Denver’s music scene will spotlight Indigenous indie-pop tomorrow night as Cherokee Social performs their first headliner show at the historic Federal Theatre on March 14, 2026.
The Denver-based duo—frontman Julian Navarro and guitarist Alex Creighton—have quickly become one of the city’s most compelling emerging acts. Blending dreamy indie-pop textures with powwow-inspired rhythms, Cherokee Social has built a sound that feels both atmospheric and grounded in Indigenous identity.
Navarro originally launched the project after rebranding from his previous musical endeavor, Faceless Ones. The name Cherokee Social reflects both heritage and intention: “Cherokee being me, and Social being I want everyone to be included.” That sense of openness has become central to the band’s ethos and their growing connection with audiences.
In just over two years, Cherokee Social has evolved from a bedroom project into a must-see live act. Their debut EP The Garden introduced listeners to their signature sonic landscape—heavily reverbed drums, experimental guitar layers, and meditative vocals that drift between indie-pop dreaminess and powwow-inspired beats. Songs like A Never Ends, Operator, and Rain Man pull listeners into hypnotic rhythms that feel almost suspended in time.
“A lot of the songs have powwow-like drums, with that steady kick beat,” Navarro explains. “When you see me on stage playing, I’ll be playing something along with that.”
The EP’s tranquil, spacious production has drawn comparisons to artists like Dominic Fike and Still Woozy, while still carving out a lane distinctly their own.
Cherokee Social has already been building momentum on the live circuit. In August 2025, the band opened the third annual All My Relations Celebration at Levitt Pavilion, a free all-ages festival highlighting Native and Indigenous artists. Sharing the lineup with First Nations singer Natasha Fisher and Samoan headliner FIA, their performance brought together contemporary indie sounds with Indigenous cultural elements alongside traditional dance performances and community organizations.
After touring throughout fall 2025 and opening for artists including Mato Wayuhi and Xiuhtezcatl, Cherokee Social now steps into a major milestone: their first headliner performance.
Tomorrow’s show will feature a lineup of Indigenous and local talent, including Denver band Glamour Shot, renowned rapper Nataanii Means, and a special appearance from ayA Con’s Blacklight Powwow. Alongside fan favorites, Cherokee Social will also debut new material, offering audiences an early glimpse of what’s to come as the duo works toward their upcoming full-length album.
For Denver’s Indigenous music community and beyond, the night represents more than just another show—it marks the continued rise of a band weaving culture, community, and contemporary sound into something uniquely their own.
Cherokee Social
March 14, 2026
Federal Theatre – Denver, Colorado
Doors: 7:00 PM
