Arizona fans broke out their best hats and cowboy boots to get a little bit country with it at Extra Innings Festival last week. The two day extravaganza boasted a stacked lineup of country and Southern rock acts, alongside baseball legends and plenty of activities to explore between sets. Atlas was there to boot scoot with the best of them- check out our weekend recap!
A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock ‘n’ Roll
The crossover appeal of country and rock music intersected perfectly at Extra Innings, with acts like Bret Michaels, Hardy and Dierks Bentley putting the spotlight on a more mainstream version of the genre’s typical twang. Bret Michaels took to the Home Plate Stage in the heat of Friday afternoon, paying homage to his military family, expressing endless gratitude and even breaking out the harmonica for some blues riffs in the middle.
The Poison frontman hasn’t let his metal roots fully leave him, leaning into a heavier side of country with his rocking band and choices of songs- including several toned down Poison hits. He also got the field moving to “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Drift Away” before letting his band loose on “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” and “Nothin’ But a Good Time”. For those just meandering into the festival, Michaels captured plenty of attention and got everyone nice and warmed up for the rest of the weekend with his positive energy.
While Luke Bryan and Kane Brown claimed the headlining slots of this year’s event, hometown hero Dierks Bentley stole the show on Friday night with his direct support slot on the main stage. He’s got plenty of Southern charm for an Arizona native, letting the warmth and comfort of the Phoenix crowd wash over him as the stage’s screen crafted dynamic visuals behind the band. Bentley was relaxed and visibly excited to be performing for such a receptive audience, treating the fans to “Burning Man”, “Living”, “Drunk on a Plane” and much more. Longtime fans were thrilled to welcome him back with open arms- the perfect almost-conclusion to day one.
Day two had that element of rock ‘n’ roll baked into the lineup but none stood out more than Hardy. The songwriter turned superstar emerged onto an elaborately built stage and gave the people what they’d been clamoring for- a performance that blurred any genre lines and let the fans rock out with abandon. Armed with a series of guitars and one killer band, Hardy left it all on the stage for over an hour, all while still leaving the fans wanting more- one of the most memorable performances of the weekend.
Indie-country Darlings Spotlight the Right Field Stage
Those looking to slow things down under the unforgiving Arizona sun sought refuge in Right Field with the undeniable sound of Muscaldine Bloodline. The duo of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton performed with an easy chemistry that made the whole set feel seamless from the first notes of “Earle Byrd From Mexia” to the final notes of “Me on You”. Their stage was adorned like an eclectic living room, filled to the brim with mismatched lamps and the band’s excellent tunes. They even sent a nod to the Phoenix music scene with a stellar cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle”- an addition that only further endeared them to the fans watching.
One of the largest crowds of day two went to rising country star Jessie Murph. With her tasseled dress and sky high curls, she was a daring mix of Dolly Parton and Marilyn Monroe with the vocal rasp of Lana Del Rey. Fans had hung off of the barricade all day for the chance to see her up close and she delivered an emotional set punctuated by cheeky waves and smiles to the audience. As it was with most of the weekend’s lineup, Murph’s sound was interspersed with elements of indie and pop and all backed by her powerful voice. The crowd was mesmerized throughout the set and clung to every note of a nearly 20-track setlist.
Extra Innings Festival may lean much more into the country side of music, but there was something for everyone at this year’s installment of the iconic spring event. Fans were more than happy to dig out their boots and dance the weekend away- and Arizona is certainly already looking forward to what 2027 will bring to Tempe Beach Park.
