City Guide 2025 

Page 8 of 8

• TJ Fitzgerald
• Sleepy Pasenger performing at Urban Lounge

Face the Music
Whether you're a fan or a creator yourself, the music scene in Utah offers an abundance of riches.
By Emilee Atkinson

The music scene in Utah is rich, and constantly thrives thanks to the sea of talent and lovers of music who spend their spare time coming out to show their support. There are so many ways to enjoy local music around these parts, so here's an overview of some of the most important aspects of the scene.

LARGE VENUES
Utah First Credit Union Amphitheater (saltlakeamphitheater.com), formerly USANA Amphitheater, is an expansive venue that offers a chance to see incredible performances while enjoying the great outdoors. Red Butte Garden (redbuttegarden.org) and the Sandy Amphitheater (sandyamp.com) offer much of the same—gorgeous views and the ability to sit in open space and fresh air. A small difference between these three is that with Red Butte and Sandy Amp, you can bring your own outside food and drink. A money-saving bonus in these crazy times.

As for big venues that are solely indoors, you'll be visiting the Delta Center (deltacenter.com) and Maverik Center (maverikcenter.com). The former, conveniently located in downtown SLC, is easily reachable by public transportation, which is the advised way to get there. Parking is hard to find, and expensive to boot! The Maverik Center is a bit further south in West Valley, and huge acts have passed through. Getting to the Maverik Center is pretty easy, and parking is generally a breeze, but getting there early is key. You'll find tons of concessions, or you can hit up one of the nearby restaurants after the show.

If you're looking for a more refined experience, you'll find yourself visiting the Eccles Theater and Abravanel Hall (saltlakecountyarts.org), venues where lovers of music, culture and the arts can gather to enjoy great performances in a setting that feels high-class.

The Gallivan Center (thegallivancenter.com) is a versatile plaza in the heart of downtown SLC is a favorite for many. This year's Twilight Concert Series will be split into two locations, one being the Gallivan Center. You can also catch the annual Utah Blues Festival here. With plenty of room and lots to explore, this is great for those who love hanging out downtown.

Granary Live (granarylive.com) is the newest outdoor venue in SLC, offering state-of-the-art-production, a comfortable atmosphere and a chance to enjoy the lovely Utah weather with 7,500 show goers. This is an all-ages venue that offers a wide variety of music acts, including big festivals later in the year.

SMALLER VENUES
Among the higher-profile mid-sized venues are The Depot (thedepotslc.com), The Complex (thecomplexslc.com) and The Union Event Center (theunioneventcenter.com). You'll still catch larger touring acts here, and these are great places to come to have a drink, dance and experience crisp sound and first-rate production.

Sky SLC (skyslc.com) is a standout venue/night club with a focus on DJs and electronic music—which is awesome for the rising EDM scene in SLC and beyond. The venue features a retractable roof allowing patrons to dance under the stars, and a unique 360-degree setup for some shows lets guests be up close to performing artists, blurring lines and creating an unforgettable experience.

Soundwell (soundwellslc.com), Urban Lounge (theurbanloungeslc.com) and Metro Music Hall (metromusichall.com) are quintessential locations that host both touring indie artists and local acts, and are places where the vibes are always the best. These are spots for more intimate shows, allowing you to feel close to your favorite bands. They also have great drinks and make you feel like you're in a close-knit and friendly environment.

When people think of live music in SLC, many minds go straight to Kilby Court (kilbycourt.com). The legendary venue has had many huge acts pass through its doors, including Doja Cat, Phoebe Bridgers, The Backseat Lovers, Death Cab For Cutie, Macklemore and tons more. Locals often pose under the "Welcome to Kilby Court" sign, something that feels like a rite of passage. Plenty of locals have written songs inspired by Kilby, so you will definitely need to go experience it for yourself.

The State Room and The Commonwealth Room (thestateroompresents.com) are two highly-rated spots that guests rave about. They both offer seating, outstanding production and a place to let your hair down and enjoy an evening filled with great music and great company.

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RECORD STORES
Although the founder of Randy's Records (randysrecords.com), Randy Stinson, has passed away, this iconic record shop continues to flourish and bring music to the community. Open since 1978, it has been a beacon for collectors and music-lovers in general. Stinson's son Sam has been running it since 2018, and let's hope for many more years to come.

