Rayland Baxter

Rayland Baxter w/ Liz Cooper & Friko

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

When it was announced that Rayland Baxter would be playing The Commonwealth Room in Salt Lake City, there was no doubt that it would be a sold out show.  Baxter is well liked here and it’s also been a while since he’s made a stop in Utah. Of course, we all know how the COVID-19 Pandemic put live music and touring to a halt.  So that was an obvious reason why we hadn’t seen Rayland in a while. The other was he was working on an album.  In 2022 Rayland Baxter released If I Were A Butterfly.  So not only were we finally going to see Rayland Baxter perform live again, but we were going to get to hear some of these songs performed for the first time in Salt Lake City.

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The National Parks

The National Parks• 8th Wonder Tour• March 17, 2023• The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

What a night!  Not only was it the opening show for The National Parks tour. And not only was it a hometown show for the Utah-based band. But it was also the album release show for their new album 8th Wonder.  I think the excitement of having one of Utah’s favorite bands performing their tour opener and debuting many of the 8th Wonder songs mixed in with other favorites had this crowd buzzing from the opening of The Union doors.  Support acts, Andrea von Kampen (Who will be joining TNP for the Spring leg of the 8th Wonder Tour), and Lantern By Sea only fueled the crowd’s fire with impressive performances.   Following the openers, everyone was more than ready for The National Parks.

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Nessa Barrett

Nessa Barrett• The Young Forever Tour• w/ Isabela LaRosa• March 17, 2022• The Great Saltair

The Young Forever Tour is in full swing as it visited Salt Lake City coming close to ending its North America sets. Nessa Barrett is an upcoming artist that has gained a lot of popularity due to her social media presence. She brought along Isabela LaRosa, who also has been finding success through social media trying to promote her music. Both artists fall into a similar genre and fanbase. So she was an excellent choice for an opening act. Although the Complex was supposed to host Nessa and Isabela, they switched to The Great Saltair due to popular demand. I thought this was an excellent choice. 

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Young Dubliners

The Young Dubliners• March 14, 2023• The Depot

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  We can think of no better way to celebrate than to share our review of our amazing time at The Depot in Salt Lake City, with The Young Dubliners.  The Young Dubliners have been a favorite in Utah for many years.  As far back as the old Zephyr Club.  A long-standing venue that hosted many bands in the 80s and 90s.They even played Salt Lake City during the Winter Olympics in 2002.  The Zephyr Club has since been torn down, but Salt Lake City’s love of The Young Dubliners is as strong as ever.  

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Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan• Naked in North America Tour• March 9, 2023• Soundwell

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Chappell Roan is a pop singer-songwriter based out of Los Angeles. She brought her Naked in North America Tour to Soundwell in downtown Salt Lake City on Mar 9, 2023.  Like all of the other dates on this tour, the show at Soundwell was sold out.  I found this to be extremely impressive for someone who hasn’t released a full album. Only one EP and a bunch of singles.  Sure enough, I walked into the venue and it was packed

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Broadway at the Eccles 2023-2024 Season Announced!

Zions Bank Broadway at the Eccles is Excited to Announce

the upcoming 2023-2024 Broadway Season featuring

SIX, MJ, HAMILTON and more!

Salt Lake City, UT – We are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 Broadway at the Eccles season, bringing the best of Broadway to Salt Lake City. The season begins with one week of the timeless classic MY FAIR LADY, nominated for 10 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival, followed by the smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, MAMMA MIA!, and don’t lose your head, but Broadway’s hottest new ticket, winner of 23 awards in 21/22, SIX, will be in Salt Lake for two weeks. The season continues with the premiere of the most Tony Award®-winning new show of the season MJ, the hit musical sensation that explores the creative mind and collaborative spirit of the legendary artist, Michael Jackson and one of Hollywood’s most beloved romantic stories of all time, PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL. Our fourth premiere coming to the Eccles will be GIRL FROM NORTH COUNTRY, featuring the legendary songs of Bob Dylan set in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. And as previously announced, the return of HAMILTON for 5 weeks in the summer of 2024.

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Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hanson• February 28, 2023• Eccles Theater

Reviewed by Alisha Gregson

Anthony Norman (Evan Hansen) in the 2022-2023 North American Tour of DEAR EVAN HANSEN, Photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

In March 2020, Dear Evan Hansen came to Eccles Theater. Unfortunately, after only a brief run of performances, the production had to cancel its tour early due to the Covid-19 shutdown. Now, 3 years later, the Tony Award-winning musical has returned to Eccles. Thousands of Utahns who previously missed out will finally get their opportunity to see the show. We were fortunate to see the production on March 4, 2020. We hoped that shows would only be pushed back a week or so. Clearly, that wasn’t to be.

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Branson Anderson

Branson Anderson Keep It Moving EP Release February 10, 2023

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

Branson Anderson is a singer songwriter from right here in Utah. We’ve had the privilege of interviewing and covering another EP release a few years ago. Anderson has also appeared on several stages of other bands we’ve covered. It’s been fun having the opportunity of seeing him perform multiple times over the years. I consider myself a Branson Anderson fan. So it was exciting to get the notice that Branson would be releasing a new EP and that we would get to attend this EP release party. The 2023 release titled, Keep It Moving has six songs that will thrill any Branson Anderson fan. It’s likely to draw him a new fan base as well.

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Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone• “Don’t Monkey With Broadway” Tour• February 4, 2023• The Noorda Center

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

“It won’t be easy.  You’ll think it’s strange when I try to explain how I feel…” about Patti LuPone at The Noorda Center of the Performing Arts on the campus of Utah Valley University.  What a moment in this venue’s history.  To have a legend of the Great White Way grace this young stage is a massive get for The Noorda.  But as I’ve mentioned before, this venue was up to the level of the great Broadway Legend and her performance and her still after all these years, powerful voice.  The meeting of Lupone’s voice and the acoustics of The Noorda filled the air of the room was a beautiful union.  

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