Best fall music festivals in Arizona, from Boots in the Park to Decadence
Well, we’ve almost made it through another summer in the Valley of the Sun. And a record-breaking one at that.
Phoenix recently marked its 100th consecutive day of temperatures topping 100 degrees. The previous record of 76 straight days was set in 1993.
This may be why it’s been a minute since we saw a major music festival in metro Phoenix.
As we head into fall, of course, those temperatures will start to dip at least a little. And with cooler temperatures expected, music festivals are making their return to Arizona in September, with Pickin' in the Pines and Coconino Campout bringing bluegrass and EDM to their respective dates in Flagstaff and Jason Aldean trying "that" in a fairly large town when Boots in the Park returns to Tempe.
Here are the best fall music festivals in metro Phoenix and throughout Arizona through the end of 2024.
This list will be updated as more festivals announce or change their plans. So you may want to bookmark this for future reference.
Pickin' in the Pines
Pickin' in the Pines returns to Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff for three days of bluegrass and acoustic music, camping, educational workshops, a band contest, a community dance, kids activities and more.
This year's lineup features Del McCoury Band, Leftover Salmon, Yonder Mountain String Band, Steep Canyon Rangers, Becky Buller Band, Noam Pikelny & Friends (featuring Bryan Sutton, Barry Bales, Shad Cobb and Jacob Jolliff), Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, Town Mountain, Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band, Big Richard, Never Come Down, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Jake Leg, the Sonoran Dogs, Pick & Holler, the Arizona Wildflowers and Mountain Time Ramblers.
Pickin’ in the Pines was voted Best Festival in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 by readers of the Arizona Daily Sun.
Details: 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 13-14; 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15. Pepsi Amphitheatre, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff. $204 weekend pass; Friday and Saturday single-day tickets $96; $84 Sunday. pickininthepines.org/tickets.
Coconino Campout
Relentless Beats is rolling out another new festival. The three-day camping festival in Flagstaff will highlight an eclectic array of global, national and regional talent, along with art installations and immersive experiences. Headliners are LSDream, CLBZee and Liquid Strangers. Other performers include Daily Bread, Detox Unit, G Jones, Tape B, Truth and Zingara with sunset sets by Desert Dwellers, Sunsquabi, the Widdler, A Hundred Drums, Cannablis, Chmura B2B Molokai, Lumasi, Secret Recipe, Grackle Beats B2B Mastuh and Yews B2B Myrtle.
Details: 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22. Pepsi Amphitheatre, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff. $124.99 single day; $279.91-$344.53 three-day pass. coconinocampout.com.
Boots in the Park with Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean
Boots in the Park returns to Tempe Beach Park with Thomas Rhett and Jason Aldean headlining the festival's third year in Tempe. Friday's lineup features Rhett with Riley Green, Trace Adkins, Corey Kent, Ella Langley and Redferrin. Saturday brings Aldean with Jon Pardi, Ian Munsick, Jackson Dean, Chayce Beckham and Greylan James. DJ Luwiss Lux will be there both days. The festival website promises two days of “chart-topping country artists, line dancing, beer and craft cocktails, locally curated food vendors, art installations, beautiful AZ views and so much more.”
Details: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 28-29. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $125 and up. bootsinthepark.com.
Aaron White's Tribal Stomp Native American Music & Arts Festival
This one-day festival in Flagstaff features live performances by Canyon Records artist Aaron White, Debora Iyall of Romeo Void, Jess Valenzuela of Gin Blossoms, Casper & the 602 Band, Knotty Knitty, the Plateros, Joe Tohanni and the Crown Dancers, Joe Manuel & the Eagle Heart Band.
Details: Noon Sunday, Sept. 29. Pepsi Amphitheatre, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff. $10. etix.com.
Goldrush: Wild Card at Phoenix Raceway
Relentless Beats is bringing Goldrush: Wild Card, the latest incarnation of the EDM promoter’s Western-tinged festival concept, to Phoenix Raceway in Avondale. Stacked with headliners Alesso, the Chainsmokers, Slander, Ganja White Knight and Black Tiger Sex Machine — The Anime Show, the Goldrush 2024 lineup is as hard-hitting as it is diverse.
