Check Out Kelley Dawkins’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelley Dawkins

Hi Kelley, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Dazzle opened its doors in 1997 at 9th & Lincoln. In August 2023, we moved into our third and hopefully forever home as part of the Denver Performing Arts Complex, officially installing Jazz as part of Denver’s cultural fabric.

Open seven nights a week (closed on Tuesdays in the summer), live music lovers are able to enjoy a great night out any time. A full service bar and kitchen round out the night so that people leave with their hearts and bellies full.

For 28 years, Dazzle has strived to both support the local music community and provide the highest-quality touring shows with no signs of stopping. Producing unique musical experiences, Dazzle provides the stages upon which artists share their craft, reflecting Colorado’s beautiful diversity with many national and international acts spicing up the calendar. This past year brought Christian McBride, Jazzmeia Horn, Ron Carter, and Brandee Younger to town. Nationally renowned bassist, Charles Burrell celebrated his 104th birthday with a show at Dazzle.

In 2024, there were 827 shows with 90 sold out and many more with packed houses. 330 local artists graced the stages along with 129 touring artists.

With ticket sales going strong, and more sold out shows in 2025 than in the same period in 2024, it’s apparent that Jazz and Jazz-adjacent live music is thriving in Colorado.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
If your road is smooth, then you aren’t growing. Closure from the pandemic was a major struggle that revealed lots of insights. One of the major ones is that Dazzle is primarily a live music venue. While dinner and drinks are readily available, music is what brings people through the doors. After closing for the mandatory two weeks, Dazzle opened with a food pantry for musicians and live-stream performances with donations going directly to the artists.

After moving for the third time, it’s been fun inviting new and returning patrons to the new venue. With artwork on all of the walls, highlighting food artists on the menu, and the highest quality musicians, Dazzle is an experience for the senses, awakening hidden positive vibes.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As the Music Director for Dazzle, I derive great pleasure in the fact that when I do my job well, artists make more money. This allows them to spend more time on the creative, art-making aspects of their careers as opposed to the business side of it. Creativity is where ideas bloom and inspiration strikes, both within the artist and for the audience as they see the performance. Knowing that this part of the human experience is enjoyed by so many people makes my heart sing.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Find people you can bounce ideas off of, such as others who market live performances. It doesn’t necessarily need to be musical performances, but others who deeply understand what it’s like to promote creativity as a product and what the current ticket-sales trends are is invaluable. Be open to different ideas and know who your audience is.

Pricing:

• $5 – Kids’ Matinees
• $10 – Friday Lunches
• $15 Tickets
• $70 Tickets

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.dazzledenver.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dazzle_denver/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DazzleDenver
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DazzleJazzDenver

Image Credits
Kelley Dawkins Head Shot: Kat Fernandez
Exterior: David Rossa
All Others: Mark Payler