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Songs of Ice and Fire
Tap your boots at these Ed Sheeran-less music fests.
By Erin Moore
Festival season is something that rocks the whole country as soon as the warmer weather eases into our days and nights, and Utah's no exception. Here, it's not just SLC's downtown that transforms into a musical paradise, but the wildernesses and red rock landscapes all around the state, too. Below are some previews of what this year's rosters have to offer us, as well as festivals and concert series that might inspire you to pack up your dragon and embark on some music-chasing road trips.
Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series (May 31–Sept. 23)
The concert series at Red Butte Gardens offers a great chance to not only get outside to enjoy music and the summer weather, but also to enjoy the beauty of the gardens and the views of the valley from the hillside. The series brings big names across the genre-spectrum to its family-friendly, picnic-on-the-grass setting. Some of this year's 31 shows include Seal, John Prine, Lucinda Williams, the Utah Symphony, Shakey Graves and the B52's as they make their anniversary tour with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Red Butte Gardens, 300 Wakara Way, $20–$94,
redbuttegarden.org/concerts
Ogden Twilight (June 6–Sept. 27)
Ogden Twilight, located at the Ogden Amphitheater, offers up a chance for Ogdenites to enjoy big acts in their own backyard. The series stretches out to September, with shows roughly every two weeks. Their lineups always include heavy hitters, and this year is no different: headliners include Washed Out with Deerhunter, The Flaming Lips, Phantogram, Iron & Wine, and Rüfüs Du Sol. Ogden Amphitheater, 343 E. 25th Street, Ogden, $10-$20, ogdentwilight.com
Utah Blues Fest (June 14-15)
Put on by the nonprofit Utah Blues Society, the Utah Blues Fest is a four-years-running festival born from the tossing and turning of different past blues festivals that have come and gone. The festival takes place at the Gallivan Center, and includes not only local and national blues acts, but workshops where festival-goers can learn how to play and make instruments. Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, Sue Foley and the UBS Youth Blues Showcase are among the performers. The Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main, $30–$150, utahbluesfest.org
Deer Valley Music Festival (June 28-Aug. 10)
Akin to Red Butte in some ways, Deer Valley Music Festival is a great escape for those who want to get away from the city for an evening and nestle among the stars and the cradle of Park City's mountains, with the glow of the sunset and the stage as company. Deer Valley frequently features performances by the Utah Symphony, and this year they'll perform on separate occasions with trumpeter Chris Botti, Broadway star Kristin Chenoweth and Indigo Girls, among many other performances. Deer Valley Resort, 2250 Deer Valley Drive South, Park City, $15-$100,
deervalleymusicfestival.org
LoveLoud (June 29)
Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds founded LoveLoud three years ago to benefit LGBTQ youth in Utah, a group which is deeply underserved in our state, with its conservative politics and Mormon religion leaving many kids abandoned by their families. The festival includes queer artists such as Kesha, Tegan and Sara, Laura Jane Grace and the Devouring Mothers. Proceeds from ticket sales go to local and national LGBTQ charities. Usana Amphitheater, 4150 Upper Ridge Road, West Valley City, $29.50–$59.50, loveloudfest.com
Twilight Concert Series (July 20–Aug. 30)
The uniquely affordable summer mainstay that is the Twilight Concert Series returns for another round at the Gallivan Center, after a several years-long stint at Pioneer Park. Although it's had its ups and downs over the years, the series pushes on, giving people around the valley an affordable, accessible way to spend summer nights downtown. This year is the second year the series finds itself back at the Gallivan Center, and its lineup of headliners includes: Hippie Sabotage, Blind Pilot, Young the Giant, Vince Staples, Leikeli47, Courtney Barnett and Santigold. The Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main, $10 presale, $15 day of show,
twilightconcerts.com
More Festivals Around the Kingdom:
Blues, Brews, and BBQ
Blues festival with expansive lineup. Snowbasin Resort, 3925 Snowbasin Road, June 9–Sept. 8,
snowbasin.com
Crucialfest
Late summer metal, punk and post-punk festival. Utah State Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West, dates and lineup TBA, crucialfest.com
Das Energi
A well-known EDM event in the hot Utah desert. The Great Saltair, 12408 W. Saltair Drive, Magna, Aug. 16–17,
dasenergifestival.com
Moab Music Festival
Classical music sweeps over breathtaking Moab canyons and red rocks. 58 E. 300 South, Moab, Aug. 26–Sept. 12,
moabmusicfest.org
Ogden Music Festival
Americana, bluegrass and rock 'n' roll camping fest. Fort Buenaventura, 2450 A Ave., Ogden, May 31–June 2, ofoam.org
Provo Rooftop Concert Series
A locals-focused concert series that features "battles of the bands" and theme nights. 100 W. Center St., Provo, June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, lineup TBA, rooftopconcertseries.com
Reggae Rise Up
The Utah counterpart to Florida's own Reggae-only fest of the same name. River's Edge Campground, Heber City, Aug. 23–25,
reggaeriseuputah.com
Rio Grande Concert Series
Features one national and one local artist every Thursday in May. The Gateway, through May 30, shopthegateway.com
Salt Lake City Jazz Festival
Weekend event full of prolific jazz figures in the heart of SLC. Gallivan Center, 239 S. Main, Sept. 5–7, slcjazzfestival.com
Women's Redrock Music Festival
Folk and singer-songwriter festival on the edge of Capitol Reef National Park. Torrey. Dates, lineup, location TBA, womensredrockmusicfest.com
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