The Phoenix

Music & Nightlife

Before They Blow Up: Inside the Valley's Scrappy, Essential Local Music Scene

Long before an Arizona act lands on a festival lineup or racks up streams, they're playing sweaty sets at venues most people haven't heard of yet. We went deep into the Valley's local music ecosystem — talking to venue owners, promoters, and the artists grinding their way toward something bigger — to find out where the next wave is coming from.

Oct 1, 2026

Arts & Culture

Spray Cans and Soul: Meet the Phoenix Muralists Turning Forgotten Walls Into Neighborhood Landmarks

Across Phoenix's overlooked corners and crumbling corridors, a new generation of muralists is doing something quietly radical — making forgotten places impossible to ignore. We talked to the artists behind the paint, the community members living beside their work, and the city officials trying to figure out where the lines actually are.

Oct 1, 2026