UCR, Author at Utah Concert Review

August 26, 2025August 26, 2025

Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes • August 22, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When Alabama Shakes take the stage, there’s no mistaking that the audience is in for something special. The Grammy-winning band, led by the incomparable Brittany Howard, has carved out a reputation as one of the most dynamic live acts. Their concerts aren’t just shows—they’re full-bodied experiences that combine raw emotion, ferocious musicianship, and a rare ability to make a large venue like Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater feel as intimate as a back-porch jam session. Seeing Alabama Shakes in concert is to witness a band completely in their element, channeling blues, rock, and soul into something visceral and unforgettable. Alabama Shakes are on their first tour in eight years. It has been a long wait, but it was worth it to see what we saw in West Valley City.

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

Chicago

Chicago • August 21, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

For more than five decades, Chicago has been delivering a unique brand of rock fused with jazz and pop elements, creating a sound that is instantly recognizable and endlessly beloved. Seeing Chicago in concert is more than just attending a show—it’s an immersive journey through some of the most iconic music in American rock history. On August 21, Chicago played to a sold-out crowd at the beautiful Sandy Amphitheater.

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

Counting Crows

Counting Crows • The Gaslight Anthem • August 21, 2025 • Utah First Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall

Counting Crows and the Gaslight Anthem played an exciting show at the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre. Getting fans up out of their seats, dancing and singing along to their favorite songs. The Counting Crows’ The Complete Sweets! Tour was one to remember.

August 23, 2025August 23, 2025

311

311 • August 17, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Summer nights at Sandy Amphitheater always carry a certain magic. With the Wasatch Mountains silhouetted against the twilight sky and the open-air setting lending itself to a communal atmosphere, the venue is tailor-made for concerts that thrive on energy and connection. On August 17, that spirit was in full force as 311 brought their signature blend of rock, reggae, hip-hop, and funk to Sandy, Utah. For fans who have followed the Omaha-based band for decades, as well as those experiencing their live show for the first time, it was a reminder of why 311 concerts remain such a powerful, communal experience.

August 21, 2025August 21, 2025

My Morning Jacket

My Morning Jacket • August 11, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Few bands manage to capture the balance between raw rock energy, cosmic exploration, and emotional intimacy quite like My Morning Jacket. Seeing them in concert is not just watching a performance—it’s stepping into a musical experience that feels both timeless and transcendent. That feeling was on full display when the band took the stage at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater in Salt Lake City, turning a summer night into a sweeping journey of sound and spirit.

August 20, 2025August 21, 2025

The Head and The Heart

Ogden Twilight • The Head and The Heart • Wilderado • August 13, 2025 • Ogden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Summertime in Utah is amazing when it comes to live music. We cover every show we possibly can, but there are just so many tours and local shows that we can’t get to them all. So far, the concerts we’ve been able to cover have been so much fun. They’ve made Summer 2025 a memorable one. Despite many of the shows we’ve been able to attend so far, the anticipation for August 13 was high up on the list. The Ogden Twilight Concert Series hosted The Head and The Heart on their Aperture Tour.

August 19, 2025August 19, 2025

Simple Plan

Simple Plan • Bowling For Soup • 30H!3 • LØLØ • August 16, 2025 • The Plaza at America First Field

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

On August 16, 2025, The Plaza at America First Field in Sandy, Utah, hosted one of the most feel-good lineups of the summer as Simple Plan’s Bigger Than You Think! Tour rolled through with openers LØLØ, 3OH!3, and Bowling for Soup. Against the backdrop of Utah’s mountains, a glowing sunset, and the stadium plaza alive with families, longtime fans, and new faces alike, the night was filled with laughter, nostalgia, and heartfelt moments.

August 18, 2025August 18, 2025

DISPATCH

DISPATCH • John Butler • August 5, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When Dispatch takes the stage, it’s never just another concert—it’s an experience rooted in camaraderie, storytelling, and the kind of communal spirit that has defined their career for more than two decades. The Boston-born indie/roots band, long hailed as one of the most successful independent acts in history, has always carried a special ability to turn a performance into a shared moment of humanity. Their concert on August 5 at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater was no exception. Blending their eclectic mix of folk, rock, reggae, and jam-band improvisation, Dispatch reminded fans why their music continues to resonate across generations.

August 14, 2025August 14, 2025

Mt. Joy

SLC Twilight: Mt. Joy • The Moss • August 12, 2025 • Library Square

Reviewed and Photographed by Matisse McMullin

Salt Lake City’s annual Twilight Concert Series is a dream come true for Utah music fans. Tuesday night’s insane pairing of headliner and opener drew a sold-out crowd full of excitement. Many attendees sought shade beneath the trees, enjoying the variety of food trucks and beverage tents while desperately waiting for the music to begin.

Despite it being one of the hottest days of the year in Salt Lake City, crowds of people pressed together across the grounds, hoping to secure a good spot to enjoy the music and catch a glimpse of the artists.

August 13, 2025August 13, 2025

Shinedown

Shinedown • Bush • Morgan Wade • August 11, 2025 • Maverik Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

On August 11, 2025, the Maverik Center roared to life as legendary American rock band Shinedown brought their “Dance, Kid, Dance” Tour to Utah. With support from singer-songwriter Morgan Wade and ’90s alt-rock veterans Bush, fans were treated to an evening packed with powerhouse performances, storytelling, and enough pyrotechnics to rival a Fourth of July finale.