Best Coast rocking out downtown at Viva PHX
Katie “Coco” Mendez, our senior festival guide editor, roadtripped to Phoenix to check out two festivals in two days. First on the agenda — Viva PHX — a single day show with over 90 bands that takes place all over downtown.
Viva PHX comes alive at night! Secret pop up stages, outdoor venues, bars, theaters, and ballrooms all housed the many bands that graced Phoenix this past Saturday. March in Arizona means warm sunny days and comfortably cool nights — an ideal environment for your typical indoor/outdoor downtown music fest. With 90 bands on the bill and 20 venues, it’s hard to believe they could fit it all in with just one night.
Wandering around multiple venues was a treat. The pop-up stages hidden deep in narrow alleys were filled from wall to wall with festival fans jumping to punk rock tunes. Classy types headed to shows at the Crescent Ballroom and the Monarch Theater. The biggest parties took place at the grand outdoor stages set up in the middle of the streets. With headliners like Coolio, The Oh Sees and Best Coast there’s no wonder why they were such popular places to dance your shants (pants made into shorts cause the weather is so wonderful) off for the night.
A little advice if you’re planning a Viva PHX vacation next year – book your hotel rooms early, don’t drive, familiarize yourself with the light rail if you’re not staying downtown because taxis, Uber, and parking are all hard to lock down during the festivities. This southwest metropolis has a lot for festival goers so get there early, explore downtown and enjoy the good tunes!