If there’s one thing Salt Lake City knows how to do, it’s show up for Andy Grammer.
On August 3, Red Butte Amphitheatre was packed for a sold-out night of music, dancing, singalongs, and plenty of feel-good energy as Andy Grammer returned to one of his favorite Utah crowds. And judging by the number of people on their feet, Salt Lake City was more than ready for him.
Tuesday evening, Interpol came to Salt Lake City to perform a sold-out show at Red Butte Amphitheatre for its annual summer concert series! The last time they were here in 2024, they played at Kilby Block Party! I was incredibly grateful to have witnessed that performance and was ecstatic to see them again! I kept my fingers crossed for more of my favorite songs to be on the setlist.
Summer concerts at Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre always seem to have a special charm, from the surrounding greenery and mountain views to the way people instantly seem at ease once they’re there, but on July 14th, a sold-out crowd for Gin Blossoms, Blues Traveler, and Spin Doctors made it feel even more special. I had a feeling it was going to be a great night before I even made it into the venue because in the past, I have rarely had trouble finding parking at Red Butte Garden, but this time the lots were already packed well before showtime. That usually means a good show is on the way, and this one certainly didn’t disappoint!
The weather was hot and sunny, making for a classic Utah summer evening. One of my favorite parts of attending concerts at Red Butte Garden is simply looking around before the music starts. The venue has such a relaxed atmosphere, and fans truly make it their own. People arrived carrying everything from takeout dinners and charcuterie boards to coolers full of snacks. Some even brought little folding tables to complete their picnic setups. It almost felt like everyone had gathered in a friend’s backyard instead of an amphitheater, and I loved seeing the different ways people make a night of it!
The audience reflected the timelessness of the night’s lineup. Fans of all ages filled the amphitheater, and it was fun to watch everyone enjoy the evening in their own way. Some stayed comfortably in their lawn chairs, but several others couldn’t help but get up and dance whenever a favorite song came on, even if that song was just a part of a pre-show playlist!
Spin Doctors were first to take the stage, opening with “Rock ‘N’ Roll Heaven” before working through a set filled with fan favorites. Lead singer Chris Barron brought plenty of personality from the very beginning. One of the most fun, recurring moments throughout the set came when he’d throw his arms up in the air and essentially do jazz hands. Without hesitation, the audience followed right along, creating a simple but heartwarming tradition!
As the band launched into “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” even more people found themselves up and dancing. The scorching temperatures didn’t stop people from pulling out their best moves during that one! Later, their cover of Prince’s “Purple Rain” had the entire amphitheater singing together. Chris encouraged fans to sing their hearts out, loud and proud, and I noticed that the crowd sounded a little timid at first, but after he encouraged them to “make a fool of themselves,” the volume of their singing multiplied exponentially!
By the time the unmistakable opening of “Two Princes” rang out, almost everyone around me seemed to be up on their feet, singing, and dancing along. Those are always some of my favorite moments at concerts, getting to look around and see strangers that are all sharing the same excitement.
Spin Doctors closed their set with “Shinbone Alley,” but instead of ending there, they welcomed Blues Traveler onstage for an extended jam that smoothly transitioned into the next set. According to the band, it was something they hadn’t done together in about twenty years, making it an especially fun surprise. Watching the harmonica seamlessly carry one band’s performance into the next was the most unique transition I’ve ever seen between sets!
Without missing a beat, Blues Traveler jumped right into “But Anyway” before treating the crowd to an energetic version of Charlie Daniels ’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Audiences love themselves a bit of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and it showed as they enthusiastically sang along, clearly enjoying the tune! The band’s mix of blues, rock, and lengthy jam sections kept the energy high all evening, especially during their popular hit, “Run-Around!” That song turned the venue into quite the party! Was fun to look around and see everyone singing along and having a great time!
Between songs, frontman John Popper kept the audience laughing with jokes about Utah’s elevation, asking, “How the hell do you guys live up at this altitude?” It is never the easiest place for visitors to perform, and he mentioned it was particularly tricky being a wind instrumentalist, but if he was struggling, his voice and harmonica skills didn’t waver for a second! He quickly followed the jokes with genuine appreciation, telling the crowd, “I love the shit out of you, Salt Lake City. You are always there for us.” Hearing artists take a moment to sincerely thank the audience always makes a show feel a little more personal, and the cheers that followed made it obvious the feeling was mutual!
As the sun set, the venue had a beautiful golden hour glow, and fans gathered closer to the stage as Gin Blossoms took the stage to close out the evening. Their set had an easygoing yet upbeat feel from the start, and the band came across as genuinely happy to be back in Salt Lake City!
They opened up with one of their iconic hits, “Follow You Down,” which really started their portion of the show off with a bang! It was met with lots of excitement from the crowd! The venue erupted with energy, with everyone up and having a good time!
