Pure Imagination Festival preview: Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, The English Beat, Arrested Development, more

The Pure Imagination Festival arrives in beautiful Prescott, AZ on May 17. Planning on attending the event at Watson Lake? Read my review of 2024's event for a flavor of how unique this family friendly event is HERE. Read on for an overview of what to know before you go to this year's fest...Robert Kinsler 

Artists: Cheap Trick, Matisyahu, The English Beat, Arrested Development, Kelsey Waldon, Ponderosa Grove, Gone Gone Beyond, Bird and Byron, more!

When: Saturday, May 17, 2025

Where: Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ

Tickets and additional information: https://www.pureimaginationfestival.com/

Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen.
Photo credit: Bob Steshetz

This will mark the fourth running of the Pure Imagination Festival, a one-of-a-kind event staged amidst the natural beauty of Watson Lake located in Prescott, Arizona. 

Headlining the event will be Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick, which includes original members guitarist Rick Nielsen, singer-guitarist Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson. 

The band's recent concert setlists are a dream for fans of the classic rock heroes, with enduring favorites such as "Surrender," "The Flame," "California Man," "Dream Police," "I Want You To Want Me" and their fiery cover of Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame" frequently played by Cheap Trick.

Also on the bill is Matisyahu, a Grammy-nominated singer, rapper, beatboxer and musician. Known for blending spiritual themes with a musical brew including rock, reggae and hip hop, Matisyahu's 2005 single "King Without a Crown" was a Top 40 hit in the U.S. He has since gone on to release a score of studio albums, as well as several live albums.

The English Beat, the groundbreaking band featuring Dave Wakeling (vocals, guitar), scored a number of hits in the 1980s by forging pop, ska, reggae, soul and punk rock into a signature brew. Hits that festival-goers can expect to hear include "Mirror in the Bathroom," "Save It for Later," "I Confess," "Too Nice to Talk To" and "Tenderness," the latter a cover of Wakeling's hit with the band General Public.

Arrested Development is another strong act set to perform at the festival. The American hip hop group formed in Atlanta in 1988. The group's debut album 3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... was a huge hit selling more than six million copies worldwide; the group won two Grammy Awards in 1993 (including as "Best New Artist," making them the first hip hop artist to win the coveted award).

From left, Ponderosa Grove's Candace Devine and Drew Hall performing
at Pure Imagination Festival in May 2024.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

Ponderosa Grove turned in a wonderful set at Pure Imagination last year, with the Prescott-based troupe offering up a winning blend of '70s-styled folk rock and modern day Americana led by outstanding lead vocalist Candace Devine. Highlights of the group's set included the melodic folk rocker "Waterline," intoxicating R&B foray "Don't Worry Child" and rousing "Save My Soul," the latter showcasing Devine's powerful soprano and the exciting lead guitar work of Drew Hall.

Gone Gone Beyond, Kelsey Waldon, Bird and Byron, Kids In America, Pijama Piyama, and Dutch Holly are among the other artists set to perform at the fest.

An acrobat at Pure Imagination Music Festival.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER

Since its debut in 2022, the female-founded and curated Pure Imagination has become a standout experience, seamlessly merging music, nature, and culture with an eco-conscious ethos. Nestled in the stunning Granite Dells—the traditional lands of The Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, The Yavapai-Apache Nation, and The Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe—the festival fosters a minimal-impact, high-energy experience where attendees can immerse themselves in live music, interactive art, and nature-driven adventures.

A view of The Brummies performing on the Bucky's Stage against the
Granite Dells backdrop at the Pure Imagination Music Festival in Prescott, Arizona.
Photo credit: Daryl Weisser

Festival-goers can explore scenic hiking trails, on-site kayaking, and the vibrant Prescott Night Market, featuring artisan vendors, immersive art activations, and mesmerizing performances by aerial artists, fire dancers, and more.

The driving force behind Pure Imagination is Candace Devine, frontwoman of Ponderosa Grove and CEO of Further West, the company behind the festival. Inspired by a passion for arts, culture, and community, Devine created the festival to help position Prescott as a thriving creative hub in the Southwest. The city is surrounded by 1.25 million acres of the Prescott National Forest, offering a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with premier mountain biking, hiking, and rock climbing.

