Across the Valley, do-it-yourself venues in odd spaces pop up everywhere, with local bands filling the makeshift stages. Bands will play anywhere with an audience to listen, and the "DIY" scene is prominent in whispers among fans.
Here are the venues and organizations in downtown Phoenix you should keep an eye on when looking for a DIY experience.
Olla Olla Crepes
Olla Olla Crepes settled down in Summer 2024, opening a brick-and-mortar shop after a previous life in pop-up booths across Phoenix. Since then, the Olla Olla team has made it a point to turn the store into a community space, hosting local vendors and bands.
On Tuesday, the restaurant will host Okinawa Plane Crash, Me, Grimlock! and The Upchucks for an all-ages show.
On Friday, the store will host a night market as a benefit for a student in Gaza. The market will feature local vendors like Desert Fruit, a jewelry shop, and UFOriends Art Collective, which is a group of three artists who sell kandi bracelets and baked goods.
The market will also feature local bands Suffice, Laz:e:Lio, Indian School and Lovre. Indian School plays post-hardcore, while Lovre focuses on alternative metal.
Olla Olla Crepes is located at 1708 W. Van Buren St.
MySpace.Phx
MySpace.Phx describes itself as a downtown Phoenix "Art Gallery & Sound Incubator" on its Instagram, serving as a stage for artists across vast genres since 2024. Every month, the venue hosts a new curator, and the curator chooses what bands to book and what kind of shows happen.
Every night in September, Kepi Ghoulie of Groovie Ghoulies has performed at MySpace.Phx. Ghoulie has performed acoustic sets each night with a local opener and support acts.
Groovie Ghoulies is a pop-punk band from Sacramento, and they were active from 1989 to 2007. Since the band dissolved, Ghoulie has continued the band's legacy by continuing to record and tour.
Ghoulie's final two nights at MySpace.Phx will start at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday, and tickets are pay-what-you-can.
READ MORE: As concert ticket prices skyrocket, local artists are reaping the rewards
MySpace.Phx is located at 120 E. Roosevelt St.
Central Records
Central Records is a small record shop and venue that is a 10-minute walk from the Downtown Phoenix campus.
On Oct. 14, Central Records is hosting Solace Bloom with support acts Stab and Featherframe.
Solace Bloom is a contemporary shoegaze and dream pop band. They released their EP "FIRM ROOTS" on Oct. 31, 2025.
Every first Saturday of the month, Central Records hosts a house party with guest DJs. Their upcoming party is on Saturday, and ticket sales will be donated to one·n·ten.
Central Records is located at 824 N. Central Ave.
The Coven PHX
The Coven PHX, run by Briannin Gross, is a traveling venue that hosts and books shows. The organization's shows have previously been at Central Records and MySpace.Phx.
In 2025, Gross created "How-To-DIY in PHX," a 28-page Google Document with sections breaking down every aspect of hosting your own show. The guide gives future promoters trade secrets, sage advice and a guide to every place people should promote their shows.
Recently, The Coven won Phoenix New Times' Best Champions of DIY award, crediting the group's community outreach and mutual aid programs.
What else?
While you can find many amazing local bands from searching through these four venues, the best local bands can be found in someone's backyard.
Instead of address lines on flyers, many small bands will put "DM for address." Normally, this means the show is going to be in someone's house or in a random parking lot.
AMP at ASU is a student organization that works to give students access to local art and music.
READ MORE: 'Art, music and poetry': AMP bridges gap between ASU, the local music scene
Similarly, Canyon Echo Collective at ASU provides a space for musicians, visual artists and other creatives to come together.
Edited by Sam Troester, Emilio Alvarado and Senna James.
Reach the reporter at amahearn@asu.edu and follow @abiahearn on X.
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