Ashnikko • Princess Nokia • March 26, 2026 • The Union Events Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor
On March 26th, 2026, Ashnikko made her stop in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the Union Event Center as part of her Smoochies tour, and it was surely a night to remember. This was not her first time in Salt Lake City, and it won’t be her last. The show was completely sold out, with people lining up since early in the morning, decked out to the nines in outfits, makeup, fun little hats, and covered in trinkets because every Ashnikko fan is most definitely a “little trinket girl.” If you know, you know.
If you’re unfamiliar with Ashnikko, just know you’re in for an absolute ride when it comes to her music and live shows. Her blend of alternative pop, electronic, and rap creates a chaotic, high-energy experience for fans, and the night in SLC was no different.
Princess Nokia
Princess Nokia kicked off the night, bringing all the energy and fierceness the crowd needed to warm up for Ashnikko. With her stunning outfit, badass lyrics, hair flipping, and constant engagement with the crowd, she was the perfect choice to open the evening.
Ashnikko
When it was time for Ashnikko to take the stage, the crowd was buzzing. The venue was packed from the floor to the balcony. Utah had most definitely shown up to witness an icon perform.
The stage production was playful and theatrical, with golden shells lining the front of the stage, a checkered pink floor, and a pink and seafoam green set. One sign read “2 for 1 Boyfriend,” while another read “Full Frontal Lobotomy Here.”
The lights went dark, then slowly began to glow as Ashnikko’s voice echoed through the speakers. She crawled through a small door on stage, one she joked she found “at the bottom of her purse.” From the second she appeared, the room felt less like a venue in Salt Lake City and more like stepping into her world: chaotic, hyper-femme, a little unhinged, and fully in control. Opening with “Sticky Fingers,” she wasted no time setting the tone: high energy, zero apologies, and a crowd ready to match it.
Ashnikko’s outfit matched that energy perfectly: custom boots giving off Mad Hatter-meets-Jinx-from-Arcane vibes, her iconic blue hair, layered tights, a white tank with blue eyes printed on it, black fingerless leather gloves, and a tiny skirt held together with ribbons at her hips.
Tracks like “Working Bitch” and “Microplastics” leaned into that biting edge, while “She’s So Pretty” and “Lip Smacker” felt like glitter-drenched chaos. The crowd, made up of fans of all ages and backgrounds, screamed every word back like it was gospel. It was a genuine joy to watch so many people come together over a shared love of music.
Ashnikko had two dancers with her throughout the night, and the choreography added a fun, dynamic layer to each performance.
The setlist pulled heavily from her newer era, with songs from Smoochies woven seamlessly alongside older staples. “Smoochie Girl,” “Skin Cleared,” and “Trinkets” showcased her evolving sound, while tracks like “STUPID” and “Tantrum” hit like a punch to the chest, snapping the crowd right back into the raw, chaotic energy she built her name on. She even brought out Princess Nokia for “Slumber Party,” and the crowd ate up every second of their chemistry.
What makes an Ashnikko show work isn’t just the music it’s the commitment to the bit. The persona, the attitude, the way she moves and interacts with the crowd. It all feels completely all-in, and that kind of energy is contagious. There’s no distance between artist and audience. It’s messy, loud, and chaotic, but that’s exactly the point.
By the end of the night, the Union Event Center felt like a temporary home for a very specific kind of community. The kind that shows up ready to scream, sweat, and fully lean into whatever Ashnikko throws at them. And she delivered. If you haven’t heard Smoochies yet, go check it out now!
