Reprint: Yacht rock concert benefits Tucson's Intermountain Centers
October 7, 2025
It’s still yachting season in the Mediterranean, and Intermountain Centers and iHeart Media are bringing that vibe to the Sonoran Desert with the Tucson Yacht Rock Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4 at the Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.
Even better, 25 Tucsonans can experience the feel-good music for free courtesy of an anonymous donor. Simply send an email with your name and number of tickets requested to marcomms@ichd.net.
“We wanted to do a music-forward and mission-driven event to let everyone in the community know about our services at Intermountain Centers. There is a lot of ambiguity and uncertainty in the world and people need fun right now. We need to have a good time, and music is a great way to bring the community together and to build the community up,” said Royce Sparks, Director of Communications and Philanthropy at Intermountain Centers.
For more than 50 years, the nonprofit has been providing Arizona with a wide range of services in primary and behavioral health care along with autism, substance abuse, foster care, youth development and much more. Last year, Intermountain and affiliates — including Pinal Hispanic Council, Family Service Agency, Rio Salado Behavioral Health Systems, and Community Partners served more than 30,000 low-income patients statewide.
Promoting awareness about the depth and breadth of Intermountain resources is a central objective of the upcoming festival, according to Sparks.
“Our focus is to help people in the community. There are so many people who have mental health challenges right now, and if you are struggling, we can help. Whether you need a primary care physician or have addiction problems or other issues, we have a full spectrum of services. If you are struggling, you don’t have to do it on your own,” Sparks said.
Though the event is not a fundraiser, proceeds will benefit kinship placements (children placed with extended family or friends) for foster families who receive services through Intermountain.
“These families get less than $10 per day from the state to take care of each kid. They need a lot more resources and this is a great opportunity to help them out. We provide money for things like sports and extracurricular activities, laptops and other things the kids need,” Sparks said.
He hopes that the community will come out in force to support the feel-good cause and enjoy the music, which was was produced in collaboration with iHeart Media, and made possible with support from Hazen Enterprises. Sparks credits Steve Earnhart, iHeartMedia Area President — Southwest, with suggesting Catalina Wine Mixer, self-dubbed “the hardest soft rock band in the world.” The band’s tribute typically includes favorites such as “Ride Like the Wind,” by Christopher Cross; “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie; “Brandy” by Looking Glass; “Peaceful, Easy Feeling” by the Eagles; and “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John.
“This band is super popular in Texas and this is their Tucson debut ... I describe yacht rock as a vibe genre. It is a specific type of sound: Easy-going, smooth listening from the 70s and 80s. If you imagine you are cruising on a yacht, this is the sound track,” Sparks said.
Originally published by Arizona Daily Star on September 29, 2025.