Dispatch with The Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Nineties-born indie roots band, Dispatch, is almost an urban legend among jam band fanatics. They first emerged in 1996 and released their debut, Silent Sleepless. The folk-rock record received wide acclaim from critics and fans. Over the years, the band released several more genre-defying albums, such as Bang Bang, Four-Day Trials, and Who Are We Living For? Initially a folk rock outfit, Dispatch slowly incorporated extended jams and on-stage improvs during their live performances. They also incorporated several other genres into their music, such as reggae, rap, and ska. But just as their burgeoning success started to gain traction with jam band fans, the band announced their hiatus in 2002 following an appearance on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.

In 2004, the band performed their supposed final concert in their home city, Boston. The free show, titled The Late Dispatch, was held at the Hatchell and amassed approximately 20,000 fans. Rumour has it that fans from all over the world traveled to Boston to see the celebrated jam band for one last time. Reports circulated that international fans came from Mexico, Australia, Spain, South Africa, and more.

The band’s fantastic performance at The Late Dispatch was later released as a CD/DVD package titled All Points Bulletin. In 2005, the concert’s behind the scene footage was also released as a documentary film. Based on the premise of “redefining independent music history, the film was later released through DVD the following year.

After the phenomenal final show, the band had a couple of reunion concerts throughout the decade, including a three-night sold-out run at the Madison Square Garden. The vast majority of proceeds went to fund charities in Zimbabwe. For ten years, the band only got together to perform special benefit shows which will fund charities fighting against famine, AIDS, and poverty in Zimbabwe.

In 2011, the band announced their official reunion, followed by a massive tour. Partial profits of the highly-anticipated trek were once again donated to charities that aim to provide education in local communities. The reunion also coincided with their first EP, titled Dispatch: EP. Since their reunion, Dispatch has released four more studio albums, including their latest effort, Break Our Fall.

Catch Dispatch and the Colorado Symphony this summer by securing your tickets now!