But what about a place that's not a venue? What if you could snap your fingers and hold a show somewhere weird, different and that's also some degree of novel and spellbinding? That's what this list is for — cherry-picking those locales that have brought out our inner fantasy promoter.
Be it the top of a condo, or deep in some hall of learning, these never-going-to-happen-but-wouldn't-it-be-neat spots where just one show could prove life-altering for everyone in attendance. So, enjoy our selections, and maybe dream up some of your own that really tap into what makes this city so alive with possibilities.
Burton Barr Central Library
Heaps of concerts and festivals have taken place outside of Burton Barr proper, but just think of the sheer possibilities within its hallowed halls. Right in front of those giant elevators, echoing all the way up to the fifth floor. Or, positioned in front of the giant fifth-floor window facing the entirety of Hance Park. Sure, libraries are quiet places, but Burton Barr could just as easily be a haven for some deeply moving experience regardless of the chosen musical genre. Heck, even just standing in the stacks for in a silent disco could be a truly transcendent moment.Arizona State Route 51, north of Northern Ave.
For anyone driving south on the 51, there's a large hill or mound just north of Northern Avenue that would be the absolutely perfect spot for an impromptu concert. There's absolutely an inherent level of danger, and it;d be just an all-around logistical nightmare to organize, but you'd get to experience music in the desert with a staggering view of downtown Phoenix. What better way to capture the essence of Phoenix than in such a place that's very much this vital thoroughfare for our city. And even if it's just a one-time miracle of planning, it'd be a show for the ages.![The exterior of Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, Arizona.](https://media1.phoenixnewtimes.com/phx/imager/u/blog/19499425/image002.png?cb=1725055293)
Arizona Science Center has theater spaces that would be perfect for a concert.
Courtesy of Arizona Science Center