MUSIC PICKS APR 17 - APR 23 

• Landon Hale
• Backhand

KWCR Fest @ Weber State 4/17
Weber State University in Ogden is home to the Wildcats, but also to this fun local showcase hosted by the campus radio station KWCR. Since 2022, this ever-growing event allows incredible local talent to hang out with students and members of the surrounding community. There's a lot to love about KWCR Fest, but one amazing aspect of the show is that it's completely free. This year's lineup features the super-enjoyable and energetic Backhand, Poolhouse, Mopsy, Levelor, Vaseline (The Band) and Citrus!. All of these locals are beloved, and will definitely bring down the house at Weber State. Backhand—or "God's favorite band," as noted on their Instagram—brings a punk/rock sound that is fresh, energetic and full of all the cheek and sass you expect from punk music. Poolhouse has been steadily taking over SLC with their earnest and heartfelt indie tracks; their newest song "Nvm," released in March, is a delightful entry to their catalog. Mopsy always brings crazy, infectious energy to their shows, while Levelor serves up their crunchy, dirtgaze vibes. Vaseline (The Band)'s signature emo sound will give elder emos flashbacks to the early aughts. Last and far from least, Citrus! features two of the funnest goobers in O-Town. Come jam at Weber State's Wildcat Lanes in the Shepherd Union building (3910 West Campus Drive) on Thursday, April 17 from 4-8 p.m. Entry is free for the all-ages show. (Emilee Atkinson)

• Natalia Martinez
• Alleycvt

ALLEYCVT @ Soundwell 4/19
A fan favorite in Utah, ALLEYCVT is making a stop in SLC for her spring tour, FEEL IT II. Hailing from Northern Virginia, the DJ and producer ALLEYCVT is riding a wave of momentum after performing for the legendary producer Excision's Thunderdome event this past February. The exposure has put her in the spotlight as the up-and-coming artist to look out for. Fans of Zeds Dead, Subtronics and Ganja White Night will love her. Her newest track, "STRANGERS," is a battle cry for those trying to move on from their pain. It's the type of song that is open to interpretations; as she tells edm.com, "It could be about not recognizing yourself anymore for whatever reason, and reflecting on that or about another person that you once knew, that now feels like a stranger. A breakup, addiction, giving too much of yourself to somebody or something ... The limits are endless, and I want everyone to interpret the song in a way that speaks to them." The pop vocals with powerful messages and forceful bass drops guarantee a captivating experience for her live sets. V2 Presents is hosting ALLEYCVT at Soundwell this Saturday, April 19. Supported by Italian DJ and producer, EATER (also a rising star). Doors open at 9 p.m. for this 18+ show. Tickets cost $30. This show is expected to sell out, so get your tickets fast. Go to tixr.com. (Arica Roberts)

• Steve Gullick
• Mogwai

Mogwai @ The Commonwealth Room 4/22
Pioneering Scottish band Mogwai is known for its unique brand of post-rock, incorporating elements of ambient and experimentalism. Glasgow musicians Stuart Braithwaite (guitar), Dominic Aitchison (bass) and drummer Martin Bulloch formed Mogwai in 1995, and multi-instrumentalist Barry Burns has been with the group since 1998. They debuted on record with 1997's Mogwai Young Team, earning critical praise and establishing the band's distinctive sonic style. Mogwai makes use of some progressive elements (such as loud/quiet and fast/slow dynamic contrasts), and emphasizes emotional depth in their songcraft. While the group has its own unique musical character, Mogwai has sometimes been likened to other innovative and boundary-pushing acts including Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sigur Rós and Explosions in the Sky. The band's melodic sensibility and warm atmospherics make them more approachable than some of those artists, however. Mogwai has extensive credits creating music for film and television, but their primary focus remains creating albums; a hit in the British Isles and across Europe, 2025's The Bad Fire is their latest. The group comes to The Commonwealth Room on Tuesday, April 22 at 8 p.m.; Papa M opens. Tickets for this 21+ show are $32 at axs.com. (Bill Kopp)

• Sarah Louise Bennett
• Sam Fender

Sam Fender @ The Union Event Center 4/23
On the precipice of his 31st birthday, Sam Fender's already earned respect and recognition on the far side of the Atlantic. He's the recipient of three Brit Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, two U.K. Music Video Awards, a Rolling Stone U.K. award, two NME awards and a nomination for the Mercury Prize. What's more, his debut album entered the U.K. album charts at number one! The accolades are all the more impressive considering an array of obstacles he encountered early on. After first picking up a guitar at age 10, he had to overcome severe challenges during adolescence. The people he knew in his neighborhood were rattled by drug abuse, his mother had to abandon her job due to fibromyalgia, his father spent a year living on the streets, and Fender himself faced a debilitating illness that threatened to derail his career when he was only 20. Fortunately, music provided a salve, and mere months after releasing his first single, he was headlining a series of prestigious gigs and already on tour. He also made the shortlist for the BBC's "Sounds of 2018" poll, and earned a spot on The Irish News' list titled "Who are the ones to watch in music in 2019?" Now, six years and three albums later, Fender's supple blend of indie rock, Brit-pop and Americana suggests he is indeed one to watch worldwide. Sam Fender's "People Watching Tour" with special guest Young Jesus comes to The Union Event Center on Wednesday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. GA, standing-room-only tickets cost $30 + tax and fees at ticketmaster.com. (Lee Zimmerman)

• Blue G Productions
• Prof

Prof @ The Complex 4/23
Following the incredible success of Powderhorn Suites in 2020 and his latest release, Horse, things seem to finally be falling into place for Minneapolis emcee Prof. He's got songs upon songs filled with lyrics that dig their own route into an emotionally-conscious style offshoot of hip-hop that is still criminally under-used in the genre. I'm not sure if it's his honest words, heartfelt topics or his self-effacing satire, but King Gampo is ready for the Zeitgeist. "I've evolved," Prof told AllHipHop. "I've been having these thoughts for a long time. I'm a grown-ass man. When I said I wanted fame and money, I honestly can say I don't want fame anymore. I would prefer not to have it." Rapping in a ski mask does have its benefits, but Prof is mesmeric live. For those who might still be in the camp of "real musicians playing real instruments—most importantly, real honest-to-goodness drums, and singers sans autotune," this guy is just different. Prof makes his contemporaries come off like a third-rate Cirque du Soleil as conceived by a nail salon owner. He's definitely one of music's most unconventional figures and I really don't think he has released a project that matches the energy of his concerts (yet). Grieves, Sophie Hunter and Willie Wonka open. Catch these artists on the Bad Time Boy tour at the Complex on Wednesday, April 23. Doors at 7 p.m., show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets for the all-ages show are $29.50 and can be found at thecomplexslc.com. (Mark Dago)