Utah Music Scene Archives - Utah Concert Review

May 28, 2025May 29, 2025

Cheap Trick

Cheap Trick • May 19, 2025 • Red Butte Garden Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

It’s hard to believe, but it’s once again that time of year. The Red Butte Outdoor Concert Series has officially begun! Concerts at Red Butte have been a highlight of my Utah summers long before I ever began reviewing concerts. The location is amazing, the lineup is without fail some of the best artists in music. One of my favorite things about heading up to a Red Butte show is that no matter how hot it is in the Salt Lake Valley, you can head up to Red Butte Garden for a concert and it’ll definitely be cooler. In fact, you may just need a sweatshirt and blanket by show’s end.

May 27, 2025May 27, 2025

The War and Treaty

The War and Treaty • Madeline Edwards • May 15, 2025 • The State Room

Reviewed and Photographed by Marlo Matamoros

The War and Treaty performed at a sold-out show at The State Room on Saturday night during their “Plus One Tour.” The War and Treaty is a husband-and-wife duo, Michael and Tanya Trotter. They were nominated for two Grammy Awards last year for Best New Artist and Best American Roots Song. Michael served in the U.S. Army, where he learned to play the piano and began writing songs. Tanya played a role in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit where she sang alongside Lauryn Hill. The two met at a music festival in Maryland and the rest would be history.

May 26, 2025May 26, 2025

Kilby Block Party Day 4

Kilby Block Party Day 4 recap • May 17, 2025 • Utah State Fairpark

Reviewed by Kevin Rolfe

Photo Credit listed accordingly

Contributions by Sam Howard

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.

May 24, 2025May 24, 2025

Kilby Block Party Day 3

Kilby Block Party Day 3 recap • May 17, 2025 • Utah State Fairpark

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

With contributions by Alisha Gregson

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.

May 22, 2025May 22, 2025

Kilby Block Party Day 2

Kilby Block Party Day 2 Recap • May 16, 2025 • Utah State Fairpark

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

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.

May 20, 2025May 21, 2025

Kilby Block Party Day 1

Kilby Block Party Day 1 Recap • May 15, 2025 • Utah State Fairpark

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

Kilby Block Party Photo Credit: Kevin Rolfe

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.

May 15, 2025May 16, 2025

Mayday Parade

Mayday Parade • Microwave • Grayscale • Like Roses • May 12, 2025 • The Union

Reviewed and Photographed by Sam Howard

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.

May 15, 2025May 16, 2025

AWOLNATION

AWOLNATION • Bryce Fox • Makua Rothman

Reviewed and Photographed by Alisha Gregson

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.

May 8, 2025May 8, 2025

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

An Evening with Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit • May 5, 2025 • Sandy Amphitheater

Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe

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.

May 6, 2025May 7, 2025

The Used

The Used • Blindlove • May 3, 2025 • The Union • Night 1

Reviewed and Photographed by Max Taylor

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.