Ophelia’s In Denver Feeds Off Classic Tunes & Down Home Hospitality (THESE WALLS)

Photo by Sam Wilkworth

The intersection of food and music has been explored for generations but Denver’s Ophelia’s has reinvented the old tradition to fit their vision. The eccentric eatery has modernized the concept of dinner and a show by welcoming artists both local and globally renowned. Along with a meticulously crafted menu from the mind of Executive Chef and Owner Justin Cucci, Ophelia’s has dedicated their space to providing a platform for musicians across genres. Located in the heart of the Mile High City, Ophelia’s is dedicated to executing a vision of grandeur while keeping the intimacy of a dinner, combining the two to create a one-of-a-kind experience. 

Glide spoke with Justin Cucci and Talent Buyer Ross James to discuss Ophelia’s history, the diversity in their booking process, and much more. Read our full conversation below: 

Being that Colorado has its share of iconic venues- what was the process like for Ophelia’s to make inroads quickly in such a music-centric city? 

Justin Cucci: We really wanted to have a live music venue that had strong synergy with Food and Hospitality. We knew the music was the star of the show, but we really wanted to have as strong a supporting cast as possible, and food and hospitality just enhances the live music experience. We tried to create a space that honored the art and craft of live music and marry it with a sexy/sensual design, that would enhance the overall experiential effect and intimacy of seeing a band, in such a small comfortable space. We also wanted to have a strong independent music vibe, that balanced Nationally touring acts with up-and-coming homegrown Colorado music. I think it’s all of those facets that have kept us on the short list of excellent venues while connecting to music fans AND Foodies in Denver,

Is there a particular music scene or genre that you feel Ophelia’s has most taken in as its own? What range of artists have you booked at the venue in terms of loudest to most obscure to jazziest and most pop?

Ross James: I think part of what makes Ophelia’s so special is how diverse the programming is.  We’ve done everything from Bill Frisell to a Led Zeppelin Tribute act. In between those extremes, we’ve had some top-level Bluegrass acts, including members of String Cheese Incident, Leftover Salmon, & Sam Grisman, jam band mainstays like Eric Krasno & Stanton Moore, plus a wide variety of DJ nights and alternative nights ft. Drag & Burlesque shows and even live Podcast Recordings. 

Are there any musicians local or national that have played here often that got their breakthrough by playing here routinely?

James: Since O’s has only been reopened for a little over a year at this point, I’m not sure that anyone quite fits that mold.  But we have had a few folks come through last year that have grown significantly since then.  One that comes to mind is Kabaka Pyramid who actually won this year’s Grammy for Best Reggae Album.

Being that Ophelia’s is a restaurant and concert space, what is a thought that runs through your head often that other venues might not have to worry about? 

James: It can sometimes be a bit of a balancing act juggling the two spaces, but in general I think that they both feed off of each other in a very symbiotic way. The food elevates the music and vice versa. 

How do you feel food and music connect? Do the bands you bring in ever affect the menu or vice versa? 

Cucci: Music and food are often the ties that bind us. They are cultural, familial, and universal. As humans, we are connected to food and music in the deepest ways. They both feed the body and the soul. They are both universal languages that surprise and delight with infinite possibilities. I think it’s possible to crave both food and music equally.

What is your booking process like? Is there any connective tissue between the artists you bring in to perform – you do a great job of curating roots music and NOLA-based stuff that AXS/Live Nation venues in Denver wouldn’t necessarily seek out.

James: Thanks! I think that the space has a bit of a NOLA vibe to it and the music definitely fits very well there.  As far as my booking process, oftentimes I actually start with the relationships that I have with artists directly.  Sometimes we’re able to keep it completely independent that way from start to finish which is something I really enjoy.  Other times we’ll work together with agents and mgmt.  

I read that it took Ophelia’s almost a year to update and perfect their sound system, what was that process like? What elements did you have to consider during the process? 

Cucci: It was really a joy to collaborate with our former sound designer, Randall Frazier, and our current Production Manager, Will Umphrey, to evolve the sound system from great to greater. It takes a lot of data, opinions, and conjecture along with spec sheets, sound engineers, and audiophile sensibilities to arrive at the best possible place for live music sound. At the end of the day, it’s of course subjective, but we feel like excellence and quality are hard to argue with. We really tried to capture a full sound that fit the size of the room, while being aware of its limitations and weaknesses.

What was it like renovating an old brothel, and have you seen or heard anything supernatural in the building?

Cucci: While the experience of renovating a 100+-year-old building always has its unusual twists and turns, the process of discovery and archeology helps to uncover the layers of time and story that bring an adaptive reuse building to life. Coming across a more naive past of hypercharged sexuality (From the peep show to the brothel, to the Adult Video Bookstore) that was housed in that building, was something we wanted to pay homage to and honor, in a sex-positive way.

It was also unusual to discover that the building is also on the national historic register added another complex layer to the story.

How did you get the name Ophelia’s? It’s very distinctive in an old Americana way and says a lot in the name itself.

Cucci: Early on when we started kicking around names, Ophelais was one of, if not the first name that came to fruition. First off we had a muse (a picture of this turn-of-the-century woman with a headband, and a sheer fabric wrap) and we wanted to name her, and Ophelias felt like an old-world, turn of the century name, but I also loved The Band song, “Ophelia,” for so many reasons. That song just felt so apropos for the building’s rebirth, from its sordid past and how the song begins, “Boards on the window, Mail by the door What would anybody leave so quickly for? Ophelia” and how it ends “But I’m still waiting for the second coming of Ophelia”. However, as is often the case of the creative process, we were faced with nagging doubt and tried out another 20 names. Through surveys, brainstorming sessions, and constant dialogue.  All in all, years later when it came time to commit, we arrived back where we started. Ophelia’s.

How do you guys plan to grow? Does Ophelia’s have anything exciting planned for 2023? 

James: We definitely plan to keep growing at O’s and bringing more and more diversity with the programming.  I personally am really excited for what the rest of the year holds…you’ll definitely want to stay tuned to opheliasdenver.com for all the latest.

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