Lavender Vinyl (lavendervinyl.com), located on Ogden's Historic 25th Street, is approaching its 10-year anniversary. This cozy but expansive shop has tons of records to flip through. The owners of the store have a passion for music, and have created a space that's welcoming to everyone. They get a ton of new stock all the time as well as interesting trades.

Folks who stop by Sound and Vision (soundandvisionvinyl.com) praise the selection, the friendly owner (Michael Maccarrone) and overall good vibes. There's nothing quite like getting lost in a sea of physical media and collectibles, and this is an amazing place to do that.

The two Graywhale (graywhaleslc.com) locations in Ogden and Taylorsville are beloved shops where lovers of physical media can gather and find long-lost treasures or discover something new. They have an excellent revolving stock of vinyl, CDs and cassettes, and people are always trading in items that will help you complete your collections. It's worth visiting both spots when you have time, because who knows what you'll find.

More record stores: Fountain Records (fountainrecordsslc.com); Diabolical Records (diabolicalrecords.com); Daybreak Records (daybreakrecords.com); Raunch Records and Skates (raunchrecords.com); Provo's Vintage Groove (provosvintagegroove.com); The Heavy Metal Shop (heavymetalshop.com); 3hive Record Lounge (shop.3hive.com)

RECORDING STUDIOS
With hundreds of passionate bands in the area, there has to be somewhere for them to record their music. While many are fully DIY, many visit local studios whose owners are equally passionate about making music.

Co-owner of Audio House (audiohouse.fm) Tyler Gibbs has described his studio as "a place where more local musicians that aren't influenced by record labels and are influenced only by their own heart and mind." This self-service studio offers freedom to local artists who don't want to break the bank, but still want professional help with their music.

June Audio (juneaudio.com) in Provo has an extensive music selection, comfortable and elegant space and an exemplary five-star rating. The staff here have an impressive knowledge of music production, and the quality often speaks for itself. Many local bands have come through and created magical music fusion.

Since 2015, Audio Inn Recording (audioinnrecording.com) has offered reasonable rates, top-notch recording quality and even better customer service. This space feels very cozy and homey, allowing folks to feel at ease while they're here. They can help artists with a variety of genres, letting artists achieve the sound they're looking for.

Hiveminded Studios (hivemindedstudios.com) is an engaging, open-minded and professional studio who helps artists of all backgrounds. Creativity is able to thrive here, and it can take a lot of pressure off the recording and production process. They offer a charming environment and always have a cute pup hanging around.

Other studios: Funk Studios (funkstudiosutah.com); Aggressive Audio (aggressiveaudio.com); Ignite Studios (ignitestudios.com); Key Club Recording Company (keyclubrecording.com); Red Light Recordings (redlightrecording.com); Counterpoint Studios (counterpointstudios.com); Analog Dreams (legacyrecordingstudios.com); Full Fidelity (fullfidelitystudio.com); Rigby Road (rigbyroadstudios.com); Pale Horse (palehorsesound.com); Archive Recordings, (archiverecordings.com).

• Clint Burlap
• Area 51

BEST DANCE CLUB
1. Why KiKi
Why Kiki revolutionized what it means to dance in downtown Salt Lake. Spearheading the silent disco movement, they turned an otherwise ordinary DJ set into a scene from Saturday Night Fever. Pumping music you can control—and therefore can never get bored of—Why Kiki will keep your cup full and your moves fast and loose. This club is for everyone: so be yourself, put on your red shoes and dance away the blues.
whykikibar.com

2. Area 51
Featuring seven areas, three dance floors, a full bar and specially themed events Thursday through Saturday as well as on assorted holidays, Area 51 is, to use an oft-used expression, out of this world when it comes to a dancing experience. And best of all, it's much more welcoming to visitors than the actual Area 51. They even do birthdays! Try getting that in Nevada, Zorlax.
area51slc.com

3. Sky SLC
Located in downtown Salt Lake City, this massive venue positively shines at night, thanks to its formidable touring acts, its rooftop bar, its vibrant lighting and, particularly, its retractable glass roof. As far as Salt Lake nightlife is concerned, the sky's the limit around these parts. You best get yourself down there and break loose on their dance floor.
skyslc.com

