In just three short years, the Dreamy Draw Music Festival has evolved from a well-curated regional music event to a big-name extravaganza. Scheduled for November 7-8 at Scottsdale Civic Center, this year’s festival includes folk rockers The Lumineers and indie darlings Vampire Weekend. Co-founder and talent buyer RJ Largay, who also runs spring’s M3F in Downtown Phoenix, is proud to present great music at a reasonably affordable price (general admission tickets range from $90 for a single day to $145 for the weekend; VIP tickets run from $180-$250). We spoke with him about planning Dreamy Draw’s 2025 edition.
How do you go about building the lineup?
It’s up to the music gods. There’s a ton of rejection and failure in this business. We’re always trying to build rapport and make sure the product[s] that we’re putting out there are something artists want to be a part of.
Do you aspire to make Dreamy Draw a national staple?
We’re in the third year of a five-year plan. By all indications, this is something the community wants, and we’re excited to provide it to them. From a marketing standpoint, 45 percent of our ticket sales are from out of state. Dreamy Draw is a unique event, and I think music fans from across the country have been wanting this.
How do you respond when someone says Vampire Weekend doesn’t fit the Americana mold of previous years?
Music is so eclectic. I can’t help but champion anyone who can make music and live out their dreams on a stage. I’m a fan of music, and I curate things in a manner that hopefully demonstrates that.
— Jason Keil
