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!
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.
Soundwell was filled with excited Blondeshell fans waiting to see the indie band play in Salt Lake City again. Blondshell (Sabrina Teitelbaum) recently released her highly anticipated sophomore album If You Asked For A Picture via Partisan Records.
Last week at The Union Event Center, Foster the People played a loooong-awaited headline show on their Paradise State of Mind tour, returning to Salt Lake City after 7 years! I was really stoked to see them for the first time! They’ve been a staple band for me since I was in middle school, and I know many people who attended were probably also seeing them for the first time. They just released their 4th album last summer, ‘Paradise State of Mind’. This one is such a feel-good, psychedelic, and pure Foster the People-sounding record.
It may have been pouring cold rain outside on February 14, 2025, but Jordana brought the heat and love to a sold-out Valentine’s Day show at Kilby Court. The cozy Kilby Court was filled with happy couples, excited friend groups, and enthusiastic fans galore.
Spencer Sanders live at The Rise in Provo, UT was a night full of folk sounds and storytelling through whimsical melodies. With family, friends, and family in attendance, The Rise made for a close and intimate stage setup. Allowing the artist to interact with the crowd and celebrate their music in a cozy way.
Last Wednesday, Salt Lake welcomed the lovely John Vincent III to The Commonwealth Room for ‘The Roadtrip’ tour! It has been at least five years since John played in Utah, so it was a treat to have him back. I have loved his music since I discovered him in 2019, and I was stoked to finally see him live. It was also the first attending a show at Commonwealth, and it did not disappoint! It’s a cozy intimate venue with a few bars and an outdoor patio. I arrived just as the show started and was able to get up to the front for an amazing view!
Some concerts are better than others. I hope that’s the most obvious statement I make in this article. I go to a lot of concerts and I love it. There is something (for the most part) great in every show I have the privilege of covering. But certain concerts just check all the boxes. Howard Jones played two headlining sold-out shows at Sandy Amphitheater on August 16 and 17.
New Wave greats, ABC and Haircut One Hundred joined Howard. This was one of those shows that checked all the boxes that I look for as an avid concertgoer. Entertaining headliner, check. Support band that could be a headliner on their own, check. Opener that I have never seen and always wanted to, check! It was a great mix of music from a nostalgic early MTV era that I loved so much. Judging by the two sold-out nights, I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
This weekend indie-folk artist Gregory Alan Isakov brought his Appaloosa Bones Tour to Park City, Utah with special guest Josiah and the Bonnevilles. Gregory and his band delivered a phenomenal summer night concert at the open-air Snow Park Amphitheater and all in attendance seemed to be in agreeance.
On the evening of July 31st, the traffic at Park City was worse than normal but that didn’t come without reason. Michael Franti & Spearhead were playing at the Snow Park Outdoor Amphitheater at Deer Valley and the town was eager to see him. As a Park City local, DV concerts are always so special as the setting is stunning and the once-ski slope turns into a great gathering place for shows. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit just a couple of weeks ago with The Dead South and Gregory Alan Isakov appearing in the following weeks. I love how Park City (renowned for world-class skiing) is a part of Utah’s music scene.
Once I could find parking, I made my way into the venue. Not shockingly, I was able to point out a couple of people I knew within the lines and catch up with many of them during the wait. Unfortunately, The line was so long that the opener was already nearing its end when I got through.
Feeling a little disappointed in myself for not anticipating traffic I knew was there, I brushed it off to make the most of the opener. When I made my way to the VIP area, everyone had their eyes locked in, it seemed that making my way past people wouldn’t be an issue in breaking that focus. Citizen Cope is mainly focused on the Reggae & Alternative Indie scenes. The music was funky and they had so much joy on stage. Their sets were a great way to ease into the night.
As the time drew closer for Michael to take the stage, The venue was pretty much filled to the brim with people. During this time, a countdown was starting at 10. As the number closed in on zero, you could hear the excitement and screams from everyone at Deer Valley. A video played after the countdown of Michael reminds us to remember and focus on the good things in life. Right as the video ended, his band started to make their way to the stage with Michael coming out last.
They immediately played “Meet Me When the Sun Goes Down, ” setting the tone for the rest of the night. The high-energy song was enough to get people still sitting on their blankets to get up and start waving their hands in the air. It was also too much for Michael as halfway through the song, he sprinted into the crowd and started singing alongside the members of the audience.
Michael was consistently interacting with the crowd, and the people loved it. It was rare to listen to a song that didn’t have Michael saying “Go say Hi to someone new” or “Dosey-doe with the person next to you”. Every song had sparks of positivity through words and the pure happiness that he was showing. Michael was very animated and moved all over the stage. He interacted with his fellow bandmates often as well. Michael brought many people up on the stage with him. Including one girl who got to bring her whole family up to join in the singing and got everyone over the age of 80 to join the stage with him as well. I admired that he made sure everyone introduced themselves and took a major interest in the people who joined him.
Don’t get me wrong, I love how positive Michael was the entire show but I personally think that got in the way of the music. When talking to other members of the crowd, some also shared this sentiment. He tried to push out the message of positivity every chance he got which made the show feel repetitive. One guy even said “We didn’t really come for the music but more so Michael’s charisma and being amazing at giving others energy. He does a great job at making everyone feel like they were part of a community celebration”. I will give him that, his charisma was truly palpable throughout the performance. He has a unique ability to connect to his audience on a personal level effortlessly.
As I left the Snow Park Amphitheater, I started to think about Michael’s impact on the people he sang to today. In a world with so many sad and horrible things happening. He served as a reminder to all be present, to care and love others close to you. Michael delivered a performance that was both entertaining and meaningful. For those who needed it the most, I know it was an unforgettable experience.
