Live Music | Visit Tucson (2024)

For the music fan, Tucson will quickly feel like home.

When it comes to ourmusicscene Tucson has a little bit of everything. But at the end of the day, we'rea destination for music-lovers who prefer to go against the grain. While this isn't the place to find mega festivals and massive headlinerson arena tours, it is a place that will remindyou of why you fell in love with music and allow you to find new artists that you haven't heard on the radio.

Go out to a local venue like theRialto or Club Congressand you very well might find your favorite indy artist is coming through town. Or better yet, you might discover a new favorite. The historicFox Tucson Theatreis a great reminder thatit doesn't matter who's playing when you're sitting inside of a classically beautiful space. It's even easy to find great live music out at a bar or on the streets during an event like 2nd Saturdays Downtown.

From Latin flare to Country twang, you're sure to findsomething different every night, around every corner. Just remember to expect the unexpected when you're listening to the sounds of Tucson.

Explore Music Venues

When you think of American cities known for music, sure, names like Nashville, Memphis, Seattle, and Austin will come to mind, and for good reason. However, for the music fan, Tucson might end up feeling like a new spiritual home.

The first name that probably jumps to mind in connection with Tucson music is likely Linda Ronstadt, who grew up in Tucson, left for Los Angeles to hang with the Eagles, but did return frequently, using her Tucson upbringing as an inspiration for her three Spanish-language albums, including the Grammy-winning (and multi-platinum)Canciones de Mi Padre. The traditional mariachi sounds reflected on that album (and its follow-up,Mas Canciones) are seemingly everywhere in Tucson, whether coming out of the hall of local high schools where the style is taught or tableside at some Mexican restaurants. If you want to delve further into the world of mariachi (or just want to see the best in the genre perform), Tucson is host to theTucson International Mariachi Conferenceeach April, which includes concerts, workshops, and even a Mariachi Mass.

Tucson's current musical legacy stretches far beyond just mariachi, however - although the influence of Mexican traditional music does show up here and there. Indie rock legends Giant Sand and Calexico still make their home here in between world tours (no joke, both bands are internationally famous). Sergio Mendoza is in seemingly a hundred bands - ok, maybe four or five - but his female-fronted Spanish language actLos Hijos de laMontaña's first album was picked as one of Apple Music's best of 2015, his big band tribute to the brassy sounds of 1950s Mexico -Y La Orkesta- has been featured on NPR, and he's also a part of Mexrrissey, a Latin-alternative supergroup paying tribute to the dramatic frontman of The Smiths. Plus, there's a constant stream of bands seemingly ready for the big time, like Run Boy Run, Katie Haverly, Lando Chill, Xixa and many, many more.

Those acts are often featured on influential community non-commercial radio stationKXCI, whoseshows and programming spotlight local, national and international artists that don't make it on commercial radio, in genres from gospel to punk. You canstream KXCI's broadcast any time for free.Plus, you can hear local music - plus an incredible selection of big (and very nearly big) acts - at downtown venues like the historicHotel Congress(built in 1919 and a home for nearly every type of music for over 30 years),the Rialto Theatre(where acts including Lake Street Drive, They Might Be Giants and Elvis Costello are on the schedule for early 2016), the Flycatcher and more.

Here's a playlist of local Tucson acts that have played on 91.3 KXCI's show Locals Only hosted by Matt Milner. You can catch Locals Only every Monday night from 8 to 10. The show features a live performance most nights during the 9 o'clock hour.