Dusk Music Festival returns for its ninth year to downtown Tucson on Nov. 15 and 16, bringing national EDM, hip-hop and indie artists to the stage alongside local bands.
G‑Eazy, the Oakland rapper known for his slicked-back hair and James Dean vibe, headlines alongside EDM DJs Deorro, INZO, Loud Luxury, Whipped Cream and Acraze; Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco; and the Boston indie rock band Vundabar.
Local acts include Bush League, Cherry!, Daytrails and Desert Music Project.
“For many of the (local) artists, Dusk is the first time they’re getting paid for their work, and when you get paid, that makes you a professional,” said Page Repp, who was one of the event’s cofounders.
Some local acts earned a spot on the stage through DUSK’s Battle of the Bands competition, which took place this year at Tucson’s newest concert venue La Rosa. Garret James and the Wanderers will play the main stage after winning the competition; Tucson garage rockers All Yours will play the Discovery Stage as the runner-up.
“It’s like that quote from Gladiator—‘Win the crowd and you win your freedom,’” Repp said.
The Oct. 11 battle was supposed to be held on the Plaza at Hotel Congress, but was moved to La Rosa because of rain.
Also on this year’s lineup is Bush League, a Tucson-based funk-rock group known for their improvisational style. The band earned their slot through last year’s competition.
The first Dusk festival was held in 2016 and besides for pausing 2020’s event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has returned annually. The event has grown from a music festival to a full-scale art and cultural experience.
Forty-two artists applied to participate in this year’s visual installations, led by Art Director Anahi Berrellez, a 2022 UA graduate who began with the festival as an intern in 2021.
“I focus on the immersive installations; they are something people can walk into or interact with,” Berrellez said. “The bigger and more experiential the better.”
Berrellez also partners with UA art faculty to bring in student work, including a new virtual reality project debuting at this year’s festival.
“You don’t often get the space or opportunity to create big art and Dusk makes that possible,” she said.
Rapp said the festival also has some new partnerships and a bigger festival footprint.
“We have some new sponsors … new things to expect that you’d see on site,” he said.
Among them is a new partnership with Dave & Buster’s.
“We’re doing [a] music event down at their space later this month, and then they’re coming to Dusk itself, and they’re going to bring out some games and some other (activities) and they’re doing some food and beverage in the VIP and Platinum area,” Repp said.
Repp emphasized that local involvement remains central to the festival’s identity.
“We’ve built something with deep community roots,” he said. “Our food vendors, artists and even our staff are all local.”
As Dusk looks ahead to its 10th anniversary in 2026, plans are already in motion. Rapp said they are looking at “something really special with bigger artists and announcements.”
“At the end of the day, Dusk was created to give Tucson something special, an event that helps keep young people in town, and brings culture here instead of having to drive to Phoenix for everything,” he said.
Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.
If you go
What: Dusk Music Festival
When: 2:30-11 p.m. Nov. 15–16
Where: Jácome Plaza, 1101 N. Stone Ave.
Cost: Two-day festival pass starts at $161.05, single day tickets $93.56 through duskpresents.com
Et cetera: Two-day festival also includes immersive art, food vendors and interactive experiences
