lineup

Friday, April 23rd

* Separate ticket
Assembly of Dust
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM - After Hours *
assemblyofdust.com
Assembly of Dust each put their stamp on the group's songs with their instrumental virtuosity and extensive experience. All five players blend effortlessly in a way that recalls the intuitive feel of fellow touring acts such as the Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers and My Morning Jacket. AOD makes heart-felt homemade music that “makes you feel like a friend, even if you aren’t.” The group has been together since 2002, and although a relatively short time, AOD has quickly gained respect traveling along the Festival circuit, and has opened for the likes of The Who, David Crosby, Michael Franti & Spearhead, and The Dead. Led by singer/songwriter Reid Genauer (former front man of Strangefolk) and accompanied by keyboardist Nate Wilson, lead guitarist Adam Terrell, bassist John Leccese and drummer Andy Herrick; AOD are a sincere band, playing strong, gentle classic rock songs that give a nod to the legendary bands of yesterday.

john brown's body
8:30 – 10:30 PM
johnbrownsbody.com
John Brown's Body is an eight-person reggae group, self-defined as “Future Roots” music. The group has released six studio albums and toured across the U.S. for over ten years. Originally more deep-rooted in the more traditional roots and foundation styling of reggae, their music began to take a direction toward a more modern sound with an occasional blend of the original reggae beats. Their music has been described by the New York Daily News as "more Massive Attack than Marley", and "reverent and revolutionary at the same time", a nod to their futuristic take on reggae music and their ability to put a unique twist on the music. They have performed with a variety of groups including the Dave Matthews Band, Ozomatli, Broken Social Scene, and Jurassic 5.

toubab krewe
6:30 – 8:00 PM
toubabkrewe.com
Listening to the culturally diverse music of Toubab Krewe, it’s truly remarkable that a worldly sound resonates from a group of smalltown college boys from rural North Carolina. Having deeply studied the art and technical execution of African music for many years throughout Western Africa (Mali, Guinea and the Ivory Coast), Toubab Krewe strategically blends Malian, American, and their hometown "Dirty South" influences creating a genre that stands alone as the platform for fusions of rock 'n' roll and West African music. Using music rather than words, TK encompasses a unique sound with such instruments as the soku and the kora, along with the typical arsenal of American rock instruments that keep the crowd coming back for more.

ruthie foster
5:00 – 6:00 PM
ruthiefoster.com
Born and raised in Gause, Texas; Ruthie Foster was surrounded by gospel singers all her life. After briefly studying music, Ruthie joined The U.S. Navy, where she started performing. Empowered with a set of deep determined vocals, Ruthie channels the prowess of blues/jazz royalty Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald. For the larger part of 2009 Ruthie toured with Blind Boys of Alabama, and released her sixth album, titled “The Truth According to Ruthie Foster” which was nominated for a Grammy in December of 2009 in the category Best Contemporary Blues Album. Ruthie is not simply a musician. She is a storyteller, full of life and candid animation, and by the end of the show, she becomes your friend.

Saturday, April 24th

* Separate ticket
Steve Kimock Crazy Engine
11:00 PM – 2:00 AM - After Hours *
kimock.com
Steve Kimock was told by Jerry Garcia that he was Jerry’s “favorite unknown guitar player”.  Kimock plays with an ability to take disparate influences and run them through deft fingers playing with an adventurous jazz mentality and the intensity of rock & roll.  Kimock’s brand new, up-beat, gospel influenced, soul-rock band Steve Kimock Crazy Engine is fulfilling the itch to get back into a real band.  It was never about being a rock star of getting rich, true artists don’t operate that way…and Steve Kimock is a true artist.  Throughout the years Kimock has been a part of multiple projects – and impossible to name them all – a few highlights include The Goodman Brothers, The Underdogs, Kingfish, Ratdog, The Rhythm Devils…and with each band Kimock not only enjoys the technical aspects of the gear and making albums, it’s on stage, navigating through epic, marathon live shows that he’s built a kingdom.  Kimock is gifted, physically capable of competing with any guitarist alive, but it’s his ability to carry listeners through emotional peaks and valleys that makes on one of the greats.

