THROUGH THE LENS: Arizona’s Extra Innings Festival Knocks it Out of the Park

March in Arizona means it’s time for Cactus League spring training in Phoenix. Music promoter and festival organizer C3 Presents (Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits Music Festival, Bonnaroo, and more) thought it would also be a great time hold a roots music fest. They first created the Innings Festival, and last year added another event on the following weekend, appropriately named Extra Innings Festival. Both take place at the Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, Arizona.

While ND’s longtime Arizona correspondent C. Elliott reported on both last year, this time due to a torn meniscus in her right knee that she suffered during her coverage of the Tucson Jazz Fest she was only able to cover Extra Innings (February 28-March 1, 2025) this year. But, still there was more than enough for her to enjoy.

I am happy to report that Elliott’s subsequent surgery was successful and her recovery is coming along just fine. We wish her well along with a speedy recovery.

Here now is her report. 

Extra Innings Festival 2025, by C. Elliott 

It’s hard to believe that this is only the second year of Extra Innings Festival and the festival organizers have continued to make this one of my favorite music festivals by booking mostly outlaw country, red dirt country, and traditional country acts.

This year’s line up included Kacey Musgraves, Maren Morris, The Red Clay Strays (the Americana Music Association’s Emerging Act of the Year for 2024), The Lumineers, Grace Potter, Kings of Leon, Evan Honer, Trampled by Turtles, Evan Honer, Tanner Usrey, and one of the sweetest guys around, Wyatt Flores. My highlights were finally seeing The Red Clay Strays and Kings of Leon.

Folks don’t so much attend this festival as they gather together not only to enjoy the music, but to show off their outfits, which includes lots of boots, short skirts, jeans, and cowboy hats. They also love hanging out with family and friends, reveling in their love for baseball, and no doubt sharing fashion tips. It’s pure joy just walking around the grounds.

The baseball section had some batting and pitching cages to show off your skills. Other baseball activities which included appearances by baseball players Jake Peavy (currently an on-air analyst for MLB Network), Javier “Javy” López, and Derrek Lee, and Ryan Dempster who brought his “Off the Mound With Ryan Dempster” late night-style talk show to the fest. I caught his interviews with Evan Honer, The Red Clay Strays, and Grace Potter. (Dempster is a former Canadian baseball player who pitched for the five major league teams from 1998 to 2013).

Lest I forget, thanks to everyone I worked with at the fest, from the C3 folks, staff, and security who were very helpful and pleasant. I’m looking forward to seeing who they book for 2026!

Click on any photo to view the gallery as a full-size slideshow.