Other artists include Acraze b2b Noizu, AC Slater, Audien, Blossom, Deathpact, Halogenix, Heyz, Hvdes, Mall Grab, MitiS, Nikademis, OG Nixin, Omnom, Ray Volpe, Shermanology, Sullivan King, Timmy Trumpet, Walker & Royce and YDG, &Friends, Alix Perez, Anatta, Andruss, DJ Pauly D, Jackie Hollander, Matt Sassari, Monty b2b Two Swords fka Hyroglifics, Pola & Bryson, San Holo (DJ set), San Pacho, Sanzu, Sound Rush, Arietta, Guestli$t b2b Chiief, Hotsauce and Nealson.
It also features the first b2b set by Inzo and Mersiv.
Details: 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4-5. Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. $169 and up for a two-day pass. tixr.com.
FORM Arcosanti
FORM festival returns to Arcosanti, the experimental arts community near Cordes Junction in central Arizona, for the first since 2019 to celebrate the festival's 10th anniversary.
This year's lineup features Angel Olsen, Bonobo, Empress of, Four Tet, James Blake, Jamie xx, Julie Byrne, Kevin Morby, Kim Gordon, Noname, Oneohtrix, Skrillex, Thundercat, Aja Monet, Amaro Freitas, Barry Can’t Swim, DVR, Dylan Brady, Erika De Casier, Fcukers, Fifi, Floating Points, Jessica Pratt, Julianna Barwick, La Lom, Lonnie Holley, Los Esplifs, Mustafa, Nia Archives, Nick Hakim, Nicole Miglis, Point Never, Pink Pantheress, Shabaka, Sir Chloe, Team Ezy and Trayer Willits.
Details: 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 4-6. Arcosanti, 13555 S. Cross L Road, Mayer, Arizona. Sold out. experienceform.com.
Four Peaks Brewing Oktoberfest
Now in its 51st year, the three-day Bavarian-themed festival returns to Tempe Town Lake. The outdoor event is open to all ages and features live music all weekend across two stages as well as German food, drinks, games, carnival rides, dancing and more.
The Black Moods will headline Friday's bill, which also features Dirty Rhodes, OC & National Anthem, the Instant Classics, the Chad Bailey Experience, Chauncey Jones and Jay Allan & the Uncommon Good.
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers will headline Saturday, topping a bill that also features Honeygirl, Green 182, Sliced Limes, Sara Robinson Band, Whiskey Quicker, Superhero, Walt Richardson, Farmer Wilson, Tony's Polka Parade, Cold Shott and the Hurricane Horns, Dayweather and Christopher Shayne Band.
Sunday's lineup features Christie Huff, Ashbrook, Wyves, Southern Ways, Lacey Rashea Band, Rose Colored Eyes, The Bayou Bandits and Rock Lobster.
Details: Oct. 11-13. 5 p.m.-midnight Friday; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 pm. Sunday. Tempe Town Lake, 80. W. Rio Salado Parkway. $25 Friday and Saturday. Free Sunday. Free all weekend for age 20 and younger. VIP tickets available. fourpeaksoktoberfest.com.
VIVA PHX
It’s been 10 years since VIVA PHX reimagined what a music festival could be in downtown Phoenix, bringing 50 acts to 13 stages, some in actual venues, others housed in ad hoc spaces that don’t typically have music, all in walking distance of each other.
Now, Live Nation, Best Life Presents and Crescent Concerts are marking the 10th anniversary of that inaugural VIVA PHX by bringing it back for the first time since 2017 with headlining sets by Cuco, Freddie Gibbs and Cannons. Other names in big type on the poster art include the Walters, Crumb, Coco & Clair Clair, Mavi, Show Me the Body, Provoker, Mick Jenkins, El Michels Affair and Inner Wave.
