Extra Innings Festival - Innings Festival Goes into Overtime
For the first time, Innings Festival went into overtime and offered fans an extra weekend of music and appearances from MLB legends. Over the years, the original Innings Festival in Tempe Beach Park has continued to push boundaries and deliver an impressive line-up year after year. This year, the festival launched a secondary (equally impressive) line-up with a country-folk twist. Extra Innings was a home run, especially for its first year. Check out our highlights from this weekend below!
Turnpike Troubadours by Taylor Regulski for Extra Innings
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram:
Extra Innings certainly pulled out all of the stops for the inception of the festival. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram is a blues guitarist and singer who had the crowd up in arms at 3 pm on Friday. An hour-long blues-inspired set may seem counterintuitive to high-energy, but Kingfish definitely proved the crowd wrong. The powerhouse graced the stage and put on THE most soulful set. Packed with guitar solos and shreds, the set was one of the more unique sets all weekend and the guitar virtuoso is simply in a league of his own.
Elle King’s raspy voice wins the crowd:
Elle King by Dusana Risovic for Extra Innings Festival
Although predictable, seeing Elle King at Extra Innings was a necessity. True to form she belted through her set of hits including “Ex’s & Oh’s”, and “American Sweetheart,” which are always crowd favorites. Elle King’s raspy voice and twang particularly leave fans wanting a bit more and this performance was right on par. The singer took the stage rocking an all red ensemble with minimal jewelry.
Ryan Bingham's reach spans beyond television:
Ryan Bingham by Dusana Risovic for Extra Innings Festival
While many may know Ryan Bingham from the hit television show, the country crooner has roots beyond Yellowstone. The musically talented artist has music that spans multiple genres, and has even taken home an Oscar in 2010 for his single, ‘The Weary Kind.’ Needless to say, Bingham has a dedicated following, and having him shine at the Extra Innings festival was incredible. The multi-faceted artist proved he was in his element as he played hits such as “Top Shelf Drug,” “Wolves,” and “Hallelujah.” The energetic set touched on all elements and also included a harmonica solo from one of the band mates, a disco ball, and strobe lights.
Chris Stapleton Comes Out Blazin with “White Horse”:
Chris Stapleton by Charles Reagan for Innings festival 2024
Chris Stapleton will always reign supreme when it comes to wooing a crowd. The powerhouse opened the set with the infamous, “White Horse,” which set the tone for the evening. This set was long overdue for festival-goers who were in high anticipation to watch pure magic on stage.
Not new to performing, Stapleton’s set encapsulated many favorites from his expansive roster. As the evening continued, Stapleton tugged on the heartstrings of many as the crowd hung onto every word of the bluesy single, “You Should Probably Leave.” With vocals and bass that are unwavering yet intoxicating, Chris Stapleton always provides a powerful performance that hits every time.
Sheryl Crow soaks up the sun with a packed crowd:
Sheryl Crow by Charles Reagan for Innings festival 2024
For a mid-day 4 pm set, the crowd to see Sheryl Crow was pretty expansive. Simply put, she is a performer. Newly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Crow blazed through the hits and the crowd didn’t seem to miss a beat! Granted, they may not have been able to see the star through the huge crowd - but they still were able to keep pace with her tried and true performance. The brunette songstress even tweaked the verbiage to her hit single, “Soak up the Sun,” proudly exclaiming, “This is Arizona!”
Gin Blossoms Return Home:
The Gin Blossoms were proud to be home! Native to Arizona, the band, which has been around for over three decades, provided locals with a high-energy performance. Although the band sprinkled in a few lesser-known singles, the crowd hung around to see the magic. As soon as “Hey Jealousy,” played the crowd got to jumping and it was game over! The 90s stars closed the set with “Till I Hear it From You.”
Noah Kahan:
Noah Kahan by Dusana Risovic for Extra Innings Festival
Day two attendees were swarming the fields with merch from the beloved artist. Kahan took the stage after sundown, and had a heartfelt set filled with hit singles, some jokes, and pure raw emotion from bits of his life. “My goal for any festival is to leave people a little less happy than they came in,” Kahan joked before heading into the packed setlist, which included singles: “Northern Attitude,” “New Perspective,” “She Calls Me Back,” “Growing Sideways,” and more. “[I’m] known as the Jewish Ed Sheeran, but today I'll be the ‘folk Malone,’” before continuing with the set. The crowd enjoyed the chill breeze of Tempe even while dissecting the heavy lyrics.
Dave Matthews Band:
Dave Matthews by Charles Reagan for Innings festival 2024
Dave Matthews Band is not new to the scene at Innings, as they have performed several times, however, performing for the inaugural Extra Innings festival was the right decision. The beloved favorite had a slew of fans as far as the eye could see and rightfully so - they’re incredible!
Besides MLB and live music, festival-goers had many other opportunities to entice their appetite. From tasty bites from the southwest and local favorites such as: El Jefe Tacos, Pupusa Princess, Danzien Cremery, Hot Bamboo, First Base Flatbreads and more, the flavors from the Extra Innings culinary scene was expansive. From vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options, there was something for everyone. In addition to the culinary aspect, the beverage vendors were also in full force. Tito’s Vodka showcased their lavender honey lemonade for a refreshing treat while JaM Cellars offered a perfect retreat for those looking to get a break from the heat. Nestled between both stages, the JaM Cellars activation at Extra Innings invited guests to chill off in the shaded seated areas while sipping a chilled glass of Butter Chardonnay.
The first-ever Extra Innings was a home run! Here’s to hoping it’s here to stay.
*Cover photo: Noah Kahan by Dusana Risovic for Extra Innings Festival
