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Local Music Legends


Arizona Music Scene Lessons from Hannes Kvaran: Songwriting, Chord Progressions, and Creative Patterns
Phoenix guitarist Hannes Guevara shares songwriting tips, chord progression ideas, home recording tools, and lessons from the Arizona music scene.
James Mattison
5 days ago9 min read


Arizona Music History Through the Eyes of Johnny Dixon
Explore Arizona music history, Phoenix radio, Tempe culture, and Johnny Dixon’s work preserving rare records, labels, and local music stories.
James Mattison
Apr 166 min read


Phoenix Music Scene: How Rich McDonald, Fender, and Arizona’s Guitar Culture Shaped Modern Music
Explore how the Phoenix music scene, Fender, and Rich McDonald helped shape guitar culture, artist careers, and modern instrument design.
James Mattison
Apr 17 min read


Arizona Singer-Songwriter Nancy Elliott on Creativity, Time Management, and Writing the Desert Into Song
Arizona singer-songwriter Nancy Elliott shares how discipline, desert inspiration, and storytelling shape her music, books, and creative life.
James Mattison
Mar 237 min read


Mill Music Sessions Tempe: How Song Rush Is Rebuilding a Post-Lockdown Scene With Better Sound, Better Spaces, and Real Community
Tempe’s post-lockdown scene is back—Mill Music Sessions and Song Rush show how sound, hospitality, and smart “containers” rebuild culture fast. Mill Music Sessions Tempe
James Mattison
Feb 213 min read


Annie Moscow “Land of Dreams”: From Classical Piano to Arizona Storytelling Stages and DIY Freedom
Annie Moscow’s journey from classical piano to DIY songwriting shows how Arizona’s community stages can fuel growth, craft, and lasting connection.
James Mattison
Feb 213 min read


Arizona Music Scene 2026: Building a Living Map of Venues, Open Mics, and Community
A 2026 guide to Arizona’s music scene—open mics, venue culture, and tools to help locals and visitors find the right room, fast. Arizona music scene 2026
James Mattison
Feb 214 min read


The Matthew Allen Project Tempe: Reinvention, Fatherhood, and the Power of Community Rooms
The Matthew Allen Project. Matthew Allen’s Tempe reset shows how consistency, fatherhood, and supportive venues like The Chill Room can turn survival into momentum.
James Mattison
Feb 214 min read


Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery 50th Anniversary: William Eaton, Desert Wood, and Guitars That Remember
William Eaton shares how Roberto-Venn’s 50th anniversary celebrates craft, community, and guitars built to last. Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery 50th anniversary
James Mattison
Feb 214 min read


Glen Gardner, Arizona Live Music Cooperative: Rebuilding Signal Through Radio Craft and Local Rooms
Glen Gardner’s Arizona Live Music Cooperative path from rock radio to local listening rooms shows how humor, discipline, and warm hosting can rebuild a real music community in Arizona.
James Mattison
Feb 214 min read
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