Top music festivals in Arizona 2024: Cinco de Mayo, Pure Imagination, Boots in the Park – The Arizona Republic

Metro Phoenix loves its music festivals.
Could be a weather thing.
We even welcomed several new music festivals in 2023, from TikTok In the Mix at Sloan Park, the home of the Cubbies in Mesa, and Bases and Brews in Surprise to Luna del Lago at Lake Pleasant in Peoria and Dreamy Draw in Scottsdale, which somehow managed to land on the same exact weekend.
The field got a little more crowded in early March 2024 when Innings Festival went into Extra Innings for a double header at Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park, which as it turns out was the very weekend M3F rolled into its new digs at Steele Indian School Park.
Here’s a look at all the music festivals in metro Phoenix that have announced their 2024 dates. If history is any indication, you can bet there will be more. And we will update as more festivals announce their plans.
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We also have a running list of all the latest Valley concert news, which we update as new shows are announced.
You know you want more:Biggest 2024 events in Phoenix, from the WM Phoenix Open to USAF Thunderbirds
A year after celebrating its 30th anniversary, the Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival returns to downtown Phoenix with Latin-funk sensations War and San Diego reggae band Big Mountain as well as local acts throughout the day, including the amazing Las Calakas and Znora. The family-friendly event also features lucha libre, ballet folklorico, mariachi serenades, a free Kids Zone with games, giveaways, traditional Mexican food, margaritas and more.
Details: Noon-10 p.m. Sunday, May 5. First Avenue and Washington Street, Phoenix. $5 before 5 p.m.; $10 after 5 p.m. cincophx.com.  
The Flaming Lips will headline Pure Imagination on a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” album when the festival returns to Watson Lake in historic Prescott, Arizona. It’s an impressively eclectic lineup, from the willfully eccentric, psychedelic splendor of the Flaming Lips to country music legend Tanya Tucker, indie dance-pop duo Sylvan Esso and alternative hip-hop pioneers the Pharcyde. Other performers include Danielle Ponder, The National Parks, Sarah Shook & the Disarmers, Brian Chartrand, Ponderosa Grove, the Irie, Galactagogues and BG NFTY.
Details: Saturday, May 18. Watson Lake Park, 3101 Watson Lake Park Road, Prescott. pureimaginationfestival.com.
Country star Kane Brown will headline the latest edition of Boots in the Park at Tempe Beach Park with Lee Brice, Tyler Hubbard, Parmalee, Dylan Schneider and Luwiss Lux. It also features line dancing, beer and craft cocktails, locally curated food vendors, and art installations.
Details: Noon Sunday, May 19. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $99 and up. bootsinthepark.com.
Relentless Beats is rolling out another new festival concept. Scheduled for September 20-22, 2024, at the Pepsi Amphitheater in Flagstaff, Arizona, the three-day camping festival will highlight an eclectic array of global, national, and regional talent, along with captivating art installations and immersive experiences. Acts have yet to be announced.
Details: 3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22. Pepsi Amphitheatre, Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff. Ticket price TBA. coconinocampout.com.
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.
The festivals below this point have come and gone, but many will return in 2025 so everything from this point down is a decent indication of what we could be seeing next year.
Body Language returns to Phoenix Raceway with Eric Prydz topping the bill on Friday, Feb. 16, and Deadmau5 doing the honors on Saturday, Feb. 17. Presented by Relentless Beats and RBDeep, the EDM fest also features Meduza, Sofi Tukker (DJ Set), Charles D, Dubfire, Hugel, Kream, Layton Giordani, Martin Ikin, Never Dull, Omnom, Sammy Virji and Shermanology.
Details: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16-17. Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. $100 and up. $125.50 and up for a two-day pass. tixr.com.
Innings Festival returns to Tempe the weekend of Feb. 23-24 with bases fully loaded. Red Hot Chili Peppers headline Friday, Feb. 23, with Greta Van Fleet, Jimmy Eat World, 311, Phantogram, Matt & Kim, Bully, the Beaches and Taipei Houston.
Hozier headlines Saturday, Feb. 24, with Macklemore, Third Eye Blind, Young the Giant, Cannons, Cautious Clay, Mac Saturn, Miya Folick and Finish Ticket.
The baseball-themed festival also features Major League Baseball legends, including Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Luis Gonzalez and Dave Stewart, as well as an on-site talk show, “Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster.”
Details: Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24. Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $160 and up a day; $310 and up for a two-day pass. inningsfestival.com.
Chris Stapleton will headline the opening night of the inaugural Extra Innings Festival on Friday, March 1, with Turnpike Troubadours, Ryan Bingham with the Texas Gentlemen, Elle King, Charlie Crockett, Shane Smith & the Saints, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Donavon Frankenreiter, Kaitlin Butts, Goodnight, Texas, and the Takes.
