REVIEW: M3F FEST KICKS OFF 2023 FESTIVAL SEASON BY PARTYING FOR A CAUSE
AMIDST WAVES OF INTENSE WINTER STORMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY — M3F Fest in Phoenix was a pocket of early summer magic, kicking off the 2023 festival season with some much-needed sunshine. Boasting an impressive lineup of some of the best names in the EDM and indie-pop scenes, M3F provided groovy, funky sets that kept us dancing all weekend.
Headlined by EDM legend Jamie xx and pop songstress Maggie Rogers, the fest provided a range of genres with a little something for everyone. Fans of R&B flocked to Joshy Soul, Winston Surfshirt, and Chiiild, while indie-pop lovers such as myself flocked to cult favorites COIN, Peach Pit, and Del Water Gap. Those partial to the electronic dance scene partied hard to The Knocks, Polo & Pan, and Purple Disco Machine.
In addition to our established favorites, we encountered some newcomers that will be making their way to your playlists very soon. Our top picks of the weekend included indie sweetheart Veronica Everheart — whose spunky pop sound was reminiscent of alt girl band The Regrettes — and The Lagoons, who had a sleepy, summery surf vibe similar to that of Peach Pit and Current Joys.
M3F is a bit more special than the average festival, in that 100% of profits are donated directly to charity. Using the motto “Party with a purpose,” the festival has donated over $4.4 million to local charities since its inception, and is one of the few 100% non-profit fests out there. It felt great to enter a festival so focused on building community, and the weekend did not disappoint.
We entered on Friday to near-blinding sun rays and a sea of bright neon outfits, colorful sunnies, and patterned bucket hats. Concert-goers were spinning around on the lawns, some waving hoops and bright scarves catching in the light. We encountered a line of local vendors with vibrant, funky wares, a collective art table set up with coloring and painting supplies, and free cocktail samples abound. There was a lightness in the air — a carefree sense that I had been wistful for all winter.
Courtesy of M3F Fest / Neil Schwartz
We started our weekend grooving to Winston Surfshirt on the Daydream stage. The six-piece Aussie funk collective got the whole crowd flowing in the afternoon sunshine, creating the dream festival buzz: a little bit jazz, a little bit funk, a little bit hip-hop. They played a handful of tracks from their newest Panna Cotta album, as well as some classic hits, finishing out the set with fan favorite “Be About You.”
Right on their heels was a bouncy, vibrant performance from indie favorite Del Water Gap. Bouncing around stage in bright green shorts, a clutter necklace, and funky socks, he raised the energy (and emotions) of the crowd with melodic, acoustic tracks, and even featured a surprise guest appearance from headliner Maggie Rogers.
The rest of the evening included a plethora of buzzy performances. The Knocks amassed a dancing crowd spanning half the lawn, creating a thrumming beat in our chests that carried across the festival grounds. Dance-pop sweetheart Becky Hill delivered a high-energy, memorable performance, belting out anthems in hot pink thigh-high boots and a gingham dress.
What followed that night was one of our festival highlights: a bubbly, energetic performance from COIN. The stage was adorned with the iconic 10-foot tall floating ladybug sculpture and vibrant, trippy visuals projected behind the band. Starting off strong with the bouncy hit “Cutie,” from their latest album, the band wove their way through the favorites of their vast discography, going as far back as their 2016 debut hit, “Talk Too Much,” all the while captivating the crowd with their palpable energy and frontman Chase Lawrence’s animated antics. The set finished in an explosive burst with “Crash My Car,” taken to new heights (quite literally) with Lawrence climbing the stage’s scaffolding at the song’s climax.
Finally, the energy of the night came to a peak: onto the main Vista stage entered queen Rogers herself. On a stage draped in dried flowers, wearing a velvet minidress with a black leather jacket, she emerged. Moving the crowd to poignant, lyrical hits such as “Say It” and “Alaska” and flowing through wistful tracks “Love You for a Long Time” and “Light On,” the crowd flowed easily to the ethereal waves of her magical lyricism. It was the perfect heady, gauzy ending to the first day.
Saturday started out strong with smooth, groovy performances from Chiiild and Joshy Soul. The latter got the whole crowd swaying on the venue’s Cosmic stage with smooth R&B funk jams played over a backdrop of psychedelic kaleidoscope visuals, closing out with a cover of “Electric Feel” by MGMT.
These acts were immediately followed by soulful songstress Chelsea Cutler before moving into another personal favorite, Peach Pit. Frontman Neil Smith kept the crowd’s energy high with his bouncy antics, taking us on a journey through the band’s sleepy, melodic discography. As the sun was setting, bathing the whole crowd in golden light, they wove through favorites such as “Shampoo Bottles,” “Alrighty Aphrodite,” and “Techno Show,” throwing in some coy anecdotes along the way.
“This song is about my friend Britney taking me to a rave,” Smith said. “I really didn’t want to go, but she was super hot, so…”
The band closed out the evening with “Tommy’s Party” just as the sun was dipping back behind the red-dusted Arizona mountains, leaving everyone with a wistful glow.
The rest of the night featured a handful of standout performances, most notably from EDM/hip-hop icon Channel Tres and electro-funk artist Toro y Moi. The end of a festival is always bittersweet, but the goodbye was made easier by an electric performance from headliner Jamie xx. The crowd rode out on a wave of ecstasy and energy, leaving all festival goers with a buzz that will be remembered for years to come.
Courtesy of M3F Fest / Neil Schwartz
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