Soundcheck is Phoenix Art Museum’s new music series

Phoenix Art Museum has always been a destination for more than visual art. Film, lectures, and music are always a part of the mix. Regarding the latter, SOUNDCHECK is its new monthly music series, launching in October and running through June.

Amplified was an all-day music event that packed the museum with people who came to see bands perform in different areas of the venue. Ernesto Chavezvaldivia, Phoenix Art Museum’s marketing and digital content manager, says they loved Amplified, but it won’t return; this series will replace it. “We went back to the drawing board to figure out a new way to do music” and to build on Amplified’s successes.

SOUNDCHECK results from those trips to the drawing board and collaborative brainstorming sessions. Chavezvaldivia adds that part of determining how to go forward was surveying people to see what they wanted, and live music and new experiences were at the fore for a number of the folks asked.

A local band will perform between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month. Most of the performances will take place in Whiteman Hall, which seats 300 people. The sculpture garden will be activated in the spring for these musical nights, merging exciting sounds with delightful weather. One band will perform per night; no separate ticket purchase will be needed.

The Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of the Phoenix Art Museum, Jeremy Mikolajczak, is excited to bring this new event to the community. “We are thrilled to announce the launch of SOUNDCHECK, a dynamic monthly evening event at the Museum featuring musical performances by various talents, from local artists to international acts. SOUNDCHECK aims to provide unique performances for everyone – spanning genres such as pop, rock, singer-songwriters, string ensembles, reggae, jazz and more. We are deeply grateful to our presenting sponsor, Men’s Arts Council, as well as Desert Financial Credit Union, for allowing Phoenix Art Museum to enhance select evenings with live music and performances throughout our campus,” he says.

Sentari Minor, board president of Men’s Arts Council, is equally as jazzed about SOUNDCHECK. “It is going to be the perfect blend of music, fun and art. Our partnership with the Phoenix Art Museum runs deep, and we’re very excited to be a part of this new event. We anticipate it will draw the community together by featuring some of the best local artists,” he says.

Drag artist Benaddiction will host the kick-off event in collaboration with nonprofit thems, whose mission is to amplify queer voices in Phoenix.

Entry is free with museum admission. The museum’s restaurant will be open, and your museum admission ticket includes all-day access, so you can spend as much time as you want before the show browsing the museum exhibitions. If you fancy cocktails with your concert experience, there’s an opportunity to pre-purchase a $10 discounted drink ticket for selected options at the bar.

Here is the current lineup for the SOUNDCHECK music series at Phoenix Art Museum:

• 76th Street, 6 p.m., Thursday, October 16. The indie rock duo from Scottsdale, now Nashville-based, features Hayley Gold and Spencer Bryant performing music with melodic harmonies and themes of self-empowerment.
• Fear of Making Out, 6 p.m., Thursday, November 20. The indie rock band is from Phoenix and has a new full-length record titled “Mi Cielo” dropping in late September 2025.
• The Phoenix Symphony, 6 p.m., Thursday, December 18. Phoenix Symphony brings together talented musicians from near and far to create exceptional performances.

Follow SOUNDCHECK at Phoenix Art Museum for all upcoming shows, times and ticket information.