More than 30 Arizona acts are set to take the stage, including Playboy Manbaby, Roar, Breakup Shoes, Glixen, Los Esplifs, Kareem Ali, Body of Light, Dogbreth, Secret Attraction, Veronica Everheart, Altrice, DJENTS, 707s, Pijama Piyama, Pariah Pete, Get a Grip, Yellowcake, Dirt Rhodes, Wheelwright, Repression, Psypiritual, Bummer Girl, Droll, Memory Ward, Apetight and KJADE.
Also playing: Justin Jay, Mija, Zella Day, Dreamer Isioma, Cruza, Pink Siifu, Vagabon, Zelooperz, Liv.e, Marlon Funaki, Thumpasaurus, Na-Kel Smith, Nourished By Time, Kacy Hill, Lou Phelps, High Vis, Sadboi, AceMoMa, Bib, Cumgirl8, Hitech, DWLLRS, Dougie Poole, NGHTCRWLR, Magnum Force, Psymon Spine, Obai, Jude Kellen, SAMNX, Owijo and Lance Fairchild.
Details: 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19. Downtown Phoenix. $55 and up. www.vivaphx.com.
Body Language: Dialect
Techno titans Nicole Moudaber and Klangkuenstler will kick up the BPMs for a special Halloween edition of Relentless Beats’ techno sub-brand Body Language Dialect at Warehouse 215 in downtown Phoenix, with Moudaber headlining Friday and Klangkuenstler topping the Saturday lineup.
Presented by Phoenix Warehouse Project, Techno Snobs, Relentless Beats and RBDeep, the two-day event will also feature Sustain Release co-founder Aurora Halal, hard groove producer Avision, Klockworks founder Ben Klock, Gravedgr, Ukrainian DJ Nastia, French techno producer Airo, Biia, stripped-down electro dj Helena Hauff, Shl?mo; Zorza and more. The event will also feature live art and performances by Weird & Wonderful.
Details: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. Waterhouse 215, 215 E. Grant St., Phoenix. $89 and up for a two-day pass; $41 and up for Friday tickets; $49 and up for Saturday. relentlessbeats.hive-pages.com/techno.
Arizona Jazz Festival
As has become the norm with most jazz festivals, the biggest names here are soul and R&B. But it's hard to see that as a bad thing when one of the names is Erykah Badu. Other names announced include "American Idol" star Fantasia, Kem, the legendary Isley Brothers, the O'Jays, Musiq Soulchild, Joe, Stokley, Gerald Albright, Tony Toni, Tone featuring Dwayne Wiggins, Sheila E., Raheem DeVaughn, Michael Lington, Nathan Mitchell, J. Brown, Kevin Ross, LeVelle, Mike Phillips, Eric Roberson, J White, Rebecca Jade, Paul Taylor, Julian Vaughn, Jeff Bradsahw, Adam Hawley, Lin Rountree, Algebra Blessett and Justin Lee Schultz.
Details: Friday-Sunday, Oct. 25-27. West Valley Event Complex, 10020 N Ball Park Blvd., Glendale. Three-day pass $435 and up; single-day tickets $165 and up. azjazzfest.com.
Super Unnatural 2024
Body Language’s premiere house music event returns to Scottsdale with a lineup topped by Black Book Records boss Chris Lake, progressive house producer Eric Prydz, international legend Fatboy Slim, and a B2B with viral Brazilian phenom Mochakk and the dynamic Ibiza duo by way of the Bronx, the Martinez Brothers. Other performers include Dombresky, Hugel, Lilly Palmer, Patrick Topping, Aluna, Dillon Nathaniel, Sergik, Tommy Toole and Waykin.
Details: 3-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2. WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. $134.50 and up general admission; $319.50 and up VIP. bodylanguagefest.com.
Dreamy Draw Music Festival
Now in its second year, the three-stage festival is set to bring a mix of country, folk, Americana, roots and rock acts to the grassy grounds of Scottsdale Civic Center. The event is presented by Oh Wow Company, a Phoenix-based production company founded by RJ Largay.
