KXCI is honored to collaborate with the Tucson Presidio Museum and CelebrateTucson.com for Tucson 250+, a year-long recognition of our region’s 4,000 years of cultural history. Tucson 250+ marks the 1775 founding of Presidio San Agustín del Tucson, while the “+” honors the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land for millennia.
As part of the celebration, KXCI, the Tucson Presidio Museum, and CelebrateTucson.com created the Tucson 250+ Playlist: A Musical Tribute to Our Region. A curated musical journey exploring the soul of Tucson through sound. This special project was shaped by the contributions of KXCI staff, DJs, volunteers, and community members.
The playlist reflects Tucson’s rich musical and cultural soundscape, including:
- Legendary artists with deep ties to the region, such as Linda Ronstadt and Lalo Guerrero
- Songs about the desert, the heat, and the spirit of the Southwest
- Music in Spanish, Tohono O’odham, and other languages.
- A variety of genres, including Waila, mariachi, folk, R&B, cumbia, and more.
- Contemporary artists from Tucson, the Borderlands, and northern Mexico
We’re also inviting YOU to be part of the celebration! Share your own song suggestions that capture Tucson’s unique voice by posting on social media with the hashtag #CelebrateTucson or submit your picks to the submission form here. Tell us why your pick belongs in the soundtrack of our city and your ideas may be included in future updates to the playlist!
The Celebration of Tucson / S-cuk Son on Saturday, August 23rd, from 6 to 10 PM at the Tucson Presidio Museum, where music, history, and community will come together to honor over 4,000 years of culture and heritage in Tucson and Pima County.
*See the complete playlist below. The songs are listed alphabetically by the first name of the artist(s). You can listen to the playlist now on the KXCI Spotify page and tune in throughout August to hear selections on 91.3 FM KXCI Tucson and stream at KXCI.org.
AJJ — Dissonance, Disposable Everything, Hopeless Records, 2023
Alec André — Holy Dream, Holy Dream, Music Sounds Records, 2024
Alex Ambent — divesting from nightlife, transposed family recipes, Surf, 2024
Al Foul — Darker Shade of Blue, Come Back a Dog, Fort Lowell Records, 2024
Al Perry & The Cattle — Losing Hand, Yeah But It’s A Dry Heat… A Tucson Arizona Compilation, Westworld / Toxic Shock, 2010
American Indians — San Xavier Polka, The American Indians Play Waila, Canyon Records, 2006
Amy Munoz & the Strange Vacation — Lost in Bakersfield, Nashville California, Desideratum Records, 2024
Andy Warpigs — Everybody Likes You Now, Folk Punk Yourself, 56th Street Records, 2014
*Antler Room (with Renz Iurino) — Waterbound, EP/Single, Lo Violet, 2023
Arthur Vint & Associates — Tucson (Summer ’09), Copper State, Desert Spoon Records, 2024
Billy Sedlmayr — Tucson Kills, Charmed Life, Fell City Records, 2014
Blood Spasm — We Got Cactus, Yeah But It’s A Dry Heat… A Tucson Arizona Compilation, Westworld / Toxic Shock, 2010
*Bob Meighan Band — Black Mountain Rag, The Dancer, Bandolier, 1975
Brian Lopez — Black Mountain, TIDAL, Cosmica Artists, 2023
Bryn Ryder — Ticky Tacky, Honest Growth, Tres Rojas Records, 2023
Calexico — Güero Canelo – Remastered, Feast of Wire (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), Quarterstick Records, 2023
Calexico — Sunken Waltz, Feast of Wire, Quarterstick Records, 2003
Caribou, altrice — Sun – Altrice’s ‘Only What You Gave Me’ Remix, Swim Remixes, People Eating Fruit Records, 2010
Carissa’s Wierd — Tucson, Tucson, Hardly Art, 2011
Carlos Arzate — Misunderstood Sun, Sonoran Soul, Sonoran Soul Records, 2020
