The Denver music scene, like many across the nation, often presents harsh realities for working artists, characterized by competitive environments and unsustainable financial models. Recognizing this struggle, the Denver-based nonprofit Holy Fool has emerged with a mission to create a more hospitable ecosystem for musicians.

Addressing Industry Unsustainability and Competition

Holy Fool focuses on providing financial resources, fostering community, and offering tangible support to local artists. Founder Sooy, a musician with over two decades of experience spanning Colorado and Virginia, noted the decline in financial viability for working musicians, especially with the rise of streaming services.

Sooy recalled past eras where promotion was simpler, recalling when a Facebook event could guarantee a significant turnout for a basement show. He emphasized the socio-emotional toll these stresses take, leading to a competitive and insular environment.

Normalizing Healthy Collaboration Over Cutthroat Attitudes

Sooy stated, “Every artist and band that I know is so desperate for support and friendship and attention, and also, the world teaches you to view every other person that’s doing roughly the same thing that you’re doing as your competition, instead of your collaborators and friends.” He referenced his emo band, A Place For Owls, in discussing these pressures.

The organization's name, Holy Fool, reflects a desire to normalize positive forms of “madness” or unconventional thinking, contrasting the negative normalization of dehumanization seen in broader society. Sooy argued that artists often internalize capitalist attitudes, becoming overly hard on each other.

He expressed concern over musicians burning out or losing their artistic passion after chasing commercial success, sometimes returning from major hubs like Nashville or New York as “a husky shell of themselves.” Holy Fool seeks to build an environment where success doesn't require compromising one's character.

Holy Fool's Core Initiatives

Guaranteed Living Wages for Performers

The nonprofit's most prominent action is hosting DIY shows that guarantee performers a living wage. Holy Fool offers a $500 minimum guarantee to every artist playing their events, alongside providing food, drinks, and hospitality.

These shows intentionally utilize houses and DIY spaces to avoid venues that enforce predatory practices like consignment ticket sales. Sooy hopes that expanding these artist-centric shows could eventually marginalize venues with unfavorable business models.

Building Community Through Connection

Beyond performances, Holy Fool cultivates scene collaboration through musician meetup dinners, often featuring donated food and beverages. The organization also hosts the Holy Fool podcast, featuring discussions with industry figures like Tim Foreman and Denver bands such as The [Information incomplete in source text].

The concept originated from Sooy’s desire to counter bitterness and competition within the scene. He posed the question: “What if we flipped that? What if we became the sort of people that started helping our friends and neighbors and even helping our enemies?”

Organizational Structure and Future Vision

Leveraging his background in nonprofit work supporting refugees and immigrants, Sooy co-founded the organization with fellow A Place for Owls member Daniel Perez, achieving 501c3 status in 2025. Currently, the organization is entirely volunteer-run, possessing approximately $7,000, having raised $10,000 last year through various contributions.

Sooy envisions significant expansion if fundraising goals are met. His long-term dreams include purchasing a house in Denver to offer musicians heavily subsidized rent and collaborative living arrangements. This space could also feature rentable recording facilities.

He also proposed community-based solutions for non-performance needs, suggesting a musician could earn equitable wages managing social media for several local bands. Furthermore, Holy Fool is partnering with the new DIY-focused festival by offering tax-exempt donation pathways for sponsors to fund specific operational costs or artist payments.