These smaller, more intimate spaces add to the city’s vibrant creative culture, offering a welcoming room where anyone can step up to the microphone and share a piece of themselves.

More than just performance spots, these spaces provide a community where artists can find support, encouragement and the confidence to take creative risks.

At the Cactus Cloud Cafe, that sense of belonging is intentional. 

Cactus Cloud Cafe owner Quinlan Hamann hosts weekly open mics in his cafe, hoping to create a space where everyone feels safe enough to share something meaningful. 

“I feel like having a small community space is rare these days,” Hamann said. “There is very much a desire to return to more personal and intimate music events that are more accessible.”

The Cactus Cloud Cafe offers a venue where people can come to perform or simply sit back and enjoy the sound, conversations and tasty drinks under warm lighting, every Friday night.

With no cover fees or auditions, anyone can walk into a place like the Cactus Cloud Cafe and feel welcome, whether they’re experienced artists or just beginning their musical journey.

That welcoming environment is exactly what keeps artists coming back.

“I love when I see people who are newer musicians, especially if they're writing their own songs, who come in and get a wave of positive and encouraging vibes,” Hamann said.

These events mean more than just sharing music, they also provide a place for those seeking a real connection, a place where people can find reassurance when life gets difficult.

“If someone comes in who’s been dealing with something really tough, and they haven’t had anyone who shows that they care, even just a few words can mean something,” Hamann said.

These kinds of spaces give artists the chance to express themselves on stage, without any intimidation, creative pressure or expectations, serving as practice grounds for emerging artists. 

Before artists ever dream of making it big and playing major venues, they often learn what it feels like to command a room in front of smaller audiences.

Many who step onto these small stages describe the excitement of playing in a room where people really listen, and the relief they feel of not needing to be perfect. 

For Sam Opoku, a local soul and R&B artist, there’s nothing quite like playing in front of a live audience, regardless of the venue’s size.

“It's like lightning in the air. They're not just listening to you, they're seeing you. When you say the words, they're saying them back to you. It's definitely a special kind of energy,” Opoku said.

Natalie Huffman, who studies popular music at Arizona State University, occasionally attends the Cactus Cloud Cafe’s open mics. For people like Huffman, that openness is what matters.

“It’s just people expressing themselves and letting it loose a little bit. I feel like sometimes music can be very commodified to a degree, but I think music is for everyone,” Huffman said.

For many emerging artists, making music isn’t about fame and popularity, but the sense of community it brings, creating a scene based on collaboration over competition.

One of the artists shaping that collaborative scene is Liam Costello, a folk singer and songwriter who returns to play at the Cactus Cloud Cafe almost every Friday. 

Costello said the diversity in the music scene makes the community so special, keeping it lively. 

“I think music, specifically in Phoenix, holds a very diverse group of people,” Costello said. “There are all sorts of people, from people learning their instruments to people who just went through a rough breakup and are spilling all of their emotions, and I really value that.”

Costello isn’t the only artist who has found community in Phoenix’s music scene.

Andrew Aguilar, a local singer-songwriter, discovered his passion for music at an early age and said it has remained a steady emotional outlet throughout his life.

“Music was the first productive outlet that I was able to find. My piano, guitar and even singing are things that I’m always gonna have. Not only that, but I can always improve,” Aguilar said.

This early discovery opened the door to a broader understanding of the creative process and community. The sense of growth is part of what keeps him rooted in the creative community.

That personal journey mirrors a larger shift happening across the city. In recent years, Phoenix has become a creative hub, with more artists and stages rising to the spotlight. 

Data from the Greater Phoenix Economic Council shows that Phoenix’s creative arts sector has grown significantly since 2018, highlighting its role as an emerging creative hotspot.

As someone who performs at these smaller, more intimate venues, Costello said the city’s music scene feels promising, shaped less by traditional venues and more by community-based spaces.

“There’s always a forward and backward movement in the music scene, but right now, I think we’re becoming bigger, and the more people holding instruments or singing songs with their friends, the better the world becomes,” Costello said.