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April 14, 2023

Gladys Knight

Gladys Knight• April 8, 2022• Eccles Theater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

We cover a lot of concerts here at Utah Concert Review. But it’s not often that we’re completely floored by the opportunity to cover a legend like Gladys Knight. The “Empress of Soul” played a Friday evening show at the beautiful Eccles Theater in Downtown Salt Lake City. It was an occasion where the venue fit the artist perfectly. I could tell by looking at the audience that many people also considered this night a big deal. Some were dressed like they were going to a movie premiere or an awards ceremony. Gladys Knight fans know how to get gussied up! I had a collared shirt on and I felt very underdressed!

April 13, 2023

Hairspray

Hairspray the Musical• April 11, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographs by Jeremy Daniel

The 2022/2023 season of Broadway at The Eccles has been one for the books! Shows like Moulin Rouge, Ain’t Too Proud, and Dear Evan Hansen has thrilled audiences. Eccles Theater has been packed to the rafters with satisfied patrons. The shows of this season have been excellent, but I must admit, when this season was announced, I was thrilled to see Hairspray on the list. I didn’t know there was a tour up until that point. Outside of the occasional regional or community theater productions, my Hairspray musical experience had ended. I really love this musical so I’m sure you can imagine how delighted I was to see it on the season schedule, and how much more ecstatic I was to be sitting in my seat Tuesday night waiting for the show to begin.

April 10, 2023

Schellraiser Festival 2023 Lineup Announced!!

Schellraiser Festival June 1-3 In McGill, Nevada

Headliners Include Dinosaur Jr., Blonde Redhead, Asleep At The Wheel, Joy Formidable, Blitzen Trapper And More…

Cow Meet Punk, Punk Meet Cow

April 4, 2023 – McGill, NV: Schellraiser Music Festival The Schellraiser music festival will take place June 1 – 3 near the small town of Ely, Nevada. The headliners include Dinosaur Jr., Blonde Redhead, Asleep At The Wheel, The Joy Formidable, Blitzen Trapper, Murder By Death and more. Bands will play in one of the most stunning high-desert landscapes in North America, surrounded by the majestic Schell Creek Mountain range, for which the fest is named.

April 6, 2023

Black Violin

Black Violin• March 29, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Black Violin is a hip-hop duo from Florida. The two members of the group are Kevin Sylvester and Wilner Baptiste, both classically trained string instrumentalists. Will B plays the viola and Kev Marcus plays the violin. I had only heard of the group but before the show, I had not heard their music. What I was told is that they mix classical music and hip-hop into their show. And that was exactly what they did. I was excited to see and hear what this type of show was like. It did not disappoint. Black Violin was joined on stage by DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes.

April 5, 2023

Inhaler

Inhaler• w/ Sun Room •March 28, 2023• The Complex

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photographed by Lewis Evans

Inhaler is a Dublin-based Irish Rock band. It’s funny because when I learned about this band I immediately liked them. I thought I was super cool because I found this young band on their assent. I acted like I basically discovered them. Well turns out I’m a little late to the Inhaler discovery group. They have two albums already, both charted number 1 in Ireland, and their most recent release Cuts & Bruises was number one in the UK as well. No small feat. And not only that, but this would be their second trip to Salt Lake City in as many years. So while I do feel like I’m catching onto their comet early, it’s not quite as early as I thought.

March 31, 2023

Morgan Wade

Morgan Wade• March 15, 2023• The Commonwealth Room

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Morgan Wade is a country singer on the rise. She self released her first album Puppets With My Heart in 2018. Despite pandemic restrictions she’s continued to steadily make her assent into Country Music stardom. In 2021 Wade released Reckless and had subsequently continued releasing singles and acoustic versions of songs. She is currently nominated for a CMT Award in the Breakthrough Female Video of The Year category for her video of “Wilder Days”. Morgan Wade sold out The Commonwealth Room here in Salt Lake City on March 15, 2023. I feel like it might be the last time we see her in such an intimate venue for a long while.

March 30, 2023

Rayland Baxter

Rayland Baxter w/ Liz Cooper & Friko

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When it was announced that Rayland Baxter would be playing The Commonwealth Room in Salt Lake City, there was no doubt that it would be a sold out show. Baxter is well liked here and it’s also been a while since he’s made a stop in Utah. Of course, we all know how the COVID-19 Pandemic put live music and touring to a halt. So that was an obvious reason why we hadn’t seen Rayland in a while. The other was he was working on an album. In 2022 Rayland Baxter released If I Were A Butterfly. So not only were we finally going to see Rayland Baxter perform live again, but we were going to get to hear some of these songs performed for the first time in Salt Lake City.

March 29, 2023

Days Like These: A Tribute to LOW

LOW Tribute Show•March 25, 2023•Velour Live Music Gallery

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

The atmosphere inside Provo’s esteemed music venue, Velour Live Music Gallery, felt different than normal on Saturday, March 25th. The venue and date had originally been booked to host a concert for the band Low, a place they had performed many times over the years. Sadly, after the recent passing of Low’s drummer, Mimi Parker, no such concert would take place.

March 27, 2023

The National Parks

The National Parks• 8th Wonder Tour• March 17, 2023• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

What a night! Not only was it the opening show for The National Parks tour. And not only was it a hometown show for the Utah-based band. But it was also the album release show for their new album 8th Wonder. I think the excitement of having one of Utah’s favorite bands performing their tour opener and debuting many of the 8th Wonder songs mixed in with other favorites had this crowd buzzing from the opening of The Union doors. Support acts, Andrea von Kampen (Who will be joining TNP for the Spring leg of the 8th Wonder Tour), and Lantern By Sea only fueled the crowd’s fire with impressive performances. Following the openers, everyone was more than ready for The National Parks.

March 27, 2023

John Mayer Extends Solo Acoustic Tour. Plays Vivint Arena November 5, 2023

JOHN MAYER EXTENDS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED SOLO ACOUSTIC ARENA TOUR

Fall 2023 Leg of Groundbreaking Tour Launches October 3^rd at Madison Square Garden

Tickets On Sale Starting Friday, March 31^st, at 9 AM Local Time @ JohnMayer.com

Due to the tremendous success of his current and groundbreaking solo acoustic tour, trailblazer John Mayer has set a new leg for fall 2023, launching with an encore performance at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Tuesday, October 3rd, and will run through November, when the fall tour wraps with an added show at the iconic Kia Forum in Los Angeles. Tickets go on sale starting Friday, March 31st, at 9 AM local time at Johnmayer.com. A full listing of tour dates can be found below.