Innings Fest Hits Another Rockin' Homerun in Arizona

Walking into Innings Festival, you’re immediately greeted by a giant inflatable baseball glove — a reminder that it’s not just a regular festival, but one centered around America’s favorite pastime: baseball. With stages named Home Plate, Right Field, and Left Field, the baseball theme was just as important as the music.

Taking place February 21 and 22, Innings Festival 2025 returned to the Arizona desert for a weekend of music and ballgame activities. Included was speed pitch and batting cages galore to keep festival goers and baseball enthusiasts both occupied. This classic sporty atmosphere intermixed with stellar performances curated a weekend of fun and games for all. From up and comings bands like Winona Fighter to the beloved “Mr. Brightside” veterans The Killers, Innings Fest offered something for everyone. Fans donned their favorite band tees and MLB team jerseys with their loyalty (to both) on display. Between grandstand bleachers and food trucks (with incredible tots), the main stages constantly hummed with the sound of live music across the grounds. All the while on the baseball field, fans were meeting some of their sports heroes and practicing their own skills in the batting cages. Staying on theme, one of the favorite sets of day 1 was The All-American Rejects.

All-American Rejects *(Jimmy MacFadyen)*

The band came out in matching baseball uniforms as they performed their hits from “Move Along” to “Swing Swing” and beyond. Overall, the setlist was full of mostly singles from over the years, which really revved up the crowd. Tyson and the guys kept the energy high with their expressive and enthusiastic stage presence — at one point, shouting out someone on a kayak from across the lake.

Incubus was up next to the plate with their beautiful backdrop giving us classic festival vibes. Kicking off with “Megalomaniac,” the band included a Beatles cover of “Come Together” amongst many others before ending their set with another crowd favorite, “Drive.” As the sun started to set on Tempe Beach Park, The Black Keys closed out the Right Field stage. The audience was thrilled to jam out to their famous hits like “Gold on the Ceiling,” “Tighten Up,” and last but not least, “Lonely Boy.”

As the cool air dropped, the crowd filled in for Fall Out Boy as night one at the Home Plate stage ended. Fall Out Boy brought their infamous pyro and stage design which had the audience locked in from the moment they began their set. Pete mentioned the band planned on taking a break, but couldn’t say no to this festival — then began singing their own Eras of discography. They played early hits like “Grand Theft Autumn” and “Sugar We’re Goin Down” — continuing with their massive hits, “Thnks fr th Mmrs,” “Dance Dance,” and “Light ‘Em Up.” The guys ended with the song they’ve been closing with since the very beginning of their career: “Saturday.” With every inch of the grounds full of singing and dancing amongst crowd, this felt like the perfect way to end an amazing day one.

Day two of Innings Festival brought a whole new buzz starting with many female-led bands taking over the day like Good Boy Daisy and The Kills. Eighteen-year-old Grace Bowers and the Hodge Podge brought fun and funk, showing off her amazing guitar skills. Gary Clark Jr. came out with his favorite Cubs jersey on and continued with bringing the soul with his hit “Things Are Changing.”

The highly anticipated reunion of Jack’s Mannequin was a major highlight for many at the festival. The band hasn’t played a tour since 2016 during the 10 Years in Transit Anniversary Tour. Lead singer Andrew McMahon announced a Jack’s Mannequin reunion tour earlier this year after his successful run with former band Something Corporate in 2024. Opening with their song “Dark Blue,” they brought fans back to the nostalgia with songs like “I’m Ready,” “The Mixed Tape,” and fan anthem “Swim.”

Andrew also chatted with retired Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster for his “Off The Mound” segment. They talked about the recent resurgence of Something Corporate and how it drove to a revival of Jack’s Mannequin as well. The pair dove into more personal topics such as Andrew’s daughter, Cecilia, and what it was like having her onstage with him over his recent tour — along with Andrew’s past cancer diagnosis and all that he does with his Dear Jack Foundation.

As the sun set on day two, Beck performed “Devils Haircut” and his iconic song “Loser.” Soulful R&B harmony group, Boyz II Men, brought “Motownphilly” back to life while the crowd later swooned to their favorite 90’s ballads like “On Bended Knee” and “Water Runs Dry.” Ending with their massive hit “End of the Road” was the cap fans needed to end their set at the Right Field stage.

Once again, not to forgo the festival’s baseball theme — The Killers opened their performance leading the crowd to sing along to “Take Me Out To the Ball Game.” They strategically slipped in a cover of “Centerfield” — which brought a light happy vibe to their whole show. As the anticipation heightened, they gave the crowd exactly what they wanted and dove straight into “Mr. Brightside.” Many fans of The Killers were dressed in sparkly jackets and bedazzled looks, matching the shine of lead singer Brandon Flowers in his own shiny suit. His love for performing made their show even more enjoyable to watch as fans sang along to “Smile Like You Mean It,” and their debut track “Somebody Told Me.” The Killers closed the book on Innings Festival 2025 with “When You Were Young.”

Baseball and music hand in hand made this festival one of the most unique ones to look forward to. With a beautiful environment, great vendors and a fun-loving crowd, we look forward to next year’s lineup and can’t wait to see what is in store for 2026!