Mariachi, MMA and a ghoulish gathering: The best things to do in metro Phoenix this weekend

It’s another big weekend for live music in the Valley, from a show by country superstar Zach Bryan that sold out Desert Diamond Arena fast enough to make a person’s head spin, to a multi-artist hip-hop concert presented by Power 98.3 and 96.1 the following night at that same venue.

There’s even a Summer Jam party with Morris Day and the Time at Footprint Center.

You can find more information on those concerts in our handy August concert guide. A little more under-the-radar, but just as exciting, the best things to do this weekend include a concert by regional Mexican superstar Christian Nodal, a mixed-martial-arts event, a horror convention, an indie dance party and trivia night at Crescent Ballroom.

Here's your guide for July 25-27.

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Christian Nodal concert

Hailing from Nogales, Mexico, Nodal is known as the creator of mariacheño, a fusion uniting the mariachi and norteño genres. He's promising a fresh show that remains true to the essence that has rapidly made him one of the most successful proponents of regional Mexican music, winning three Latin Grammys and two Billboard Latin Music Awards.

Details: 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W. Maryland Ave., Glendale. $41 and up. 623-772-3800, desertdiamondarena.com.

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Electric Feels dance party

Electric Feels is a touring dance party out of Los Angeles whose mantra is “good music & good vibes.” It does its best to feel more like a festival than just another dance night. Electric Feels’ website promises attendees “a ridiculously fun blend of Indie Rock + Indie Dance music,” adding “We work hard to make this as unique, inclusive and fun as possible for everyone that attends with our stage production, awesome DJs, live elements, special guests & more.” You can expect to hear the likes of Tame Impala, Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend, the Strokes and MGMT, whose song “Electric Feel” is the most likely source of inspiration for the name.

Details: 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Marquee Theatre, 730 N. Mill Ave., Tempe. $18. 480-829-0607, luckymanonline.com.

RUF 55 MMA bout

Could this be the “best mixed martial arts in Arizona, live in one legendary round?” That’s what the venue website promises. RUF Nation is a tribally owned fight promotion company out of Phoenix looking to increase its range of operations with the goal of one day going international, while offering fans of the sport an alternative to what its website says is “the same copycat product and format, where local talent competes against moderate to poor level local competition in fights that are usually one-sided, creating a poor entertainment value and subpar product.”That fight card for Ruf 55 is a blend of professional and amateur bouts. The professional matches pitting what RUF Nation says is “the elite vs. the elite” feature Loai Abushaar vs. Kelvin Bowen, Alim Muhammad vs. James Trinidad, and Derrick Brown vs. Jose Mendez.

Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26. Celebrity Theatre, 440 N. 32nd St., Phoenix. $68-$128. 602-267-1600, celebritytheatre.com.

Gathering of the Ghouls

The inaugural Gathering of the Ghouls, a horror convention presented by Arizona’s only year-round horror marketplace, will feature celebrity signings, interactive photo ops, horror film screenings and a cosplay contest judged by “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2” star Caroline Williams and “Night of the Demons” star Amelia Kinkade. Other celebrities range from “The Toxic Avenger” director (Lloyd Kaufman) and star (Mark Torgl) to Miko Hughes, whose career in horror got off to a brilliant start as the kid in Stephen King’s “Pet Semetary.” There’s an exhibition hall featuring more than 100 of the absolute creepiest vendors they could dig up. Attendees are, of course, encouraged to dress in their spookiest costumes.

Details: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26; 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa. $15-$130. eventbrite.com.

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Trivia Night

Every Sunday, Crescent Ballroom hosts its own Trivia Night featuring questions about independent music, pop culture, current events and more with concert tickets, gift cards and a slew of other prizes awarded to those whose mastery of all that is trivial should be an inspiration to us all. But also concern us a little. It's hosted by DJ Hartbreaks and Ill Murray. You have to sign up at 5 p.m. to compete and the questions start flying at 6 p.m. And get this. It's absolutely free to compete.

Details: 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27. Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Free. 602-716-2222, crescentphx.com.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @EdMasley.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Best things to do in Phoenix this weekend: Christian Nodal, RUF 55 MMA