Every week, we present a curated list of live music in a wide range of genres all around the Valley. This week, we’re giving you details on three free shows (blues, folk and swing, oh my!), plus local retro rockers and a fast-picking guitarist from Austin.
Notes from Neptune
Friday, July 23 at Chandler Center for the Arts
Notes from Neptune plays it all with a touch of jazzy blues – classic rock, modern pop, Motown and more. This eclectic ensemble reinterprets songs by everybody from Pink Floyd to John Mayer into layered and vibrant instrumentals. 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 23 at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler, chandlercenter.org. Admission is free.
Ellie Fern
Friday, July 23 at The 1227 Tap Room
Scottsdale-based singer-songwriter Ellie Fern plays original folk-pop music on acoustic guitar, sometimes augmented with piano and soft percussion. Her harmonious voice is reminiscent of singers such as Joni Mitchell (in her mezzo-soprano days) and Jenny Lewis. 7 p.m. Friday, July 23, at The 1227 Tap Room, 1227 E. Northern Ave., Phoenix, facebook.com/the1227taproom. Admission is free.
Jackie Venson
Saturday, July 24 at the Musical Instrument Museum
To say Austin, Texas, native Jackie Venson gives her six-string soul is an understatement. The talented R&B guitarist and classically trained musician creates complex guitar pieces that make the head spin and the booty move. 7 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at the Musical Instrument Museum, 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, mim.org. Tickets cost $22-$30.
Wyves & Deadbeat Cousins
Saturday, July 24 at Last Exit Live
They’ve been compared to such bands as Thin Lizzy, The Struts and Greta Van Fleet, but Phoenix band Wyves puts their own stamp on the revamped garage-meets-classic rock sound. Local blues rockers Deadbeat Cousins open the show. 8 p.m. Saturday, July 24, at Last Exit Live, 717 S. Central Ave., Phoenix, lastexitlive.com. Tickets cost $20.
Moonlight Magic
Sunday, July 25 at Thunderbird Lounge
If the sound of swing music makes you swoon, then check out five-piece Valley band Moonlight Magic, led by legendary local double bass player Ruth Wilson. 7 p.m. Sunday, July 25, at Thunderbird Lounge, 710 W. Montecito Ave., Phoenix, thunderbirdloungephx.com. Admission is free.
