Bricky Global x Munchies & Mimosas emphasize community with The Circuit Summer Kick-Off

The key word that pops up when speaking with the organizers of The Circuit Summer Kick-Off Munchies Fest is “synergy.”

Bricky Global, an organization that started just a few months ago, came to Munchies & Mimosas, a more established event promoter, with the idea to have a festival for the Denver community.

“Being a new organization, we really wanted to partner with somebody that has been in the game for quite a bit, and that could bring that expertise and experience,” Mandi King, one of the co-founders of Bricky Global, told Kick The Concrete. “When we were thinking about Denver events, we thought of Munchies instantly."

“It was easy to kind of get behind what they were doing,” Collin Draine, one of the co-founders of Munchies & Mimosas, said in a group interview. “I think it was so different and unique, as far as the event structure and what they were trying to bring, as far as value for the consumer. So, I think that was pretty dope.” 

Munchies & Mimosas has built its name as a trusted source for a good time. The company hosts several holiday parties and summer socials throughout the year with a deejay, activations, photo opps and lots of dancing. They even had a seven-city event series in 2024 that hit Brooklyn, Dallas, Houston, Cincinnati, Chicago and Los Angeles. Several of the members met through a networking group for Black professionals and started an annual hangout at Rockies Opening Day. That gathering turned into what the brand is known for now.

The members of Bricky and Munchies ran in the same circles before officially connecting for business, which made the collaboration natural.

“I think it's the synergy, which has just always been there, and now we're just kind of formally linking up and structurally curating something for the city,” Draine continued.

The festival, held on Friday, June 19 at Levitt Pavilion, will feature performances from rising stars BossMan DLow, Sada Baby, Trim, Skilla Baby and Mozzy as well as some of Denver’s brightest talent, including Trev Rich, TheyCallHimAP and DJ Squizzy Taylor. Both brands were intentional about bringing in bigger national acts while celebrating local talent.

Draine attended H.E.R’s Lights On Festival, and fellow Munchies member Cameron Douglas has been to Rolling Loud in Miami. Even though it wasn't a direct blueprint for The Circuit, Douglas said Rolling Loud was “very inspirational to things that some of us personally want to do.”

The Circuit isn’t advertised as a Juneteenth celebration, but organizers are aware of the significance of the holiday and hope to bring something positive to the weekend’s festivities. According to the 2024 Census, only 10 percent of Denver’s population is Black. But the city has one of the largest and most historic Juneteenth festivals in the country.

The Drop 104.7’s Juneteenth Music Festival has its biggest event on Saturday, June 20 with a concert headlined by SiR. The day is also Denver’s annual Juneteenth parade that has been going on in Five Points since the 1950s. That’s 70 years before Juneteenth, the day all slaves were told of their freedom, was declared a federal holiday in 2021. 

“Before I moved here, I knew Juneteenth, but it was never really like a big celebration like that,” Draine said. “It's odd, just even given Denver’s demographic, how big of a celebration it is. It is one of the biggest in the nation, especially for our demographic to be as low with African-Americans as it is in Denver. So, I think that's powerful in and of itself. ... There's nothing on Friday, we're filling that void. It's still Black and Brown energy, good energy and good vibes, open to all ages. … I think that that was an important landmark and call out for us to make sure that we are contributing to culture.”

Both Bricky Global and Munchies & Mimosas have a bigger picture of supporting the Denver economy by bringing friends, family and fans to the city.

“I think one of my favorite parts about even doing Munchies and different productions like this is the trickle down ecosystem that we feed,” Draine noted. “It's like the boutiques, and the nail salons, and the hairdressers, and the barbers. Whenever we come to town or have a show, they're always doing well because we were trying to prep and look good.”

He suggested that Munchies’ events bring a “stimulus package.”

“We're stimulating the economy," he continued, "and I think that it's a dope impact that we're able to have on the community.”

King is a Denver native who has seen the city evolve since her childhood. She hopes to actually bring opportunity to the Mile High City instead of complaining.

“I’ve seen it pre-marijuana, I've seen it pre-COVID,” she explained. “I've seen these large tech companies come in and just see how Denver has changed. And also recognizing the gaps we may have as a city, and being able to help fill those gaps. You hear people talk a lot of shit about, like, ‘Oh, we don't have this, we don't have that,’ but no one's really doing anything about it.”

She said she’s heard that people in Las Vegas are talking about the community work Bricky Global is doing from the ground up. The recognition, “does something to my heart, for sure.”

While the members of Munchies & Mimosas are originally from out of town, they emphasize that their company is also undeniably Denver.

“Wherever we travel, we definitely carry Denver on the front of our chest,” Douglas said.

Draine said that he appreciates people acknowledging his Munchies merch and, even when the group is out on the road, the ultimate goal is to shine light back on the Colorado capital.

“I'm Ohio through and through. If you know me, you know me. I'm not afraid to say it,” he commented. “But I feel like every time I'm going to the airport, I got my Munchies gear on, I feel like I'm leaving for a game. … When we do go to these places, I almost put Ohio to the side, and my goal is to put on and make our brand so appealing that people say, ‘Oh, I want to visit y’all when you guys go to Denver as well.’

"… We're trying to turn Denver into a destination city. So it is all full circle, circling back to Denver. We do look at it as our birthplace.”

Not only is The Circuit meant to be a good time, it’s also meant to pass the torch with inspiration and motivation.

“I think when it comes to community and you're kind of teaching and raising a new generation, it's important to instill some good morals and values in them,” Justin Murchison of Munchies & Mimosas shared. “It's sort of really cool to see how, real subtly, we're becoming the generation that is going from student to teacher. So, now it's our turn to kind of begin to train the youth up to be good people and have good backgrounds and good ambitions, and show them the right way to do things. And you know, kind of give them some type of motivational pushes to be us one day.

“Community definitely means a lot because as we're doing it, we come in contact with a lot of like-minded people, like us collabing with the Bricky organization, right? You get to see who along the way shared some of those same paths growing up, as well. Some of the same traditions that were passed down. Some of those same pastimes that they want to, then pay forward, as well. So, like-minded individuals make up a community thing for me, and we try to find the new generation's worth.”

“Representation matters, right?” King said. “When we think about individuals - there's large organizations, Live Nation, that are doing it, and that's great - but they're not inspirational to the community. So when they say, `Hey, (Bricky co-founder) Brittany did it, Mandi did it, Justin did it, I can too,’ that, for me, is also a driving force in what I do in all avenues of my life.”

There are many factors that go into throwing an event of this scale. But organizers are hopeful the smooth process means everything is divinely aligned.

“Collin talked about the synergy, and the different things, everything just falling into place,” King reflected, “so I know it's blessed.”

The Circuit Summer Kick-Off Munchies Fest

5 p.m. - 10 p.m. MT

Friday, June 19

Levitt Pavilion

Buy tickets now

Enter code MUNCHIES for $10 off