LØLØ brought her unique combination of pop-punk attitude, sharp humor, and brutally honest songwriting to Metro Music Hall in Salt Lake City. She made a huge impression last year when she opened for Simple Plan in Sandy. I was excited to see her out on her own headlining tour. It’s really great to see the momentum building for LØLØ. As I walked into Metro Music Hall, I could see fans already in great form. They were dancing and even singing to the songs coming through the speakers. I could tell this was going to be a fun night.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child • September 23, 2026 • Eccles Theater
Reviewed by Alisha Gregson
Photography by Manuel Harlan courtesy of Broadway at the Eccles
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
The touring production of the Broadway play, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” brought its magic to the stage at Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City.
I have always been a Harry Potter fan. I read the first book the year it came out, when I was just 9 years old. I would eagerly wait for the release of each of the following books. I have read the series straight through multiple times, even as an adult. I have thrown at least 4 Harry Potter parties; I have a framed quote from Dumbledore hanging in my entryway, and I was Voldemort for Halloween a few years back.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
I really love Harry Potter. But for some reason, I have always been a little hesitant about seeing The Cursed Child. I liked the way things ended, so I think I was concerned about what a continued storyline would be like. I also wasn’t sure how it would be possible to successfully portray anything related to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World on a stage setting.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Still, when I saw the announcement that the tour would be coming to Eccles, I decided it was time to give the show a shot. To say it exceeded my expectations would be an understatement. I was simply blown away by the entire performance. Every part of the production was absolute perfection.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
The visual production of the show was truly unlike anything I have seen before. I went into the theater assuming I would need to use my imagination quite a bit with a story involving so much magic. It turns out I was just greatly underestimating what was in store for me. At some point during the show, I decided to stop asking myself “how did they do that” and just enjoy. There were so many jaw-dropping moments and unbelievable special effects. It felt impossible not to enjoy.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
While anyone would surely be entertained and in awe of the visual performance, I will admit that when it comes to the plot, the show is better suited for those who have either read the books or seen the movies. It helps to be familiar with the characters and original storyline. The final chapter in Harry Potter jumps forward 19 years, as Harry Potter arrives at platform 9 3/4 to send his kids off to Hogwarts. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child begins with that very scene. The plot moves very quickly, especially in the first half, and most of the scenes referenced things that took place in the books (or movies).
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
There was a spoiler alert warning on the playbill, advising audience members who didn’t want any surprises spoiled to wait until after the performance to read the cast list. I appreciated this warning, and chose not to read the cast list until later. I also do not want to spoil any part of the show, but I will just say that I enjoyed every surprise and loved every moment with the characters.
Courtesy of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD. Photo by Manuel Harlan.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is playing at Eccles Theater until October 11. Tickets start at $65, with premium seats also available. For tickets and to find which days have the best availability, go to https://cursedchildslc.com/
We are nearing the end of Utah First Credit Union’s season of concerts and with the last handful of shows, Five Finger Death Punch was a perfect addition to the lineup. Though the weather brought on a little bit of rain and a temporary lightning delay of the show, the fans refused to shy away from getting to see this performance. As the crowd filed back in from seeking shelter from the lightning delay, it was time to prepare for a lineup of music that can only be described as musical whiplash in more ways than one.
Darius Rucker • September 17, 2026 • Days of ’47 Arena
Reviewed and Photographed by Mike Ferguson
Photo Credit: Mike Ferguson
I had the wonderful opportunity to see Darius Rucker at the Utah State Fair on Thursday, September 17th at the Days of ’47 Arena. Rucker has a loyal fanbase here in Utah. When the announcement was made that he would be playing the State Fair, I imagine people made their plans to get inside the venue where they usually watch the rodeo to see one of their favorite artists.
My first exposure to Rob Zombie was many years ago; I was – and am still very much – into video games as a kid. In 2003, I was gifted a game called “NHL HITZ 2003”. I pulled the wrap off, put the disc into my Nintendo GameCube, and began to play what would become still one of my favorite games. The Major reason being the soundtrack. It was loaded with Powerman 5000, Incubus, Rob Zombie, and other noteworthy metal acts of the time. I quickly found that in the settings you could deselect any songs that you didn’t want on the playlist rotation; I turned off every single song besides “Feel So Numb” by Rob Zombie. It looped again and again during my NHL HITZ gaming sessions.
Mother Nature had other plans for Friday night in Sandy. Weather pushed back the start of Foster the People’s Good Mourning Sunshine Tour stop, and by the time Goth Babe took the stage, the crowd had spent a good portion of the evening waiting under a temperamental sky, and spirits were running low.
Role Model’s Chuck On Tour stopped by Beddy’s Plaza at America First Field on September 15th.
It’s been about a year since I attended a concert at Beddy’s Plaza at America First Field. I was excited to be back because I remember the atmosphere being so alive and energetic. Beddy’s Plaza was a perfect location for Role Model’s biggest headline tour to date. When I arrived at America First Field, I immediately noticed the long line at the merchandise tent. The plaza was already packed and full of fans wearing the Chuck On Tour merch. I also noticed a lot of Fans wearing their own decorated apparel with the words “WHAT THE CHUCK”, “LOVE I YOU”, and “CHUCK FEVER”.
Kilby Court might only hold about 200 people, but amidst the SLC stop on greek’s ongoing North America and Europe tour, it felt like the entire building was overflowing, from inside the venue to the courtyard to the merch booth. This was, without a doubt, one of the most packed shows I’ve ever seen at Kilby Court, and every single person smushed inside was there for one reason. That reason was clear and apparent as soon as the show began. As someone who was unfamiliar with greek, I was beyond pleasantly surprised and impressed by this band and this performance.
STYX • Chicago • August 30, 2026 • Utah First Amphitheatre
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
Styx at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe
The appropriately named Windy Cities Tour brought two legendary bands to the same stage, both of which started in the city of Chicago. Styx and Chicago, two legendary bands, played Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre on August 30, giving fans a chance to hear decades of familiar songs from two groups that have remained remarkably relevant across generations.
