M3F Festival made its annual return to Steele Indian School Park last weekend, bringing the Valley together for two days of music and community. PHOENIX magazine was on-site to bring you through the festival’s incredible second day, moment by moment.
Photos by Brian Mecinas
Pop-R&B powerhouse Chloe Tang opens up the main Vista stage on Day 2 of M3F. With stunning vocals, impressively choreographed backup dancers, and an effortlessly commanding stage presence, the Phoenix-based artist set a high bar for every act to follow.
The second day of the festival was immediately defined by the Valley-based talent that had been booked to perform, as local funk-soul ensemble Goldwax Revival kicked things off on the Daydream Stage. The instrumental vibes were already impeccable, but the vocal stylings of the group’s lead singer BalJit elevated the performance to new heights.
The Strike’s bassist holds the band together as they deliver a rousing set on the festival main stage.
Each member of the Los Angeles-based band kept a smile on their face as they passionately performed, further raising the spirits of a growing crowd that already surpassed the number present at the same time on Day 1.
The upbeat, timeless pop sound of the band was a hit with festivalgoers who had already begun enjoying the event’s many drink options.
Moments after the end of The Strike’s set, the energy intensified at the Cosmic Stage as Frost Children stepped up for their DJ set. Tucked away at the corner of the outlined festival grounds, the Cosmic Stage served as the consistent homebase for most of the weekend’s up-and-coming electronic acts. As their opening track began, the duo looked almost out of place in their all black outfits but quickly demonstrated their influence over the crowd as the first beat dropped, proving just how well they fit into the festival lineup.
All along the barricade, a number of fans wearing various pieces of Frost Children merch were already bouncing and dancing along to the duo’s mixes with a fervent energy.
If the sun wasn’t already doing it, Frost Children certainly brought the heat and set the foundation for a strong second day of the festival.
A couple enjoys an arcade game break between sets, courtesy of the shaded tent sponsored and stocked by beloved local establishment Cobra Arcade Bar.
Phoenix-raised alt-rock artist Upsahl delivers a striking set on the main Vista Stage.
The crowd received Upsahl with utter excitement, regularly cheering and yelling joyfully as they danced along to her songs.
Her setlist included some of her more popular hits like “Drugs” and “People I Don’t Like,” in addition to a cover of “Heads Will Roll,” the iconic track by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. For those who couldn’t get enough of the performance, it’ll have to remain a treasured memory for the foreseeable future. Upsahl mentioned during a break between songs that the festival was likely to be her only live show of the year. As she enters an implied hiatus while working on new music, she’s made sure that no one will forget about her anytime soon.
A representative from the Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) joins a festival organizer on the Daydream Stage to express her gratitude on behalf of the institution. One of the most beloved details about M3F is that all proceeds benefit local charities and organizations, including PCH. Every ticket purchased continues allowing PCH to provide music therapy for its young patients in their time of need.
Austin-based indie pop quartet Luna Luna took the Daydream stage soon after, serenading the afternoon crowd with its upbeat sound. Frontman and lead vocalist Kavvi Gonzalez doted on the crowd, attentively moving across the stage to ensure every fan had the best view possible for at least part of the set. Every few songs, Gonzalez would bounce back and forth between English and Spanish in a dynamic, bilingual display of his Latin heritage.
A short while later on the Vista Stage, electronic dance-pop performers Confidence Man quickly got to work delivering one of the best overall sets of the weekend.
One of the most exciting parts of the set was the intricate choreography that the group’s leading duo would execute for each and every song throughout the performance. More often than not, the conclusion of each song would be marked by the duo striking a pose, all of which were received with booming applause from an ecstatic audience.
An attendee smiles as he dances with other people in the crowd during Confidence Man’s set.
Walter the Bus continues serving as one of the best spots from which to watch performances on the Vista Stage, also drawing in various ribbon dancers.
Festival attendees pose for a photo at a pop-up brand activation by OGeez!
At the back of the festival grounds, a couple enjoys drinks and dances together as part of the Silent Disco activation put on by Beatbox.
Throughout the day, festival volunteers ran a booth selling and customizing denim jackets for attendees with proceeds benefiting local charities.
Various attendees leaned into the historically electronic/EDM roots of M3F, going all out with rave outfits that shined beautifully as golden hour arrived.
An artist from Walter Productions spent the day painting on a canvas in between the Vista and Daydream stages, often drawing a crowd that was enamored by the scene.
Electronic dance artist Doss kept people moving and grooving as the sun began to set over the festival grounds. Doss maintained a mellow vibe during her set, staying levelheaded even as many in the crowd lost their minds at the vivid layers of production that went into her performance.
The weather on Day 2 was gorgeous. Many attendees soaked in the spring sunlight while sitting along the edges of Steele Indian School Park’s large pond.
Beach Weather’s lead vocalist Nick Santino brought the best of both indie fashion and music to the festival. With a colorful red suit combo and rich colored light production to accentuate it, the indie rock band’s set was remarkable to watch.
The camaraderie between the band’s members allowed them to shine brightly in every sense of the phrase as they made their way through their set.
On the Vista Stage, electronic duo Sylvan Esso leveraged the festival’s high-end lighting production to create a maze of smoke and spotlights that frontwoman Amelia Meath floated through with fluid, graceful movements.
DJ Gregg Gillis, known to most as Girl Talk, did an incredible job of amping up the crowd one last time before the night’s final, headlining set. Bringing dozens of fans up with him, the Daydream Stage transformed into an EDM party for the full hour-long set.
This year’s festival concluded with a jaw-dropping performance and light display from electronic giants Justice, drawing the largest crowd of the weekend.
