Rise 'n' shine: The Dirty Drummer's annual Rooster Club celebration is August 3

If you have a burning desire to bellow “We ride at dawn,” Dirty Drummer’s annual Rooster Club event is an excellent reason to shout that sentiment.

The rollicking country music throwdown known for its barely-sunrise start time of 6 a.m. is happening Sunday, August 3.

What could facilitate a crack-of-dawn party that has folks counting down the days? In this case, it’s booze, and a legal change that axed the restriction on Sunday alcohol sales between  2 a.m. and 10 a.m.

“Until 2010, Arizona’s Blue Laws prohibited the sale of alcohol before 10 a.m. on Sundays. When those laws were repealed, a small group of us thought it would be funny to set our alarms and meet up at the bar at 6 a.m. to celebrate,” explains venue co-owner Dana Armstrong.
That meetup between Armstrong and friends caught on and continues to attract longtimers and newbies. “Over the years, it has evolved into a full-blown annual Phoenix tradition with live country bands, beers and cocktails, breakfast and coffee,” Armstrong adds.

A roster of live bands is also on the menu of things keeping you fueled and revved up. August Manley’s Waylon Jennings Tribute, Hashknife Outfit, and Bobby Perez’s Supertonkers will have the house rockin’ this year.

Like many daytime soirees, the fun starts before the event officially commences. This holds for Rooster Club. People start lining up an hour or so before doors open, making the line and the parking lot spots for getting a head start on socializing.

So, what does it take to become a Rooster Club member? “Anyone brave enough to enter the 6 a.m. time warp party becomes an official Rooster Club member,” Armstrong says, offering an incentive for the first person to make it through the door. “They get a free 2025 Rooster Club t-shirt.”

Armstrong encourages joining the fun: “Early bird gets the barstool, so cock-a-doodle-do-it!”