During the summer, the Sonora Desert of Arizona is a sun-baked wasteland of scorched heart and dehydration, but during the winter and spring it’s a mecca for cold-weather festies. The Phoenix scene is on fire in the last few years, with organizers and the city getting behind the festival scene in Arizona’s largest city, along with the most festivals.
Gem and Jam 2018
January 25-28, 2018
Tucson, AZ
Gem and Jam has grown over the last half decade into the premier festival of Tucson, Arizona. The trippy and diverse electronic lineup fuses music, art, and the indie spirit of the city for an unrivaled winter experience. With the addition of camping and an expanded venue, expect to see Gem and Jam continue to evolve.
Photo Credit: Sage Thomas
McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F) 2018
March 2-4, 2018
Phoenix, AZ
It may be late spring everywhere else in the United States, but March is like summertime down in Arizona and McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F Fest) takes full advantage of the warm weather. The now annual celebration of community and charity has become a solid fixture in the growing Phoenix festival scene.
Featured Artists: Big Gigantic, Com Truise, Dr. Dog, Father John Misty, Gorgon City, Griz
FORM Arcosanti Festival 2018
May 11-13, 2018
Arcosanti, AZ
Aiming for an exclusive festival experience, FORM Arcosanti brings in those chosen to experimental artist campgrounds outside Phoenix. Over the course of three days, artists at FORM perform against the backdrop to sweeping desert terrain. With a small capacity attendance, festival goers receive a personalized experience backed by an eclectic lineup.
Featured Artists: Beach House, Courtney Barnett, Fleet Foxes, Skrillex, The Blessed Madonna, Zola Jesus
Pot of Gold Festival 2018
March 16-18, 2018
Chandler, AZ
It's St. Patrick's Day which means another edition of Arizona's Pot of Gold Festival. Jam bands, hip-hop, and rock form the heart of this multi-day Phoenix festival which also sees warm, sunny days mixed into the lineup.
Featured Artists: Phil Lesh, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, The Infamous Stringdusters
Phoenix Lights 2018
April 7-8, 2018
Phoenix, AZ
The Phoenix Lights festival lands downtown for one of Arizona's top dance music festivals. Like the mass UFO sighting of the same name from 1997, this festival is out of this world with two days of music in April.
Featured Artists: Diplo, Gramatik, Martin Garrix
Innings Festival 2018
March 23-25, 2018
Tempe, Arizona
Much like (insert name of famous sportsball team), Arizona has been on a hot streak lately when it comes to picking up new festivals. This spring, Tempe will recruit the Innings Festival to their lineup. Produced by the folks behind Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, the three-day fest takes place during Spring Training in Arizona, so expect plenty of overlap between the two events.
Featured Artists: Cold War Kids, Counting Crows, Local Natives, Queens of the Stone Age, Sylvan Esso, The Avett Brothers, The Decemberists, The Head and the Heart, Young the Giant
Country Thunder Arizona 2018
April 5-8, 2018
Florence, AZ
30,000 fans a day ride into Florence for the largest country music festival in Arizona. Bring a tent or an RV -- this four day festival also has plenty of camping along with a world-class lineup of country stars.
Photo Credit: by Jenn Pierce