Desert Drone, Tucson, AZ (2025)

09/15/2025

Coming up this week, Tucson experimental chamber trio Compersion kicks off their upcoming fall tour with a performance at the Ward 3 community space on 1510 E Grant on Thursday September 18th.

They'll be joined by L'Montage and their Sonoran instrumental sounds and the sonar rituals of Distortion Moth. Doors open at 7:00pm, $12 entry but no one will be turned away from lack of funds. All ages event.

09/07/2025

Charmaine Lee awakens the dragon at Desert Drone on Friday October 3rd at Wave Archive in downtown Tucson. We are honored to host her alongside our friends at Wave Archive on her 50 states and 65 shows tour. She'll be joined by Logan Philips (drone/spoken word Desert Drone debut!) and Alluvium.

“Last year, I quit my day job and started dreaming about a cross-country tour — something big and unruly that would challenge every assumption l’d been carrying.
That dream became Awaken the Dragon — a tour, but also a durational piece. A slow, sprawling act of connection, shaped by my Taoist family roots. A way to move through space with presence, to see and play in new places, and to build something larger than myself through music & sound.” - Charmaine Lee

An Australian vocalist based in New York, Charmaine uses voice, feedback, and live processing, Lee's practice is primarily concerned with risk-taking, playfulness, and improvisation. She has been recognized as “extraordinary” by New Yorker and has been featured in New York Times, Washington Post, and Wire Magazine. As a composer, Lee has collaborated with leading ensembles including Kronos Quartet and the Wet Ink Ensemble.

09/04/2025

We begin our fall (yes it's still summer but at least we're in September) this Saturday, September 6th at our favorite hangout spot and brewery Slow Body. Desert Drone is starting things off right by bringing Nashville ambient lapsteel artist Luke Schneider, along with locals, experimental jazz duo Space Travelers Union, and ambient/drone pianist Beck Rose.

Music kicks off right around 7:30 pm, and we'll be collecting $10 digital donations through Venmo for the local artists. The Slow Body patio is free to all and of course, no one can be turned away from this lovely night.

It's been a somewhat slow and contemplative summer for the most part. We're struggling to find a permanent place for Desert Drone and we feel momentum slowing down. Never sure if it's the heat, people being out of town, or just plain being tired of us. That being said we would love to see support for Desert Drone, starting Saturday and continuing through the fall season, especially our fellow Desert Drone artists. If you haven't come out to a show in a while now is your chance because we would love to see you there.

09/03/2025

Slow Drone is back at Slow Body Sunday, September 14th! We're so excited that Raquel Denis and Emily Xander will be performing in the taproom together from 6pm-8pm.

This is a free open listening event, bring a book, draw, chat with your friends, and enjoy the ambiance provided while sipping a cold beverage.

08/28/2025

Announcing! Thursday September 18th Compersion kicks off their upcoming tour at the Tucson Ward 3 office on 1510 E. Grant Road. They'll be joined by Distortion Moth and L'Montage. Doors open at 7:00 pm, $12 door charge but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

08/18/2025

Luke Schneider plays Slow Body Beer Saturday, September 6th. Luke is joined by Space Travelers Union and Beck Rose for a night of incredible ambiance.

Luke Schneider’s new EP For Dancing in Quiet Light finds the pedal steel guitarist further refining his singular ambient vocabulary—gentle, resonant, and quietly radiant. Following two releases on Third Man, this Leaving Records debut is inspired by the intersection of breath and movement, drawing influence from his rural Tennessee surroundings and Lou Reed’s little-known tai chi soundtrack Hudson River Wind Meditations. These compositions offer a delicate but emotionally resonant companion for both rhythmic physical motion and the subtle choreography of the inner self. The title track, built solely from pedal steel and carefully layered effects, sets the tone with its glowing textures and unhurried grace.

This is a free patio event but we are asking for a $10 donation to pay locals, music starts around 7:30.

08/13/2025

Our last event in August is coming up Sunday, August 24th at Slow Body. Slow Drone returns, this time featuring Miguel Urbina in the taproom.

