The music of Arizona draws from a variety of influences. With its large Native American population, its close proximity to Mexico, and the huge cosmopolitan city of Phoenix at its heart, the state combines the best sounds from these cultures, along with national and world trends.
Native American Music
One of the best ways to experience the music of Arizona's Native American groups is to visit one of the many Indian arts festivals in the state. One such event is the Native American Arts Festival, held annually in Litchfield Park outside of Phoenix. Held in January, this festival features a variety of arts and crafts booths, along with Native American musical and dance performances.
The Heard Museum, also in the Phoenix area, holds many events where visitors can hear and learn about Native American music. These events include Holidays at the Heard (in late December), the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market (early March), and the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest (February).
Other Musical Varieties
For folk music outside of the Native American realm, the annual Folk Music Festival, hosted by the Sharlot Museum in Prescott, takes place each October. With workshops, dancing, singer-songwriter sessions, jams, and more, the festival features over 150 performers. On Saturday night, there is a big barn dance, and on Sunday morning, a musical instrument swap meet takes place.
The Phoenix metropolitan area holds many of Arizona's largest and best-attended music venues. One of the biggest venues in town is the Dodge Theatre, which seats up to 5,000 people, and hosts everything from boxing shows, to popular touring and comedy acts. Owned by Live Nation -- a national concert promoting corporation -- the Dodge Theatre features a major act almost every night. In a given week, the theater may host a hit contemporary rock band, a world famous comedian, and a political rally. One of the theater's most popular events is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, which is in town during a segment of the holiday season, and stars the Radio City Rockettes.
The Phoenix Stages -- a division of city government -- operates two venues dedicated to performances of opera, symphony, jazz, and other non-musical events. Symphony Hall is home to the Arizona Opera and the Phoenix Symphony, and also hosts shows by popular musicians and singers. The 76-member Phoenix Symphony, founded in 1947, performs over 250 concerts a year. The Symphony focuses primarily on classical and romantic composers such as Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Brahms, but also ventures into works by more modern composers, such as Debussy, Stravinsky, and Marvin Hamlisch. The Arizona Opera has a similar aesthetic, focusing on works by writers and composers from days of yore, as well as the occasional production of works by more modern composers such as Stephen Sondheim and Benjamin Britten. The Arizona Opera's shows run from October to April.
The other venue overseen by Phoenix Stages is the Orpheum Theatre, a historic and architecturally interesting downtown venue. The Orpheum hosts many touring musical acts, as well as jazz performances, and seasonal music performances. Additionally, the Orpheum hosts occasional Phoenix Symphony performances, as well as touring comedy shows, plus many local and national dance performances.
Another musical venue in the Phoenix area is the Chandler Center for the Arts, which hosts concert series and one-time shows in a variety of musical genres, including jazz, mariachi, new age, symphony, and choral music. Several music companies frequently perform at the center, including the Chandler Symphony, Fiesta Chorus, Mesa Chorus, Phoenix Girls Chorus, Salt River Brass, and the Scottsdale Chorus. Exhibiting a high degree of artistic integrity, as well as a philosophy of community involvement, the center has become a popular venue for both locals and visitors to the area. The best way to find out about the Chandler Center's exciting and diverse events is to visit their Web site.
Music Festivals
One of Arizona's biggest music events is the annual Jazz on the Rocks, in Sedona. Since 1981, this festival has provided an opportunity for Arizonans and visitors to experience five days of jazz in a beautiful, outdoor location. The popular festival, held in September, draws some of the best jazz performers from around the country, and features events such as a jazz brunch, a jazz circle party, and film screenings.
Another major event, returning to the Phoenix area, is the annual McDowell Mountain Music Festival, which features a full two-day line-up of nationally known rock and pop music acts. Founded as a benefit for local children's charities, the festival provides a family-friendly fun environment where visitors can camp overnight. The April event also features a marketplace, galleries, auctions, and a drum circle.
The Grand Canyon Music Festival takes place over several days in September on the north rim of the world-famous Grand Canyon. The festival features performances from a variety of musical acts, including a Native American composer. The goal of the Grand Canyon Music Festival is to make available to visitors music that is worthy of the Grand Canyon's breathtaking views.
These are only a few Arizona's major music festivals. There are others throughout the state, and visitors can learn about them via the Web or the local visitors' center. The abundance of musical venues, acts, and festivals in Arizona speaks to the state's rich cultural heritage. Visitors can hear everything from Native American drumming, to mariachi music from Latin America, as well as jazz, blues, classical, and pop. Arizona has something musical to offer for everyone.
