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Dierks Bentley Delivers a Hometown Celebration at Extra Innings Festival

By on March 17, 2026

When Dierks Bentley walked onto the Home Plate stage at 6:50 p.m. on February 27, the Arizona crowd greeted him like one of their own. His signature sound—earnest country storytelling blended with bluegrass runs, rock energy, and a generous helping of fun—feels especially alive in today’s scene, where so many acts chase trends. Bentley has always made room for both the heartfelt and the lighthearted, and on this hometown evening the balance felt just right.

Dierks Bentley and his band perform at the Extra Innings Festival, Feb 27, 2026,. Photo credit and copyright Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

The setting suited the moment perfectly. Extra Innings Festival, now in its third year, launched in 2024 as the country-focused companion to the original Innings Festival that has filled Tempe Beach Park since 2018. The weekend mixes live music with spring-training spirit, local food, and lakefront views, giving fans an easy, welcoming atmosphere to enjoy artists who feel connected to the place.

Dierks Bentley and his band perform at the Extra Innings Festival, Feb 27, 2026,. Photo credit and copyright Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Phoenix Roots and a Long Road to the Stage

Born and raised in Phoenix, Bentley left Arizona as a young man to chase music in Nashville. He has been active since his 2003 self-titled debut, building a career on songs that mix small-town honesty with wide-open-road adventure. Over more than two decades he has become a familiar voice on country radio and a favorite at festivals across the country.

Dierks Bentley and his band perform at the Extra Innings Festival, Feb 27, 2026,. Photo credit and copyright Larry Philpot/SoundstagePhotography.com)

Longtime fans will be glad to know there have been no substantial lineup changes in the past few years. His touring band has stayed steady, preserving the easy chemistry that makes his shows feel lived-in rather than rehearsed.

The band consists of:

  • Dierks Bentley – lead vocals, guitar
  • Ben Helson – guitar

Signature songs include “What Was I Thinkin’,” “Drunk on a Plane,” “I Hold On,” “Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do,” and “Burning Man.” Bentley has also built a playful side project called Hot Country Knights, his alter-ego ’90s country parody band fronted by the mullet-sporting Doug Douglason. The Knights give him and the band a chance to lean into fun, throwback covers with tongue-in-cheek flair.

The Verified Home Plate Stage Set

The verified setlist from February 27, 2026, at Tempe Beach Park ran as follows:

  • Burning Man
  • 5-1-5-0
  • Living
  • I Hold On
  • Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go) / Mountain Music
  • Gold
  • Gone
  • Lot of Leavin’ Left to Do
  • Drunk on a Plane
  • What Was I Thinkin’
  • T-R-O-U-B-L-E / I Like It, I Love It / Two Dozen Roses / Its Your Live / Brand New Man / Man! I Feel Like a Woman / Friends in Low Places / (Aint Goin’) Down to the Sun Comes up (as Hot Country Knights)

Bentley opened strong with familiar favorites and paused midway to share memories of growing up in the Valley. He recalled tailgating as a teenager in areas around Tempe now filled with high-rise buildings, then spoke warmly about his first big Valley show opening for George Strait and the cross-country drive he once made with his dad to Nashville. Late in the set he and the band made a quick wardrobe change, stepping into their Hot Country Knights personas for a spirited medley of ’90s country hits that had the crowd singing along and laughing.

A Night That Felt Like Coming Home

Bentley’s performance turned an evening slot into something that felt personal and shared at the same time. He moved comfortably between reflective songs and playful moments, always keeping the focus on the music and the people in front of him. For anyone who appreciates country that carries a sense of place and a bit of humor, his sets quietly remind you why live music still matters—the kind of evening you leave thinking about long after the lights go down.

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