Kilby Block Party Day 1 Recap • May 15, 2025 • Utah State Fairpark
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
I remember back in 2019 while attending the first Kilby Block Party, which took place on the street just outside the famed Kilby Court, that this festival had the potential to be a festival that could be comparable to some of the biggest festivals in the country. The inaugural Kilby Block Party was a one-day event in which Death Cab For Cutie, a band that had played Kilby Court early in their career, as the headliner. The rest of the lineup included bands who as it turned out were on their way to international success. Bands like The Backseat Lovers, Ritt Momney, and The National Parks, have all become well-established bands.
I remember being impressed with the attendance, especially for a first-time festival, and I especially recall how well-organized it was. I’ve been to a number of major festivals and some of them were not as organized as the first KBP. My hope was that this festival would grow and become emblematic of what the music scene in Utah is actually like.
Fast forward to 2025. Kilby Block Party has indeed grown. The show has expanded to four days for the first time. KBP now takes place at the Utah State Fairgrounds. Something that I was apprehensive about. I mean, I get it, it has all the space and can work well to fit a large music festival. I just wondered if it would look and feel like a state fair. The answer is, it does not. It has turned out to be the perfect setting for this music festival. With thousands upon thousands of people in attendance, I never felt like there wasn’t enough space to get around, even on the busiest days.
I showed up on Thursday with fresh legs, ready to explore the festival as I prepared to see some bands I really enjoy. Thursday was my lineup day. I had never seen New Order and have always wanted to. When I tell people who know me and my musical taste that this would be my first time seeing them live, their jaw usually drops. It seems strange that this hasn’t happened. But what better place than at the Kilby Block Party?
I loved seeing how excited everyone was. I saw people reuniting for the first time since the last KBP. People from all over the country are now making this music festival a tradition. I spoke to people from the Pacific Northwest and from the Northeast who make it a point to never miss the Kilby Block Party. Some told me that this festival is their favorite festival and has replaced Coachella, Lalapalooza, or Bonnaroo as the best festival in the U.S. That’s high praise. I loved seeing people express themselves through fashion. Fashion is a huge part of Kilby and people went all out. Each and every day I’d look over the ocean of people and would witness an endless amount of wardrobe creativity.
What Kilby Block Party truly comes down to is the music. Year after year this festival continues to impress. This was another well-curated lineup. Music fans young and old had something to enjoy throughout the day. With multiple stages set up, there were options to hear a favorite band or discover someone new. Here are the bands I saw on day one.
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo had such a great vibe. They sounded fantastic and set a nice tone for what was to come later in the day. Their alternative music sound filled the crowd around the Lake Stage. I thought it was funny when they addressed the audience and thanked Kilby Block Party for giving a young band like them a shot. Yo La Tengo, established in 1984 had the audience laughing at the comment.
I enjoyed hearing Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan take turns on lead vocals from song to song. I think their different vocal styles are what makes this band so good. I remember noticing how perfect the weather felt during their performance and how fitting it was for the type of music they play. I really enjoyed this set. I would love to see Yo La Tengo come through Utah on their own tour.
Future Islands
Standing in the photo pit of the Kilby Stage I saw some people inquiring about Future Islands. Not totally familiar with the band they were wondering if they were any good. I don’t normally do this, but I included myself in the conversation. I told them that they were in for a real treat. I shared with them that lead singer, Samuel T. Herring will be like nothing they’ve ever seen. Just as I said that, the band walked on stage. As I headed to a better photo opp spot, I looked at the group and said, “After the second song I’m going to look back at you guys. Give me a thumbs up if you’re blown away.”
The Synth Pop band got right into it. Herring made his presence known real quick with his unique moves and equally unique singing voice. His ability to sing in multiple styles threw me off the first time I heard it. But it’s one of those things where the more you hear it, the more you think about it, the more interesting and compelling it becomes. The audience loved each and every move the man made. Sure enough, I looked back at that group after “The Tower”, the second song.
Not only did I see multiple thumbs-ups, but I saw a few of them symbolizing their minds being blown. Future Islands is a mind-blowing band live. The first time someone suggested I see these guys, I didn’t understand what they were explaining to me. But then I saw them, and now I want to see them every time they come to town.
DEVO
After Future Islands, I rushed back to the Lake Stage to see New Wave legends, DEVO. Throughout Day One, and really all weekend, I saw fans either decked out in full DEVO attire or at least wearing the famed DEVO, Energy Domes. The red hats that look like a pottery turned upside down. I have seen DEVO in the past and felt really good about what this crowd was about to see. But things hit differently at music festivals. Sometimes because there is so much going on things might not go over quite like I’d expect. And yet there are those other times when something happens, a festival moment happens, and a major memory is made. This was the case with DEVO and throughout the rest of day one.
