Ely Corliss, ’12, enrolled at UNC with several of his friends and, at the time, bandmates, from his home in Denver. Having played shows at several venues throughout Greeley, Corliss was familiar with the area before moving here for his education.  

Upon arriving, Corliss saw the need for live music in Greeley and, with it, more concert venues. That was one of the factors that led him to get involved with the Atlas Church. At that point, they rented a space on 16th Street (now occupied by Taste of Philly) to house concerts for local bands. The target demographic was mostly high school and college students, but it was clear that there was an opportunity for growth in the community. 

Corliss chose to enroll in the college of Humanities and Social Sciences to earn a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies. He waited tables at the alumni-founded and owned Roma Pizza, integrating himself into the Greeley community throughout his academic journey. Corliss feels that working throughout college was tremendously helpful to his personal development and allowed him to make the most of his degree. 

"It was about the experience and finding community here,” said Corliss. 

With the help of connections he made, Corliss was able to start the music magazine BandWagon while still a student at UNC in 2011. At the time, Corliss had an office on 16th Street with a small art gallery that was on the route for the First Friday art walks that took place Greeley. 

Two years later, in 2013, Corliss ventured back into the music scene, acquiring a space on 9th Street that now holds the Moxi Theater. In 2018, Corliss opened the now-beloved Luna’s Tacos & Tequila in downtown Greeley with the help of his business partners. Again, in 2021, the opened Stella’s Pinball Arcade & Lounge below the Moxi Theater, and a second Luna’s location opened this year in Windsor. 

Where Corliss’s passion lies is with Bandwagon Presents, his talent buying and promotion business. Through Bandwagon Presents, Corliss promotes 300-400 shows across Colorado and Wyoming annually. One of the highlights of Corliss’s work is acquiring top-notch talent before they make it big, creating unique experiences for locals to see the likes of Lainey Wilson and the Red Clay Strays as they rose to fame. One of the biggest names to come through the Moxi, Cody Johnson, who enjoyed his time performing despite believing the theater was haunted. 

For Corliss, his degree helped him effectively communicate directly with his community. After all, generating public interest is one of the most difficult aspects when establishing a new venture. He also credits his time at UNC with teaching him to better run his businesses from a financial perspective. 

“I think back on my UNC days with the accounting and statistics classes that I took —even though I got two C’s… I’m really glad I understand what credit and debit is,” said Corliss. 

Staying in Greeley and building on the relationships he developed while a student, Corliss was able to more easily break into the business world. Since kickstarting his entrepreneurial journey in 2011, Corliss has helped revitalize Greeley’s historic downtown.   

“We care a lot about what’s going on in this town. I’ve continually invested in the entertainment scene here,” said Corliss. 

One of the ways that Corliss is trying to increase participation in the music and entertainment scene is by creating a program called Bear Buzz for UNC students. Through the program, Corliss is giving out free tickets to concerts and events to students who sign up. When students join, they receive complimentary ticket links to whatever is happening each weekend.  

There is no shortage of events happening in downtown Greeley, especially as the new school year rapidly approaches. Whether in the area for move-in day or Homecoming, consider popping into one of Corliss’s and the many other alumni-owned businesses helping to make Greeley the vibrant city it is.