Dave Matthews Band will headline Saturday, March 2, with Noah Kahan, Sheryl Crow, Morgan Wade, Gin Blossoms, Larkin Poe, Rich Mitch & the Coal Miners, Jade Bird, Josiah & the Bonnevilles, and Ben Goldsmith.
The baseball-themed festival also features Major League Baseball legends, including Adrian Gonzalez, Ryan Braun, Tim Raines and Rollie Fingers, as well as an on-site talk show, “Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster.”
Details: Friday and Saturday, March 1-2. Tempe Beach Park and Arts Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. $160 and up a day; $310 and up for a two-day pass. inningsfestival.com.
The nonprofit festival moves to Steele Indian School Park with Dominic Fike and Lane 8 topping the bill. In keeping with tradition, the festival formerly known as McDowell Mountain Music Festival has assembled a diverse array of talent, from EDM to indie, pop and R&B.
Friday’s bill is topped by Fike with Arlo Parks, Bakar, Coco & Breezy, Dayglow, Edapollo, Elderbrook, Hippo Campus, Jules Duke, SG Lewis, Tommy Newport, Vandelux, WhoMadeWho and Young Franco.
Lane 8 headlines Saturday with Barrett, Bennett Coast, BUNT., Drama, Duke Dumont, Fiji Blue, Gordo, Gorgon City, it’s murph, KOL, Poolside, Roosevelt, Shifty, Tim Atlas and Valley.
Details: Friday and Saturday, March 1-2. Steele Indian School Park, 300 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. $90 and up daily; $135 and up for a weekend pass. m3ffest.com.
A tale of two festivals:M3F not happy with Innings Fest going into Extra Innings
Big & Rich will headline the 34th annual Chandler Chamber Ostrich Festival at Tumbleweed Park on Saturday, March 9, on a bill that also features Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy.
The Ostrich Festival previously announced a headlining concert by platinum-certified singer-songwriter Yung Gravy on Friday, March 15.
The festival runs the weekends of March 8-10 and March 15-17, with rides, live music, attractions, food and much more. More acts will be announced as we get closer to the date.
Details: 2 p.m. Friday, March 8; 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10; 2 p.m. Friday, March 15; 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17. Tumbleweed Park, 745 E. Germann Road, Chandler. $20 and up per day; $45 weekend pass. ostrichfestival.com.
Parker McCollum, Trace Adkins, Rodney Atkins, George Birge, HunterGirl, Joe Peters and Luwiss Lux are playing the inaugural edition of this festival presented by Boots in the Park and KNIX. The website promises “a day full of live music from chart topping artists, BBQ from 30+ local vendors, whiskey tasting, line dancing and so much more!”
Details: Noon-10 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert. Price TBA. bootsinthepark.com.
Promising “the best smooth jazz experience” in the United States, this festival returns to High Street for three days in March with Charlie Wilson, Keith Sweat, Jodeci, Babyface, Anthony Hamilton, Teddy Swims, Robin Thicke, Johnny Gill, SWV, Boney James, Dinner Party (featuring Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington), Levelle featuring After 7, Eric Benet, Tower of Power and Damien Escobar. As often happens in these situations, the headliners are R&B, not jazz. 
Details: Friday-Sunday, March 22-24. High Street, 5415 E. High St., Phoenix. $435 and up for a weekend pass. 602-244-8444, azjazzfest.com.
This is Relentless Beats’ OG festival, originally known as Phoenix Lights. In 2024, the festival will land a little earlier than years past, clearing the way for some surprise announcements from Relentless Beats through spring and summer.
Seven Lions and NGHTMRE top the bill on Friday, March 29, with Joyryde b2b Habstrakt, Alok, goddard., SABAI and Residuo.
Kaskade and Deorro b2b Valentino Khan are Saturday’s main attractions with Dr. Oliver Tree, Apashe, Alleycvt, Levity and Mamba rounding out the lineup.
Details: 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 29-30. Phoenix Raceway, 7602 Jimmie Johnson Drive, Avondale. $139.50 and up for a two-day pass. phxlightsfest.com.
Arizona Bike Week is a celebration of motorcycles and music with two stages featuring live music all day and all of the night, plus vendors, stunt shows, bull riding, contests and demos. They’ve got Yelawolf on Wednesday, Brantley Gilbert on Thursday, a double bill of George Thorogood and the Destroyer with Everclear on Friday and Godsmack on Saturday.
Details: Wednesday-Sunday, April 3-7. The RockYard at WestWorld of Scottsdale, 16601 N. Pima Road. $49 single-day admission Wednesday and Thursday; $59 single-day admission Friday and Saturday; $99 weekend pass. azbikeweek.com. 
This three-day festival is a free event tied to the 2024 NCAA Division I Men’s Final Four. On Friday, April 5, Grammy-winning artist ZEDD will headline the AT&T Block Party with Reneé Rapp and Remi Wolf opening. On Saturday, April 6, the Grammy-nominated Jonas Brothers hit the stage. On Sunday, April 7, Capital One JamFest will be headlined by Grammy-winning Mumford & Sons. Grammy-winning rock revivalists the Black Keys, soulful octet Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats and Grammy-winning R&B star Leon Bridges will kick off the day’s event.
