Let Fest announces 2025 lineup

Celebrating its second year, Let Fest just announced the lineup for its 2025 event, which takes place at Thunderbird Lounge on December 6. Marcus Rushmore is the general manager at the venue and also the person behind this free, annual music festival.

A wearer of many hats, he says that a need, driven by a few factors, more than an inspiration, set things in motion.

“In the band I’m in, I’m the tour manager, booking agent, light show designer and do marketing in addition to being the singer and guitar player, and we had a year of work as a band. Our growth made everything feel big and imperative and venue-based. I don’t mean that to sound like a brag; what it does mean is that I personally don’t get to see all of the people in my life, especially the friends who are also in bands.”

He understands that his fellow musicians are doing the same things, trying to achieve their goals. “Lining up your schedules to just hang out and watch your friends play becomes so fucking rare,” Rushmore says.

He wasn’t wrong.

“Not a single person I asked to play said no when we did the first fest. Everyone straight down the list was in without me having to chase anyone down or wait for calendars to be checked. It was pretty unreal. It also gave me validation that people were feeling the same as me: starved for music scene camaraderie.” 

Rushmore says he had a few things he considered when picking bands this year. “I thought about who did cool things this year, like good new releases, and I wanted to pick some bands that haven’t already done a lot of local festivals already this year, so that we could have some variety. I’m not trying to pick bands based on how much of a crowd they’ll pull in, or their level of popularity, or making sure all the genres match. None of that stuff really has a place at this event.”

Another reason he’s excited for this year’s festival is that the first event allowed him to learn about what worked and what didn’t. 

“Round-robin two-stage festivals rule so hard. No lulls. Looks insane on paper, but feels insanely wonderful in person. Also, hire your friends to do sound so you don’t absolutely lose your shit, especially when your own band is playing the last set of the night,” Rushmore says. 

The event being outside is also crucial. “Phoenix in December is what we deal with triple digits for.”

Free entry is also important to Rushmore, along with taking care of the bands. “There is a band fund, so all of the bands have a guarantee from the venue.”

Mostly, he wants people to come out and see and enjoy the scene we have. 

“There’s WayneFest, Tempe Noise Takeover, Space Cadet Fest, so many. The amount of gusto that goes into proving we have a scene out here in the middle of the desert is insane.”

He wants you to “invite your people to this vast, genre-bending event where there are musicians who are making you food and selling you rad thrift items; come make yourself a part of it.”

Here is the lineup for Let Fest at Thunderbird Lounge:

• Let Alone
• Prince Mirth
• Snailmate
• Bogan Via
• Steff and the Articles
• Silverface Twin
• Micah Bentley
• Bite the Hand
• The God Samaritan
• Huemongrel
• Kili
• Louis On Tour
• The Joeys
• Thruwaves
• Polymyth
• Move Out Party

Let Fest takes place at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) on Saturday, December 6, at Thunderbird Lounge. Admission is free.