This year’s lineup will be topped by L.A. indie-rockers Mt. Joy and Texas country-rockers Flatland Cavalry, with Izzy Mahoubi and the Kruse Brothers representing Arizona’s vibrant music scene.
Other performers include Charles Wesley Godwin, Shakey Graves, Paul Cauthen, Shane Smith & the Saints, Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Josiah & The Bonnevilles, Rayland Baxter, Willow Avalon, Chaparelle, Aidan Canfield, Waylon Wyatt, Country Night, Bayker Blankenship, Jesse Daniel, Emily Zeck, Cardinal Bloom, Julia DiGraza, the Kruse Brothers and Diner.
Details: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1-2. Scottsdale Civic Center, 3939 N Drinkwater Blvd. $95 and up Friday; $75 and up Saturday; $135 and up two-day pass. tixr.com.
Hondo Rodeo Fest at Chase Field
The inaugural Hondo Rodeo Fest is a million-dollar rodeo competition with concerts by country artists Zac Brown Band, Brooks & Dunn, Hank Williams Jr., Old Dominion, Turnpike Troubadours and Whiskey Myers. This is the first event of its kind in Phoenix, merging the best in rodeo action with legendary musical performances under the bright lights of Chase Field.
Details: 6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 7-9. Chase Field, 401 E. Jefferson, Phoenix. $40 a day; $265.50 and up for 3-day pass. 800-745-3000, ticketmaster.com.
DUSK Music Festival
Presented by Rio Nuevo, a group dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Tucson, DUSK will return once again to the streets around Jácome Plaza in its eighth year. The two-day EDM festival features headlining sets by Kaskade, Masego, Quinn XCII and Steve Aoki.
ATLiens, Disco Lines, Gus Dapperton, Peekaboo, Anabel Englund, Austeria, Beach Weather, Blu DeTiger, Bunt., Devin Morrison, Emei, Emorfik, Khiva, Layz, Odd Mob, Zolita, Barefoot on Bumblebees, ill.45, Insound, Jeeezus, Sophia Rankin & The Sound, Walters The Don and ZeeCeeKeely are also scheduled to perform.
Details: 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9-10. Jacome Plaza, 101 N. Stone Ave., Tucson. $119 and up. duskmusicfestival.com.
Desert Sky Music Festival at the Park at Wild Horse Pass
No acts have been announced yet. The 2023 edition featured Parmalee and Lainey Wilson, the Country Music Association's reigning Female Vocalist and New Artist of the Year, who also picked up Female Artist of the Year and Album of the Year from the Academy of Country Music.
Details: 2-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16. The Park at Wild Horse Pass, 19593 S. 48th St., on the Gila River Indian Community near Chandler. $60 and up. forty8live.com/desert-sky-music-festival.
Better Together
Relentless Beats have promised "a vibrant new music festival" at the Rawhide Festival Grounds the weekend of Nov. 22-23. Presale registration is available at wegobettertogether.com. And that is all we know so far on this one.
Details: 4 p.m.-12 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22-23. Rawhide Festival Grounds, 19593 S. 48th St., on the Gila River Indian Community near Chandler. wegobettertogether.com.
Decadence: Age of Indulgence
The year in festivals will culminate in Decadence: Age of Indulgence celebrating A Decade of Decadence AZ, which has become one of the biggest New Year's festivals in the country, at Phoenix Raceway.
Artists include electro house godfather and dance music royalty collaborator Deadmau5; Aussie house music producer Dom Dolla; dubstep pioneer Excision; trap DJ ISOxo; Drugs From Amsterdam producer Mau P; the return of Tchami x Malaa’s No Redemption collab, and genre-bending British DJ Troyboi.
They're also promising the return of the Weird and Wonderful performers, activations throughout the grounds and more.
Details: 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 30-31. . Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. Two-day tickets are $179 and up; decadencearizona.com/.
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best music festivals of fall 2024 in Phoenix, around Arizona
