Meet Ely Corliss of BandWagon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ely Corliss.

Hi Ely, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
BandWagon started back in 2011 as a local print magazine out of Greeley, Colorado. At the time, there was a noticeable gap in coverage for the Northern Colorado music scene — we had great artists, great venues, and a growing community, but not enough platforms telling their stories. So, I launched BandWagon Magazine to spotlight local talent, cover regional shows, and give the scene a voice.

Over the years, what began as a grassroots publication grew into a full-fledged music media and events company. In 2021, we launched BandWagon Presents, our live event and concert promotion arm. With partners in Colorado and Wyoming, we’ve expanded into booking shows across both states — from intimate club gigs to large-scale concerts — while continuing to publish the magazine every single month without fail.

It’s been a journey built on consistency, community, and a genuine love for live music. We’re still proudly independent, and everything we do aims to connect artists with audiences in meaningful ways.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road — but those bumps helped shape what BandWagon is today. In the early days, running a print magazine was a hustle. We were juggling every role ourselves — writing, designing, selling ads, and distributing copies by hand. Greeley wasn’t the easiest place to launch a music publication, but we believed in the scene and stuck with it.

The biggest shake-up came during the pandemic. Live events shut down, ad revenue dried up, and like everyone else in the industry, we had to pause and rethink everything. But that reshuffling opened new doors. Coming out of the pandemic, we launched BandWagon Presents as a dedicated concert promotion arm, and that’s when we brought on Hamilton Byrd in Wyoming and Tony Mason in Denver. Since then, Ham has left the company but has passed the torch to us in the Wyoming territory. Both brought serious experience and expanded our reach in a way we couldn’t have done alone.

What started as a local magazine is now a multi-state operation — still grassroots, still independent, but bigger and more connected than ever. The road’s been rough at times, but it forced us to evolve — and that’s been a good thing.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about BandWagon?
BandWagon is both a music publication and a concert promotions company — rooted in community, built around artists, and driven by a passion for live music.

We publish BandWagon Magazine, a monthly print and digital publication that’s been covering northern Colorado and southern Wyoming’s music and arts scene since 2011. We’re known for shining a light on local and regional talent, telling honest stories, and being consistent — we’ve never missed an issue in over a decade.

On the live side, BandWagon Presents produces concerts across Colorado and Wyoming. We book and promote everything from intimate club shows to full-scale festivals, with a focus on connecting independent artists to real audiences. We’re especially active in venues like the Moxi Theater (Greeley), Oskar Blues (Denver & Colorado Springs), and The Rialto & Gaslight Social (Casper), and we love curating shows that mix local acts with national touring talent.

What sets us apart is our commitment to staying independent and community-focused. We’re not a giant promoter or a national brand — we’re a small, passionate team that cares deeply about the artists we work with and the cities we serve. We believe in showing up for our scene, platforming underrepresented voices, and making live music accessible and exciting for everyone.

Brand-wise, we’re proud that people know BandWagon as authentic. Whether it’s a magazine article or a packed-out concert, people trust that we’re doing it for the right reasons — to celebrate music, to support artists, and to build something that lasts.

We’d love readers to know that BandWagon is here to connect you to what’s next. Whether you’re a fan, an artist, a venue, or a brand, we’ve built something real — and we’re just getting started.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The most important quality behind our success has been consistency — paired with honesty and integrity, especially on the live event side.

We’ve published BandWagon Magazine every single month since 2011 without missing an issue, and that same consistency shows up in how we promote shows, support artists, and partner with venues and vendors. People know they can count on us to deliver, communicate clearly, and treat everyone involved with respect.

In the often unpredictable world of live events, we pride ourselves on being straightforward, transparent, and dependable. That approach has helped us build long-term relationships across Colorado and Wyoming — and it’s what continues to set us apart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bandwagonpresents.com/ / www.bandwagmag.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bandwagonmagazine/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bandwagonmagazine/