Polo & Pan performed the last concert that would take place at the Ogden Amphitheater on September 25th for the Ogden Twilight Series. Sofia Kourtesis was scheduled to open the concert, but had an emergency and could not make it. Utah-based artists, Sarah Lies and Mikey Stern, would replace Sofia.
I always emphasize the park surrounding the amphitheater and how it is always packed before and after the show. I bring this up because I feel like it adds to the concert experience and is an example of how these concerts bring the community together, whether it’s enjoying the sound within the amphitheater or outside of it. Tickets are required for anyone over the age of 4, so if you’re thinking about coming out to a show next year, keep that in mind. I have been to multiple venues, and that is the one thing that stands out with the Ogden Amphitheater is how well they accommodate families.
The Paper Kites brought their 2025 US Tour to The Complex in Salt Lake City. They were joined by Hayden Everett. Utah Concert Review has enjoyed covering The Paper Kites in the past. They’re one of those bands that we always look forward to seeing. Turns out we weren’t the only ones. They had an audience of adoring fans who showed up.
The Struts played a high-energy rock and roll show at the Depot in SLC. They were joined by Dirty Honey as they celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their incredible debut album “Everybody Wants.” The Struts have made consistent tour stops over the last decade. UCR has loved the opportunity to cover this remarkable band from the UK.
Grab some tissues, and brace for the emotions to come from the last show of the 2025 Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series, Big Thief. Performing at Library Square to a sold-out crowd, this was about to be the most anticipated show of the entire concert series. Leading up to doors opening, there was a line of people waiting to get in that stretched almost two whole blocks around Library Square, with some of the first people in line arriving at the venue as early as 10 AM that morning. With doors opening at 5 PM and a three-act lineup including Little Moon and Kiki Cavazos, it felt like we were in for a long night of beautiful and emotional live music.
When Ice Cube took the stage at the Maverik Center for his Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour, the atmosphere was electric—charged with the weight of history, legacy, and raw energy. The night was a guided tour through the evolution of West Coast hip-hop, led by one of its most uncompromising architects. Cube turned the arena into a living museum of rap, balancing nostalgia with urgency, and proving that four decades into his career, he still knows how to command a crowd. I remember listening to N.W.A. and later Ice Cube solo albums with my best friend in high school. He had an amazing car stereo, and we would play these songs so loud in our Los Angeles suburb. This concert was a trip down memory lane for me. Ice Cube did not disappoint.
X Ambassadors brought their VHS anniversary tour to The Depot and the SLC crowd. Delacey opened for them. Utah is always welcoming of X Ambassadors. They’ve played some great shows at The Depot in the past. This show is another one added to the list of great SLC shows with X Ambassadors.
Off their brand-new album titled The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, The Hives would make a stop in Salt Lake City at The Union Event Center. Nashville band, Snõõper, would open for them. The Hives are a popular garage punk band from Sweden that formed in the 90’s. They are known for their energetic music and do-it-yourself aesthetic. In 2023, The Hives released their first album in over 11 years.
Their newest album was co-produced by Mike D, founder of The Beastie Boys, and demonstrates the collaboration behind this album. Salt Lake City would be one of their first stops on this 2025 tour. I was recently introduced to both bands, and once I found out they would be performing at The Union, I knew their fans would be in for a great show! The show started earlier than I had expected, and when I walked into the venue, the first two things that I noticed were the line at the merch table and the overall stage design. Fans filled the lower and upper bowl levels as Snõõper performed on stage.
Snõõper has an upcoming album titled Worldwide, which is set to release next month. This will be the first album that the whole new group will be part of. Two songs off the album have already been released, titled “Worldwide” and “Guard Dog”. I would recommend listening to “Guard Dog” if you want to visually sample what their set looks like.
In 2021, the band expanded and added more members to the crew. Snõõper would hit the stage early, and I was lucky enough to catch the last song to photograph. The first thing I had noticed about the set was how artistic it was. Two large speakers were displayed, one on each side of the stage. There was also a traffic light centered on the stage. After catching the last part of the third song, I had noticed how interactive the crowd was.
This was the first time I had heard their music, but I quickly recognized how they were the perfect fit to open for The Hives. As I left the pit area, I noticed there was a lot of The Hives merch throughout the crowd. The fans who wore the merch t-shirts showed their equal support for Snõõper. You could feel the energy being projected from the stage throughout the whole set. The band performed older songs and some of the new music coming out with their new album, such as “Guard Dog” and “Worldwide”. Lead vocalist Blair Tamel kept the energy going as she would incorporate props such as a giant weight and asking the crowd if they were having fun. Towards the end of their set, Blair would exit the stage and join the crowd in a green puppet-like costume, which the crowd seemed to enjoy.
In between sets, the stage crew would hit the stage in ninja-like suits, which left the crowd curious. I was excited to photograph their set because of their stage design alone. HIVES was spelled out across balloon balls behind the set. It was time for The Hives to hit the stage. I was told prior to the band coming out that the set was going to be an interactive one and to be cautious. Two songs in, and lead vocalist Pelle Almqvist would walk off the stage and interact with the crowd. He brought his microphone and held it out into the crowd as they would shout the lyrics together. Pelle and the crew strutted on the stage in their black tuxedos, showcasing their punk rock music.
The Hives performed some of their older music, including “Tick Tick Boom” and some of their new music off their new album, like “Enough is Enough” and “The Hives Forever Forever The Hives”. Pelle mentioned that it was their first time being back in 9 years and that they are here because of the new album.
There were a couple of moments that stood out to me throughout the set. One of the moments was when someone in the crowd shouted out a song that they wanted the band to perform, and Pelle’s response was that he didn’t remember it. Leaving the other fans laughing. My favorite moment was when the band asked the crowd to put away their phones and enjoy the moment. I happened to be towards the back of the crowd as this happened, and it was great to see the fans really enjoying themselves, the music, and the moment.
I have always enjoyed discovering new music that I have never listened to or heard of. Both Snõõper and The Hives had an energetic set that displayed their music perfectly. Hopefully, it doesn’t take as long for The Hives to return to Salt Lake City, and if they do, I would highly recommend checking them out!
Jonas Brothers • Boys Like Girls • Franklin Jonas • September 13, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert
When fans made their way to see the Jonas Brothers’ sold-out Greetings From Your Hometown Tour stop at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater on September 13, 2025, they were likely looking forward to a night of newer hits and given their longevity and the tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary, nostalgia, but I’m not sure anyone was prepared for the absolute treat we were all in for – especially in the nostalgia department!
Billy Idol has always been the embodiment of rock and roll swagger—spiked hair, leather-clad attitude, and a sneer that became iconic in the MTV era. Decades later, he still carries that same magnetic energy on stage. His recent stop at Utah First Amphitheatre on his “It’s a Nice Day To… Tour Again! tour, proved that time has only sharpened his presence rather than diminished it. Backed by the ever-flawless Steve Stevens on guitar and a band that blended precision with raw power, Idol delivered a set that celebrated both his hits and deeper cuts, while nodding to his punk beginnings and wide-ranging influences.
Train • Edwin McCain • September 9, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater
Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall
Train played an outstanding show at the sold-out Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on the cool summer night of September 9th, 2025. The crowd was filled with excited fans of all ages, all decked out in train merch. A few fans in the audience were even wearing train conductor outfits, and when complimented on their outfits, would make a train horn noise, a very fun nod to the band performing.
