It was the second consecutive week that organizers announced a major change. Only a week before that, the festival was moved from Arcosanti, where it was held last year for its inaugural fête, to Playa Ponderosa, a forest camping and private event space just outside Flagstaff known for hosting June Jam.
“Due to unforeseen circumstances, there is no longer a pathway to hold MELT in Flagstaff next weekend,” the festival’s organizers wrote in an Instagram post. “As many of you planned your time and energy around this event, we feel you and understand the frustration, especially considering the quick pivot from our previous venue. But just know we worked hard to exhaust all options before making this decision.”
All tickets were refunded over the weekend. Organizer Lyle Begiebing told Phoenix New Times that while a date hasn’t been picked out, organizers are planning to throw the festival in late September. New Times also asked Begiebing for more details on why the festival was ultimately postponed after moving venues just a week before.
“Ponderosa worked hard to try to make a miracle happen for us after the last venue (Arcosanti) left us in a helpless and unworkable position,” he said. “But in the end, it wasn't going to be feasible due to numerous hurdles that would have taken too much time to resolve."
The festival was scheduled to host two stages of reggae, rock, house, techno and bass performances by 60 live acts and DJs in addition to visual artists, a speaker series, yoga, a tattoo artist, sound healing and other workshops. One of the stages was set to be placed atop a massive pirate ship built by Phoenix artists Mikey Butzine and Sambo Jones between three pine trees.
While tweaks are expected to be made to that lineup and plan, much will stay the same, and the festival’s ambitions may even grow with months to prepare for a forest festival.
“With more than 2 weeks to prepare, and all the new energy and excitement for Playa Ponderosa,” organizers wrote on Instagram, “MELT 2025 is going to be something much larger and wilder than any of us ever imagined!”
At the core of the festival is ecological consciousness by taking the idea of a weekend throwdown and making it more environmentally friendly. For one, it’s a BYOC (bring your own cup) party in which guests are expected to abide by a leave no trace policy. To cut down on the carbon footprint, organizers are encouraging attendees to carpool.
While the festival is postponed, MELT organizers have planned a Mother’s Day gathering at the Dirty Drummer in Phoenix on Sunday featuring DJs and live music.
What is Arcosanti?
Arcosanti is an experimental village and architectural project about an hour north of Phoenix off Interstate 17. The futuristic, brutalist desert architecture was designed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri and built starting in 1970. Its inspiration was a concept Soleri called arcology, in which structures are designed to blend with nature, and high-density housing and shared spaces are supposed to promote sustainability and democratic values. Arcosanti’s legacy has been complicated by the fact that Soleri’s daughter said he sexually abused her and tried to rape her when she was 17.The village is managed by the Cosanti Foundation, a nonprofit with $5 million in assets as of 2023, according to tax filings. Residents who live at Arcosanti pay little in rent but have to work for Cosanti Originals (a for-profit business under the nonprofit's umbrella), casting iron bells to be sold or working for the foundation in some other capacity.
Organizer John Elvis Taska (who’s also running for Tempe City Council) told New Times in an interview before the venue change that he, Begiebing and longtime Phoenix DJ Sean Watson — MELT’s organizers — had previously attended FORM Fest, a small festival at the site that brings in mega artists like Thundercat, Jamie xx and Skrillex.
“It felt out of touch in some regards,” Taska said. “It was a really wonderful experience. However, there was something left to be desired in terms of Arcosanti’s environmentally conscious principles. We saw a lot of the waste that can be created through parties and festivals and celebrations of the arts. I come from a background in solar energy and have a desire to see things that are healthier for our cities and environment.”
How leadership changes at Arcosanti affected the fest
MELT’s sudden departure from Arcosanti — just two weeks before the event — was a surprise to those planning to attend and seemingly to organizers. The nascent festival was held for the first time last May at Arcosanti, where it was expected to be held until the last minute.Begiebing said that the cause of the last-minute switch-up was related to “unforeseen circumstances following leadership changes at the site.”
Nicole Ackerina, whom the Cosanti Foundation’s website listed as interim chair of its board of directors before the venue change, is now listed as board chair. She did not respond to a New Times inquiry about the “leadership changes” Begiebing mentioned.
English architect David Turnbull — who still lists CEO of the Cosanti Foundation on his LinkedIn account — was terminated from that position on March 18, two sources with inside knowledge of the foundation told New Times. Turnbull didn't reply to a request for comment.
Susie Timm, the foundation’s publicist, declined to say whether Turnbull was fired or whether the board plans to have a new CEO and executive director.
“Our board will have to decide how they want to vote on any new leadership roles,” Timm told New Times.
While organizers declined to add more details about the change, a Reddit post noted that there may have been surprise requests by the Cosanti Foundation at the eleventh hour, foiling the plan to hold the festival there.
“Allegedly, the Arcosanti people had asked for ~$50k deposit at the last minute and the festival had to find another place,” the post reads, also claiming that the request was driven by FORM organizers “trying to get basically exclusivity to the venue” and making allies on the board. “FORM is also a shit organization that doesn't care about sustainability or the AZ music scene.”
Timm did not respond to New Times’ request for comment on those claims by publication.
At least four former and current Arcosanti residents — who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal from the board — expressed frustration about FORM, the waste it generates and organizers’ lack of respect for Arcosanti’s professed principles.
