Having two birthdays in one year is a logistical improbability, but try telling that to The Maine. The legendary emo band from Tempe is celebrating two milestones in 2027: its 20th anniversary and 10 years of hosting the biannual 8123 Fest.
The first edition of what drummer Pat Kirch calls “Comic-Con of The Maine” took place in the Crescent Ballroom parking lot in 2017. While other festivals have struggled over the last decade because of economics and pandemics, 8123 Fest keeps growing for two simple reasons – it books great bands and focuses on the fan experience.
This year’s edition will be held on January 15 and 16 at Mesa Amphitheatre and will feature The Band Camino, Andrew McMahon and local singer-songwriter Sydney Sprague. The Maine will headline both nights of the two-day festival with no repeat songs.
The Maine isn’t the first band to launch an artist-centric music festival, but it might be among the first to make it work on an intimate level. Thanks to social media and email, the group can solicit feedback from its fan base and create an immersive experience, which includes merchandise pop-ups and a food-and-drink menu inspired by the band’s discography.
“We know exactly who we want it to appeal to,” Kirch says. “So, it’s easy to pick the bands to play. It’s easy to pick the food to have. It’s easy to pick the drinks to have. We curate every detail of the festival.”
Because the group handles nearly every aspect of 8123 Fest, it takes on more of the financial risk. But Kirch says keeping costs low and focusing on the fan experience bring greater economic rewards. He believes the fest might look drastically different today if the band had listened to the voices telling it to cater the event to everyone.
“Our mission isn’t to make the biggest festival ever,” Kirch says. “We’re trying to cater to our fans and give them the best experience ever.”