BEST NIGHTCLUB FOR LIVE MUSIC
1. Urban Lounge
Let's just state the obvious here: there are a variety of great music rooms in town and your choice of a favorite may come down to your preferences for elbow room or general booking policies. Urban Lounge offers all the needed elements of a fine venue, with friendly staff, an impressive calendar of artists, outdoor shows on occasion and, most importantly, a sound system that fills the room without a tinnitus warning attached.
theurbanloungeslc.com

2. Sky SLC
There's a truly exciting rush one feels when pulsating to a music beat in the company of others, and Sky SLC harnesses that rush to great effect, thanks to its cavernous size and aural adaptability. It's one thing to hear great music in front of a crowd; it's quite another to feel it in your bones.
skyslc.com

3. Soundwell
Facing opposite the Salt Palace Convention Center and a host of downtown hotels, Soundwell provides a more intimate and approachable setting for their diverse bookings. Best of all is the acoustic quality in the concert space, which more than amply justifies the venue's name.
soundwellslc.com

• Courtesy photo
• Kilby Block Party

2025 Music Festival Calendar
Here's the skinny on some of the coolest opportunities to get a concentrated dose of music goodness.
By Emilee Atkinson

Kilby Block Party
May 15 – 18, Utah State Fairpark
kilbyblockparty.com
With each passing year, Kilby Block Party seems to get more epic and feel even more legendary. This year's lineup includes Weezer, New Order, Devo, Beach House, St. Vincent and many others. Plenty of local talent also ends up on the bill, creating an incredible fusion of guests mixed in with SLC's own. Tickets for KBP go fast, so be sure to get yours too. You can get multi-day passes, or just grab tickets for a day. All of the info you need for KBP year six can be found on their website.

Ogden Music Festival
May 30 - June 1, Fort Buenaventura
ofoam.org
Ogden Music Festival brings together families, lovers of music, awesome vendors and a gorgeous setting to create magic for a weekend. Ogden's Fort Buenaventura is the perfect setting for acoustic music and huge talent. This year's lineup includes Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Cimafunk, Sister Sadie, East Nash Grass and many more. This festival is super accessible, great for families and is a perfect way to spend a summer weekend.

Twilight Concert Series
July – Sept., Gallivan Center
saltlakearts.org
The Twilight Concert Series is rapidly approaching its 40th year, and continues to be a favorite for locals and visitors alike. The 2025 instalment features headliners like Earthgang, Sierra Ferrell, Waxahatchee, Mt. Joy, Japanese Breakfast and Big Thief, plus plenty of local lovelies as opening acts. This series is a favorite because of its tradition and ability to bring vibrancy to downtown SLC. Keep an eye out for this year's lineup and get your tickets as soon as you can.

Ogden Twilight
June – Sept., Ogden Amphitheater
ogdentwilight.com
Ogden has been hosting its own Twilight series since 2015, and its 2025 lineup is going all out to celebrate the 10th anniversary. This year you'll be able to see KHRUANGBIN, Disclosure, Kaskade, Modest Mouse and The Flaming Lips to name a few. There are still a few dates with lineups yet to be announced, but things already look incredible for O-Town's Twilight series. Tickets for these go very fast, so get them as soon as you can.

Utah Blues Festival
June 27 – 28, Gallivan Center
utahbluesfest.org
Bringing soul to Salt Lake, the annual Utah Blues Festival brings together lovers of the genre and offers a fun weekend full of tasty food, spirits and award winning workshops. This year's lineup includes Wayne Baker Brooks, Carolyn Wonderland, Kenny Neal and many more, including some of SLC's own local talent. This is another event the whole family can enjoy.

Timpanogos Bluegrassroots Festival
June 28, Orem City Center Park
bluegrassroots.utahvalleyarts.com
Few things go together more perfectly than mountains and folk music. If you're a fan of both, this series is one you won't want to miss. While this festival only lasts a day, there's still plenty to enjoy with guests like John Reischman and his Bluegrass Band and the Matt Flinner Trio. The best part about this one—it's free! Mark your calendars and come have some fun.