robert randolph
& the family band
8:30 – 10:30 PM
robertrandolph.net
New Jersey-native Robert Randolph began playing the steel guitar in the House of God Church, which used the instrument in worship services., and referred to in many African American Pentecostal style churches as Sacred Steel. Randolph's concerts are known for their lively stage performances, with Randolph content to let the rest of the band play on while he dances. Often times during a performance, the entire band trades instruments when on stage, allowing the entire band to show off their musical proficiencies with multiple instruments. The band is very involved with the audience, often passing a microphone around the front row so they can sing along. They keep the music going, with very little interruption. Most concerts do not have breaks; instead, band members will exit the stage leaving one or two members a chance to shine with solos. Gracing the MMMF stage for the second time (performed in 2008), we are proud to welcome Robert Randolph and the Family Band back to the Valley.

super chikan
6:30 – 8:00 PM
superchikan.com
James "Super Chikan" Johnson is an American blues musician, artist and guitar maker based in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is the nephew of fellow blues musician Big Jack Johnson. Chikadelic, Super Chikan's latest CD, was released at the Notodden Blues festival on July 31, 2009. Backed by Spoonful of Blues, Super Chikan once again dives head first into his creative and inventive blues that will have you up dancing-- even to the slow songs!  Super Chikan has toured and performed at festivals in Africa, Japan, UK, Denmark, Canada, Mexico, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Russia and Switzerland, and has performed for the President of the United States. He was nominated for the Best New Artist Blues Music Award in 1998, and has received five Living Blues Critics Awards. In 2004, “Super Chikan” received the Mississippi Governorʼs Award for Excellence in the Arts.

ryan shaw
5:00 – 6:00 PM
thisisryanshaw.com
Similar to the beginning of Robert Randolph, Ryan Shaw began singing gospel music in a Pentecostal church at the young age of three, taking his first solo at age five. Raised in a deeply religious household in Decatur, Georgia, Ryan formed a singing group dubbed “The Shaws” with his four brothers, which was solely influenced by gospel music; they didn’t listen to pop or mainstream music in their home. After a brief stint at Georgia State University, Ryan joined a Motown performing group, and played "just about anything from the Fifties and Sixties that you could dance to--Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, Stax and Motown, Dion & the Belmonts, you name it." This is where Ryan coined his classic sound, convincingly replicating the greats: Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Wilson Pickett. At just 26 years old, Ryan released his first album, titled “This is Ryan Shaw,” offering a type of music that many thought was long gone. Ryan delivers every song with the kind of emotional commitment and vocal integrity that has nearly vanished from the mainstream musical landscape.

Hot Birds & The Chili Sauce
3:30 – 4:30 PM
myspace.com/hotbirdsandthechilisauce
Hot Birds & the Chili Sauce is a local “Big Band” styled local group. HBCS assemble a 10 piece project and created a mix of underground groove funk, early old school R&B and vintage blues inspirations. HBCS has a rotating cast of players who can all bring something unique to the table. Recent addition, Jen Durkin, has been the lead vocalist for Mickey Hart Band, Rhythm Devils, Bernie Worrell, The Bomb Squad and Deep Banana Blackout. Deep Banana Blackout is a high energy Funk rock band who hit it off with the emerging jam band scene of the 90’s and toured Nationally opening for Maceo Parker, Fred Wesley, P-Funk, Gov’t Mule, John Scofield and James Brown.

Easton Ashe
2:00 – 3:00 PM
myspace.com/eastonashe
According to the band, EastonAshe “began in the fall of 2003 when singer Ryan Sims, drummer Geoff Jouas, and guitarist Matthew Henderson fell from the sky and landed on the same cactus. With the addition of bassist Ethan Newman and drummer Greg Warner we play 300+ shows a year and love every minute of it.” EastonAshe has a catchy pop/rock style that has lead them to be one of the most coveted local bands in the Phoenix market.  

