Tucson Band Spotlight: Znora

🎶 Znora 500th Show + Album Release — April 25 at the Rialto Theatre
🎟️ Pre-sale tickets are just $6 — grab yours here: https://square.link/u/nPh2kTzY?src=sheet

Znora 500th Show: Tucson Celebrates Local Music at the Rialto

Tucson’s local music scene is built on passion, persistence, and people who just keep showing up—and few bands represent that spirit quite like Znora.

On April 25, Znora will take the stage at the Rialto Theatre for a milestone that most bands only dream about: their 500th live show. Even more exciting, the night also marks the release of their latest album—bringing together years of growth, experience, and dedication into one unforgettable event.

From forming as teenagers at a summer music camp to sharing stages with major acts and building a loyal local following, Znora’s journey is a true example of what can happen when talent meets consistency.

We caught up with the band to talk about their story, their sound, and what fans can expect from this huge night in Tucson.

Take us back to the beginning— How did you all meet?

Me and Adrian met during a summer music camp back in 2019. It was at this camp that you made bands and then did a performance like 2 weeks later. I think I was 15 and Adrian was 12. – Josh

Yeah, we were the “best” players in the camp according to everyone, and we decided to form a real band. – Adrian

We ended up becoming Znora – Josh

 I joined in December 2022 because Znora was looking for a new bassist and Adrian talked to my middle school guitar teacher who was Adrian’s when he was in middle school too. That’s how we got connected. – Johny

How did you come up with Znora as your band name?

I read a biography about Jimi Hendrix and he was close to his grandma and I am too. My grandma is the only other musician in my family. His grandma’s name was Zenora. I decided to take out the e and make it more like Sonora and Arizona too. My dad is from Mexico and I am from Arizona, so it is kind of like those things mixed together. – Adrian

What do you remember most about your very first show? How does it compare to where you are now?

I was very excited about our first show, it was Halloween night at House of Bards outside stage here in Tucson. The stage was cool with lights and everything, so it made the first gig feel awesome. I had started singing so I didn’t get as nervous as you would think but I was still nervous. We used to switch instruments, but I always sang and I think that made me a little more nervous. Now, I still get nervous and we still play all kinds of shows from bars to venues to festivals, but I don’t really get nervous on stage just beforehand. – Adrian

I agree with what Adrian said, I was really excited and nervous too. It felt like a great first show because it was on the big stage at House of Bards. It felt legit and we played a lot of places and corner stages that did not feel as legit as even that first show. – Josh

I remember being excited but also a little anxious. At that point, I had only ben practicing with the band for a couple of weeks and the songs were still pretty fresh to me. Now, I rarely get nervous and if I do it all goes away when I put on my bass and we play our first notes. – Johny

I love watching people clap along and sing along – being a part of the show with us. Cover songs and especially originals. I love to see how people dance to our music. – Josh

Yeah – there has been some crazy fun dancing over these 500 shows! – Adrian

Your upcoming show is also tied to a new album release—what can fans expect from this album?

This album definitely has less production. It is more raw and how we would perform live. – More simple and stripped down rock. It’s more like a live show. It isn’t as groovy but straight up rock. We do have a slower song on there. – Adrian

A real rock-based album. It is literally us playing live and recording it. – Josh

How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard ZNORA before?

Our sound is a mix of 90s drumming, and 70s funk bass and 70s classic rock/blues from our influences. Maybe we could say Znora is a blend of 70s arena, soulful rock with hard hitting drums. – Adrian

You’ve shared the stage with a lot of bands over the years—any standout moments or favorite collaborations?

One of the coolest experiences was the first annual Znorafest in January 2025. It was amazing to see such a great turnout and see people being so supportive of our original music. We played with other awesome local bands and headlined and had an album come out that we were so proud of. – Josh

That is definitely one of my top ten moments too, We have had so many fun experiences throughout our 500 shows. We recently opened for Kansas at The Ostrich Festival and they treated us so well. We had our own trailer, a great soundcheck and AV Team,  we got to eat dinner with Kansas. They were so cool with us.- Adrian

Another one of my favorite shows was in October 2024, we opened up for ZZTop it was such a sick show and had such a level of professionalism that many of our shows hadn’t had up to that point. -Johny

Your 500th show at the Rialto Theatre is on April 5th and presented by Local Love Presents. This is an all local talent show—why is supporting the local Tucson music scene important to you, especially for this event?

What can fans expect from the energy or experience of your 500th show at the Rialto Theatre?

We just have such a good time on stage, no matter what. We are always having such a good time. We will bring the energy, lots of movement while playing and filing the sound and stage even though we are only 3 guys. If you can make it, we will give you a good time. – Adrian

For someone on the fence about going—why should they NOT miss this show?

A really good reason to come is that we will be playing many of our new songs for the first time. We have not played a lot of these album songs live yet. We will have a party atmosphere with flash tattoos, special drink at the bar and some limited-edition merch, new album CDs.  Great local bands- great quality bands will be playing with us and they may be artists you have never seen before. – Josh

Where can people follow you, listen to your music, and grab tickets for the event?

• Instagram: @znora_band
• Facebook: Znora
• Youtube: Znora
• https://znoraband.com

Pre-sale tickets are only $6 message us or any of the other artists performing also through our link here: https://square.link/u/nPh2kTzY?src=sheet

Support Local Music—Be There for Show #500

Znora’s 500th show isn’t just another gig—it’s a celebration of everything that makes the Tucson music scene special: local talent, community support, and the energy of live music.

With a brand-new album, a stacked lineup of local bands, and a full night of music at the Rialto Theatre, this is one of those shows you’ll wish you didn’t miss.

If you’ve been part of their journey, this is your chance to celebrate with them. And if you haven’t seen Znora live yet—this might be the perfect night to start.

🎟️ Pre-sale tickets are just $6 and available through the band and other artists on the lineup.
📲 Follow Znora on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, or visit their website to stay connected and hear their latest music.

Support local. Show up. Be part of the moment.