Top Music Venues in the Valley To Add To Your Bucket List
The music industry might still see Arizona is a flyover state, with A-list artists usually opting to stop in on a Monday or Tuesday between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, but us Phoenicians know the love our city has for music and our incredible venues reflect that.
Check out our list of top music venues from stadiums to intimate music halls to plan your next live music outing!
The Van Buren
Downtown Phoenix
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This relative newcomer to the Phoenix music scene opened in late 2017 and holds nearly 2,000 concert-goers. It has hosted everything from Taylor Swift-themed dance parties and beer festivals to A-list acts like Carly Rae Jepsen to Common. The venue also offers premium seating packages for those wanting a VIP experience with prime seat locations, a dedicated concierge, expedited entry and premium parking (a real treat when you’re downtown!) — to name a few.
Ak-Chin Pavilion
West Phoenix
This massive outdoor venue is the perfect place for a fall concert with a group of friends. It can host up to 20,000 fans with a massive lawn to avoid those frustrating “where are you buying your seats?” group chats and confusion. Plus, the venue has seen some of the world’s top performers including Dierks Bentley, Bink-182 and One Republic to name a few.
Talking Stick Resort Arena
Downtown Phoenix
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This centrally-located indoor venue is usually home to the Phoenix Suns, Mercury, and Rattlers, but on off nights, it offers a chance to see national acts like Ariana Grande, Eric Clapton and the Jonas Brothers in a more intimate space (meaning with your 15,000 closest friends) than your typical stadium.
Marquee Theatre
Downtown Tempe
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This historic Tempe venue has been a staple in the Valley’s cultural scene for over 25 years, and since it opened as Marquee Theatre in 2003 its hosted top acts from all genres including Adele, The Black Keys, and Eric Church. Since then, it’s had plenty of upgrades to make it a high-end venue perfect for a night out with a large bar at the entry and comfortable upstairs lounge seating.
Crescent Ballroom
Downtown Phoenix
This hip, 500-person venue is a go-to spot for a night out. This is where you’ll find some national touring acts like Hawthorne Heights alongside top local talent like Jane N The Jungle, and between comedy shows, trivia nights and live music, there’s pretty much always something to do and see there, go check it out.
Mesa Amphitheatre
Mesa
This beautiful amphitheater holds nearly 5,000 and is ranked as one of the top outdoor music venues in the state. The tiered lawn ensures prime viewing for all concert-goers and makes it easy to attend shows with large groups of friends. Plus, its smaller capacity makes it a great spot to see big-time national artists up close and personal(ish). This fall’s lineup will include Social Distortion, Maren Morris and REO Speedwagon.
State Farm Stadium
Glendale
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This two-time Super Bowl host is a lot more than a concert venue — it’s one of the largest venues in the state and home to the Arizona Cardinals with a capacity of up to 73,000 people! It doesn’t host concerts all the time, but when it does, it hosts music legends like U2 and Garth Brooks, with The Rolling Stones slated to perform later this summer.
Comerica Theatre
Downtown Phoenix
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Comerica Theatre is one of the Valley’s top mid-size venues, with a 5,000 person capacity, excellent sound quality and an upscale atmosphere. Since it opened in 2002 as Dodge Theatre, it’s hosted everything from veteran comedians like Jerry Seinfield to up and coming artists like 21 Savage and Jon Bellion.
Where are your favorite places to catch a show in the Valley? Let us know in the comments and don’t forget to tag us on socials using #PHXFray and #FrayLife
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