Heavy metal band Metallica, who hasn’t played live in Denver since 2017, will perform two nights at Empower Field at Mile High next week as part of its M72 worldwide tour. 

The band plays Friday, June 27, and Sunday, June 29. It’s performing two completely different sets and the opening acts are different for each night: Ice Nine Kills and Limp Bizkit Friday and Pantera and Suicidal Tendencies June 29. 

Crowds have been large at most of the tour stops, so Denver residents in the area of Empower Field near Colfax Avenue and Interstate 25 should brace for a crush of concert attendees and heavy vehicle traffic those nights.

RTD will add additional bus routes and light rail line trains, per usual for any concert at Mile High, but have not announced details yet. 

Though its foundation All Within My Hands, Metallica is working with American Red Cross of Colorado on two blood drives at Empower Field Monday and Tuesday — though the appointments for both days were almost filled as of Friday. 

The foundation has worked with local nonprofit organizations at every stop to help raise money and awareness for them, especially those that help with food insecurity, critically local services and workforce education, according to the foundation’s website. The band also donates $3 for every ticket sold to the foundation, and covers all its administrative costs. 

“We’re very excited to work with the foundation and the band itself,” said John Seward, spokesperson for the American Red Cross of Colorado. 

Metallica is the only heavy metal band that works with the Red Cross that he was aware of, Seward said.

“The blood drives are very popular. I don’t want to use ‘sold out,’ but all the appointments usually get filled,” he said. “They’ve got a huge number of followers and when the band told them this is important to them, the fans responded in droves. It’s been very successful.” 

Though fans get a special-edition T-shirt for donating, Seward said the real reason for them is “making a big difference and saving lives.” 

He reminded fans that if all the appointments are booked, they can still donate by getting an appointment at redcross.org website for Colorado.

The parking at Empower Field opens at 2 p.m., the gates open at 4 p.m. and the opening acts are scheduled to take the stage at 6 p.m. each night. Mile High will have the clear bag policy in effect for both nights. 

Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.com.