Experience the talent of local musicians through Tempe Playlist
Nearly 50 local bands and musicians highlighted through playlist, publication

Tempe, AZ – Local music is the heartbeat of Tempe’s history and identity. To honor and support the work of local musicians, the City of Tempe has unveiled the 2023-25 Tempe Playlist, a compilation of artists and bands who are making an impact on the local music scene today.

The Tempe Playlist celebrates 44 Tempe and Valley-wide musicians who are currently making and performing music, redefining the old narratives and forging new, original sounds. It is comprised of established and emerging musicians who perform in a variety of styles and venues.

The 2023-25 playlist is available for streaming on Spotify. An accompanying Tempe Playlist publication provides a bio, photo, website, social media and contact information for each artist. This book serves to connect musicians to event organizers, local businesses and others looking to book performances.

This Tempe Community Arts program fosters the professional development of musicians and shares their work with the community. Since its inception, Tempe Playlist has generated new bookings for bands and serves as the primary booking list for city-hosted events. Chosen artists also receive a professional photoshoot and a stipend for their contribution to the playlist.

Local artists were selected for the 2023-25 playlist in the spring after an application process. They were chosen by a panel of Tempe music professionals and a representative from the Tempe Arts and Culture Commission and were recommended based on their demonstrated professionalism, innovative approaches and diversity of styles.

The program was created in 2017 as a part of the Arizona Creative Communities Institute and is made possible through a resident-approved fund that directs 0.1% of sales tax to support investment in Tempe’s arts and culture programs and events.

The Tempe Playlist serves as a snapshot in time to capture the heartbeat of our community - our energy, our character and our optimism.

Earlier this year, the Tempe City Council voted to make hosting live music even easier in the city. Through March 1, 2024, Tempe businesses may receive a deep discount on permits to host live music. The one-time fee is being reduced to $200, down from $1,671.

By reducing the cost of the permit, it's hoped that more businesses will hire more musicians and offer more entertainment.

“Live music is something we feel in our soul, something we associate with memories and places and how we felt in that moment,” said Councilmember Joel Navarro. “Through programs like Tempe Playlist and reduced permitting fees, we are supporting the growth of live local music in Tempe. We have an opportunity to get to know these artists and watch many of them rise, proudly calling them Tempe grown.”

In conjunction with Tempe Playlist, Tempe Jam is a free annual community concert that highlights local musicians each fall. This year’s Tempe Jam will be held Saturday, Nov. 4, at the Tempe Sports Complex.

Visit tempe.gov/TempePlaylist to listen to the playlist, check out previous iterations and learn more. Businesses interested in receiving the musician booking list may download it or email [email protected] for a hard copy.