One of my favorite parts of their performance had nothing to do with the awesome music itself. Every few songs, frontman Robin Wilson handed out a tambourine to a different fan in the crowd, giving several people the chance to play along before passing it to someone new. It was such a simple idea, but it created several really sweet interactions between the band and the audience throughout the set! The band continued on and played seamlessly through songs like “Learning The Hard Way,” “Mrs. Rita,” and “Competition Smile.” The musicality and vocals were so full of talent; it was impressive how easy they made it look!
The stories between songs were just as enjoyable. The band shared that “As Long As It Matters” became a number one hit in the Philippines, one of several fun facts sprinkled throughout the night. Later, Blues Traveler keyboardist Ben Wilson joined them onstage, adding another enjoyable collaboration between the tourmates.
Before launching into the final stretch of the evening, the band joked, “Now we’ll play the rest of the hits,” drawing plenty of cheers from the sold-out crowd. Sure enough, favorites like “Found Out About You,” “Allison Road,” and “Hey Jealousy” skyrocketed the energy throughout the venue and had fans enthusiastically singing every word. They wrapped up the evening with an encore of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven,” sending everyone home smiling after a night full of songs that have stood the test of time.
This show gave me flashbacks to summer vacation as a kid, riding in the backseat listening to so many of these tunes on CDs that my mom had or on the radio! The warm weather and the timeless songs that sound just as good as they did decades ago were the perfect way to spend an evening! From the laid-back atmosphere unique to Red Butte Garden to three bands that clearly still love performing together, the evening was everything a summer concert should be.
It was one of those nights where it was just as much fun to look around at the crowd as it was to watch the stage. Between the sing-alongs, dancing, memorable collaborations, and beautiful summer setting, Spin Doctors, Blues Traveler, and Gin Blossoms gave Salt Lake City fans a night that will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time.
John Craigie and Blind Pilot at Red Butte Garden is a show that was very high on my list when it was announced. I love going to shows at Red Butte, and with this lineup, I knew we were in for a perfect night under the stars. Craigie and Blind Pilot wrapped up their brief summer tour together here in Salt Lake City.
Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre provided the perfect setting for an evening devoted to three of the most influential names in synth-pop. The Generations US Tour brought together The Human League, Alison Moyet, and Soft Cell for a night that celebrated music spanning more than four decades. The tour provided timeless songs that never lose their ability to connect with an audience. With the Wasatch Mountains serving as the backdrop and a crowd filled with longtime fans and younger listeners alike, the concert became a celebration of an era that forever changed pop music.
Red Butte Garden is such a significant part of the summer concert experience here in Utah. With the green grass covered with lawn chairs and picnic baskets, to the beautifully curated gardens surrounding the venue, this has always been one of the essential places to be for hot summer nights in Utah. While there had already been a couple of concerts at Red Butte, this felt like the first official summer concert. It has to have been one of the hottest days so far. The heat didn’t keep anyone away as the garden amphitheater was packed for one of many of this season’s sold-out shows. On this night, the evening of June 25, 2023, Alternative Rock Band, CAKE was the headlining band.
The recent rain and storms stayed at bay just long enough to make for a perfect atmosphere for an outdoor concert at Red Butte Garden Amphitheater on June 14th! The Barenaked Ladies, along with Semisonic and Del Amitri brought their Last Summer On Earth Tour to Salt Lake City, and people were clearly thrilled about it. The show was totally sold out! Fans of literally all ages, from babies and on, came out to the gorgeous Red Butte Garden Amphitheater for the show. I had only been to the venue once before and remember it being pretty, but wow! Flowers were blooming across the venue and in front of the stage, there was a pond with a waterfall, and it was just all around beautiful. So much so that each band commented on it at least once during their sets!
Tuesday, May 23, marked the opening night for the Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series. Les Claypool’s Fearless Flying Frog Brigade and supporting band Fishbone brought their Summer Of Green Tour to the gardens. The sold-out show ended up being an exciting way to start off what is expected to be an incredible summer of concerts at the venue.
I don’t know if Red Butte Garden will ever get more 90s than it did on June 20th. Barenaked Ladies brought their Last Summer on Earth Tour to the Amphitheater but they didn’t come alone. BNL was joined by 90s contemporaries, Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket. It was a lineup of hitmakers from top to bottom. I arrived as Toad the Wet Sprocket took the stage. The venue was already full. It was obvious that Red Butte patrons were excited about this whole show.
ZZ Top has been coming to Utah since the 70s. They used to call The Salt Palace home whenever they would come to Salt Lake City. In recent years, Red Butte Garden Amphitheater is the stopping place for the legendary Blues Rock band. ZZ Top helped bring live music back to Red Butte last summer just weeks following the passing of original bassist, Dusty Hill. Less than a year later, ZZ Top made their return with the same lineup, including new bassist and former guitar tech to Hill, Elwood Francis. The moment the band walked on stage, the generally casual garden attendees, jumped to their feet, ready to rock.
