HARK!
I hear…deep fryers a-sizzlin’…
We'll get into that, so to speak, but first: This weekend, Florence, Arizona–not by anyone in their right mind to be confused with Florence, Italy–transforms from a small town (population 26,785) with a big prison (Arizona State Prison Complex – Florence, capacity 3,946) to a small town with a HUGE party.
The party: Country Thunder.
Headliners include the Florida Georgia Line and Blake Shelton.
Many who attend camp at the festival, which, depending on your preferences, makes this either a dream weekend–or an absolute nightmare.
If, like me, you prefer sleeping indoors and your country music like medicine (in small doses, only when needed–like on road trips when nothing else is on the radio), no worries, as there are plenty of options this weekend around HARK Valley.
I have a term for people who say they don’t like French fries: Liars!
But, before we dive into the deliciously decadent French Fry Festival, let’s look at some other offerings on what will be the hottest weekend of the year (temperatures to tease the 100 mark).
Are you down with a band that half-jokingly boasts of being “Arizona’s finest purveyors of punkgrass…Righteous anger meets four-part harmonies and bluegrass instruments for a moshpit hoedown!”
The Haymarket Squares have been fiddlin’ on the sidelines for a few years, but launch a reunion tour with a show at downtown’s Last Exit Live Saturday, April 10.
Tickets are $12-15.
You might think this belongs to the “which of these two do not belong”: The Lowrider & Arts Street Festival.
It starts at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 9.
Say what?
According to local poet, car buff and organizer Francisco Torres: “The event will feature cars, music and vendors. Also, the Art Gallery and Store will be open to view some beautiful artwork from local artists.”
The hot wheels and hot art will be on display in the lot at 147 E. Adams, next to the Hyatt.
Angelique Kidjo –who has a mere 2.4 million followers on Facebook–performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, April, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, 7380 E 2nd St, Scottsdale.
That would be a big deal itself, as she is a critically-acclaimed, four-time Grammy Award winner.
But the West African superstar is obviously interested in pushing her boundaries: She is performing songs from the Talking Heads album Remain in Light. Released in 1980, that album launched the smash hit Once in a Lifetime.
You might ask yourself, “What is ‘Africa’s premier diva’ (as Time magazine called her) doing, here?”
The answer: Buy a ticket ($36-60) and find out for yourself!
French fries are the sidekick of the culinary world.
But now, like a “character actor” who lands a starring role…Fries are ready for their closeup.
They lead the bill of the second annual Fried, French Fry and Music Fest.
The grease starts fryin’ at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 9, at Margaret T. Hance Park (between Third and Central avenues off the I-10) downtown.
Spoiler alert: Most of the vendors aren’t just serving fries–they pile on all kinds of stuff, from chili and cheese to jalapenos, steak, etc.
There will be craft beer and other drink vendors to wash down the fries, with two stages of live bands, DJs, and performers.
French Fry vendors include:
Island Boyz Jerk Spot
White Mountain Food Co.
Random AF Taqueria
The American Poutine Co.
Zombie Bones
Sunny's Gyros
Flyin' K BBQ
Pelon's Food Truck
Sandwichcraft
Tzikii Grill
Superfarm Supertruck
Mr. Fries Man
The music lineup:
FRIED STAGE
The Limit Club
The Deadbeat Cousins
Mr Mudd & Mr Gold
Las Calakas
Vid Nelson
DTPHX STAGE
Stellarwell - Recordbar Radio
Gnarwhal Jrz
Recordbar Radio
Glixen
Sareena Dominguez
Aaron Lim
