The DIY art space and music venue, which was launched in April 2004 by artists Steph Carrico and JRC along Grand Avenue just north of Roosevelt Row, has been a unique part of downtown Phoenix’s cultural landscape. Its served as a talent incubator that has fostered the sort of outsider art, experimental performances, unusual artistry, musical oddities or newbie bands not found elsewhere.
“We enjoy things that are a definitely strange and outsider,” Carrico told Phoenix New Times in 2020.
Countless burgeoning artists and acts have gotten their start at The Trunk Space, including such notable bands and performers as AJJ, Ryan Avery and Treasure MammaL. Hundreds of touring bands have also performed at the space over the past 20 years, such as indie duo Matt and Kim, punk icon Gregg Turner, folk singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson and electronic noise-rock act Quintron and Miss Pussycat.
These days, The Trunk Space is located on the grounds of the historic Grace Lutheran Church and is a nonprofit venture run by volunteers and overseen by a 10-person board. It maintains its focus on art and music of an indie, unusual or outsider bent.
To commemorate The Trunk Space's 20th anniversary this month, New Times has assembled a photo retrospective showcasing some of the people, performances and art events held at the venue over the past two decades.
The side entrance to The Trunk Space's original location on Grand Avenue.
Michael Pahn/CC BY-SA 2.0/Flickr
Phoenix punk band Fathers Day, a costumed quartet of the "world's worst dads" fronted by performance artist Ryan Avery, outside of The Trunk Space in 2005.
The Trunk Space
Noodle the Cat, a ginger feline who was the mascot and “owner” of The Trunk Space’s original location on Grand Avenue.
The Trunk Space
Flagstaff musician Phil Buckman (center) performing at The Trunk Space in 2005 as one-man techno-rock act I Hate You When You're Pregnant.
The Trunk Space
A member of ccolorfully costumed Japanese-American punk rock band Peelander-Z performing at The Trunk Space in 2005.
The Trunk Space
Indie rocker and one-mand band Quintron performs for a packed house at The Trunk Space in October 2008.
The Trunk Space
An art display at The Trunk Space in the summer of 2009 entitled "The Grid: Band Edition" focusing on connections between Phoenix musicians.
The Trunk Space
Some of the numerous bands included in the 2009 art display "The Grid: Music Edition," many of which have since broken up.
The Trunk Space
Local creatives Ryan Avery (right), Pete Petrisko (second from right), Andrew Jemsek (center), Babs A'delic (second from left) performing as "Uncle Sku's Clubhouse," a twisted vaudeville-style monthly show that was featured at The Trunk Space from 2006 to 2009.
The Trunk Space
Phoenix indie rock trio Budget Sinatra perform at a fundraiser for The Trunk Space in December 2009.
Steph Carrico
Djentrification in December 2009 during a set at Trunk Space Fest, a one-night fundraiser for the venue.
Steph Carrico
The work of local artist Janet de Berge Lange on display at The Trunk Space in 2010.
The Trunk Space
The late Space Alien Donald (center), a local artist who performed as "Phoenix's Oldest Gay Canadian Rapper," at The Trunk Space in 2011.
The Trunk Space
An undated photo of the interior of The Trunk Space's original location along Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix.
Phoenix New Times archives
Local indie band ManCat performing with a hybrid of Hall and Oates during The Real Coachella, a parody of the Southern California-based music and arts festival, in 2012.
Benjamin Leatherman
Jason Kron (left) and Tristan Jemsek (right) of Phoenix indie band Hug of War at The Real Coachella in 2012.
Benjamin Leatherman
The late Stefan Pruett, frontman for local indie/electro-pop act Peachcake, during a performance by the band at The Trunk Space in 2012.
Peachcake
The members of The Cult of the Yellow Sign, a tongue-in-cheek local "doomsday cult" and comedic performance art group inspired by H.P. Lovecraft, in 2012.
Benjamin Leatherman
Comedian and musician Kevin Patterson, one of the hosts of the talk show "Grand Avenue Live!" that was staged at The Trunk Space
The Trunk Space
Singer-songwriters Mike Park (center right) of Asian Man Records and Dan Potthast (center left with guitar) at The Trunk Space on Grand Avenue in 2014.
Joe Maier
Members of the Strange Danger Thrillshow during a June 2014 performance at The Trunk Space.
Jeremiah Toller
Abe Gill of dance/electronica act Treasure MammaL in the middle of a 2014 gig at The Trunk Space.
Melissa Fossum
The late Andy Warpigs (left), a beloved Phoenix folk-punk artist, sings during the Indie 500, a marathon event at The Trunk Space where local bands and musicians perform a total of 500 songs over two days.
Joe Maier
Local playwright, performance artist and Phoenix New Times contributor Ashley Naftule during a birthday party for H.P. Lovecraft in 2015.
Benjamin Leatherman
The late Bernard Schober, better known as poet and spoken word artist The Klute, during a birthday party for H.P. Lovecraft in 2015.
Benjamin Leatherman
Okilly Dokilly, the Phoenix metalcore band inspired by Ned Flanders from "The Simpsons," held their inaugural performance at The Trunk Space in September 2015.
Frank Cordova
Trunk Space regulars on a Third Friday in April 2016. The spot has been a popular stop during the First and Third Friday art walks in downtown Phoenix.
Benjamin Leatherman
A 2016 photo of one of the many art shows staged at The Trunk Space's location on Grand Avenue.
Joe Maier
Fathers Day's set during the final show at The Trunk Space's original location on Grand and 15th avenues in 2016. The venue subsequently moved to Grace Lutheran Church later that year.
Troy Farah
Singer-songwriter David Dondero was the first artist to perform at The Trunk Space's current location at Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Phoenix.
Jim Louvau
Nicole Laurenne of all-girl garage psych rock band The Darts during a 2017 show put on by The Trunk Space.
Jim Louvau
Indie folk singer-songwriter Kimya Dawson, a longtime supporter of The Trunk Space, was featured during the Indie 500 in 2017.
Jim Louvau
Robbie Pfeffer, frontman of local punk band Playboy Manbaby and a member of The Trunk Space's board.
Jim Louvau
The crowd inside The Trunk Space during an album release show for Playboy Manbaby in 2018.
Jim Louvau
Robbie Pfeffer, frontman of local punk band Playboy Manbaby, works the front desk before the band's show at The Trunk Space in 2018.
Jim Louvau
