Retrofette 24-Hour Dance Party Benefitting Youth on Record Returns

After vowing to never subject themselves to the challenge of an all-night, 24-hour marathon dance party again, Retrofette return this October with their hit event, complete with raffle prizes, performances by young creatives from Youth on Record, and, unique to this year, a live audience.

The October 22 and 23 event will be held by Retrofette. The band is the Denver-based byproduct of keyboardists Sean Culliton and Xiavier Provencher’s “love for vintage synthesizers and sweat dance floors,” according to their Youth on Record bio, joined by synth bassist Ben Weirich and drummer Dylan Johnson on stage. They’ve built a following with their solid synthpop sound, and now they are returning to encourage Denverites to dance it out with them.

“Retrofette knows that we’re all going through a thing right now, and thinks you should dance about it,” the band says. “Struggles with depression, dread, and anxiety are as much in their DNA as Grace Jones, Memphis Milano, synthesizers, and turtlenecks. The band’s recognition of the darkness in the world, and their unrelenting optimism in its face, is what has endeared their danceable synthpop to audiences in their hometown and around the world.”

The all-nighter will feature sets across three different local businesses on South Broadway.

The format brings the dance party to the community to shine a spotlight on the work of Youth on Record. Youth on Record’s education, music and community programs aim to help young people become more free, rooted in their personal power, and better able to thrive in spite of systems and circumstances that disempower or marginalize them. Each event will feature alumni and current students of Youth on Record as performers.

These include a dinner set at Illegal Pete’s South Broadway from 2 to 8 p.m. featuring Edwina Maben at 5 p.m., a late-night dance party at the new Ratio Beerworks Larimer location from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. featuring Destino at 9 p.m., and a next-morning brunch held at the Roxy Broadway from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring Bailey Elora at 11 a.m.

Last year’s event crossed the $11,000 donation mark benefitting Youth on Record. Retrofette is looking to maximize the potential of the in-person festivities this year, and in addition to the live dance party and student performances, each event will have raffles and food and drink specials, going toward Youth on Record’s mission.

For more on the Retrofette All Nighter, check out the event page, the Youth on Record Instagram, and Retrofette on Instagram.

Photo courtesy of Youth on Record and Retrofette