meow Wolf announced plans for massive new permanent locations, in Denver, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., and the world’s first artist-driven dark ride at Elitch Gardens. Most recently, Meow Wolf announced the addition of an immersive hotel and exhibition, which will be located in the heart of Phoenix’s Roosevelt Row.
Dark Palace is an extension of Meow Wolf’s events – this time combining experimental installation art with electronic music. Meow Wolf has also previously had a festival called Taos Vortex in Taos, New Mexico which brought out more jam bands and hippie vibes. Dark Palace is full of deep, dark experimental bass music and tech house – a new take for Meow Wolf.
“The first Dark Palace was such a treat for everyone who was involved — the DJs, the performers, the collaborating installation artists, and our team — we thought that we had to do it again. We’ve learned so much after doing the first Dark Palace that we can’t wait to return in April to create an even deeper and more playful experience. We have tricks in store,” said Max Beck-Keller Meow Wolf’s events head.
This year’s Dark Palace lineup includes Malaa, Deathpact, Floating Points, Will Clarke, Maddy O’Neal and Doc Martin b2b Option4 on Thursday, G Jones, EPROM, Sayer, Channel Tres and Detlef on Friday, and Space Jesus, Mr. Carmack, Esseks, Huxley Anne, Dr. Fresch, Golf Clap and Corrupt UK on Saturday.
The three-day event will run from 7:30PM – 2:00AM throughout the nights of Thursday, April 9th, Friday, April 10th and Saturday, April 11th. Tickets for Dark Palace can be purchased at darkpalace.meowwolf.com.