Dirty Lingo
12:30 – 1:30 PM
myspace.com/dirtylingo
Mike Chapman and John Hayden remember listening to The Beatles at a young age and being inspired to make their own music. With Mike on rhythm guitar and John on bass, they soon realized how well their styles complement one another. Mike and John developed Dirty Lingo and teamed with drummer Adam Wolin. The Trio then joined with Cellist/Harmony/Keyboards Mike Levin. The son of two Phoenix Symphony violinists, Levin received a classical musical education and developed a distinctive style-playing cello, guitar, piano and bass.

Sunday, April 25th

Grace Potter and The Nocturnals
6:00 – 7:30 PM
gracepotter.com
Unofficially dubbed as the “daughter” of the McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are back to the Valley for the third time in Festival history! Since the last time we’ve hosted them, GPN will grace the stage with the Vermont-based band’s new five-piece configuration, in which keyboard specialist Potter, lead guitarist Scott Tournet and drummer Matt Burr are joined by bassist Catherine Popper (Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Hem) and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco, who also plays with Tournet and Burr in the GPN side project Blues & Lasers. Because of their ready acceptance on the U.S. touring circuit, they were able to regularly play as many as 200 shows a year, shaping and sharpening their sound the old-fashioned way, on stages in front of demanding crowds. With the 2009 arrivals of Popper and Yurco the Nocturnals are entering the next phase of their evolution. Over seven years and three albums, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals have grown from an uncommonly bright and tasteful baby band into a force of nature, bringing the house down with seeming effortlessness. Make no mistake about it — this band has arrived.

Trombone Shorty &Orleans Avenue
4:00 – 5:30 PM
tromboneshorty.com
Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews is an artist known for his virtuosity to draw the unqualified respect of some of the most iconic legends in jazz. His show promises to deliver a high-energy funk rock show capable of mesmerizing international rock stars. Not just limited to the trombone, Trombone Shorty is equally adept on the trumpet! A product of New Orleans¹ culture, Trombone Shorty was a band leader by age 6 and now, at 23, has grown into a performer who commands the stage while emanating an elegance and class gleaned from his successful studies at the prestigious New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. As a graduate, he joined the ranks of well-know alums like Branford Marsalis, Harry Connick Jr. and Nicholas Payton.

Black Carl
2:00 – 3:30 PM
myspace.com/iamblackcarl
According to the band, "Black Carl will make you feel like you're riding a psychotic horse toward a burning stable," which is a fairly accurate description, given its chaotic yet minimalist combination of soul, funk, blues, psychedelic big beat. The band, made up of longtime friends, has been creating catchy tunes since 2007. Guitarist John Krause, who has played in other bands, decided to form a new one influenced by the '60s soul he had grown to love. He invited vocalist Emma Pew, and drummer Chad Leonard over to hear some tracks and Black Carl was born. Guitarist Matt Noakes and bassist Ian Woodward later joined, and they released a self-titled EP in 2008 and a full-length album, "Borrowed," in January.

Sugar Theives
12:00 – 1:30 PM
sugartheives.com
The Sugar Thieves offer a strong blues/roots foundation and upbeat dance groove. They won the Arizona Blues Competition two years in a row (08, 09), and was voted best blues band in the state by the Phoenix Blues Society. They were finalists in last years’ International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee (Feb.09), where they were one of the top ten unsigned blues bands in the world. They also received the award for “Best Americana Band”, and were nominated for “Best Local Band” by the Phoenix New Times for 2009. The Sugar Thieves’ original songs and high-energy showmanship keep faith with the unique qualities have established them as the most highly regarded blues band in the state.

Creamy Radio Acoustic Stage

Step inside The Compound Grill between main stage sets & experience the Creamy Radio Stage!  Also grab a cold beverage & order some food to enjoy the Drum Circle led by no other than Frank Thompson of the AZ Rhythm Connection on both Saturday and Sunday.