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Don’t miss out on these venues, bands at 2026 FoCoMX

Ruby Secrest, Arts and Entertainment Editor

April 23, 2026

And just like that, the annual Fort Collins Music Experiment, most commonly referred to as FoCoMX, is back in session. The two-day music festival will begin Friday, April 24 and continue to April 25.

With over 450 bands to choose from, a vast landscape of venues and only two days to get the full experience, a little bit of guidance can be nice.

Here is a complete guide to the 17th annual “Biggest Little Festival in America:” FoCoMX.

Sound Bar (The Coast)

The Coast is now under new management and has adopted the name Sound Bar. But no need to worry, the experience itself has not changed a bit. Staying true to their roots, Sound Bar is the perfect venue to dance, mosh and be as close to the stage as one can get. Most notably, this year Sound Bar will be hosting funk band Crestmore Collective, indie-alternative band The Galentines, rock band The Dirty Turkeys and local rock band, Los Toms, will closing out FoCoMX with a 1:00 AM performance on Saturday.

Wobble HiFi

A new addition to Fort Collins and FoCoMX this year is the bar Wobble HiFi. If you’re looking to grab a small appetizer, a great cocktail and listen to a DJ under moody warm lighting, this is your spot. In the spirit of FoCoMX’s wide range of genres, there will be multiple musicians and genres performing throughout the day, but as the evening continues, Wobble will be primarily hosting DJs to stay true to the lounge’s original vision of being a “listening bar.”

Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar and Pub

What is usually a more casual spot in Fort Collins for funk and blue grass performances is now coming into their punk, rock and alternative era. This year they will be hosting bands Slag, Ballpark!, IDLE FREAKS and Heliotrope. Scrumpy’s is a hard cider brewery that serves a full menu of gluten free meals, so stop in, have a meal and a drink, then prepare to dance.

Aggie Theatre

No list of Fort Collins venues is ever complete without the Aggie Theatre. The venue is one of the largest indoor venues in FoCoMX as well one of the most popular. The theater will be showcasing a variety of musical talents and staying true to the core values of FoCoMX: bringing a vast audience together to expose them to new genres, bands and fans. This year the venue will be hosting many Fort Collins favorites such as The Crooked Rugs, Bitchflower, Jesus Christ Taxi Driver, Ducki, Shadow Work, Velvet Daydream and Horse Bitch.

For live updates and content the whole weekend, follow The Collegian on Instagram.

Reach Ruby Secrest at entertainment@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.

About the Contributors

Ruby Secrest, Arts & Entertainment Editor

Ruby Secrest is the returning arts and entertainment editor for The Collegian. As she goes into her fourth and final year at Colorado State University, pursuing a major in journalism and media communications and a minor in women’s and gender studies, she is excited to continue holding space for creative storytelling in the world of journalism. Born and raised in Denver, Secrest grew up with a love for the arts. With a passion for fine art and live music, Secrest has continued to expand her knowledge on the arts during her time at The Collegian. Secrest began her role at the newspaper in fall 2023 as a writer and photographer; she specialized in concert photography as well as gallery and street art articles, reporting on live music and the local art scene within Fort Collins. At The Collegian, Secrest often finds herself intrigued by stories filled with life and passion. Whether that may be a first-time business owner, a seasoned artist coming out with a new collection or a band going on tour for the first time, Secrest makes an effort to give a platform to people passionate about their work and share what the arts can do for individual communities. Secrest finds inspiration from photographers such as Christian Sarkine and Amir Hamja, as well as creative inspirations from early works of Pablo Picasso and Francis Bacon, finding a fascination at the crossroads of creativity and protest. When she is not clocked in, she usually enjoys hiking or skiing in the mountains, dancing with her friends, starting a new craft project, binge watching cult classics or embracing the art of doing nothing. Secrest is grateful for the platform The Collegian has given her over her past two years, and as she heads into her final year as the arts and entertainment editor, she plans to continue encouraging passion within the arts and giving a platform to those who create it.

Isabella Trinchero, Social Media Director

This will be Isabella Trinchero’s second year as the social media director for The Collegian. As a senior at Colorado State University, this year, she will be wrapping up her major in graphic design and minor in business administration. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Trinchero feels grateful to have been surrounded by endless creative outlets growing up. Her love for the arts, traveling and building connections with others has allowed her to expand her creative talents over the past three years at CSU. Trinchero takes creative inspiration from illustration, print design and pop culture. She is passionate about making an impact through her work, by combining current technology and timeless art forms in both her personal design work and professional social media content. When she’s not busy making The Collegian’s social media feed shine, she’s likely hanging out with friends, enjoying the Colorado mountains, experimenting with plant-based dishes and befriending all dogs in her proximity. Trinchero is looking forward to keeping CSU’s digital community lively, connected and cultured by amplifying the student voice at Colorado State University. She is excited to continue to broaden her creative talents by managing The Collegian’s social presence and crafting content that keeps students informed, engaged and excited.

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Don’t miss out on these venues, bands at 2026 FoCoMX

Sound Bar (The Coast)

Wobble HiFi

Scrumpy’s Hard Cider Bar and Pub

Aggie Theatre

The Rocky Mountain Collegian

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