Experience AZ magazine is Arizona’s go-to travel and adventure guide, showcasing the best places to eat, stay, shop, explore and experience across the state. In the spirit of the latest issue of Experience AZ, here are five live music venues to check out in Arizona.
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Fox Tucson Theatre
Fox Tucson Theatre is a jewel box — a painstakingly restored 1930 movie palace that is one of Southern Arizona’s most atmospheric performing arts venues. Its Art Deco and Southwestern design details give the space cinematic warmth, making every show feel like an occasion. Programming is eclectic: comedian Henry Cho, rocker Chris Daughtry (acoustic), “Outlander” in Concert and “Fraggle Rock” Live are all scheduled this fall and winter.
Information: foxtucson.com
Celebrity Theatre
Celebrity Theatre is Phoenix’s most theatrical concert venue — literally. Since 1963, its rotating circular stage has turned performances into a slow-motion dance between artist and audience. Everyone gets a good seat and a close-up. The legends keep coming, with Don McLean, Todd Rundgren, The Psychedelic Furs, Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding and Anthony Jeselnik among the upcoming attractions.
Information: celebritytheatre.com
Mesa Arts Center
Mesa Arts Center is one of the Valley’s most dynamic cultural hubs — an architecturally bold campus where creativity rules. Its theaters host touring productions, jazz, family shows and experimental works. Studios for ceramics, metalwork and printmaking welcome beginners and working artists, while galleries showcase regional and national exhibitions. In November, Ikeda Theater hosts Chris Botti, Pink Martini and The Ten Tenors.
Information: mesaartscenter.com
Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)
The Musical Instrument Museum’s MIM Music Theater hosts intimate concerts in a 300-seat venue with pristine acoustics and a listening-room vibe. More than 300 artists take the stage each year, presenting everything from jazz and classical to bluegrass and singer-songwriters. This winter, audiences can hear songs and stories from Jimmy Webb, Chris Botti, The Klezmatics and Jake Shimabukuro.
Information: mim.org/upcoming-concerts
The Van Buren
Housed in a 1929 auto showroom, The Van Buren still feels like it could sell you a stylish roadster — except now the horsepower comes from the sound system. Brick walls, a desert-themed mural and industrial design give the venue distinctive character. This fall and winter bring a genre-spanning lineup that includes Skillet, Matt Hansen and Yung Gravy.
Information: thevanburenphx.com