Chateau Chateau — Voices Carry, Grow Up, Kill Rock Stars, 2022
Chezale — Peak of Monsoon, Peak of Monsoon Single, Chezale, 2022
Closet Goth — Tucson Bridge City, All Wrestlers Die, Closet Goth, 2023
Corbin Dooley — Blue Matador, Rocksteady, Bikini Wax Records, 2023
Daytrails — Tucson Tide, Laramide Records, 2022
Desert Music Project — Mirage, Breaking Ground, Dry Waves Records, 2022
Desert Undertones — Black Eagle, The Sentinel, Desert Undertone Records, 2024
Dos Sueños — Acoustic Love, La Evolución, 2dreams Records, 2024
Eb Eberlein — I’m a Tucsonan, Community, Eb Eberlein, 2018
Ella Fitzgerald — Too Darn Hot, Ella Fitzgerald Sings The Cole Porter Song Book, Verve Reissues, 1956
Engel Indo — El Son de Tucson, Memories Vol. I, Engel Indo, 2024
Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers — Road to Tucson, Dry Lightning, Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers, 2023
Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers — When the Mountain Turns Pink, Dry Lightning, Eric Schaffer & The Other Troublemakers, 2023
Famous Ones — Ya No Te Extraño, VM8P, Famous Ones, 2025
Female Gaze — Severance, Tender Futures, Fort Lowell Records, 2024
Flor de Nopal — Dale Chance, EP 2, FdN Records DK, 2021
Freezing Hands — Wax Cups, Empty The Tank, 5698408 Records DK, 2023
Gabriel Sullivan — Tucson Rose, Jvpiter, Fell City Records, 2014
Gabrielle Pietrangelo — Tucson, Back to the Heart, Gabrielle Pietrangelo, 2025
George Landa — El Presidio, El Presidio, George Landa, 2018
Giant Sand — Shiver, Chore of Enchantment, Fire Records, 1999
Glacier.Wav — Slowdrive – Live on KXCI, Slowdrive (Live on KXCI), Thieve’s Amulet, 2024
Gu-Achi Fiddlers — Ali Oidak Polka, Old Time O’odham Fiddle Music, Canyon Records, 2001
Hacienda Brothers — Turn To Grey, Hacienda Brothers, eOne Music, 2005
Hacienda Brothers — Saguaro, Hacienda Brothers, eOne Music, 2005
Hank Cramer — The Lights of Tucson, The Road Rolls On, Independent Artist, 2002
Hataalii — Let It Roll, I’LL BE AROUND, Panther Mountain, 2025
Hataalii — Midnight Soldier, Singing Into Darkness (Expanded Edition), Dangerbird Records, 2023
Head Full of Stars — Touch the Stars Again, Touch the Stars Again, Head Full of Stars, 2023
Ike & Tina Turner — Get Back, Workin’ Together, Capitol Catalog MKT (C92), 1970
Iskra Valtcheva — Radostta, Radostta, Infinite Love Light, 2023
James Intveld — All The Way From Memphis, Somewhere Down The Road, Molenaart, 2000
Joe Pena — Standing on Business, Single, Joe Pena, 2024
John Coinman — Tucson, Under the Sun, Arroyo Verde Productions, 2019
John J. Coinman — Old Town, The Man Called Someone, Club De Musique, 1998
José-Luis Orozco — Pancho Claus, Navidad y Pancho Claus Con Jose-Luis Orozco Vol. 7, Arcoiris Records, Inc., 1994
Jordan Davis — Tucson Too Late, Bluebird Days, MCA Nashville, 2023
Just Najima — American Blues, Queenie, Just Najima, 2020
Karima Walker — Reconstellated, Waking the Dreaming Body, Keeled Scales, 2021
Katterwaul — Follow You Home, Follow You Home, Wooden Tooth Records, 2016
Kayleigh Mathews — Desert Child, Desert Child, Kayleigh Mathews Music, 2021
Kayleigh Mathews — Southwest Honky Tonk Night, Desert Child, Kayleigh Mathews Music, 2021
Kevin Pakulis — Yeah Yeah Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeah, Kevin Pakulis, 2004
Klassickemcee — Mr. Miller Got Bounce, Family Reunion 2, Nieu Inergy, 2022
La Onda — Ride, Ride, La Onda, 2019
Lalo Guerrero — Barrio Viejo (Spanish), Vamos a Bailar-Otra Vez! With Lalo Guerrero, Break Records, 2000
Las Chollas Peligrosas — Saguaro, Saguaro, 2011089 Records DK2, 2020
Leila Lopez — Pick Your Prize, Fault Lines, Sun House Studios, 2010
Linda Ronstadt — La Cigarra (The Cicada), Canciones de mi Padre, Iconic Artists Group, 1987
Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris — Western Wall, Western Wall: The Tucson Sessions, Iconic Artists Group, 1999
Linda Ronstadt — Willin’, Heart Like A Wheel, Capitol Records, 1974
Logan Greene and the Bricks — Why Am I Lonely?, Soylent Greene, Diet Pop Records, 2010
Los Apson — Fue en un café – Under the Boardwalk, Peerless 80 Aniversario – 24 Exitos Vol. 2, WM Mexico, 2013
Los Changuitos Feos de Tucson — De Colores, Celebrating 60 Years, Ugly Little Monkeys, 2024
Los Esplifs — Me Estoy Poniendo Viejo, Chemistry, Los Esplifs, 2023
Los Esplifs — Nereyda, Chemistry, Los Esplifs, 2023
Louise Le Hir — Poisson, Tiny Golden Pins, Midtown Island Records, 2023
Link Wray — Tuscon Arizona, Guitar Preacher – The Polydor Years, Polydor, 1995
Link Wray — Apache, Apache, Ace Records, 1990
Mark Insley — Deep End of the Bar, Supermodel, Rustic Records, 2004
Mark Insley — Tucson, Tucson, Rustic Records, 2001
Mariachi Cobre — Las Abajeñas, Este Es Mi Mariachi, Kuckuck Schallplatten, 1995
Mega Ran — Gimme The Fruit (feat. Whitney Peyton), Buddy’s Magic Toy Box, RandomBeatsLLC, 2023
Midland — Drinkin’ Problem, On The Rocks, Big Machine Records, LLC, 2017
MizSkoden, Sewa Yuli, Trickey Lez — AMD, AMD, 4213557 Records DK, 2024
Naïm Amor, John Convertino — Tucson Paris, The Western Suite and The Siesta Songs, LM Dupli-cation, 2016
Namoli Brennet — Thorn in Your Side, The Brighter Side of Me, Namoli Brennet, 2004
Native Creed — Tropi Cumbia, Cumbia !!!, Rock-a-bye Records, 2003
Nicosa — Portuguese, Portuguese, Music Sounds Records, 2023
One Way Sky — Indian Route 15, Indian Route 15, Akimel Records, 2022
Peachcake — I Hope We Don’t Get Exploded., Chain Letter EP, Peachcake, 2004
Petula Clark — Petite fleur, C’est ma chanson, BMG Rights Management France SARL, 1988
Pima Express — Cumbia with Me, Nothing Special Pima Country and Chicken Scratch, Canyon Records, 2005
Rebel Diaz — I’m an Alien, I’m an Alien, Rebel Diaz, 2011
River Roses — Mystery Train, When We Fall, Fundamental Records, 1991
S Beezy — West Side, SIRENS, R Turn Ent., 2023
Sage Lacapa — Golden Wave Woman, Golden Wave Woman, Rez and Rowdy Records, 2025
Sergio Mendoza Y La Orkesta — Mambo Mexicano, Mambo Mexicano, Cosmica Records, 2012
Sherbet & Champagne — Knives Out, Raw For A Reason, Eat Your Young, 2023
Spank — If I Was A Bot, If I Was A Bot, Spank, 2024
Spooky Clarinetist — Gratified, Demonyms, Demonyms Records, 2024
Sur Block — Gucci Tape, Sur Block – EP, Sur Block, 2017
Sweet Ghosts — Back to Tucson, An Endless Blue, Sweet Ghosts, 2020
Swigfoot — Enough, Enough, 5356216 Records DK, 2023
Tesoro — Rust & Rhythm, Ascension, Tesoro, 2025
*The Austin Lounge Lizards — Saguaro, The Austin Lounge Lizards, Watermelon Records, 1984
The Beatles — Get Back – Remastered 2009, Let It Be (Remastered), EMI Catalogue, 1970
The Demons of South Tucson — Tucson, From My Heart to Your Ears, 1714215 Records DK, 2020
The Desoto Caucus — Come Undone, The DeSoto Caucus, Glitterhouse Records, 2014
The Mission Creeps — Doing Time in Ol’ Tucson, Fright Night Creep Out, Refractory Records, 2016
The Resonars — A Smile and a Promise, Extended Play, Hidden Volume Records, 2020
The Sinks — Swimsuits, Sinker Slipped, 1880344 Records DK, 2021
Tonight’s Sunshine — Song for a Savers Parking Lot, Song for a Savers Parking Lot, Tonight’s Sunshine, 2020
Unified Field Theory — Attenuation, Unified Field Theory, Unified Field Theory, 2024
Vox Urbana — Rosa libre, Relatos En Caravana, Self-released, 2021
Weekend Lovers — Larvae Love, I Love U in Real Life, Totally Real Records, 2020
*Some of the songs on the playlist are not available on Spotify.
