UCR, Author at Utah Concert Review

August 4, 2025August 4, 2025

Toad the Wet Sprocket

Toad the Wet Sprocket • The Jayhawks • Sixpence None the Richer • July 28, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Toad the Wet Sprocket brought their Good Intentions 2025 Tour to the beautiful Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on Monday, July 28. The Jayhawks and 90s contemporaries, Sixpence None the Richer, joined them. Red Butte Garden Amphitheater was sold out and filled with concertgoers on blankets before the show. People were eating, drinking, and conversing as the excitement grew for the concert. Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman, Glen Phillips, last appeared in Utah at the Capitol Theater on a co-headlining acoustic tour with John Craggie. That was a great night of storytelling and music. He told us then that he would be back this summer with the band. I heard a number of people talking about that show and how much they enjoyed it. They also included how much they were looking forward to seeing the full band on this tour.

August 4, 2025August 4, 2025

Band of Horses

Ogden Twilight • Band of Horses • Blind Pilot • July 30, 2025 • Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros

Band of Horses performed at the Ogden Amphitheater with Wet World and Blind Pilot on July 30^th. I was really excited to cover this show. I have been a fan of their music for a while but have yet to see them live. In 2008, my favorite artist, Kid Cudi, released his debut mixtape. This mixtape includes a song titled “The Prayer,” which is a sample of “The Funeral” by Band of Horses. Through this mixtape, I discovered the band, which led me to purchase Everything All The Time on vinyl.

August 3, 2025August 4, 2025

Jake Scott

Jake Scott • MaRynn Taylor • July 31, 2025 • The Union Events Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

One of Utah’s favorites, Jake Scott, joined by MaRynn Taylor, returned to Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 31st, for his Live in ‘25 Tour! Fans of all ages flooded The Union Events Center, excited for his return to Salt Lake City!

This show was a fun one to have on my roster because I think I’ve photographed and reviewed every one of Jake Scott’s shows in Utah up until this point! From opening up for Ben Rector, his own show, his album release concert, and even his surprise appearance at Russell Dickerson’s concert this past April – I’ve been there! He’s now the artist I’ve photographed the most, so it was an honor to be there to cover the show!

July 31, 2025August 5, 2025

Sutton Foster and Kelli O’hara

Sutton Foster • Kelli O’hara • July 26, 2025 • Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

The Utah Symphony has been busy this summer. The Deer Valley Music Festival has been filled with a variety of great performances. From artists like Lindsey Stirling, to the music of Disney, to The Beach Boys, the symphony shows their range and brings great performance after great performance to the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley. July 26 was no exception. Two great Tony-Award Award-winning Broadway Stars, Sutton Foster and Kelli O’Hara, graced the Park City stage. It was a special night for fans of musical theater. Getting to see two of the best performers Broadway has to offer in our state for one night doesn’t happen here all the time. The show was well attended, and the audience was totally entranced by these vocalists.

July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

Fitz and the Tantrums

Fitz and the Tantrums • Ax and the Hachetmen • July 28, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Matisse McMullin

With over 16 years of music-making, six studio albums, and seven major tours under their belt, iconic indie-pop band Fitz and the Tantrums took the stage with high energy from the very start.

Monday night’s crowd spanned a wide range of ages, a testament to how Fitz and the Tantrums’ music resonates across generations and serves as a soundtrack to many lives, regardless of age or background.

July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

Alison Krauss and Union Station

Alison Krauss and Union Station • Willie Watkins • July 25, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Bluegrass legends Alison Krauss and Union Station, featuring Jerry Douglas, have reunited. They hit the road for the first time in a decade. Earlier this year, they released their eighth studio album, “Arcadia.” They brought their tour of the same name to Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on July 25. I can’t think of a better pairing of band and venue. I have seen Alison Krauss before, so I knew that this would be an amazing night of music. However, seeing her with Union Station is an altogether different experience. One that I knew I wanted to check off the list. Am I ever glad I did.

July 30, 2025July 30, 2025

AJR

AJR • July 22, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

On July 22, 2025, AJR brought their “Somewhere in the Sky Tour” to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre, and the energy was electric from the very beginning. The pop band made up of brothers, Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met, drew in fans of all ages, including many teens, young adults, and families. Fans were decked out in AJR merch, and I spotted quite a few trapper hats just like the one that lead singer Jack is known for. Before the music even started, long merch lines stretched across the plaza, and excited chatter about past tours and hoped-for songs filled the air.

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

Keith Urban

Keith Urban • Chase Matthew • Alana Springsteen • Karley Scott Collins • July 18, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre was packed all the way to the fences for a really fun night of Country Music. Keith Urban brought his “High and Alive World Tour” to Utah and he brought some friends with him. Chase Matthew, Alana Springsteen, and Karly Scott Collins filled out the lineup. Giving Country fans a variety of vocalists and musicians at varying degrees of their careers. And what would a Keith Urban concert in Utah be without some weather concerns?

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

Caamp with Whitney

Caamp • Whitney • July 24, 2025 • Granary Live

Reviewed and Photographed by Sam Howard

Summertime in Utah brings on the opening of a lot of outdoor venues and concert series that we don’t normally get to attend during the colder seasons. Granary Live, being one of the newest venues in Utah, has booked some exciting bands to perform at their 7,500 capacity venue, with Caamp being one of them. With the show being completely sold out, it was sure to be a very exciting night.

July 28, 2025July 28, 2025

Lindsey Stirling

Deer Valley Music Festival • Lindsey Stirling • Utah Symphany • July 25, 2025 • Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

On July 25, 2025, Lindsey Stirling made her return to Utah, joining the Utah Symphony at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater for an unforgettable night. This was the last show on the run of Lindsey’s “Night With The Symphony” tour. As part of the Deer Valley Music Festival, Lindsey, her band consisting of drummer Drew Steen and guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Riveros, and the Utah Symphony brought together the elegance of orchestral music and Lindsey’s high-energy violin performance — all set against the stunning mountain backdrop.