Meet Matthew Baquet

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Baquet.

Matthew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been booking shows/curating events in Tucson, AZ since 2006, when I was 15 years old. I was working independently for years, mostly within DIY communities and vacant warehouses for little to no money while also holding a consistent day job or two. In 2013, the iconic Hotel Congress gave me my first professional opportunity in the music industry as a booking assistant/talent buyer under David Slutes. After a few years there working full time, I moved into an independent contractor role in 2016, booking remotely from LA and NYC, exploring the world outside of Arizona and working within other facets of the entertainment industry. In 2017, I was blessed to take over as director of the annual HOCO FEST, which has changed my life, to say the least. Since rebranding the event in 2017, we have been called “One of the US’s most forward-facing festivals,” and we hope to continue solidifying HOCO as one of the premier summer destinations for up-and-coming international artists.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been smooth by any means… Multiple failed projects, tons of trial and error, but in the end, I feel we stay true to what’s important and the ‘ups’ always outweigh the ‘downs.’ In this little (big) town, 100 miles south of the most moved to, dare I say, the most gentrified city in the US, AND 60 miles north of the US/Mexico border, unavoidably in the news media almost daily… There is heavy energy. Heaviness for our loved ones directly affected by the border politics and the hateful rhetoric surrounding the situation. Heaviness around the inevitable growth we are seeing in our small town, and the urge to push back, to keep our identity. It’s a very crucial time, and it has forced me to take a step back myself and think about WHY we are throwing events? WHY are we bringing people together? And although the road to now has not always been easy, it was very eye opening and I am excited to take the new challenges on, to further my community, to offer hope to those in need.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
HOCO Fest/Hotel Congress has always strived to be leaders in our community. Pushing forward new ideas and proving platforms for hard working voices. I think we stay true to that message, and that’s what sets us apart. We are community based and community driven. We open our door to all walks of life and we celebrate all walks of life. You can come to a concert and leave with something else unexpected. To state it simply… We throw shows, we organize parties, we bring people together, and we specialize in doing it the Tucson way.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Well, Tucson is very different from Phoenix… But I think there is a lot of opportunity in Arizona as a whole right now. It’s the Wild West. It’s not easy to be a pioneer but it’s a lot more fulfilling… Bringing something here rather than jumping in line in a big city where everything has already been done before.

Contact Info:

• Website: hocofest.com
• Phone: 5204036907
• Email: matt@hocofest.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoco.fest/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hocofest/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hocofest
• Yelp: HOCO Fest
• Other: https://hotelcongress.com

Image Credit:
Photo 1 – color – by Greg Contreras
Photo 2 – B/W – by Yeshua Flores

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