Desert Vibe Podcast Anniversary: One Year of Arizona Music
Desert Vibe Podcast Anniversary: One Year of Arizona Music
By James Mattison
When we gathered at North Mountain Brewing on Saturday, October 3, to celebrate the Desert Vibe Podcast’s first anniversary, the room was full of people who could have carried an entire afternoon of music on their own. Instead, they took turns playing a few songs, joining one another onstage, and cheering each other on.
That felt like the right way to celebrate our first year: spending an afternoon with the people who make Arizona’s music community feel like an extended family.
There were original songs, familiar faces, a birthday cake, and a prize wheel that eventually had everyone watching their phones. Most of all, there were musicians making music together simply because this was a party.
Quick Details
Event: Desert Vibe Podcast’s first anniversary celebration
Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 3–5 p.m.
Location: North Mountain Brewing
Performers: Glen Gardner, Justin Olson (PTNA), Hannes Kvaran, Annie Moscow, Emma & James, and Walt Richardson
Guest collaborators: Tim Sadow, Lydia Grace, Alan Glasband, and Sue Harris
How Our Desert Vibe Podcast Anniversary Came Together
The idea started during a meeting with Walt, Glen, Emma, and me. Walt suggested getting together for dinner or doing something to mark the anniversary. Glen offered North Mountain Brewing, where he hosts a Saturday afternoon music showcase and runs sound.
It gave us a familiar place and a two-hour window to bring past podcast guests, friends, and listeners together.
By my estimate, around 30 people came for the celebration, mostly musicians we regularly cross paths with at gigs and open mics, along with some wonderfully supportive fans. Another 10 to 15 patrons stayed with their families to enjoy the music.
Some of those fans regularly attend the individual performers’ shows. They told us how much they appreciated seeing several of their favorite musicians at the same event. Looking around the room, it was easy to understand why. There was a lot of talent gathered in one place.
Arizona Musicians Sharing the Stage
Glen Gardner opened with three songs alongside violinist Tim Sadow. Tim went on to join almost every performer that afternoon.
Watching Tim hear a song and find his way into it without rehearsal is something special. He can listen, pick up what is happening, and contribute in a way that fits the person he is playing with. We certainly kept him busy.
Justin Olson, who performs as PTNA, played next. His girlfriend and fellow musician Lydia Grace joined him, along with Alan Glasband on saxophone.
Hannes Kvaran followed, bringing Tim back into the mix with Sue Harris joining on vocals. These collaborations gave the afternoon a relaxed, welcoming feeling.
Annie Moscow then performed her original music at the piano, with Tim joining her as well. By that point, sharing the stage had become a defining part of the celebration.
At open mics, many of us are playing our own short sets, testing a new song, or working through an arrangement. This afternoon gave everyone a chance to enjoy playing together. The energy felt different, and it was fun to be part of it.
Emma and I were up next, also joined by Tim. We played a couple of covers and closed with our new original, “Criminal.”
This was only our third time performing it live. Several people afterward told us it was their favorite song of our set. Hearing that about an original, especially alongside familiar covers, means a lot. Each time we have played it, the response has given us a little more confidence in what we are creating.
During our set, we also noticed a mother and her small child dancing in the back of the room. We love the support of fellow musicians, but seeing someone there connect with our music enough to get up and dance was especially rewarding.
Walt Richardson closed the celebration with three original songs, joined by Tim and Hannes. It was a fitting finish to an afternoon built around musicians supporting one another.
A Prize Wheel That Got Everyone Watching
One of our favorite moments involved something Emma had coded for the website: a live prize wheel that people could enter by scanning a QR code.
Emma and I had purchased two stickers and a T-shirt to give away, with three spins spread throughout the event. At first, people weren’t quite sure what the QR code was for. Once we explained it over the microphone, almost everyone joined in.
Participants could watch the wheel spin and see the winner selected right on their phones. Looking around at phones sitting on tables and people following along together was a proud moment for us.
Emma had built the wheel as an experiment. Seeing something she created become a shared part of the celebration made that work especially satisfying.
We were busy running the giveaway, so we didn’t get pictures of the spins. Sometimes the moment you’re most involved in is the one you forget to photograph.
The People Behind the Desert Vibe Podcast
Glen and Walt handled sound and kept the afternoon moving. Glen’s wife, Lauren, brought a birthday cake that disappeared quickly. Thank you to North Mountain Brewing for hosting us, and to every performer, collaborator, and listener who helped make the celebration so welcoming.
Walt also asked Emma and me to stand for a little recognition. The warm applause meant a great deal because so much of our work happens behind the scenes.
Emma created the website and scheduling tools, manages much of the online promotion, and built the scheduling platform for our regional representatives. I write the weekly guest interview blogs and the open mic reviews based on the places Emma and I visit for “What’s Vibin’ in the Desert.”
Emma funded the website and scheduling tools through season one. Glen has now taken on those costs, along with the Buzzsprout account that helps distribute the podcast. Emma and Glen also helped spread the word about the anniversary celebration.
Our regional representatives deserve recognition, too. They volunteer their time and local knowledge to help musicians discover opportunities across Arizona. We are grateful to everyone who has stepped into those roles during season two.
It takes a village to keep something like this going. Looking around the party, we could see how strong that village has become.
What We’re Carrying Into Season Two
Our first year involved plenty of trial, error, and listening. We paid attention to what people found useful, what they wanted more of, and where we could improve.
The clearest lesson was that Desert Vibe is most valuable when it serves the musicians listening.
People want to hear another musician’s story and take something useful from it. They also want to discover events they can participate in and places where they can play. Arizona has so much live music, but finding the right opportunity often comes down to knowing where to look.
That is why we are excited about how “What’s Vibin’ in the Desert” is developing. Having representatives share opportunities from different regions helps connect musicians across the state. Each person brings knowledge of their own community, and together those contributions make the show more useful.
We also have something new in development with Glen: a song-review offering drawing on his years in radio.
For musicians preparing to release original music, the idea is to provide informed feedback about radio readiness and what might need more work. Playing a song live can tell you a lot about how an audience responds. Glen’s experience offers another perspective on the song and recording as you consider your next steps.
We are still working through the name, format, and details. Watch for more information as that takes shape during season two.
Get Involved With What’s Vibin’ in the Desert
If you would like to represent your part of Arizona, we would love to hear from you.
Representatives share up to two events that musicians can participate in, keeping their update to two minutes or less. You can join us on selected weeks, and Emma can help you access the scheduling portal to choose dates and regions that work for you.
You should be comfortable joining us on Zoom or recording a video with clear audio and uploading it to YouTube so we can play your update during the podcast.
Reach out through the Desert Vibe Podcast website to get started.
You can also subscribe to Desert Vibe on YouTube, follow the show on your preferred podcast platform, and follow Desert Vibe on Facebook. Keep up with Glen Gardner and Emma & James Music for more podcast news and events, too.
Thank you to everyone who spent part of their Saturday celebrating with us. After a year of interviews, learning, and building, it felt good to spend an afternoon making music with so many of the people who make this work worthwhile.
We’re looking forward to more songs, more stories, and more opportunities to bring Arizona musicians together in year two.
About the Author
James Mattison is the guitarist in Emma & James and writes the Desert Vibe Podcast’s guest interview features and open mic reviews. He and Emma co-host “What’s Vibin’ in the Desert,” helping Arizona musicians discover opportunities to perform and connect. Emma manages the podcast’s website, scheduling systems, social media, and marketing.
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