The Maine to Celebrate 20 Years With Two Nights at 8123 Fest 2027

Twenty years after forming in Tempe, The Maine are bringing their fans back to the desert for another edition of 8123 Fest. The band's fifth installment of the hometown festival is set for January 15–16, 2027, at Mesa Amphitheatre, with both nights dedicated to celebrating two decades of music.

The Maine will headline Friday and Saturday with two completely different setlists, promising no repeated songs across either performance. For a band with ten studio albums and a catalog that stretches back to the mid-2000s, the format opens the door to songs from nearly every period of their career.

“We can't wait to have everyone back in the desert for 8123 Fest 2027!” drummer Pat Kirch said in the festival announcement. “This year we are going to be playing two nights with two totally different set lists. No repeat songs. We have so much planned to make this a special weekend and can't wait to celebrate 20 years of a band called The Maine.”

Since forming in 2007, The Maine have moved well beyond the pop-rock sound that first introduced them to listeners. Early releases like Can't Stop Won't Stop and Black & White helped establish the band during the late-2000s alternative scene, while later albums such as Lovely Little Lonely, You Are OK, and The Maine saw them explore different approaches to songwriting and production.

Throughout those changes, the band has maintained an independent approach to its career, building much of its identity around 8123, the community and creative collective that has grown alongside its music.

That relationship with fans is also what led to 8123 Fest. Rather than taking place in a different city each year, the festival brings listeners from across the country and beyond to the band's Arizona roots. Previous editions have combined live performances with pop-up shops, fan gatherings, and events spread throughout the surrounding area.

For the 2027 installment, those activities will extend beyond the two festival dates. The weekend begins Thursday, January 14, with an 8123 pop-up shop and kickoff party. Both festival nights will be followed by emo afterparties, while Sunday brings another pop-up shop and a sendoff party.

The festivities will continue Monday, January 18, with 8123 Impact Day, featuring charity and community events throughout Arizona.

Stephen Chilton of Psyko Steve Presents, which is involved in organizing the festival, described how the event has grown beyond its original purpose.

“It is not just fans traveling from around the world to see a band, it is people who have become friends through 8123 traveling to celebrate together,” Chilton said. “Oftentimes it feels more like an intimate reunion than a Festival.”

The anniversary also arrives at an interesting point in The Maine's career. The band has spent the better part of two decades touring, releasing music, and finding ways to operate outside the traditional expectations of the music industry. With 8123 Fest returning for a fifth edition, the group will have an opportunity to revisit that history in the city where it began.

The decision to perform two separate headlining sets gives the anniversary a different format from a typical festival appearance. Instead of trying to fit 20 years into one performance, The Maine will have two nights to work through their catalog, leaving room for early favorites, later releases, and songs that have not appeared regularly in recent setlists.

Additional artists and festival programming are expected to be announced as the event approaches.

Two-day passes and ticket bundles are available, with select packages offering perks such as early festival entry, priority access to the 8123 pop-up shop, and exclusive merchandise.

8123 Fest takes place January 15–16, 2027, at Mesa Amphitheatre in Mesa, Arizona. Additional celebrations are scheduled throughout the weekend, January 14–18.

For tickets, lineup announcements, and more information, visit 8123fest.com.