The sun rose on an unseasonably warm Friday last week for the 2025 edition of Dreamy Draw Music Festival. Scottsdale Civic Center Park was transformed into an oasis of music, food and local art to entice every type of festival goer that meandered between stages throughout the day. Atlas was there to capture all the fun- check out the best moments from day one!
Indie, Folk Bands Rule the Afternoon
The hot November sun had early attendees sprawled on blankets or searching for shade at the Stampede and Bronco Stages- both dominated by the folksy indie acts that kicked off the festival weekend. Hovvdy played right into the blinding sun, getting the crowd swaying along to their leisurely guitar-driven tunes. It was the perfect drowsy afternoon before the next act at the main stage.
It was a long walk over to Scottsdale Stadium where the Bronco main stage was housed, but fans stretched their legs and made their way down to field level to catch Houndmouth. The Midwest blues rock band was all smiles behind their sunglasses, entertaining an eager crowd with their laidback music. Friday’s energy was certainly kept to a low buzz but that certainly isn’t to say that the fans weren’t having a stellar time.
As the music went on, attendees could be found at the various tattoo installations getting a permanent souvenir, sampling local brews or even getting fitted for a brand new hat or set of earrings. Local vendors provided ample delights to view, touch, taste or take home as those waiting on their next favorite band spent some downtime in retail therapy.
A Little Bit of Country Soul
The sun set over the stadium early but the late fall temperatures stayed nice and toasty for the music still to come. A large crowd amassed for Thee Sacred Souls at the Bronco Stage, letting the clamor of the band’s brass section and their soothing harmonies wash over them as they swayed and sang along. Singer Josh Lane evokes the music and aesthetic of a bygone era and the energy of a band in their prime as he jumped down onto the barricade to get up close and personal with the thrilled fans in the front row. Everyone was all smiles as they walked away from the stage at the end of the set, ready for a hearty dose of country and blues at the Stampede Stage.
The Marcus King Band bathed the stage and the amphitheater in a wave of intense pink light as the set started and the excitement ramped up. The southern rock artist was dressed to the nines but it was his dexterous guitar skills and silky smooth vocals that stole the spotlight. His band held it down behind a plethora of lightning fast guitar solos through songs like “Hero”, “Honkey Tonk Hell” and “Goodbye Carolina”. The entire set was mesmerizing and the perfect warmup to the final performance of the night.
The Lumineers Light Up Day One
Arizona has long held a deep love for The Lumineers and their second festival appearance in the desert this year drew a large and dedicated crowd to the main stage. The band built their own bridge to a smaller stage in the middle of the audience to bring their performance to life even closer to the fans they love so much. Founding members Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites have been making music together for 20 years now and their easy camaraderie and decades of musical chemistry lent a warm glow to the set.
The rest of the live band hyped up the crowd, getting everyone to stomp, clap and sing along to “Ho Hey”, “You’re All I Got” and “Ophelia”. The fans were more than happy to participate, mirroring the smiles shining down at them from the stage. Schultz even walked into the crowd at one point, the fans keeping a respectful distance as he sang beside them and turning the stadium into a much more intimate venue. Day one came to a rousing close with “Cleopatra” and “Stubborn Love”, sending the masses into the slight chill of the evening and ready to do it all again on Saturday.