Details: 4:30-10 p.m. Friday, April 5; 3-9 p.m. Saturday, April 6; 2:30-10 p.m. Sunday, April 7. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. Free. ncaa.com/marchmadness/musicfest.
CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll, Eric Church and Koe Wetzel are set to headline Country Thunder Arizona when the four-day festival returns to Canyon Moon Ranch in Florence the weekend of April 11-14, 2024.
Warren Zeiders, Nate Smith, Priscilla Block, Diamond Rio, Alana Springsteen, Randy Houser, Flatland Cavalry, Stephen Wilson Jr., Avery Anna, Randall King, Dallas Smith, Jake Worthington, Halle Kearns, the Bellamy Brothers, Kyle McKearney, Paul Cauthen, Emily Ann Roberts, Alexandra Kay and Lauren Watkins are the other artists scheduled to perform.
Details: Thursday-Sunday, April 11-14. Canyon Moon Ranch, 20585 E. Price Station, Florence. $185 weekend pass. countrythunder.com/az. 
Alice Cooper and a handful of his famous friends will take the stage at a rock ‘n’ roll fundraising bash for Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers in Mesa and Phoenix at Las Sendas Golf Club in Mesa. This year’s guests include Micky Dolenz of the Monkees, Kevin Cronin of REO Speedwagon, Tommy Thayer of KISS, guitar god Orianthi, actor Patrick Warburton, performance artist Rock Demarco and performers from the Solid Rock Teen Centers. Coopstock also features live/silent auctions and more.
Details: 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13. Las Sendas Golf Club, 7555 E. Eagle Crest Drive, Mesa. $69-$500. 480-396-4000, alicecoopersolidrock.com.
Mesa Music Festival will once again transform the streets of downtown Mesa into Music City with performances on every corner. It’s a free event featuring upward of 250 performances spanning multiple genres and is open to music lovers of all ages. Attendees can expect an eclectic lineup featuring established and up-and-coming artists showcasing Arizona’s diverse talents with artists from across the country rounding out the bill. This year’s headliners are Grey Daze taking the stage of the Nile Theater from 10-11 p.m. Friday, April 19, and Weathers will perform on the Mesa Sessions Main Stage on at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20.
Details: Thursday-Saturday, April 18-20. Downtown Mesa. Free. mesamusicfest.com.
Miami Loco is a free music fest with regional acts and visiting artists from afar. This year’s bill includes the Copper Queens, Instagon, Max Riley Band, Dutch Holly, Schplit, Compersion, Carol Pacey & the Honey Shakers, Solypsis, Courtney Odom & the Rhythm Weaver, Funerelles, Karyn Ann, Butohsonics, Ralph E. White, Amelia Doll & Christa Leigh, Sunburnt Stone, F.A.Y.P., Hired Guns, 20 Ft. Neon Jesus, Steen, Emby Alexander and countless other acts.
Details: 5:30 p.m.-midnight Friday, April 19; 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, April 20; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Downtown Miami Arizona. Free. miamilocoartsfestival.com.
FRIED Fest organizers have been promising an epic celebration of everyone’s favorite crispy side dish — french fries! — in a day filled with food, awesome local music on two stages and good vibes. Does the fact that they’ve chosen to schedule their celebration on 4/20 suggest that there may be a double entendre involved in the naming of the festival? I’d say the likelihood of that is really high. Among the local artists scheduled to perform are Proper Pet, Chrome Rhino, Katie Mae & the Lubrication, Prime Society, Fairy Bones and Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold.
Details: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Margaret T. Hance Park, 67 W. Culver St., Phoenix. $16. eventbrite.com.
Arizona’s top-rated rock station, 98KUPD, brings its long-running festival, co-presented by Bud Light, to Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre with the Offspring, Chevelle, Motionless in White, P.O.D., Bad Wolves and Bury the Darkness. KUPD will donate $1 from each ticket sold to support United Phoenix Firefighters charities.
Details: 4 p.m. Friday, April 26. Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, 2121 N. 83rd Ave., Phoenix. $48.65 and up. 602-254-7200, livenation.com.
This two-day festival brings the biggest names in belico, a regional Mexican music subgenre whose lyrics tend to focus on drug trafficking and the ongoing cartel turf battles in Mexico. Junior H, Luis R. Conriquez and Gerardo Ortiz are the main attractions, joined by Octavio Cuadras, Michelle Maciel, Padrinto Toys, Joel de la P, Kompa Marley, Oscar Maydon, Blessd, Uriel Gaxiola and more.
Details: Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. Wild Horse Pass Festival Grounds, 19593 S. 48th St., on the Gila River Indian Community south of Phoenix. $99-$499. 480-502-5600, rawhide.com.
Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @EdMasley.
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