It was hard to believe, but we reached day four of Kilby Block Party. We’ve seen so much so far. And yet we were thirsty for more great music. The final day brought together a diverse lineup of artists, including Justice, TV on the Radio, Suki Waterhouse, Real Estate, Orla Gartland, and Poolhouse, delivering an eclectic mix of performances that captivated the audience.
Another day at Kilby Block Party means another day of a diverse lineup of some of our favorite bands. So far in this festival, we’ve had solid weather. The skies have stayed dry for the most part and temperatures have been moderate to cool. This was the first day of KBP where there was some nervousness about the weather. Despite the concern, people remained in good spirits and all bands were able to take the stage and perform their sets.
After a memorably epic day one at Kilby Block Party, I wondered how the rest of the festival would hold up compared to what I had witnessed. Day one was the lineup I was the most excited about. My anticipation for that date was overwhelming. It was such an incredible experience. The thing I have learned since KBP has been in our lives is this festival does not disappoint.
As I’ve mentioned many times, I love how well-organized this festival is. There are so many things that I’m sure go unnoticed that make this festival as pleasant an experience as it is. Not only in infrastructure and that kind of boring stuff, but how well they put the lineup together. While I knew and looked forward to multiple bands on day one. I was excited to see a few bands I liked while having the opportunity to discover some great bands that I had up to this point been unfamiliar with.
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.
Emo music is a genre that has been widely popular for decades. When you think of emo music, Mayday Parade is one of those bands that will always be in that conversation. Celebrating 20 years of being a band, Mayday Parade is keeping emo music alive and well. While keeping it refreshing and new all at the same time. The proof is in the fans, and how they showed up to the Union to see a band that’s been around for 2 decades play all their hits while still screaming the lyrics to the newer stuff as well.
On May 3, 2025, AWOLNATION lit up The Depot in Salt Lake City with a sold-out show on their Phantom Five Tour, promoting their latest album of the same name. Known for their intense energy and genre-bending alt-rock sound, the band, fronted by Aaron Bruno, delivered a performance that felt larger than life despite the more intimate venue. Utah Concert Review never misses an AWOLNATION show, but this was my first time seeing them live. After years of hoping for the chance, the night didn’t disappoint.
Summer is close. Do you know how I can tell? The snow is melting, the grass is greener, the temperature is consistently rising, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit have made a tour stop in Utah. Sure, sure, I know that they have made the occasional stop in the fall or winter. But Jason Isbell and his crew in concert has become a summer tradition for their Utah fans. Sandy Amphitheater opened its season two nights of the An Evening With Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit Tour. If Sandy Amp was hoping to make a splash by opening their summer concerts with such a popular artist, they were successful. But maybe not in the way they expected.
Salt Lake City showed up big for The Used on May 3, 2025, at The Union. Night one of their three-night residency in Salt Lake City was completely sold out—walls sweating, balcony packed, every inch of standing space filled with fans shoulder to shoulder. This wasn’t just any concert. This was a celebration that felt like coming home. It was a full-circle moment for a band that cut its teeth in this very city, returning home to celebrate 25 chaotic, beautiful years.
Last week, Salt Lake City welcomed Sam Fender for the very first time, to a long-awaited show at The Union! After touring since 2017 and playing the biggest festivals in the world, fans were ecstatic to finally see him make a stop in Utah on his ‘People Watching Tour’. I certainly was excited.
Maribou State played an energetic show at The Depot on April 23, 2025, while on their Hallucinating Love tour. Their unique sound had the audience living in the moment and gave them a night to remember.
