ASU alumni Parker Kross, Marketing and Experience Director at Oh Wow Company, talks about what students should expect from TEMPO: something “a little bit different from other events that are happening” in Arizona. 

TEMPO is a high-energy, dance-focused festival in the heart of ASU’s Downtown Phoenix Campus. The festival is set to feature classic electronic artists such as Duke Dumont and Elderbrook, as well as up-and-coming artists such as RaeCola. 

“They have a very wide range of music, from upbeat, club style hits to some very disco, funky stuff,” Kross said. “I think the inspiration was definitely more of that dance, the rhythm, all of it. The experience that we're trying to bring is turning this giant outdoor, open air venue into a nightclub.”

With such a diverse setlist, TEMPO has the opportunity to attract a wide audience. It’ll be a completely unique experience for experienced and new festival-goers alike. 

“I think being steps from ASU is gonna draw in a lot of ASU students,” said Kross. 

TEMPO recently dropped the age of admittance from 21 years old to 18 to accommodate their younger audience and the greater ASU community.

For any students interested in exploring the festival scene in Arizona, TEMPO is the perfect place to start. Kross said the performances will feel intimate and dynamic, with the setting being a huge draw as well.

In addition to the festival’s convenient location in Civic Space Park, TEMPO also boasts one of the most unique backdrops for a festival of its kind: “Her Secret Is Patience”. The 145-foot aerial sculpture has called Phoenix home since 2009. For one weekend, it will set the scene for Downtown’s newest dance party. Oh Wow Company intends on blending the urban feel of Phoenix with the surrounding art and the electronic elements of this festival.

Kross said that “the other pieces that kind of stick out to me are the surrounding architecture, the buildings in the background, [and] the reflection of the sunset through the net.”

With Her Secret is Patience becoming such an iconic symbol for TEMPO’s growth, Kross and his team want to use the net to create an immersive experience. 

“I think our focus is to create an experience that really uses that sculpture that's pre-existing as a main focus, while also building things around it to pull that off into something that can surround the audience.” 

With TEMPO, the key word is immersion. Oh Wow Company concentrated on shaping a lively experience for attendees both nights. 

The 26th will feature Elderbrook’s blend of live vocals and house influences, as well as the upbeat techno artist Salute. The 27th will feature club classic Duke Dumont, a DJ set by NEIL FRANCES and the dance duo RaeCola. Kross said attendees should check out both nights, as they both have something unique to offer. 

He describes Friday and Saturday as “complimenting experiences”, but will still be distinctively different in sound and feel. 

With only one stage, TEMPO promises the comfortability of a smaller event while still bringing the energy. Civic Space Park will be completely closed off for the event, with Oh Wow working closely with the city of Phoenix to bring the best event possible.

If you want to see more of Oh Wow, another year of Dreamy Draw music festival is coming to Scottsdale Nov. 7 and 8. Dreamy Draw offers a more indie sound, featuring names such as The Lumineers, Vampire Weekend and Father John Misty set against the cactus gardens of the desert. See more 

If you’re looking for a change of pace, though, TEMPO is sure to get you grooving. Located conveniently just steps away from campus, TEMPO is bringing a one of a kind experience to the heart of Phoenix for two nights; you don’t want to miss it.

Kross says he’s most excited to see the community “dancing and letting loose at a place that's super home and iconic to Phoenix”. 

BOGO tickets are available until Sept. 19 here: https://wl.eventim.us/wafform.aspx?_act=eventtickets&_pky=661126&afflky=OhWowCompanyTempo.