M3F 2023 starts the spring season with a bang

The Non-Profit Phoenix music festival returns with another fantastic year

McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F) started spring off with a bang in Phoenix on March 3rd and 4th. Founded in 2004, the festival has continued to grow in size and scope, and has become one of the most beloved traditions in the Valley. 

M3F is unique in its mission- 100% of the ticket proceeds are donated directly to local and national charities. This year, more than $1.2 million were donated to several charities. Since the festival’s inception, nearly $5 million dollars have been donated. M3F chooses charities from four categories to donate proceeds (arts, community, education and environment.) Beyond its recognition as a genuinely great festival, it is easy to support an event that provides so much good to the Phoenix community. 

After the somewhat disastrous “Zona Fest,” also hosted at Margaret T. Hance park in downtown, there were some concerns about venue preparation. Luckily for patrons, M3F has always delivered a spectacular event in its 20 years of production- and this year was no exception. As one of the most exciting local events in 2023, M3F continues to prove itself to be one of the best hidden gems in Maricopa County.

The Venue:

The recently reworked concert area at Margaret T. Hance park set a great tone for the weekend. Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, the city backdrop is the perfect setting for a trendy and relaxed festival. 

The forecast for the weekend held plenty of sunshine and comfortable temperatures, which elevated the experience and allowed festival goers to take in the entire experience provided by the festival’s great setup. 

One of the first things I noticed that impressed me was the effort the festival took to provide a comfortable experience for everyone attending. There were more shaded seating areas than almost any festival I’ve been to- which was great for those of us who get easily sunburnt! There was even a large area located between two of the main stages (with a great view of both) that had more than a dozen large benches with pillows, blankets, umprellas and carpeting all included. 

As far as decoration and theme were concerned- M3F went above and beyond, as usual. The festival was colorfully and beautifully outfitted, using its whimsical desert and alien abduction themes to its advantage. One of my favorite aspects of the festival was how many photo op spots were created for patrons. Some favorites included a small, but lovely flower garden with a great backdrop, giant UFOs with space to take a picture in front of their “beams,” and cacti with changing backgrounds and lighting. On top of ample, but simple lighting throughout, the festival did a great job at transporting us to another world.

The Vendors

Several fun clothing and accessory vendors made for great thrifting opportunities. One standout accessories vendor was Disco Lemonade- a one-stop shop for unique and extravagant sunglasses. These handcrafted glasses are both beautiful and well-made- they are the perfect accessory to upgrade any outfit (plus, some of them came with pre-rolled joints!) 

The only venue complaint I had this year was the setup of food vendors. While the festival had plenty of great food vendor options, they were located at the very far ends of the festival. The way these food courts were designed had some flaws- one food court had very few meal options (though many great snack and dessert choices,) while the food court with lunch and dinner vendors became very crowded by the midpoint of each day. Regardless, M3F found a wonderful group of local restaurants, with an emphasis on inclusion for all dietary needs. The festival had plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians, as well as many vendors offering gluten or dairy free products. 

The Music:

M3F has traditionally hosted a mixture of dance and alternative music- a combination that works surprisingly well each year and brings a fun-loving audience. As an alternative to the larger scale Innings Festival in Tempe, M3F hosts both local bands, as well as plenty of well-known musicians and DJs. Despite the proximity of each stage, the sound was never muddied by nearby acts- it’s a testament to the hard work that goes into setting up this festival. While there were dozens of amazing performances throughout the weekend, a few stood out.

The Knocks

The Knocks are a veteran electronic music duo from New York City. Having been around for more than 15 years, the duo electrified the crowd in the early hours of the evening on day 1. Despite a set-time that ended well before the sunset, The Knocks brought as much energy as any headliner, with electrifying sound and visuals to match. The crowd at this set was perhaps the most active and engaged of any set I attended all weekend- which is no surprise given the fun (and safe!) environment the duo creates. 

The Knocks have always been trendsetters and innovators in the electronic music industry, fusing different genres to develop a fanbase that represents all music tastes and walks of life. It is very evident that Ben “B-Roc” Ruttner and James “Mr. JPatt” Patterson care deeply for both their craft and their fans. The top-notch performance is matched by an energy that encourages audiences to let loose, be themselves and have uninhibited fun. You can tell that these guys are just genuinely good people who make genuinely good music. 