Concerts on the Slopes
July 12 – Aug. 30, Park City Mountain Canyons Village
parkcityinstitute.org
This is another incredible series that allows you to take in Utah's beautiful scenery while enjoying music from popular touring artists. At various shows throughout the season, you'll be able to see Mike Posner, Plain White T's, Lukas Nelson and more. Grab individual tickets or buy a season pass.

Urban Arts Festival
June 18 – 21, The Gateway
utaharts.org
Urban Arts Fest is Utah's biggest free festival, spanning several days, several blocks with endless amounts of fun. The music lineup is always fire (still TBD for 2025 at press time), but you can also visit the artist marketplace or the kids' zone, watch a live mural painting and hang out at the pop-up skate park. All of this is offered at no expense to you, so come enjoy the biggest event of the summer.

Get Funky
June 20 – 21, The Great Saltair
getfunkyfestival.com
Come get movin' and groovin' at SLC's annual Get Funky, the festival where everything is about the music. "No overlapping stages. No gimmicks. Just pure, unfiltered house and techno—the way it's meant to be heard," says Get Lucky's website. The Great Saltair makes it easy to feel like you're getting away from everything and provides a great backdrop for dancing the night away. Come for the weekend, or come for an evening, but either way you're bound to have a blast.

Park City Song Summit
Aug. 14 – 16, Newpark Town Center, Park City
parkcitysongsummit.com
Some festivals are all about going crazy and letting out energy, but the Park City Song Summit has a different vibe. This festival focuses on wellness, mental health and addiction recovery. There are of course excellent musicians who come to play, and while 2025's lineup is yet to be announced, it's always a safe bet to expect rad artists at this event. Come get inspired by great music, great views and intimate conversations.

Das Energi
Aug. 8 – 9, The Great Saltair
dasenergifestival.com
Das Energi is the opposite of the aforementioned festival—you're coming to this one to dance the night away to loud music, bright lights and energetic show goers. Das Energi is one of Utah's biggest EDM events, drawing tons of guests to enjoy the exciting lineups and dive into a "sanctuary of connection and movement," according to the festival's site. You can get multi-day passes, single day as well as buying lockers and paying to shuttle in. If you're a rave fan, this festival is a must-go.

Reggae Rise Up: On High
Oct. 3 – 4, Granary Live
reggaeriseup.com
Granary Live is a premium, easily accessible all-ages venue that offers up incredible experiences for lovers of live music. The Reggae Rise Up series presents shows in several states, and brings insane production, interactive activities and some of the biggest names in reggae. You'll be able to catch Sting & Shaggy, Slightly Stoopid, Soja, Dirty Heads and tons more. Granary is the perfect setting for this festival, and the weather should be perfect at the beginning of October. 

Moab Folk Festival
Nov. 7 – 9, 150 E. Center St, Moab
moabfolkfestival.com
If you have a hankering for warm weather and enjoyable music, the Moab Folk Festival is a fantastic chance to get away. Usually, by November festival-goers are wrapping it up for the year, but this could be a great way to get one last bash in before the end of the year. This festival takes place over a weekend in beautiful downtown Moab, and offers intimate venues with some truly lively performances.

• Courtesy photo
• The taps at Proper Brewing Co.

SLC on Tap
An introduction to Utah's amazing local brewing scene
By Mike Riedel

For a state that isn't exactly well known for its alcoholic beverages, Salt Lake City has developed quite a tight, close-knit community of breweries and brewpubs inhabiting the core of the capital city. "It's a unique brewing community, for sure," says Stephanie Biesacker, Director for the Utah Brewers Guild. "I've had the opportunity to visit other craft beer markets from around the U.S., and many brewery guilds say that the camaraderie of our breweries is much more collaborative than in many states and cities across the U.S."

You can get a sense of what Biesacker is talking about just by looking at a map of Salt Lake City's brewery district—or the "beer mile," as locals call it. A brewery or pub crawl in the downtown area takes mere minutes from stop-to-stop, and offers a wide variety of philosophies and flavors. "I think this community approach creates a vibe that customers can sense and appreciate," Biesacker says. "It's a pretty great city for your beercation."