DEVO walked out to a huge applause. They started their set with, “Don’t Shoot (I‘m a Man). They followed that with “Peek-A-Boo!”. I was impressed with how many younger fans loved these songs and sang all the words. DEVO was in great form. Frontman, Mark Mothersbaugh posed and mugged to the audience in just the way that you’d want him to. I thought the band as a whole sounded awesome. Drummer, Josh Freese has drummed for the band in the past. While I had no complaints about their current drummer, I’m curious to see if the now ex-Foo Fighters drummer will join in with the band on some shows
The audience went nuts when Mothersbaugh told the crowd that they had to “Whip It” as the classic New Wave song began. People were going crazy as they sang along. Other favorites included “Uncontrollable Urge”, which many know as the theme song to MTV’s “Ridiculousness” and “Mongloid”. If I didn’t see the rest of Day One, I might have thought DEVO was the headliner. That’s how well their set went over. They were the surprise of the festival for me. I figured their fans would show up. They always do. I figured it would be a really fun set. It always is. But I did not expect their set to leave this big a mark on the festival. I loved it. And whenever I’d ask people throughout the weekend who they’ve enjoyed seeing so far, DEVO almost always came up.
New Order
New Order had not played in Utah since 1989. I still don’t understand how that’s possible. New Order has been a staple on Alternative Music radio in Utah for decades. Their contemporaries, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Erasure, and OMD, have successfully played Utah many times over. I don’t know how New Order spent 36 years away. They were long overdue for this place. And on Thursday night at Kilby Block Party it showed.
Not only was I getting to see New Order for the first time, but the excitement of getting to photograph one of my favorite bands was almost overwhelming. The day had been a lot of fun reconnecting with other photographer friends who I don’t always get to see in the pits. But when New Order was set to take the stage, I think every photographer in the state of Utah and beyond were in that pit! I found a decent spot and settled in for what was to be an amazing experience. I had originally planned on seeing New Order in Californa this very same weekend at Cruel World Festival in Pasadena. But when I heard they’d be playing Kibly, I knew I had to stay. And I’m so glad I did!
Seeing Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Gillian Gilbert walk on stage was absolutely surreal. As I snapped photos, I still took time to look at the fans packed around the Kilby Stage. Their eyes were wide, and so were their smiles. I heard people saying, “Welcome back!” or “I can’t believe they’re actually here! I’ve waited so long”. My sentiments were in alignment.
New Order wasted no time getting to the good stuff. As photographers, we were allowed to shoot the band in the pit for the first three songs. And what a three songs they were. To be between the audience and the band listening to “Transmission”, a Joy Division cover (If you don’t know, Joy Division was the band members of New Order were in before frontman Ian Curtis’ death), “Ceremony” and “Age of Consent”. What an amazing crop of 80s Alternative Music classics. They sounded as fresh as ever and I was so fired up at this point.
What came next was to me, the highlight of the entire weekend. New Order frontman, Bernard Sumner told the audience he had a surprise for them. He said “We’ve got some homegrown talent coming onto the stage with us. Please welcome, from The Killers, Mr. Brandon Flowers!” The audience went ballistic. I went ballistic. I was screaming! I love The Killers. They’re one of my favorite bands. To see the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, to take the stage with one of my all-time favorite bands was almost more than I could take. I was in Indie Rock Heaven!
Thinking it couldn’t get any better, Flowers joined New Order in performing “Bizzare Love Triangle”. One of New Order’s best songs. Brandon Flowers asked the audience, “Can you believe it’s New Order, Salt Lake City?!” The lights were amazing. People were dancing. It was an all-time great moment.
The show continued and surprisingly after that amazing guest appearance moment, things continued to be amazing. With songs like, “True Faith”, “Blue Monday”, and “ Temptation” that should have come as no surprise. Kilbe Block Party felt like an 80s Dance Club or Thursdays at Area 51 in Salt Lake City during “Blue Monday”. Every time I made eye contact with someone the look of amazement, fascination, and elation showed on their faces. I’d imagine my face was returning the same look. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing and yet we were relishing in every moment.
The set ended as it started. With a cover of Joy Division. The crowd went absolutely wild as New Order covered, “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. I did not expect this and I could tell most people didn’t either. This was only night one of Kilby Block Party! This weekend was off to a great start. There were still so many excellent bands to see and so many more memories to make. This was going to be a weekend Utah Alternative Music fans would not soon forget. I can’t stop thinking about it.