M3F 2024 brings heat to spring
The Non-Profit Phoenix Music Festival returns with Dominik Fike Headlining
McDowell Mountain Music Festival (M3F) started spring off with a bang in Phoenix on March 1st and 2nd. 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.
It’s been a packed social calendar for Phoenicians with mainstay events like the Waste Management, Innings Fest, Extra Innings Fest, and next month’s Final Four. 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 2024, 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 the attendees.
The Vendors
Several fun clothing and accessory vendors made for great thrifting opportunities. One standout accessories vendor was Disco Superfly- 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.
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.
Hippo Campus
Hippo Campus is an indie rock band from Saint Paul, Minnesota. While not being in the usual electronic genre of M3F they were one of the most cited acts that attendants were most looking forward to seeing in our anecdotal vox populi polling. They played a lot of their familiar hits and had a memorable set. If this is a shift in acts M3F is booking for future years, we’re all for it.
Dominic Fike
Dominic Fike, the 28-year-old singer songwriter from Florida was easily the biggest name and current cultural draw for M3F this year. He embodied a full rock star during his set touching his biggest hits and also some Gorillaz and Red Hot Chili Peppers covers.
Gorgon City
Gorgon City are an electronic artist and producer duo from North London. A mainstay in the house scene, Gorgon City brought a high level of professionalism that would be the default in boiler rooms in NYC and LA. Their set was well received and they even incorporated some unreleased tracks during it.
Emotional Oranges
Emotional Oranges is an R&B Pop Duo from Los Angeles and were our hidden gem for us at M3F this year. The duo (accompanied by a duo of backup dancers) took a midday set and set the tone for the rest of the night. The crowd for their set was energized and the duo’s stage presence made a lot of new fans that hour.
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