Country music fans filled the Maverik Center on Saturday, August 9th, for a stacked lineup featuring Redferrin, ERNEST, and the headlining band that Utah just can’t get enough of, Old Dominion, for their How Good Is That Tour!
I was looking forward to this show as I hadn’t seen Old Dominion since 2017 at a country music festival local to my hometown in Washington. I remember their performance being a highlight of the festival for me, so I was excited to see another performance of theirs nearly a decade later!
This year’s Ogden Twilight Concert Series has filled Ogden Amphitheater with electronic and EDM fans on multiple occasions. High-energy performances by EDM star, Kaskade and a DJ set by Disclosure were raved about by those in attendance. I was not able to be at either of those shows. I was, however, able to make it to Ogden to see Jamie xx. The venue was packed with eclectic fans, both young and old.
I arrived at the Ogden Amphitheater as SEESOOOOO was finishing his set. Judging by the atmosphere inside, he had done his job getting everyone ready for Jamie xx. As I walked through the amphitheater, people seemed to be in great spirits. Fans were buying merch, ordering food from the various food trucks, or grabbing a drink. Many of them were socializing as they danced to the beats. People were feeling good.
My knowledge of Jamie xx comes from his other musical project, the band The XX. I had the opportunity to attend their show here in Salt Lake City back in 2017 at The Complex. I really enjoyed that show and have always hoped they would come back to Utah. If they have been back, I’ve missed those shows. Jamie xx, or James Smith, handles all the synthesizers, drums, keyboards, samplers, sequencers, and production for The XX. So it should come as no surprise to see him perform a DJ set. All of that knowledge and experience brought us an array of sounds for his entire set.
One of the first things I noticed, and the thing that excited me the most, was that Jamie xx was using vinyl records from time to time. I loved seeing that. Once upon a time, that was the only way DJing worked. And to see him pulling those records out of their sleeves was pretty cool. Watching Jamie xx from up close, I could see how focused he was on producing the best music for this audience.
I’m not going to lie, I have very limited experience or knowledge of what EDM DJs actually do. If you told me they just pushed play and pretended they were doing stuff, I might believe you. I have no idea. But being in the photo pit and watching Jamie xx work, he seemed like he was making a ton of adjustments and tweaks to the music. He had his headphones on and off, I’m guessing, listening to what was coming to make the best transition from one song to another. He was turning nobs and adjusting levels the entire night.
It was fun to watch the crowd react to these songs. People were dancing so freely. I could tell they just wanted to feel the beats and be connected with the music. My favorite part was when a song would sound like it was winding down. People would applaud as if there was about to be an end to the song. Just then, the beats would perfectly pick up, and the crowd would go nuts as the song either kept going or the next song was blended in. The entire night felt like one big song. It was a really fun experience.
On July 30, The Lumineers brought their Automatic World Tour to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre to promote their newest album. With them, they brought their signature mix of emotional storytelling and foot-stomping folk energy. The excitement was felt long before the music started. Merch lines stretched far, and fans were chatting with friends while anticipation grew. Many came dressed in nods to the band’s aesthetic. Including plenty of flower crowns in tribute to their hit “Flowers in Your Hair.”
This summer has been an absolutely exciting one for music lovers. With the Salt Lake City Twilight Concert series continuing its granola summer, Waxahatchee was yet another amazing show. As the summer itself is nearing the end, with only a few more Twilight shows left in Salt Lake, Waxahatchee was the perfect show to keep the music and the fans going strong.
August concerts started off on a good note with Regina Spektor bringing her Midsummer Daydream Tour to Sandy Amphitheater. It was a hot August night, as you might expect. But that didn’t stop fans from filling the amphitheater. Utah seems to really love Regina and her music. I’m glad she keeps coming back. And judging by the size of the crowd, she’ll always have a fanbase here.
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.
Band of Horses performed at the Ogden Amphitheater with Wet World and Blind Pilot on July 30th. 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.
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!
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.
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.