“Pure Imagination is about more than just music—it’s about creating an unforgettable experience where people can connect, be inspired, and celebrate the power of art in one of the most beautiful places in the world.” shares Candace Devine, Founder

Last year’s lineup featured memorable performances from The Flaming Lips, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Ozomatli, Sylvan Esso, Tanya Tucker and The Pharcyde among others. In 2023, the festival boasted performances from Ziggy Marley, Lucinda Williams, Los Lobos, Capital Cities, Allison Russell, Nappy Roots, Dirtwire and others, while the inaugural event saw Dawes, Talib Kweli, Fantastic Negrito, Nikki Lane, Rising Appalachia, Phantom Planet, Katie Pruitt and more take to the stage. 

Visit the official Pure Imagination Festival website HERE.

Survival Guide coming to Phoenix's Egyptian Motor Hotel Oct. 28

Get the latest update on Survival Guide's (a.k.a. Emily "Agent M" Whitehurst - former vocalist for punk standouts Tsunami Bomb) upcoming album release show at Phoenix's Egyptian Motor Hotel on Oct. 28.

Em's fourth full-length album deathdreams will be released on Oct. 19 and it was produced by Bob Hoag (Dear and the Headlights, The Ataris, The Format) at Flying Blanket Recording in Mesa, AZ. Watch the official music video for the bewitching single "Pie" too...Robert Kinsler

Stars As A Stepford Wife Gone Rogue in “Pie” Video From Upcoming Album deathdreams out Oct 19  via Double Helix Records SURVIVAL GUIDE's "Pie"  DSP's: https://ffm.to/sgpieeeee.OPR Video: https://youtu.be/dE6zj91C6rA?si=FzHNLRVo8YV98XE9 SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 (San Antonio, TX) — “Our hostess starts out perfect, but gradually begins to unravel as the song progresses,” says SURVIVAL GUIDE, a.k.a. Emily "Agent M" Whitehurst (former vocalist for punk standouts Tsunami Bomb) about the deranged Stepford Wives treatment for her video for “Pie,” the third single off her fourth full-length electropop Survival Guide album deathdreams, out October 19 via Double Helix Records. The vivid metaphor in the lyrics as a protector (“Let me bubblewrap you / Hide you from his eyes") begins to reveal itself as she dreads younger women having to endure some of the darker things she's been through. The song's origin as a “basic demo” with just a “weird clicky drumbeat, a few bass synths and the vocals” was fleshed out at Mesa, AZ's Flying Blanket Recording Studio with producer Bob Hoag (Dear and the Headlights, The Ataris, The Format) who added in some various layers in production to make the song shine. “Bob really filled it in with harps, violins, mellotron flutes and so much more, and turned it into this unique song,” she says. “Also, I really love desserts and baking, so I’m excited that I figured out how to make pie such a focus in one of my songs.” “Some of the instrumentation on "Pie" gave it a hint of a 1950s sound, which inspired video director Bryan Heiden and the team at The Motivated Mind Group to create the look and feel of the music video,” she adds on the video's treatment. “Even though the song isn't literally about pie" she laughs, "we all wanted to use the imagery of it, so we filmed a cooking show set in the ‘50s. I loved getting to attempt all the different emotions that went into this character. And since I enjoy baking so much, it was super fun to do an exaggerated version of a baking show for the video. It even comes with a few commercial breaks!” SURVIVAL GUIDE / Emily "M" Whitehurst The deviant “Pie” video follows in tune with the previous action-packed videos: “Lady Neptune” which follows a narrative driven ‘rise and fall’ type story that features a plot of a character who wants something more out of life, but ends up choosing organized crime,” and the macabre and blood-splattered short film-esque music video for "Blood Perfume,” which stars Em as a deranged serial killer who outsmarts her victims.  She says the main themes on her upcoming album came from several dreams she had that involved her death, which she adds compelled her to name it “deathdreams.” The opposing imagery and feelings that the title conjures - the duality/juxtaposition of dreams and death: soft and sweet, or strange, dark and ominous - only makes it more fitting. The death themes in Em's music could also partly be attributed to two other sources: that her family owned the funeral home in the town she was raised in, and that cancer claimed the life of her older brother. deathdreams Tracklisting   1. “Bad Little Seed” 2. “Sour Sorrow” 3. “Pie” 4. “Blood Perfume” 5. “Sharpshooter” 6. “Lady Neptune” 7. “wordswordswords” 8. “Fight Me” 9. “Don’t Feel Bad” 10. “Stay Dead” 11. “I’ll Picture You" A former Northern California native now residing in San Antonio, Texas, Em is an electronic indie-pop artist with a background in punk. Her music obsession began with Green Day, leading her to a dreams-come-true life of punk rock as she traversed continents fronting the band Tsunami Bomb as “Agent M.” Over the years, her music gradually shifted toward synthpop in The Action Design, then further into the electronic indiepop realm as Survival Guide. Her danceable tunes evoke a sonic birthday cake: alternating layers of Depeche Mode, Metric, Peter Gabriel, and Grimes, with vibrant melodies and vocals as the icing on top. “Music is crucial to my survival,” she says wholeheartedly, adding, “Survival Guide is one woman trying to shape her own place in this world as a musician."   Emily "Em" Whitehurst is the solo force behind Survival Guide. Her fourth-full length album deathdreams will be released on October 19, 2023 via Double Helix Records. “Pie” is now available on all platforms. "Pie" lyrics:   You are me and I was you You think I’m glaring but it’s not true Even if you just appeared, you’ve always been a piece of me Same cloth, same blood, same tree Same feet stomping rhythm with our stories   Let me bubblewrap you Hide you from his eyes I just wanna get you through these dangerous times Pull you through the fire to the other side   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   I know you hate it when I tell you what to do But it’s only because I worry they’ll steal the light from you   Just let me bubblewrap you Hide you from his eyes It gets me twisted up inside To see you as a prize   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie Oh, fresh-baked pie   You look like a fresh-baked pie Their tongues are hanging out Never forget that your machine gun is your mouth Little sister, don’t you doubt, oh   Fresh-baked pie Fresh-baked pie Fresh-baked, fresh-baked Fresh- baked pie

