Tempe’s Grand Slam Weekend: Music and Baseball Collide at Innings Festival
By Stella Violet
Photo: Charles Reagan
The Innings Festival 2025 concluded its seventh annual celebration at Tempe Beach Park in Arizona on Saturday, delivering a blend of music and baseball-themed entertainment.
From the All-American Rejects baseball-themed Halloween jersey’s to Fall Out Boy’s firework show on night one, the weekend was filled with excitement and anticipation for next week’s Extra Innings Festival.
Held on February 21-22, the festival coincided with the Cactus League spring training, offering fans an immersive experience that seamlessly combined their passions for live music and America's favorite pastime.
This year's festival featured an impressive roster of artists across multiple stages, ensuring non-overlapping sets for attendees.
Photo: Nathan Zucker
Friday's performances included: Boyish, Winona Fighter, Jack Kays, Neon Trees, Slightly Stoopid, The All-American Rejects, Incubus, The Black Keys, and headliners Fall Out Boy.
Saturday continued the momentum with Anna Graves, Good Boy Daisy, Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge, The Kills, Gary Clark Jr., Jack's Mannequin, Beck, Boyz II Men, and headliners The Killers.
Photo: RohoFoto
Fall Out Boy Closes Night One
Patrick Stump, lead vocalist of Fall Out Boy, expressed his enthusiasm before taking the stage: "Performing at Innings Festival is a unique experience. The energy from fans who share a love for music and baseball is unparalleled."
Fall Out Boy’s set was unlike any other at the festival, featuring their own spin on Taylor Swift’s era’s tour.
Throughout the day, fan’s were trading the band’s merch and homemade bracelets in anticipation for the band’s set at 8:45 p.m.
In true era’s tour fashion, the band included several detailed sets, masked cheerleaders and a papier-mâché flying sheep which was a beautiful homage to the band’s album Infinity On High.
The set list included classics like “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down” and “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs” while also playing music off their latest album So Much (For) Stardust.
The night ended with fireworks lighting up Tempe’s sky as they made their way off stage.
Photo: Chris Phelps
The Killers Legendary End To Innings - Night Two
As the festival came to an end, The Killers were the last act to go on. They came out swinging with their own rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” before kicking off an unforgettable set with hit songs “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me.”
Brandon Flowers of The Killers shared his excitement for the evening: "There's something special about playing under the Arizona sky with the backdrop of spring training. It's a celebration of two great American traditions."
Before performing the band’s hit song “Running Towards a Place” Flowers described some songs as “barn burners” but that the next song is “a prayer.”
Additionally, before playing “Somebody Told Me” Flower’s described the song as a “rattlesnake.”
Their set ended with multiple singalong hits like “All These Things That I’ve Done Before” where the crowd began chanting “I’ve got soul, but I’m not a soldier” before ending their set with “When You Were Young.”
Photo: Nathan Zucker
Daytime Activities
Beyond the music, the festival offered a variety of baseball-related activities such as batting cages open both days for fans to try out their skills.
Phoenix native and former Arizona Diamondbacks player Cole Tucker was even spotted mingling between stages, making sure to show his fan’s all the love.
Photo: Innings Festival Instagram
Zia Records also set up a pop-up shop near the Left Field Stage which allowed festival goers to expand their vinyl collections with records from all the performing bands, including hard to find albums like Fall Out Boy’s From Under The Cork Tree.
Photo: Nathan Zucker
Off the Mound with Ryan Dempster
Former MLB pitcher Ryan Dempster brought his renowned talk show, "Off the Mound," to the festival, conducting live interviews that bridged the worlds of music and baseball.
On Friday, Dempster sat down with members of The All-American Rejects for an intimate conversation. The band shared insights into their musical journey and their excitement about performing at a festival that celebrates both music and sports.
Front man Tyson Ritter joked about their white and red baseball uniforms and how they were left over from a Halloween party, yet entirely fitting for the festival.
The band also discussed the 20th anniversary of their album Move Along, while teasing new music.
When they performed later that evening, the crowd’s energy was evident as they sang along to hits like “Gives You Hell” and “Dirty Little Secret.”
Photo: Ismael Quintanillaiii
Host Ryan Dempster commented on the festival's unique appeal: "Innings Festival brings together the best of both worlds. It's a place where music fans and baseball enthusiasts can celebrate their passions in unison."
Set against the picturesque backdrop of Tempe Town Lake, the festival grounds were divided into three main stages: Home Plate, Right Field, and Left Field. Each stage offered a distinct ambiance, with the Home Plate stage hosting the headlining acts.
Photo: RohoFoto
Notable Performances from Beck to Boys II Men
Beck brought his signature blend of eccentricity and charm to Innings Fest, captivating the crowd with his quirky stage presence.
From spinning like James Brown to joking around about a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Beck’s performance was a perfect mix of humor and musical brilliance.
He showcased hits like “Loser” while also offering more introspective moments like “Sea Change.”
He playfully added a monologue about Scottsdale during his song “Debra” and touched on the beauty of Arizona.
Arguably, my favorite performance of the entire festival was Boys II Men who brought all the feels and all the vocals to the Right Field Stage, (they should have been playing Home Plate if you ask me.)
The set started off with the band poking fun at many people in the crowd not knowing who they were, but ended by saying they were here to bring you entertainment and introduce the crowd to their music.
They led the crowd into multiple singalongs with their hit songs “On Bended Knee” and “One Sweet Day” while also covering other famous bands from The Beatles to Prince.
They led into “Open Arms” by Journey by saying “In case you haven’t noticed by now, we like to sing covers sometimes.”
Their killer vocals mixed with their energetic stage presence was heard around the festival and ended with fans lined up all the way to the concession stands to hear their set.
Photo: Ismael Quintanillaiii
For those who missed the main event, there's good news. The Extra Innings Festival is set to take place at the same venue on February 28-March 1, 2025.
This extension of the original festival promises another weekend of stellar performances, with headliners Kacey Musgraves and The Lumineers leading the lineup.
The festival will continue to feature baseball-themed activities and appearances by MLB greats, ensuring that the spirit of Innings Festival carries on.
Tickets for the Extra Innings Festival are available in various tiers, including General Admission, GA+, Center Field Bleachers, VIP, and Platinum, catering to a range of experiences and budgets.
The Innings Festival 2025 successfully upheld its tradition of merging music and baseball into a cohesive and exhilarating experience.
With memorable performances, engaging activities, and the anticipation of the upcoming Extra Innings Festival, fans have much to look forward to in the vibrant cultural landscape of Tempe, Arizona.
As Beck aptly put it during his set: "There's a magic here at Innings Festival. It's where the rhythm of music meets the heartbeat of baseball."
