Utah Concert Review

September 25, 2025September 25, 2025

Blues Traveler & Gin Blossoms

Concert On The Slopes • Blues Traveler • Gin Blossoms • Spin Doctors • August 28, 2025 • Canyons Village

Reviewed and Photographed by Justin Hicken

“Concerts on the Slopes” at The Canyons Resort in Park City, Utah, wrapped up their penultimate show of the season with an incredible 90’s throwback lineup of the Spin Doctors, Gin Blossoms, and Blues Traveler. The weather was perfect for the show, not too hot and not too chilly, and no threat of rain, which is not always a guarantee for a late summer show. There was some ongoing hillside construction on the slope where concert patrons observed the show, making it much cozier this season than in other past seasons, especially for this particular sold-out show.

September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Big Thief

SLC Twilight • Big Thief • Kiki Cavazos • September 22, 2025 • Library Square

Reviewed and Photographed by Sam Howard

Grab some tissues, and brace for the emotions to come from the last show of the 2025 Salt Lake Twilight Concert Series, Big Thief. Performing at Library Square to a sold-out crowd, this was about to be the most anticipated show of the entire concert series. Leading up to doors opening, there was a line of people waiting to get in that stretched almost two whole blocks around Library Square, with some of the first people in line arriving at the venue as early as 10 AM that morning. With doors opening at 5 PM and a three-act lineup including Little Moon and Kiki Cavazos, it felt like we were in for a long night of beautiful and emotional live music.

September 24, 2025September 24, 2025

Ice Cube

Ice Cube • September 17, 2025 • Maverik Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When Ice Cube took the stage at the Maverik Center for his Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour, the atmosphere was electric—charged with the weight of history, legacy, and raw energy. The night was a guided tour through the evolution of West Coast hip-hop, led by one of its most uncompromising architects. Cube turned the arena into a living museum of rap, balancing nostalgia with urgency, and proving that four decades into his career, he still knows how to command a crowd. I remember listening to N.W.A. and later Ice Cube solo albums with my best friend in high school. He had an amazing car stereo, and we would play these songs so loud in our Los Angeles suburb. This concert was a trip down memory lane for me. Ice Cube did not disappoint.

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025

X Ambassadors

X Ambassadors • Delacey • September 12, 2025 • The Depot

X Ambassadors brought their VHS anniversary tour to The Depot and the SLC crowd. Delacey opened for them. Utah is always welcoming of X Ambassadors. They’ve played some great shows at The Depot in the past. This show is another one added to the list of great SLC shows with X Ambassadors.

September 19, 2025October 3, 2025

The Hives

The Hives • Snõõper • September 13, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros

Off their brand-new album titled The Hives Forever Forever The Hives, The Hives would make a stop in Salt Lake City at The Union Event Center. Nashville band, Snõõper, would open for them. The Hives are a popular garage punk band from Sweden that formed in the 90’s. They are known for their energetic music and do-it-yourself aesthetic. In 2023, The Hives released their first album in over 11 years.

September 17, 2025October 3, 2025

OK Go

Ok Go • September 14, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

One of my least favorite things about summer coming to an end is outdoor concerts and summer concert series coming to a close. One of the best and one of our favorite summer concert series is the one at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater. Summer in and Summer out, the Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series brings an impressive roster of musicians to their majestic venue. It always feels like the end of a school year. The people we’ve seen all summer at the garden part ways until the next series. We were fortunate enough to see some spectacular concerts this summer. Our final show at Red Butte was one of the most entertaining. OK Go brought their “And the Adjacent Possible Tour” to Red Butte Garden for the penultimate show of the summer series.

September 16, 2025September 17, 2025

Jonas Brothers

Jonas Brothers • Boys Like Girls • Franklin Jonas • September 13, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

When fans made their way to see the Jonas Brothers’ sold-out Greetings From Your Hometown Tour stop at Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater on September 13, 2025, they were likely looking forward to a night of newer hits and given their longevity and the tour celebrating the band’s 20th anniversary, nostalgia, but I’m not sure anyone was prepared for the absolute treat we were all in for – especially in the nostalgia department!

September 15, 2025September 16, 2025

Billy Idol

Billy Idol • Joan Jett and the Blackhearts • September 5, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Billy Idol has always been the embodiment of rock and roll swagger—spiked hair, leather-clad attitude, and a sneer that became iconic in the MTV era. Decades later, he still carries that same magnetic energy on stage. His recent stop at Utah First Amphitheatre on his “It’s a Nice Day To… Tour Again! tour, proved that time has only sharpened his presence rather than diminished it. Backed by the ever-flawless Steve Stevens on guitar and a band that blended precision with raw power, Idol delivered a set that celebrated both his hits and deeper cuts, while nodding to his punk beginnings and wide-ranging influences.

September 14, 2025September 14, 2025

Train

Train • Edwin McCain • September 9, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Amelia Weyerstall

Train played an outstanding show at the sold-out Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on the cool summer night of September 9th, 2025. The crowd was filled with excited fans of all ages, all decked out in train merch. A few fans in the audience were even wearing train conductor outfits, and when complimented on their outfits, would make a train horn noise, a very fun nod to the band performing.

September 11, 2025September 11, 2025

The Offspring

The Offspring • Jimmy Eat World • New Found Glory • September 6, 2025 • Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Reviewed and Photographed by Austin Dayton

At 28 years old, I wasn’t around for the first big wave of The Offspring’s rise. By the time “Come Out and Play” and “Self Esteem” were dominating the charts and making rounds on MTV, I was still in elementary school collecting snails. But that didn’t matter on September 6, 2025, when I finally got to see Offspring light up the Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater. For me, this wasn’t about reliving high school memories, though that seemed to be the case with everyone surrounding me; it was about connecting with a band I’d only ever experienced through an occasional playlist and road trip sing-alongs. And it turns out, music doesn’t necessarily need nostalgia to hit just as hard.