Fresh off touring Europe with The Myrrors, Miguel will be bringing the vibes to Slow Body. As always, bring a friend, a book, a notepad to draw, this is not a formal show, more of an opportunity to hang out and have a good time at Slow Body. This may or may not be the last Slow Drone of the season so come make the most of it!

08/05/2025

Saturday, September 6th, ambient lap steel master Luke Schneider, celebrating his new EP on Third Man Records, comes to Tucson from Nashville to soothe Slow Body Beer. He's joined by Space Travelers Union and Beck Rose.

This is a $10 donation event (note that Slow Body patio is free to enjoy! We are asking $10 from attendees to pay locals via Venmo/cash). Music starts at 7:30pm. We'll see you there.

08/03/2025

Join us Sunday, August 10th for another edition of Slow Drone at Slow Body Beer. Ricky Tutaan of Maiiuwak will be performing a 2 hour solo lounge set. Bring a book, draw, or just hang out and chat with friends while enjoying the brewery. This is not a formal show, just 2 hours of vibing at Slow Body.

07/24/2025

Friday, July 25th at the Downtown Wooden Tooth Records we convene once again to celebrate three years of Desert Drone. What started as a one-off night in the middle of July at Club Congress has taken over every fiber of my being. I live, eat, and sleep this, all to sustain an experimental community in Tucson that I care deeply about.

It's my pleasure to once again perform with my good friend Chelsey Lee Trejo as we explore drone and ambient soundscapes, Chelsey brings such a warm vibe to every show she plays and I appreciate being able to supplement her acoustic drones with my electronic sounds. Together we also curated and put on the Sine & Symbol festival this year and we have big plans for next year. Video of her set from last year at The Screening Room.

(Slide 2) If you don't know me yet I'm Zack Hansen and I am the sole curator of Desert Drone. I often say "we" when I'm talking and that's because I rely on the venues, artists, and attendees to keep this going. I've been playing and booking shows in Tucson for 25 years and have seen the ebb and flow of venues, bands, and styles, so I know it's special to get to year 4 of an obscure experimental music and art series. Photo from the event I co-curated in Glendale, AZ this year, Super Bloom.

It's especially an honor to have our show at Wooden Tooth Records, I've been frequenting their store since they opened 10 years ago in the back of Cafe Passe, and got to vend at their anniversary event this year. Kellen and Jake do an amazing job supporting local music and we are really lucky to have a place like Wooden Tooth here in Tucson.

Here's to many more years of Sonoran Sounds.

07/21/2025

Friday, July 25th Beau Devereaux plays the 3rd anniversary show at Wooden Tooth Records.

I met Beau when the Presta on 9th street first opened, Beau was so kind and engaging and I noticed really good music was always on while they worked. Beau was playing a music festival I knew about in Austin and we talked about the bands on the bill and I mentioned that I did experimental music as well.

Once Desert Drone started up I knew I wanted Beau on a bill and their experimental project Bridle ended up playing one of the earliest shows. Since then Beau has been a staple for Desert Drone and I'm so happy to have them on our 3rd anniversary show. Beau's mix of ambient and field recording collage work is always such a pleasure to witness, along with the amazing photography Beau shoots and projects.

-Zack

📷 at MOCA Tucson for Sine & Symbol

07/19/2025

Our next Slow Drone is coming up Sunday, July 27th at Slow Body. Britt Warner will be gracing the brewery from 6pm-8pm with her soothing sounds. Another great opportunity to come hang out at the best brewery in town and say hello!

Slow Drone is our free summer taproom series every other Sunday in collaboration with Slow Body and the artists of Desert Drone. Enjoy the cool A/C and drinks and read a book, draw, listen to the music, or chat with friends.

Desert Drone

09/15/2025

09/07/2025

09/04/2025

09/03/2025

08/28/2025

08/18/2025

08/13/2025

08/05/2025

08/03/2025

07/24/2025

07/21/2025

07/19/2025

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