Mar 2

Mar 2 Extra Innings 2026 Literally Brings the Heat to Tempe

celebrity, entertainment, live music coverage

Fans swarmed Tempe Beach Park, eager for Extra Innings 2026! The blazing Arizona heat didn't deter festival-goers, Phoenicians know how to handle triple-digit temperatures. Fresh off last weekend's Innings Festival, the crowd returned with equal enthusiasm for round two: a fusion of country twang and rock energy.

Experience by Charles Reagan for Extra Innings Festival 2026

Top country artists Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, Bret Michaels, Shaboozey, Brothers Osborne, and more commanded the stages across the weekend. A country-themed festival with rock sprinkled throughout proved to be an unexpected winning formula. Here are our standout sets from the weekend.

Drew Baldridge Makes Music For the People:

In the scorching afternoon heat, Drew Baldridge drew an impressive crowd. Taking the Home Plate stage at 2:45, the first independent country artist to reach No. 1 on radio charts delivered a stellar performance. Between songs, he offered glimpses into his unconventional path to stardom. From 2020 to 2024, Baldridge embarked on what he called his "favorite tour"—performing in the backyards of 400 different fans across the country.

Baldridge moved through his catalog with ease, dispensing relationship advice and emphasizing the importance of going the extra mile before landing on his breakout hit, "She's Somebody's Daughter." He revealed the song's origin story: written after meeting his now-wife's parents, it garnered 10 million views in a single day and became the father-daughter dance at their wedding. "I'm not making music for Nashville or the radio," Baldridge told the crowd. "I'm making music for country folks just like you."

Bret Michaels Shows Love to Arizona:

Bret Michaels by Charles Reagan for Extra Innings Festival 2026

Amid the country lineup, Bret Michaels brought a welcome dose of rock energy. The charismatic Poison frontman knows how to work a crowd, and he didn't disappoint. Sporting his signature look—blue jeans, cowboy hat, and t-shirt—Michaels commanded the stage from end to end while repeatedly professing his love for Arizona, his home for over 15 years.

His set mixed covers and classics: "Sweet Home Alabama," Sublime's "What I Got," "Drift Away," and the 1972 throwback "Your Mama Don't Dance." Between songs, Michaels shared a deeply personal moment, revealing that Arizona saved his life after he spent three days in a coma following a brain hemorrhage. The Rock of Love star closed with Poison's biggest hits, "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" and "Nothing But a Good Time," sending fans home satisfied.

Dierks Bentley Gives His Hometown Quite the Show:

Dierks Bentley by Charles Reagan for Extra Innings Festival 2026

You don't show up to a Dierks Bentley concert expecting a mellow evening. Between nostalgic hometown tributes and full-blown '80s band cosplay, the man is relentlessly committed to the spectacle. "I love being in this part of town, although I don't recognize it anymore," the "Burning Man" singer confessed to the crowd, his voice thick with reminiscence.

At one point, Bentley gestured toward Mill Avenue, grinning as he recalled how he "used to throw parties over there." He was talking about the legendary Whiskey Row, that country-rock institution that once anchored Tempe's nightlife scene. The Tempe outpost may have shuttered, but the Gilbert and Scottsdale locations continue to pack in the faithful. Bentley's Arizona roots run deep, and his homecoming energy was palpable.

"For us, this is the greatest thing," he told the roaring crowd. "For you guys, this is just a Friday. I don't know what Hardy was talking about - and Blake Shelton, too - but THIS is God's country right here."

The Arizona native launched into stories from his journey to Nashville, recounting that pivotal moment when he loaded up his dad's truck in Phoenix and pointed it east. One particularly charming anecdote involved an early career-defining gig opening for George Strait. Bentley laughed as he mimicked his father's disappointment over his untucked shirts: "If you want to be sharp, you gotta look sharp," his old man would say, clearly hoping his son would adopt Strait's polished presentation.

He paid respect to Arizona's country legacy, name-checking Waylon Jennings and reminiscing about time at the Rusty Spur and Whiskey Row. The crowd ate it up. By the time "What Was I Thinking" kicked in, the entire venue had reached critical mass - pure, unfiltered country pandemonium.

Luke Bryan Urges Fans to Kick The Dust Up:

Luke Bryan by Charles Reagan for Extra Innings Festival 2026

Luke Bryan knows exactly how to own a stage. Armed with an arsenal of hits and those trademark hip swivels, he was the inevitable choice to anchor Friday night's lineup. Hell, you could argue Bryan single-handedly made country music cool again.

He opened with the melancholic "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" before immediately shifting gears into "Kick the Dust Up" and "One Margarita" - during which he actually handed a margarita to one lucky fan in the pit. Later, he signed a birthday girl's boot before demanding the crowd get back to dancing.

The setlist delivered exactly what you'd want: "Sunrise, Sunburn, Sunset" and an absolutely killer version of "Huntin', Fishin', and Lovin' Every Day" that somehow incorporated a detour through Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven." Closing with "Country Girl Shake It For Me" was the only acceptable move. After a marathon day in Tempe's punishing heat, it was the cathartic release everyone needed.

Day two of Extra Innings kicked off seamlessly. Another scorcher couldn't keep the faithful away, though vendors like Danzeisen's Creamery and various popsicle stands definitely cashed in as fans desperately sought relief from the relentless Arizona sun. With Shaboozy, Hardy, and Kane Brown on the bill, how could you let up a bit?

Hardy Draws a Big Crowd:

Hardy took over the Home Plate stage at 6:35, and the crowd went wild! If you’ve never seen Hardy before, one thing becomes apparent - he’s ‘country country.’ You may even say, “unapologetically country as hell,”

Kane Brown Closes the Festival with Pyrotechnics:

As the closer for Extra Innings 2026, Brown wasted no time getting right into it. Fans came sprinting to the Home Plate stage as he performed “Like I Love Country Music,” which was possibly the best way to kick off his high-energy set (full with pyrotechnics, of course).

The Tennessee native rolled through hits such as “Short Skirt Weather,” “What Ifs,” “One Mississippi,” “Woman,” and more. At one point, the singer joked about how dry it was, which the crowd roared in agreement, before transitioning into “Good as You.”

Extra Innings surely stepped it up in terms of lineup, food availability, and even walking misters for VIP to combat the heat. This festival has surely gotten its footing, and it's only up from here.

*Cover photo: Luke Bryan by Charles Reagan for Extra Innings Festival 2026