You’ve probably gotten a glimpse of the 2024 M3F lineup announcement ahead of the festival’s debut at Steele Indian School Park this March 1 and 2, but here’s a peek into a few of the fest’s past promotional posters.
What started as a team-building exercise for Phoenix general contracting firm Wespac Construction has spawned into the largest and longest-running annual nonprofit music festival in North America. Originally dubbed McDowell Mountain Music Festival, the event rebranded to M3F in 2018. For the past 20 years, the festival has provided a platform for local and up-and-coming artists and promoted itself via colorful, eye-catching flyers. You’ve probably gotten a glimpse of the 2024 lineup announcement in a store window or Instagram story ahead of the festival’s debut at Steele Indian School Park this March 1 and 2, but here’s a peek into a few of the fest’s past promotional posters.
2011
The three-day festival encouraged attendees to “party with a purpose” in the parking lot of The Compound Grill, a year-round music venue and restaurant in Scottsdale that shuttered the following year. The lineup featured a dozen mostly funk, folk, reggae and rock artists.
2014
To accommodate its burgeoning fanbase and bill of performers, the festival moved to Margaret T. Hance Park in Downtown Phoenix, where it would remain for the next decade. Friday and Saturday were dedicated to electronic and rock acts, while Sunday was reserved for country.
2017
Headlined by international artists like Flume and Chromeo and featuring a handful of homegrown supporting acts, the lineup was “an eclectic mix that appealed to a wide range of music enthusiasts,” says M3F publicist Jelani Wright. “As for the artwork, we aimed to capture the essence of Downtown Phoenix, immersing ourselves in its vibrant setting.”
2020
Held the weekend before the world shut down, the pandemic year’s lineup showcased a diverse array of electronic, indie rock and reggae acts as well as a liberal sprinkling of jam bands. The flyer’s artwork was created by Dutch artist and musician Nick van Hofwegen aka Young & Sick, who performed at the festival under the name “Young Sick n Company.”
2023
M3F promoted its wide-ranging roster – featuring more than two dozen artists from as far away as Australia’s Gold Coast and as close to home as Tempe – via this fun and funky flyer for its last year at Hance Park.
