Utah Concert Review

July 30, 2026August 4, 2026

Totally Tubular Festival

Totally Tubular Festival • Thomas Dolby • A Flock of Seagulls • Bow Wow Wow • July 26, 2026 Red Butte Garden

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

’80s nostalgia was at an all-time high at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City. The Totally Tubular Festival delivered an evening packed with timeless hits, vibrant performances, and plenty of memories. This lineup of artists helped define one of music’s most colorful decades. Totally Tubular Fest gave fans the chance to experience multiple legendary acts at one show. Headlined by Thomas Dolby and featuring standout performances from A Flock of Seagulls, Bow Wow Wow, Animotion, Tommy Tutone, The Escape Club, and The Producers, the show was a celebration of the music that is still as beloved as ever all these years later.

July 29, 2026August 4, 2026

Suki Waterhouse

SLC Twilight • Suki Waterhouse • July 27, 2026 • Gallivan Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Ava Dalton

There’s a specific kind of energy that only exists in a sold-out crowd that’s been camping out since two in the afternoon. Salt Lake City brought exactly that to the Gallivan Center for none other than the iconic Suki Waterhouse. The sun started dipping into what seemed like an extra glowy and extra pink sunset, coordinated with Suki herself; the audience as a whole, but especially the audience members standing at the barricade who had been holding their spots for hours, were buzzing with anticipation. Trust me, their hours of waiting definitely paid off.

July 28, 2026August 3, 2026

Riley Green

Riley Green • Justin Moore • July 23, 2026 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Country music took center stage at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre as Riley Green headlined an unforgettable summer evening with Justin Moore opening the show. The venue was packed with fans sporting cowboy hats, boots, and plenty of anticipation for a night filled with heartfelt lyrics, Southern charm, and songs that have become staples on country playlists. This concert showcased two artists who have Country Music hits galore. It was a night filled with fan favorites from the get go.

July 27, 2026July 27, 2026

idobi Radio Summer School Tour

idobi Radio Summer School Tour • Honey Revenge • South Arcade • Winona Fighter • Games We Play • Chase Petra • Misdemeanor • July 20, 2026 • The Depot

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

On July 20, 2026, the idobi Radio Summer School Tour returned to Salt Lake City, bringing its stacked lineup to The Depot for a night that felt more like a miniature festival than a typical concert. Complete with a backdrop featuring giant Summer School Tour graphics, LED screens on either side of the stage, and a playful pajama party-inspired theme, the production set an energetic tone before a single note was played. Across six bands and several hours of nonstop music, the night built toward a strong headline performance from Honey Revenge while showcasing why the Summer School Tour has become a fan-favourite summer tradition here in SLC, especially for lovers of pop punk, punk rock, and alternative rock.

July 26, 2026July 26, 2026

Story of the Year

Story of the Year • Silverstein • Origami Angel • Ally Nicholas • July 23, 2026 • The Complex

Reviewed and Photographed by Colton Kresser

If you’re emo, especially an elder emo like me, then you know who Silverstein and Story of the Year are. Many of us grew up watching the music videos for “Smile in Your Sleep” or “Until the Day I Die” on VH1 and MTV. We all heard those songs playing on the radio, and eventually we would put together enough cash to go to your local Graywhale and pick up their CD and blast it on the latest and pinnacle piece of technology, pause for dramatic effect, a CD player. Playing these CD’s on repeat and learning all the words so when you watched their set outside in the hot sun during the Vans Warped Tour, where you could happily damage your vocal cords, get heat stroke, and have a wicked sunburn.

July 25, 2026July 25, 2026

Freddie Gibbs

SLC Twilight • Freddie Gibbs • Amie Blu • Roo Nostalgia • July 17, 2026 • Gallivan Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall

Freddie Gibbs brought the energy to Salt Lake City at the SLC Twilight Concert Series, with opening act Amie Blu and local opener Roo Nostalgia.

July 22, 2026July 23, 2026

Old Crow Medicine Show

SLC Twilight • Old Crow Medicine Show • July 13, 2026 • Gallivan Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Summer concerts in downtown Salt Lake City always carry a unique atmosphere, and Old Crow Medicine Show brought exactly the kind of lively, feel-good performance that fit the Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series perfectly. Surrounded by the energy of the city and a crowd eager for an evening of live music, the veteran Americana group delivered a set that celebrated traditional roots music while proving just how vibrant it remains in a live setting. Their mix of bluegrass, folk, old-time string music, and country created a performance that was both nostalgic and exciting, reminding fans why the band has remained a favorite on the road for so many years.

July 21, 2026August 3, 2026

The Avett Brothers

The Avett Brothers • Shane Smith and The Saints • July 17, 2026 • Maverik Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

The Maverik Center played host to an unforgettable evening of Americana, folk, and roots music as The Avett Brothers made their return to Utah. Joined by Shane Smith and The Saints, the evening showcased two bands known for their passion and live performance. While each band brought its own unique style to the stage, both shared a commitment to honest songwriting and exceptional musicianship, which made for one of the most memorable evenings of the summer.

July 20, 2026July 20, 2026

KALEO

KALEO • Dawes • July 12, 2026 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Alisha Gregson

The combination of a warm summer evening, the scenic surroundings of Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre, and two outstanding bands made for an unforgettable night of live music. Utah summers just don’t get much better than a concert at Red Butte. Getting there early, bringing in your own food, and sitting with friends preparing for a night of amazing music. It had been some time since I had seen either band, so getting to see them together in one night was a real treat.

July 20, 2026July 20, 2026

Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Rainbow Kitten Surprise • Spacey Jane • July 15, 2026 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Ava Dalton

With a crowd that had reportedly been camped outside the venue since early afternoon, according to several audience members, the Sandy Amphitheater was beyond ready for the long-awaited return of the alternative rock band Rainbow Kitten Surprise. Only the fourth stop of the “bones.” tour, RKS is headed to seventeen more stops in the North American leg of the tour.