VIVAPHX RETURNS WITH INTIMATE SOUNDSCAPES IN THE DESERT

Photos by Ellier English

My favorite time of year is when Phoenix is cooling down. It’s mid-October and the leaves aren’t changing but the heat is. As an Arizona native it’s always a relief to see people start walking around and lounging outside without melting within 60 seconds of stepping out the door.

And as a native to the city, lately, it’s been a bit disappointing compared to traveling to other places like New York or L.A. Their bustling streets and lively events happening all-day-every-day is captivating. It makes coming back to Phoenix feel just as beige as Sky Harbor.

However… Last weekend made me see something different. I felt a new intimacy with the city reverberate through my body. Walking around 4th Avenue with the streets blocked off from cars and vendors and music echoing in the air - I had a different viewpoint of Phoenix. It was like First Friday but fresh and exciting and even more full of music.

After a seven year hiatus, Viva Phoenix returned and set a precedent for what’s to be expected for the future of Phoenix’s arts and music culture scene. Stationed right in downtown and sprawling 4th Avenue, the Viva festival boasted 70 different artists and 12 different stages. More than 30 of the artists were local to Phoenix including names like Owijoo, kJADE, S.A.M.N.X, Glixen, Pariah Pete, Los Esplifs, Bummer Girl and so many more that were worth checking out. Local food and vendors were everywhere and arguably some of the best in the valley. If you get the chance, definitely try out The Rez, Bad Jimmy’s or Huarachis - they were practically sold out of food by the end of the night. A few other local vendors that were with an assortment of different clothing, art and cameras were Therespace, Crummy, and Wilson Camera.


Photos by Anitah Imani and Ellier English

The event was so well organized and coordinated that thousands of attendees easily wandered in and out of venues and vendor spaces. It was clear that night that the people of this city were craving more events like this.

During my experience at Viva I decided to record different soundscapes around the festival to capture moments amongst this refreshing event. For those that don’t know, a soundscape is a combination of sounds that comes from an immersive environment.  Which is perfect for a city like Phoenix that still retains the intimacy of a small community but often fills out its cowboy boots.

There was a distant overture of music everywhere we went and we were kissed by the breeze all night.  For what felt like the first day of fall in the city it was the perfect backdrop for an outdoor festival. The first event my friends and I attended was at the Crescent Ballroom for the rising star Liv.e - who needs so much more clout than she has. Not to mention she was incredibly funny and had personality to spare. Here’s a taste of an intro to one of her remixed songs:





She was darkwave and R&B and practically a spitting image of Portishead with a clear electroshock inspiration. It was incredible to hear a contemporary and abstract sound fit into the modern landscape of music today. Here’s a sound byte of what I mean:





Liv.e left the crowd energized and ready for the next artist at the Crescent Ballroom. We caught the first bit of Zelooperz who built off the buzz. His fit, demeanor, and energy was exactly what you’d expect from someone with fans who adore him.




We then found our way to Ziggy’s Pizza which was busy as always. It was fun to freely weave in and out of the streets, different music venues and places selling food. It made Phoenix feel more like a real big city.


 


After this we all headed over to the anticipated Coco & Clair Clair show in the Van Buren. As one of the bigger names at Viva their crowd reflected it. There were plenty of people who clearly knew who these artists were but also a good amount of new fans. Definitely the kind of crowd two popstars would bring in.




But as the two started recognizing that not everyone knew their lyrics they gave some well deserved attitude to the crowd and then claimed they actually really enjoyed Phoenix and the festival. It was personable and sweet and made the concert feel more intimate even with hundreds of people watching.





My friends and I ended the night by mellowing out with Crumb. They were just as dreamy as you’d expect and had a crowd that rivaled the previous show. It was a beautiful way to exit the festival. Swaying with one another to the ambient and jazzy notes in the air. We felt at home with each other and the city.



All this being said, and listened to, the Viva Phoenix festival brought so many artists and so many people together in a city that doesn’t often let its residents gather so closely in the streets. Experiencing the local artist scene appearing so brightly in the city was exciting and communal. It all made living in Phoenix feel worth it. It made Phoenix feel like a place you might wanna call home. (Or at least come back to) <3