Three Chords and a Cloud of Dust

The Soulstice Band is an Arizona-grown group serving up a mix of Americana, alt-country, and bluesy rock that feels right at home under the desert sky. Based out of Mesa, this six-piece has built a reputation for getting crowds moving and keeping dance floors full with music that’s equal parts grit and soul.

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The band’s roots run deep in the Valley. The members have been playing together in one form or another for over 20 years — starting as a church house band and later showing up in local groups like Time and Time Again, Just Foolin’ Around, and The Manufactured Crisis. About fifteen years ago, they found their groove as Soulstice while busking in downtown Phoenix… until the police politely suggested they take it somewhere else and maybe practice a bit more. Fifteen years and three practice sessions later, here they are.

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Fronted by Jim Middleton’s songwriting and Alison Cantley’s standout vocals, Soulstice brings a high-energy live show that leans into both tight musicianship and a good sense of humor. The rest of the lineup features Phil Perry on guitar, John Krainski on bass, Mark Schwartz on drums, and Garry Cantley on percussion — and, unofficially, mojo.

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They’ve played just about everywhere you can in Arizona: MLB Spring Training events, the Arizona State Fair, Mesa Music Festival, Glendale Folk & Heritage Festival, and more bars around the Valley than they can probably remember — both the polished kind and the “character-building” kind. Wherever they land, they work with the venue to create a lively, interactive atmosphere. As they like to say, you haven’t really had fun until you’ve been to a Soulstice Band funeral reception.

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Their recordings carry that same spirit. The 2024 album Bad Girls blends country, rock, and soul into songs about love, grit, and pushing back when it counts — a refreshing break from overproduced radio country. Before that, their EP I Don’t Need to Go to Nashville made their stance pretty clear: sometimes all you need is a good song, a campfire, and a crowd willing to sing along.

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Independent, local, and always a good time — Soulstice Band is Arizona music, plain and simple.

You can find them at soulsticebandaz.com or catch them live somewhere around the Valley.