Ringo Starr announces Fall Tour for His All Starr Band

Here is news on a series of newly-announced tour dates coming this fall featuring Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band. I have seen Ringo and company a number of times dating back to 1989 and these are really entertaining events to be sure. You can read my review of his September 2018 show at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles HERE..Robert Kinsler

May 8, 2023 - Today Ringo Starr revealed his Fall tour plans. Speaking to Pollstar for the current cover story two weeks before launching his Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Spring tour, Ringo shared that the band will also be touring this Fall. Read it here.

 

“Well, I love to play. I love an audience,” Ringo told Executive Editor Andy Gensler of Pollstar. “This is a known fact. I love the audience, they love me. We have fun on tour. That's what it's all about. I don't do this to be miserable. I have a lot of joy. I get a lot of joy and I just love doing it…..and I'll be doing a lot of peace and love in your city soon, May, June, look me up!” 

 

This year's line-up features Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, Gregg Bissonette. Autumn dates include shows in Ontario, CA, Tucson, AZ and Albuquerque, NM, Thackerville, OK with more to be announced soon. Check local listings for on sale dates:

 

RSASB Fall 2023 Tour

September

17 Ontario, CA Toyota Arena

19 Tucson, AZ Linda Rondstadt Theater

20 Albuquerque, NM Rio Rancho Center

22 Kansas City, MO The Uptown

23 St Louis, MO The Fox

24 Nashville, TN Ryman Auditorium

26 Clearwater, FL Coachmen Park

27 Atlanta, GA The Fox

29 Indianapolis, IN The Murat Theatre at Old National Centre

30 Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre

 

October

1 Minneapolis, MN Mystic Lake

3 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos Performance Hall

5 Chicago, IL Chicago Theatre

6 New Buffalo, MI Four Winds Casino

7 Detroit, MI Masonic Temple

9 Charleston, WV Charleston Coliseum

10 Columbus, OH Mershon Auditorium 

12 Little Rock, AK Simmons Bank Arena

13 Thackerville, OK Winstar Casino

 

For more information please visit:  

www.RingoStarr.com

2022 was a busy year for Ringo that included Spring and Fall tour dates with his All Starr band. Ringo also released EP3 on September 16, 2022 and on November 18, 2022 EP3 was issued on 10” vinyl and blue cassette and accompanied with a new music video, “Everyone and Everything.” On November 25, 2022 Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band Live at the Greek 2019 (Roccabella via BFD/The Orchard) was released on Blu Ray, DVD, CD and a special yellow double vinyl. In addition, Ringo created 500 life sized “Peace and Love” sculptures of his iconic hand symbol. These were sold exclusively through Julien’s Auctions to benefit the Lotus Foundation.