16 Nov 24th–Nov 30th, 2022 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | Will Re-Entry to the Festival Be Allowed? Only VIP pass-holders will be allowed to leave the festival and come back the same day. What’s the Performance Schedule? The schedule is not yet finalized, but each day’s performances will be split between four stages. Saturday’s headliners are Beach House, Bleachers, and Tegan and Sara. Sunday’s headliners are Portugal. The Man and Japanese Breakfast. Saturday’s performers are: Aviv, Bartees Strange, Brainstory, Chicano Batman, Cowgirl Clue, Destroy Boys, The Garden, The Happy Fits, The Happy Return, Jackie Hayes, July Talk, Miniature Tigers, The National Parks, Pariah Pete, Phantom Planet, Playboy Manbaby, Pom Pom Squad, SALES, Snailmate, Sub Urban, Sydney Sprague, Tatiana Crespo, and TV Girl. Sunday’s performers are: Beach Goons, Black Carl, Boyish, Breakup Shoes, Chloe Lilac, Diva Bleach, Flor, The Front Bottoms, Glixen, Hhharpies, Horse Jumper of Love, Jeff Rosenstock, Lucius, Luna Aura, Madilyn Mei, Mothé, Phoenix Afrobeat Orchestra, The Red Pears, The Regrettes, Sad Park, Sasami, Sitting on Stacy, Turnover, UPSAHL, and Waxahatchee & Kevin Morby. How Do I Purchase Food and Drink at the Festival? Like many other big events, Zona Music Festival will be cashless. The wristband that also serves as the festival ticket has a built-in RFID chip. Before the festival, attendees will register their wristband online and link a credit or debit card to it, allowing for fast, easy transactions for food, drinks, and merch. Can I Bring My Own Water Bottle? Attendees can bring their own empty, refillable water bottle, and there will be water stations at the festival. What Are the COVID Protocols? Zona Music Festival has no specific COVID-19 policies, such as mask or vaccine requirements. But cases are on the rise, so you may want to think about wearing a mask and making sure your booster is up to date. What Are the Zona Nights Events? There’s more to Zona Music Festival than just the two-day event. The fun actually starts on December 1 with a series of shows around town. On Thursday, December 1, Sundiver CA, Mind’s Eye, and Wah Wah will perform at The Rebel Lounge (8 p.m., $16 plus fees). You’ve got choices to make on Friday, December 2, when there are four shows happening: AJJ with Veronica Everheart at Crescent Ballroom (8 p.m., $23 plus fees); Black Carl with Jackie Hayes and Wallace Hound at The Rebel Lounge (8 p.m., $25 plus fees); Phantom Planet with Aviv at Valley Bar (7:30 p.m., $20 plus fees); and Teen Daze with DJ J-Me Lee at Valley Bar (10 p.m., free). On Saturday, December 3, Emo Night PHX at The Rebel Lounge features guest DJs Sydney Sprague, Luna Aura, and Sad & Boujee (9:30 p.m., $12 plus fees) and indie dance party Electric Feels takes over Crescent Ballroom (10:30 p.m., $12 plus fees). What Can and Can’t I Bring? A full list of allowed and prohibited items is currently being finalized, says event organizer Stephen Chilton of Pskyo Steve Presents. But he did tell us that there will be a clear bag policy enforced during Zona Music Festival, so start shopping now for a see-through backpack . — JENNIFER GOLDBERG “We still want to put on a good show, but I think we want it to be a little loose, like the whole thing could just come off the rails at any minute.” A Win for Phoenix Chilton says that Zona is far and away the biggest event he’s ever produced. But its success won’t just be a win for the veteran promoter, it’ll be a huge boon for the local music scene and Phoenix in general. Nick Zawisa of Breakup Shoes, who are performing on Sunday, December 4, says, “I think it’s pretty special. All of my bandmates and I are born and raised and lived our lives and gone to school here, so getting to have a festival this large in Phoenix — I’m excited to attend in general, and getting to play and being part of the showcase of what talent has come out of Phoenix is a very unique and special experience.” Robbie Pfeffer of Playboy Manbaby, who are playing Saturday, agrees. “A big part of what has made us a band is being from Phoenix and being a part of the Phoenix, Arizona, community,” he says. “So having something that can really showcase all the really cool stuff that happens in Phoenix and in Arizona, I think it’s a really great time for that because we have so much to offer and it’s nice to have that on the national stage.” Price says Zona is just one important part of helping recalibrate people’s perceptions of the city. “For so long, we were pretty sleepy, and I don’t know that we had the cache or the pop nationally to do these kinds of things,” Price explains. “But over the years, a lot of great work has been done. And the city has evolved a lot. We don’t look the same, we don’t feel the same. Between Zona festival and having the Super Bowl just seven years after the last time we had it, I think those perceptions are about ready to change.” Stage from p 15 Guide from p 15 Clockwise from above: Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand of December 3 headliner Beach House; John Gourley of Portugal. The Man — headliner for December 4; and Tegan and Sara. Ethan Miller/Getty Images Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images for dcp Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images
