Bisbee was transformed from a haunted desert city into a lively local music showcase over the weekend. The third annual Sidepony Express is a three-day music festival bringing over 80 bands from around the state to play 16 venues in this historic area.

Every bar and cafe, and even nontraditional locales such as hotel lobbies, became stages for musicians of all genres. Though it may have seemed like an unusual spot for a music festival, Bisbee was an ideal hub for this free, all-ages event. The town already has an undoubtedly unique vibe due to its rich mining history and 19th-century architecture. The presence of current bands bringing in a modern sound created a perfect harmony of old and new culture.

Bisbee residents are primarily artists, which made for an extremely eclectic crowd throughout the weekend. The city is also known for its haunted nature, but instead of ghosts wandering the streets, it was the sound of live music echoing into the early morning.
All the bands I was able to catch this weekend were undeniably talented. However, there were a few in particular I found to be especially noteworthy. The event’s host band, Treasurefruit, is a three-piece from Phoenix with a lead vocalist that will melt your face off. She has such a commanding stage presence and can belt out notes with such ease, somewhat reminiscent of Shannon Shaw from Shannon and the Clams, but with a more soulful and sultry attitude.

Freeze Ray Vision, a newly formed Phoenix group, should definitely be on your local-artists-to-watch list. Their set ranged from downtempo, hypnotic arrangements to a banging upbeat cover of “Sunny Afternoon” by The Kinks, which was certainly a crowd favorite. One member of the audience even noted that Freeze Ray Visions’ drummer was reminiscent of the famed jazz percussionist, Steve Gadd.

I was also able to catch some of The Hill In Mind’s set in the tiny lobby of The Silver King hotel, home of Arizona’s smallest bar. These indie rockers filled the room with beautiful, atmospheric melodies, and I was impressed with their musicality and thought-provoking compositions. Another Phoenix band by the name of The Woodworks headlined the first night of the festival. They’re a little bit rock ’n’ roll, a little bit funk, a tiny bit trash and a whole lot of fun. They do a cover of Prodigy’s “Take My Picture” that will blow your socks off.

This music festival was a refreshingly original spin on local music festivals. If you missed out on the event, be sure to check out its website or like it on Facebook to stay updated for next year.

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Parisa Eshrati is a guest columnist from KAMP Student Radio. Follow KAMP on Twitter.