The Union Events Center Archives - Utah Concert Review

March 26, 2026April 10, 2026

The Format is Coming to Utah

The Format to play The Union Events Center April 11, 2026

The Format‘s (led by Nate Ruess and Sam Means) upcoming headline show on Saturday, 4/11, and a free show/community organizing fair “Saturdays In The Park” earlier that day, at Warm Springs Park from 12-3 pm. Local organizations will be in attendance to share what they stand for, and there will be acoustic performances from The Format, Phantom Planet, and Limbeck.

“Saturdays In The Park” will preview their headline show Saturday, April 11th at The Union, as part of their Boycott Heaven Spring 2026 Tour.

The Format (led by Nate Ruess and Sam Means) released Boycott Heaven in January, their first album release in almost 2 decades. The album was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen).

MORE ON THE FORMAT:

After nearly two decades apart, during which Ruess launched a solo career, formed the chart-topping fun., and collaborated with P!nk, Young Thug, and Paramore’s Hayley Williams, while Means also continued to perform and built the highly successful Hello Merch in their Phoenix hometown, the two reunited to make an album that revives the alt-rock, grunge, and pop-punk sounds they first bonded over as Arizona teenagers. Now infused with the maturity and perspective gained from years on their own paths. Boycott Heaven is filled with existential protest songs, power chord-driven rockers, love letters to family and friendship, and a persistent belief in the possibility of something better.

The Format, who did a run of special sold-out full-band shows this Fall, including their hometown of Phoenix, Arizona, at the Arizona State Fair, 2 nights in NYC at the Beacon Theater, and in LA at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, recently announced their Boycott Heaven Spring 2026 North American Tour. The tour kicks off March 26 in Boston, MA, and runs through April 19 in San Diego, CA. Support on the tour from Ben Kweller, Phantom Planet, Piebald, Adult Mom, and Limbeck, with $1 from every ticket benefiting organizations that fight food insecurity and fund local animal shelters.

To purchase tickets to The Format’s April 11 show in Salt Lake City, click here!

March 25, 2026March 25, 2026

Boys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls • iDKHOW! • Arrows in Action • March 20, 2026 • The Union Events Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert

On March 20, 2026, Boys Like Girls, joined by Arrows in Action and I DON’T KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, kicked off their “The Soundtrack of Your Life Tour” in Salt Lake City at The Union Event Center. On what was likely the warmest day of the year so far, fans poured into The Union giddy with excitement for the show. Between the sunshine, energy, and the anticipation of good music ahead, it almost felt like summer!

October 24, 2025October 24, 2025

Elbow

Elbow • October 10, 2025 • The Union Events Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

There’s something quietly monumental about seeing Elbow perform live. The Manchester band, fronted by the endlessly charismatic Guy Garvey, has always occupied a singular space in Alternative Music. Accessible, grand yet intimate, able to make a thousand-person room feel like your own living room. When they brought their 2025 North American tour to The Union Event Center in Salt Lake City, that rare magic was fully on display. What unfolded wasn’t just a concert, but a heartfelt communion between band and audience — equal parts celebration, reflection, and collective release.

May 6, 2025May 6, 2025

Sam Fender

Sam Fender • Young Jesus • April 23, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold

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.

April 11, 2025April 11, 2025

Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol • March 28, 2025 • The Union Events Center

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Snow Patrol is a band that I have had on my list of bands I’d love to cover for quite some time. On Mar 28, 2025, I was finally able to cross Gary Lightbody and the fellas off that list. Snow Patrol played a hit-filled show at The Union Events Center in Salt Lake City on their North American Tour. I was so excited to not only be in the photo pit for the first three songs but to watch this band perform.

March 6, 2025March 6, 2025

FINNEAS

FINNEAS • The Bad Suns • March 2, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed by Josilyn Wakkury Lybbert

Photographed by Vanessa Holt, courtesy of Live Nation

FINNEAS made a sold-out, highly anticipated stop on his For Cryin’ Out Loud Tour in Salt Lake City on March 2, 2025! He drew in multitudes for his show at The Union Event Center! I’ve battled for parking at concerts before, but never like I did for FINNEAS’ show! While that can pose some obstacles, I’ve found that that demand always indicates that we’re in for an incredible show! And spoiler – were we ever!

February 25, 2025February 25, 2025

ELBOW TO RETURN TO NORTH AMERICA THIS FALL FOR HEADLINING TOUR

elbow are returning to the US for the first time since 2020, and their first East Coast and Canada shows since 2017, bringing their critically acclaimed catalog across North America for a headlining tour announced today. Starting in Washington, D.C. on September 26, the band will be making 14 stops across the country, winding their way to the west coast and finishing at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on October 16. Tickets will be available via https://elbow.co.uk. Fans on the mailing list will automatically get presale access. Join the mailing list here: https://elbow.co.uk/signup/

February 20, 2025February 20, 2025

Foster the People

Foster the People • Good Neighbors • February 11, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Morgan Newbold

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.

January 29, 2025February 4, 2025

Collective Soul

Collective Soul • January 20, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

We’ve had the opportunity to attend Collective Soul in concert multiple times. The takeaway from each concert we’ve been to is authenticity. This is such an authentic band. They genuinely seem to enjoy themselves on stage. Collective Soul seems to really appreciate their audience, and they appear to genuinely care about each other. Those elements make for a great concert experience. This Collective Soul concert at The Union Event Center in Salt Lake City was no exception.

February 16, 2024February 16, 2024

The Kills

The Kills • The Paranoyds • February 9, 2024 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Mark Daluz

On the morning of February 9th, Park City experienced a monster of a snowstorm which naturally drew me in with a day filled with powder skiing. I genuinely had one of my best days skiing and right as I was about to take my well-deserved nap, planning on taking the rest of the day off. I got a notification on my phone reminding me that my day wasn’t over. The Kills’s “God Games” tour was rolling by the Union and I immediately got a spike of pre-concert energy.