With nearly a dozen breweries or brewpubs here, there's a beer or environment that will appeal to any hop-head. Here are the hotspots pouring the local craft-brewed suds in the central city.

Desert Edge (desertedgebrewery.com): Established in 1975 as The Pub at Trolley Square, it transitioned into a brewpub in 1995, becoming the fourth brewpub to open in the early days of Utah's craft beer scene. Known for their Happy Valley Hefeweizen, Latter Day Stout (LDS) and Utah Pale Ale (UPA), Desert Edge quickly established itself as a mainstay in SLC and remains so to this day.

Epic Brewing Co. (epicbrewing.com): In 2009, after a change in local liquor laws that allowed Utah's breweries to sell "strong beer" outside of state-controlled liquor stores, the founders of Epic Brewing jumped at the new opportunity and created Utah's first brewery that exclusively made high-alcohol beers. Their Big Bad Baptist series of Imperial Stouts is known worldwide, and their quaint brewery pub is a gathering place for people from all over the globe.

Proper Brewing (properbrewingco.com): Known for its wide array of style-bending beers, Proper Brewing has built a reputation on taking classic styles and giving them a slight push into directions that some brewers may not envision. Check out the Steamy Wonder or a Yacht Rock Juice Box.

Templin Family Brewing (tfbrewing.com): Born from a fondness of old-world, European-style lagers, the Templin Family Brewery (or TF Brewing, as locals call it) instantly ingrained itself in local drinking culture as the place to have meticulously-crafted ales and lagers brewed true to style. All beers are poured via Czech-made Lukr faucets for precise foam control.

Fisher Brewing Co. (fisherbeer.com): Originally established in the late 1800s, Fisher Brewing survived Prohibition and the Great Depression, only to close after an acquisition in 1967. Revived in 2017 by four partners (including a descendant of founder Albert Fisher), the brewery now specializes in classic American Pale Ales, IPAs and, of course, the classic Fisher Lager that made Fisher famous.

Kiitos Brewing (kiitosbrewing.com): Named for the Finnish word for "thank you," this SLC brewery is one of the city's greenest breweries, featuring a High Efficiency Brewing System. This high-end brewing technology will smoothly produce larger quantities of locally-made beer using less water. Featuring 20 plus taps, you'll find beers like Sahtis, coffee beers, gluten-free and, of course, IPAs.

Bewilder Brewing (bewilderbrewing.com): From its beginnings in home-brew supply, Bewilder Brewing has become one of the city's more collaborative breweries, helping to turn award-winning home brews into inventive and professionally-made ales and lagers. Bewilder specializes in West Coast Pilsners, IPAs of all varieties and traditional lagers.

Uinta Brewing (uintabrewing.com): Salt Lake's first production brewery opened in 1993 and immediately created one of Utah's best-selling craft beers, Cutthroat Pale Ale. Over the years Uinta has grown to be the largest Utah brewery, creating a wide variety of large and small batch beers. Try a Whiskey Barrel-Aged Stout or a Violet Fire West Coast Pils.

Salt Lake Brewing (saltlakebrewingco.com): Salt Lake City's original craft brewpub opened in 1986 under the name Squatters, and introduced the people of Salt Lake City to craft beer. With a nitro tap and beer engine adding diversity of pouring options, the O.G. brewpub's future has never been brighter. Try the Millcreek Coffee Stout on nitro.

Red Rock Brewing (redrockbrewing.com): Established in 1994, Red Rock rose to fame in the mid-2000s when it was awarded "Large Brewpub of the Year" by the Great American Beer Festival. While serving a wide variety of beers, Red Rock has found a niche with their hugely successful line of Double IPAs. Try a Fukiphino or a Why So Serious Triple IPA.

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Looking Ahead
What might be on the horizon for a booming SLC in years to come.
By Josi Hinds

There's lots to explore in and around Salt Lake City, but chances are there will be even more in the next few years. From a half-billion-dollar gondola to cityscape-altering developments, plus the potential for new sports teams, here's a guide on what Salt Lake is looking forward to.