Some highlights of the set included their smash hits, “Ride or Die” (a collaboration with Foster the People,) and “Best Friend” (a collaboration with Sofi Tukker.) These songs hyped up the crowd and proved to be great singalongs. Other favorites include “R U HIGH,” from their latest album History, and the classic “House Party,” a personal favorite of mine, which features Patterson’s vocals and some pretty clever lyrics. The Knocks could have easily excited the crowd closer to the headline act, but even with the early set time they were a weekend highlight. 

Maggie Rogers

Maggie Rogers, the 28-year-old singer songwriter from Easton, Maryland performed her first ever festival headline set to round out day 1 of M3F. Rogers rose to fame after her 2019 debut album, “Heard It in a Past Life,” reached number 1 on the US alternative charts and number 2 on the overall US chart upon release. Her musical style brings a modern approach to indie pop and folk rock, and she has quickly become a major player in the alternative music industry. 

Rogers’ powerhouse vocals were the highlight of the set- she brought the best vocal performance of the entire festival. Her stage setup was simple and elegant- an abundance of beautiful flowers made up a majority of the decoration, while the lighting was kept simple to match her understated magic. The setlist Rogers created highlighted her musical range- made up of songs that allowed audiences to see her strengths across multiple genres.

Rogers has a radiant warmth that encourages audiences to engage with her performance- she seemed happy to be on stage. Her bright blonde pixie cut is a perfect representation of her aura- one that is both youthful and graceful. She has the stage presence and musical skill of a rockstar, but with a more easygoing energy. Personal favorites of the set included “Alaska,” one of the first singles she ever released and “Light On,” a deeply personal track set to one of the most beautiful melodies of recent memory. 

Peach Pit

Peach Pit is a four-piece alternative rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, formed in 2016. After their 2017 single “Alrighty Aphrodite,” became a surprise sleeper hit in the United States last year, Peach Pit has steadily gained a following across the country. Their unique sound, which uses elements of indie, pop and surf rock was the perfect fit for a sunset performance on day 2 of the festival. 

While the crowd was more subdued for this set compared to many of the more upbeat EDM sets, it was clear that the audience was basking in the stadium-sound rock.

Vocalist Neil Smith spouted quirky anecdotes between many of the songs, and the honesty with which he spoke was refreshing. His stories brought the songs to life, amplifying the elements of comedy and irony within the lyrics. The crowd was excited to sing along to “Alrighty Aphrodite,” but the standout song within the set was “Shampoo Bottles,” a fan favorite that translated very well live. 

Peach Pit brought the kind of hippie, relaxed energy that the festival aimed to facilitate, setting the mood for the rest of the evening. While their set was far more subtle than most of the other acts throughout the weekend, the performance felt organic and fit naturally with the atmosphere of the event. It also gave the audience a much-needed chance to unwind before the two electronic sets that followed on the main stage. 

Toro Y Moi 

Chaz Bear, known professionally as Toro Y Moi, has been an electronic music game-changer since 2009. The multi-talented musician from Columbia, South Carolina, was part of the original “chillwave” movement of the late 2000s, alongside artists like Washed Out and Neon Indian. Following his early releases, he began to explore other genres including psychedelic, r&b, hip-hop and indie rock- with his more recent releases, he often combines elements from these different genres to create something completely unique. 

Toro Y Moi took the stage after sunset- the excitement for his set was palpable from the crowd, many of whom had waited most of the afternoon to get the best possible spot. Having been in the industry for nearly 15 years, Toro Y Moi knows just how to invigorate a crowd. The lighting and backdrop used colorful psychedelic elements to match the offbeat dance music he played, while never distracting from his onstage presence. The whole crowd moved to the music, with each song creating a different, danceable energy. Toro Y Moi has performed at M3F in the past, and as an artist that exists both in the alternative and dance space, he is the perfect performer for the festival.

His song selection was arguably one of the best of any set during the weekend. While he played several songs off of his most recent release, “Mahal,” most of the set was made up of fan favorites from his earlier work- playing his 2018 masterpiece album “Outer Peace,” nearly in its entirety. Rounding out the set with his unconventional, house-pop hit “Freelance,” was a smart choice, allowing the audience to have one last singalong. Playing 16 songs in only one hour is certainly a challenge, but Toro Y Moi moved through his discography with ease. His poised performance and eccentric music allowed for an unforgettable subheadline set.

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