Dreamy Draw 2025: A Weekend of Heat, Heart, and Headliners
Article written and photos by Kili Goodrich
From the bustling streets of Scottsdale, festival-goers stepped through the gates of the Dreamy Draw Festival. Lovers of music found themselves transported into a universe blooming with green lawns and twinkle-lit pathways. The Scottsdale Civic Center transformed into a desert dreamland. Think wild west and bohemian wonder. A place where music and friendship grew freely under the Arizona sun.
Every corner of Dreamy Draw felt like its own discovery. A wall lined with western hats begged for selfies. The stick-and-poke tents buzzed with the brave and the curious. A permanent souvenir. Food vendors offered everything from smoky tacos to crisp lemonade. Craft cocktails and local brews flowed from shaded bars. Between sets, people lounged on picnic blankets in little sun-drenched circles. Some were found laughing with longtime friends. Others created new friendships, drawn together by a shared love of the music
Friday’s lineup on the Bronco stage set right on a baseball field began with Field Medic. They brought a lo-fi folk chill to the heat. The band settled the crowd into a calming sway. Houndmouth took the stage during a golden sunset. Thee Sacred Souls wrapped the crowd in velvet. Always performing pure romance. The kind of tunes that make you want to slow dance. Their performance was perfect under the falling sky. The Lumineers erupted on stage with vibrant spirit. They leapt from the stage into the crowd. At times, members stood atop keyboards and tossed tambourines through the air. One broke, and a fan in the crowd was lucky enough to receive it.
At the Stampede stage, Hovvdy’s mellow harmonies created a warm pocket of intimacy. Richy Mitch & The Coal Miners drew out the sunburnt wanderers with rugged Americana charm. Marcus King Band closed out the stage with guitar solos that felt like electricity against the night air. His voice blossomed, but his guitar skills were absolutely mind-blowing. The smaller Poncho stage hosted Bummer Girl. They offered a tender indie set. It felt like a perfect secret treasure for early arrivals. People lounged in the sun, completely taken by the ease of the music.
Saturday felt ignited. A livelier, louder energy was carried in the desert air. Glitter caught against festival-goers’ sun-kissed skin. Bubbles floated through the crowd. People ran through with eagerness to pop them. Water balloons flew across the lawn as laughter mixed with bass pumping from the speakers. At JB’s lawn, people sprawled on the grass in patches of shade. Local gems like Sophia Rankin & The Sound brought homegrown spirit to the festival. Chromeo’s DJ set turned the lawn into a full-on disco daydream
The Bronco stage was fully lit once Ashe performed. The singer lifted spirits with her radiant stage presence. The crowd was a sea of fans that felt her joy radiate through them. It was a moment of girlhood, and the reminder of why friendships are the most beautiful part of life. Hands were held tight by friends who screamed every word. Hair was flowing in the air while others danced in circles. Father John Misty was nothing short of being poetic and unpredictable. He weaved humor and melancholy as the desert dusk turned violet.
Vampire Weekend took all of us millennials back home in technicolor. When “Oxford Comma” and “A-Punk” hit, the crowd became a sea of motion. People danced in their own moment of nostalgia and gratefulness that the band performed some of their most beloved songs. Their performance was one of my favorites to witness. A double drum set, dancers, horns, and a string section. They pulled the main stage set onto the baseball field.
The Stampede stage kept the energy high. Jack Van Cleaf and Asiris charmed the mid-afternoon crowd. Saint Motel brought sparkle. Their performance thrived in pure fun. Local Natives closed the stage. The performance was spectacular. Many fans had camped out all day and screamed each lyric into the night air.
Dreamy Draw 2025 was a festival not to be missed. The cacti and the Civic Center greenery carved out a place where people could let loose, and be present. Laughter was shared between strangers. New friendships bloomed. It was unforgettable from the tambourine toss from The Lumineers, to the dust kicked up under Chromeo’s beats.
