On Feb. 28 and March 1, festival goers headed to Tempe Beach Park for the Extra Innings Festival, a second weekend of music following the Innings Festival. The festival boasted artists, including headliners Kacey Musgraves and The Lumineers, as well as Kings of Leon, Megan Moroney and more.

Jason Scott & The High Heat kicked off performances on the Main Stage on Friday. The four-man band from Oklahoma City delivered a fierce country rock performance. One highlight of the set was “High Country,” off of their 2024 EP “High Country Heat.” The performance featured harmonic vocals from the band members and a classic country western whistle sound effect. The songs on the EP are also featured on the band’s newest album, “American Grin.” The new album leans into this country western style and explores Southwestern themes, according to the band.

“I think we just kind of matured in it’s songwriting, and I think the sonic landscape of the songs have kind of got more of rock and roll, country western…I think the last [album] Castle Rock…had some rock themes to it, but it was a little more folk,” bassist Ryan Magnani said.

Frontman Jason Scott’s raspy vocals were at the forefront in other songs they performed, including the romantic “Golden” and the upbeat “Yardwork.” In true Extra Innings fashion, the band performed their own rendition of John Fogerty’s “Centerfield.”

Evan Honer, a native of Surprise, Arizona, was also a highlight as he brought an alternative country edge to the festival. Honer’s performance of his new single “Everything I Wanted,” featured strong vocals that fit perfectly with the impassioned lyrics of the song. Some other highlights of his set included his and Julia DiGrazia’s cover of “Jersey Giant” by Tyler Childers and fan favorite “Idk S--- About Cars.” Honer was also joined on stage by his friend and fellow Extra Innings performer, Wyatt Flores. The duo performed their collaboration “Take Me As I Come,” as the crowd belted along to the lyrics. You can learn more about Evan Honer in Blaze Radio’s feature here.

As the evening began, Megan Moroney graced the Main Stage. The Georgia singer appeared on stage wearing her Braves jersey, of course. She performed a mix of songs from her two albums “Lucky” and “Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine),” including “Indifferent,” “Tennessee Orange” and “Girl in the Mirror.” Moroney had a large turnout for her set, with many fans sporting her merch and singing along to her lyrics.

Headliners, The Lumineers, began their set with their single “Same Old Song” from their new album “Automatic.” Lead singer Wesley Schultz reflected on this new era for the band during their performance. Specifically, he reminisced about the days when he and drummer Jeremiah Fraites first started the band 20 years ago. The band also showcased their classic folk stylings with various percussion instruments and strings. Arizona State University alumna Lauren Jacobson on the strings also took a moment to celebrate performing in Tempe by putting on an ASU crewneck. The band performed some of their hits, including “Ophelia,” “Ho Hey,” “Sleep On The Floor,” and “Flowers In Your Hair.”

Phoenix-native Wheelwright opened Day two of the festival on the Right Field Stage. Blaze Radio’s feature on Wheelwright, including his inspirations, heritage and new music can be found here. 

George Pippen, a singer songwriter from Carmel, Indiana, took the Main Stage, delivering powerful vocals and illustrative lyrics. The singer also excelled on the harmonica, adding even more emotion to the raw performance. Pippen’s journey to becoming an artist was unique as he worked in construction and even served as a tour manager before taking the step to release music himself. He explained that his experience as a tour manager has even helped him as an emerging artist.

“It's been super advantageous for me to, you know, get on stage and know exactly what everybody's doing, know who to talk to, and kind of how our tour operates,” he said.

Pippen played songs off of his 2024 EP “Magnolia Nights,” including “Moonlight Magnolia Drawl” and his tribute to his hometown, “Indiana Knows My Name.” He was excited to release the EP, as some of the songs were written four years prior to its release.

“It's amazing that people are resonating with the songs. And they're very reflective songs. In my life, in the past four years, being a tour manager, moving a lot, traveling a lot,” he said.

During his set, Pippen also played covers of Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers, who he said are his inspirations. He has also drawn inspiration from different moments throughout his life. On his new single, “Last Damn Thing,” he details the pain that came with his past relationship.

“That relationship really did just drain every last thing that I had out of me, and left it with pretty much nothing. So yeah, it was just a reflection of, you know, kind of a failed relationship, and my regrets in the failed relationship,” he said.

Not only did Pippen perform at Extra Innings, but he also opened up for Megan Moroney on her tour. He explained that it was a surreal experience for him.

“I pretty much blacked out for most of it on stage, because I was just so enthralled by everything…that was my first real big step on stage to play for people. It was an unreal experience,” he said.

Listen to the full interview here.

Following Pippen on the Main Stage was Maggie Antone, a country singer from Virginia. Antone had a compelling stage presence at Extra Innings, performing songs off of her sophomore album “Rhinestoned.”

Mac McNown, a country singer from Oregon, also delivered a high energy performance at the festival. The crowd was excited to see McNown perform and sang along to his hit single, “A Lot More Free.” During his set, McNown shared that this was the first festival he had ever played at and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity. At 24, his excitement throughout the performance was contagious and definitely a rising star to watch in country music.

During these sets was the perfect time to relax on the turf and the festival's atmosphere. The culture of this festival is truly unmatched—but who could complain when it’s 75 degrees and sunny on the first day of March?

Kings of Leon set the tone for the evening with a rocking performance. The group brought versatility to the stage, performing upbeat hits like “Use Somebody” and soulful songs like “Closer.” Lead singer Caleb Followill’s transportive vocals matched perfectly with the stage displays.

Headliner Kacey Musgraves ended the festival with her classic introspective lyrics and beautiful vocals. She played songs from her most recent album “Deeper Well,” including “Cardinal,” “The Architect” and “Too Good to be True.” A highlight of her set was her performance of “High Horse” from her Grammy award-winning album “Golden Hour,” in which beach balls were thrown out into the crowd. Many of the audience members at Kacey Musgraves' concert were from a younger demographic. These reporters noted that the crowd resonated with her because she is simply “real.”

Between songs, Musgraves added personal anecdotes and jokes that complemented her lyrics. For example, during “Lonely Millionaire,” she sang, “The money and the diamonds and the things that shine / Can’t buy you true happiness,” and jokingly added after, “It can get you damn close though.” Additionally, after the song “Happy & Sad,” the screen lit up with a meme of Kermit the Frog looking out a rainy window, adding a touch of humor to the show. Musgraves connected with the audience by being vulnerable and sharing the ups and downs of her life, making her performance both personal and relatable.

Overall, Extra Innings featured many authentic artists stemming from county and folk genres that demonstrated their unique personalities and talent to the fans at Tempe Beach Park.