Alex Gold/5threel
Audio By Carbonatix
Editor’s note: This story is updated and released on Thursday or Friday, featuring concert listings that run through the following Sunday.
Every day, there are numerous opportunities to check out local and touring bands performing live around the Valley. Dive bars, midsize concert halls and arenas are among the spots where you can catch a concert. To help you make plans, here are some top-notch shows around town this weekend.
Live Nation
Conan Gray
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Desert Diamond Arena
Conan Gray turns oversharing into a sport when his Wishbone Tour hits metro Phoenix this weekend. The pop singer-songwriter and onetime YouTuber channels teenage angst, cracked confidence and sharp hooks into an engaging live set.
Odd Mob
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Warehouse215
Odd Mob rolls into downtown Phoenix with his punchy blend of tech house and bass-forward club bangers. The Australian-born producer has become a festival and dance-floor fixture in recent years. His Friday night set also marks one of the final EDM shows at Warehouse215 under its current ownership. Loofy, Zoe Gitter, DJFreakyFriday, Fairydvst, Izzy Neutron, Luige and Residuo provide support.
Grieves
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.
The Rebel Lounge
Seattle-born rapper Grieves blends introspective hip-hop with indie-rock textures and raw storytelling. The Rhymesayers alum broke through in the early 2010s with albums like “Together/Apart” and “Winter & the Wolves.” His shows mix rapid-fire rhymes, emotional hooks and cathartic crowd energy pulled straight from the underground rap playbook. Blueprint and Benz Shelton share the bill.
Live Nation
The Smithereens
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.
Talking Stick Resort
The Smithereens made their mark with loud guitars, sharp hooks and a power-pop punch. The alt-friendly band broke through in the late ’80s with college-radio staples like “Blood and Roses” and “Only a Memory.” Their shows still lean heavy on the hits, delivered with riffs and plenty of nostalgia.
Lauren Spencer Smith
Friday, March 13, 8 p.m.
The Van Buren
Singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith turns heartbreak into soaring pop ballads. The Canadian vocalist first gained attention on “American Idol” before viral hits like “Fingers Crossed” and “Flowers” racked up billions of streams. Her shows lean big on emotion and singalong moments drawn straight from the feels. Maisy Kay opens.
Steve LeVine Entertainment
Chandler Ostrich Festival
Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 15
Rawhide Western Town
The chance to see giant flightless birds up close isn’t the only draw of this annual springtime event spanning two weekends in March. Nightly concerts by nationally known artists add to the appeal. The first weekend’s lineup features rock veterans Kansas on Friday, R&B singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae on Saturday and country music favorite Jo Dee Messina on Sunday.
The BoDeans
Saturday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.
Celebrity Theatre
Whether you know them from “Closer to Free,” the theme to FOX’s “Party of Five,” or earlier anthems like “Fadeaway” and “Good Things,” The BoDeans have spent four decades crafting sturdy, heartland-flavored roots rock. Their 40th Anniversary Tour hits Celebrity Theatre this weekend with a career-spanning set drawn from across the catalog.
Trampled by Turtles
Saturday, March 14, 7:30 p.m.
Scottsdale Civic Center Plaza
Trampled by Turtles plays bluegrass-influenced folk rock with the throttle wide open. The Minnesota-born band emerged in the early 2000s and built a following through albums like “Palomino” and high-energy tunes that keep fiddle, banjo and breakneck picking front and center.
Walter Trout
Saturday, March 14, 6 and 8 p.m.
Musical Instrument Museum
Blues guitarist Walter Trout has spent five decades lighting up stages with gritty tunes and fiery solos. The former Canned Heat and John Mayall sideman fuses rock and soul into blistering jams. His live shows deliver scorching guitar runs, hard-earned stories and a master class in old-school blues.
Sabrina Claudio
Sunday, March 15, 8 p.m.
The Van Buren
Sabrina Claudio deals in hushed R&B that are equally intimate and cinematic. The Miami-born singer rose through streaming-era buzz before landing hit collaborations and steady touring. Her current tour with Canadian singer-songwriter Dylan Sinclair brings simmering grooves and mood-drenched atmosphere to The Van Buren.
