Phoenix pub George & Dragon’s biggest bash of the year returns Saturday

If you’ve been in Phoenix’s music scene for a minute, a night at George & Dragon: An English Pub is practically a rite of passage. For more than 30 years, local rockers — past and present — have bent elbows or swapped stories on the patio or huddled inside the landmark midtown spot near Central Avenue and Indian School Road.

Just ask guitarist Keith Jackson of The Glass Heroes, a former manager and longtime regular who's been raising pints at George & Dragon since it opened in early 1995.

“Musicians hung out here, along with artists and the usual soccer hooligans,” Jackson says with a laugh. “On a Friday night, if bands they weren't playing or after their shows, they’d be here.”

While Jackson admits the pub's music scene "isn't what it used to be," he’s hoping G&D regulars return for Saturday’s revival of its St. George’s Day bash, the festival-style event celebrating both the annual British holiday and the pub's anniversary.
George & Dragon owner David Wimberley calls it a “proper party,” a tradition dating back to the pub’s first year with local bands playing inside and outside the pub.

“St. George's Day is like our version of St. Patty's Day that we first started doing in 1995,” Wimberley says. “In those days we had between 500 and 1,000 people show up at one time.”

A St. George's Day blowout hasn’t happened at the pub for 15 years due to issues with the city of Phoenix. Wimberley says he’s ready to make up for lost time with this weekend’s revival.

“We don't know how many will be there, but we’re planning to make it a big one,” Wimberley says.

If it’s anything like previous St. George's Day blowouts, it will definitely be memorable.

‘It was totally crazy’

George & Dragon made its debut in February 1995. Just two months later, Wimberley hosted its first-ever St. George’s Day celebration, headlined by Tempe rock favorites The Refreshments.

“It was packed,” Wimberley says. “We had 10 bands, including The Refreshments, who were one of the biggest bands to ever come out of Arizona and (played) their first outdoor gig here.”

Jackson admits his memories of the event have blurred over time, but recalls huge turnout.

“All I remember is that it was totally crazy,” he says.

Over the next decade and a half years, the St. George Day parties — dubbed an “orgy of live music, food and, of course, lots and lots of pints” by Phoenix New Times in 2000 — occurred every April, each boasting lineups of local rock, punk, and indie acts and serving as a snapshot of Phoenix’s music scene. Past performers included beloved Valley groups like Sonic Thrills, Haggis, Ghetto Cowgirl and The Love Me Nots, as well as Jackson's own bands, The Beat Angels and The Glass Heroes.

“A lot of local bands loved playing the party,” Jackson says. “The Beat Angels did a few of them.”  When asked if he can recall any memorable or notorious moments from previous St. George’s Day parties, Wimberley shrugs and laughs.

“Can I describe them? Legally, no,” he says. “But we had a great time.”

One thing Wimberley can discuss is how noise complaints following a St. George’s Day celebration featuring onetime Guns N’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke in the early 2010s led to conflicts between the pub and city of Phoenix officials.

“This is a pretty funny story,” Wimberley says. “They started playing and, two minutes later, fucking three cops cars showed up and shut us down. They only played two songs.”

The complaints and resulting drama prevented Wimberley from obtaining permits from the city for the event. These days, though, the pub owner’s on better terms with Phoenix officials, clearing the way for the return of the St. George’s Day bash on Saturday.

“But now (Phoenix City Councilwoman Laura Pastor) loves the pub. She told me, ‘Apply for it and you'll get it,’” Wimberley says. “We did, and now it's full speed ahead.”

‘It’s definitely not just a punk show’

True to form, this year’s St. George’s Day — which will also mark the pub’s 30th anniversary — will feature a cross-section of Phoenix bands from multiple rock genres. Local guitarist Luke Lanham, who helped book the event with Jackson, says it will offer a varied lineup.

“There's gonna be a lot of different music and not one particular sound,” Lanham says. “It's definitely not just a punk show, it's for everybody.”

Tempe jangle-pop legends The Piersons and Dead Hot Workshop top the lineup, which will also include alt-country group Katie Mae and the Lubrication, rockabilly act The Earps, desert surf rockers The Dust Ups, punkers Knife’s Edge and “red dirt outlaw honky tonk rock ’n’ roll” band Snakeskin Rodeo.

With George & Dragon being a British pub, Wimberley promises beer, including domestic and imports, will be a part of the celebration.

“Normally when you go to an outdoor event, beer is $12 to $14. We won’t be doing that. We're charging $8each,” Wimberley says. “It’s the least we could do.”

St. George’s Day Bash 2025. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday. $10 at the door. George & Dragon: An English Pub, 4240 N. Central Ave., 602-241-0018.