Outdoor recreation
Those looking to explore ski resorts like Alta or Snowbird could eventually make their way up Little Cottonwood Canyon in a gondola thanks to Utah leaders' approval of the more than $500 million project in 2023. With only two stops—one at each resort—the gondola aims to solve the longstanding traffic and congestion problems in Little Cottonwood caused by the canyon's heavy use in the ski season.

The state government believes the project would be the most sustainable and least impactful solution to the canyon's car problem, but it's been subject to heated debate. Opponents of the gondola say it'll just move traffic congestion to the gondola parking lot, will only serve resort-goers and could cause environmental harm.

The future of skiing in the Wasatch Front may also have to adapt to environmental changes in the future. The state has increasingly seen shorter ski seasons and declining snow quality as temperatures get warmer and the Great Salt Lake—a key contributor to the "greatest snow on Earth"—shrinks.

For the warmer months, Salt Lake City's Foothills trail system is also on its way to some upgrades. Though just starting to get back on its feet after being put on contingency in 2021, the Foothills Trail System Master Plan would build a 106-trail system in the foothills to the northeast of the city. The trails would be a mix of single and shared uses, and the plan would also add directional signage at every trail intersection and improve trailheads with information kiosks.

City Developments
Within the next 10 years, Salt Lake City will be home to a new, multi-block Sports, Entertainment, Culture and Convention District downtown. The project area includes The Gateway, Delta Center and Salt Palace Convention Center and will incorporate public art, gathering spaces and public benefits into development. The project was part of an effort to keep the Utah Jazz and the newly-relocated Utah Hockey Club in the heart of Salt Lake. A renovation of the Delta Center will ensure both teams play at the center for the next 30 years.

The redevelopment will also open the doors for a revitalized Japantown, which was heavily disrupted and shrunk by the construction of the old Salt Palace Arena in 1969. Today, the only surviving structures from Japantown are the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple and the Japanese Church of Christ.

On the other side of town, a nearly 100-acre development named the Power District was given the green light last year. The district will sit in Salt Lake City's historically underserved west side, and its developers have committed to making space for local restaurants, businesses and year-round programming in the district. The development will also invest in the activation and health of the Jordan River, and work with the Utah State Fairpark to incorporate its master plan in the new district. It could also include a new Major League Baseball stadium.

And for those looking to connect with Utah's roots, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is nearing the final stretch of its years-long renovation project on Temple Square. The construction, which was largely aimed at restoration and reinforcement, is projected to wrap up in 2026.

City Transportation
To help people get around and see it all, Salt Lake is constructing a fourth Trax line through the city. The new Orange Line will connect the University of Utah's Research Park with Salt Lake International Airport, and will modify the routes of existing lines to add new stops and enhance the Trax service. The new line is expected by 2032.

But if you're looking to get around on foot, Salt Lake is slowly but surely working on developing a new "Green Loop" around the city. Following in the footsteps of projects like Boston's Rose Kennedy Greenway, the Green Loop would encircle downtown Salt Lake City in a walkable urban park. The loop, which Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall promised in her 2023 campaign for a second term, is estimated to cost between $250 and $350 million. It's currently still in the planning and research stages of development.

Traveling by train might also get easier for city-goers thanks to a citizen-led project known as the Rio Grande Plan. The plan, which is estimated to cost between $3 and $5 billion, would reroute train tracks along 500 West through an underground train box, restoring service to the historic Rio Grande Depot downtown. It received an endorsement from the Salt Lake County Council last year, and Utah legislators also heard the plan last fall. However, the future of the informal project is hazy.

Salt Lake Sports
Salt Lake has also seen growth in its sports scene as Utah works to expand its appeal to national, professional leagues. Beyond those that already exist (see p. 26), support and attention continue to build around the potential for a Major League Baseball team.

Big League Utah—a community coalition led by the Larry H. Miller Company—has spearheaded conversations around the possibility of an MLB expansion team. As developers of the Power District, it is positioned to further this goal by potentially facilitating the construction of a new ballpark.

And, of course, Salt Lake also won the bid for the 2034 Winter Olympics last year. Thanks to the infrastructure built to host the 2002 Olympics, Salt Lake is already well-positioned to host the games. The 2002 legacy venues will all get to see action again, and organizers for the previous event can help expand the scope of preparations to long-lasting, publicly beneficial projects as well.