Kilby Block Party 6 in Salt Lake City wrapped more than a week ago, and after taking approximately 3,000 photos (featuring at least 20 acts) from 15-18 May, writing about 10,000 words, and watching and/or hearing 30 of the festival’s 75 or so artists perform live, it’s far from a distant memory.
One nit to pick: A couple of artists worthy of headlining status, unfortunately, didn’t headline, particularly the reunited Rilo Kiley playing live in 2025 for the first time in 17 years (a 19 May 2008 ticket stub to Denver’s Ogden Theatre show remains in my possession as evidence). Yet Kilby’s cool and compact lineup was fresher than anything I’ve seen in Colorado since the Telluride Bluegrass Festival brought Trampled by Turtles, the Decemberists, Robert Plant’s Band of Joy, Mumford and Sons, Sarah McLachlan, and many, many more to the same main stage in June 2011.
Kilby Block Party, which grew out of a venue that opened in 1999, was actually a one-day block party in 2019, when Death Cab for Cutie was the lone headliner. The festival and its audience celebrated 20 years of music played at Kilby Court, recognized as Salt Lake City’s longest-running all-ages institution.
Now a four-day event that promotes indie artists, Kilby Block Party claims it draws more than 25,000 attendees per day while a well-oiled machine stays on schedule to make it possible for proactive fans to leave the end of one set in time to see the beginning of another.
If some groups competed for Spinal Tap’s-loudest honors (Geese vs. TV on the Radio seemed like a genuine battle of the bands), the thunderous roars from nighttime crowds made it essential to pump up the volume after hearing the soothing sounds of a few solo artists early in the afternoon. There were plenty of other activities to keep spectators entertained as well.
Ticket holders could view a skateboarding invitational near the main box office, dance the day (or night) away to 24 of Salt Lake City’s favorite DJs at the Chroma Room’s Silent Disco in the southwest corner, or engage in a furious ping-pong match on one the many tables spread throughout Utah State Fairpark.
Of course, music was the main attraction. It didn’t take long to discover a common thread among the many acts I was seeing perform live for the first time after many years of watching and/or reviewing concerts and festivals in the United States. Although I enjoyed listening to several on Spotify while preparing to cover this festival, it was easy to focus on a handful that immediately impressed me the moment they hit the stage.
My Kilby Block Party Fab 5 Faves of 2025 list will represent those chosen few, with only one requirement: their live performance onstage was a totally new experience for me. So Devo, whom I saw for the first time at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom in 1979, had to be ruled out. The others were St. Vincent, a live concert favorite at various venues since seeing Annie Clark at Denver’s Bluebird Theater in 2010, and the aforementioned Rilo Kiley (also catching Jenny Lewis’ solo act numerous times, including only four months after she and her longtime band quit touring together).
For a devoted fan of American rock ’n’ roll, Americana/roots music, 1960s folk, and 1970s pop, it’s somewhat surprising that the artists on this list share another common trait: they are all from Europe.
5. ORLA GARTLAND, 18 May, Lake Stage
Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Orla Gartland began her music career in London, releasing two studio albums (with a recently released extended version of Everybody Needs a Hero) and several EPs as a solo artist before forming the band Fizz in England’s capital city in 2023.
Despite a heavy rain in the early afternoon, she lived up to her intro song, Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”, with a spirited performance. Rocking from the start with “Kiss Ur Face Forever”, she screamed, “Kilby, what’s up! We are willing the sun to come out. You look so freakin’ cute in your ponchos!” Accompanied by her Fender Telecaster, a ballcap, and lots of moxie, Gartland led the lively crowd sing-along to that verse over and over.
After “Codependency”, she continued to pour on the sprightly banter. “We’ve made it to Salt Lake!” she exclaimed to wild cheers as the end of her U.S. tour was approaching. “And the rain doesn’t faze us a bit. Living in England, we’re used to this shit.” With affecting songs like “More Like You” and “Why Am I Like This”, her contribution to the TV series Heartstopper, singing in the rain never sounded (or felt) so good.
4. NEW ORDER, 15 May, Kilby Stage
The English new wave band fronted by vocalist/guitarist Bernard Sumner capped a retro two-fer of music on opening night as a headliner following a nostalgic bit of fun from 1980s-era “Whip It”-snappers Devo. After a couple of band breakups, New Order returned to the stage in 2025, starting with dates in Japan and Australia, and concluding (according to the most recent schedule) with US stops in May at Kilby and Pasadena, California.
The lineup, which now also includes Stephen Morris (drums), Gillian Gilbert (keyboards), multi-instrumentalist Phil Cunningham, and Tom Chapman (bass), opened with “Transmission” by Joy Division. New Order’s precursor ended so sadly with the death by suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis in 1980.
While another Joy Division song (“Isolation”) also was performed early, perhaps the highlight of the night was “Bizarre Love Triangle”, a New Order number I first remember playing over the end credits of Jonathan Demme’s 1988 Married to the Mob. “Now we’ve got a bit of a surprise for you,” someone with “raw talent in our midst,” the gentlemanly Sumner said in introducing special guest Brandon Flowers of the Killers. While that Kilby crowd-pleaser brought the loudest cheers of the set, two especially surprising treats were coming next for me.
3. GANG OF FOUR, 17 May, Mountain Stage
While Los Angeles’ X, New York’s Talking Heads, and London’s the Clash were some of my favorite bands who were even more exciting to watch live, it’s hard to admit I never saw this British outfit, founded in 1976, until now. Along with drummer Hugo Burnham, frontman and vocalist Jon King is an original member who continues to bring a bundle of energy, effervescence, and post-punk pioneer presence to the stage after all these years.
Announcing in January that “the Long Goodbye” tour would be Gang of Four‘s last, members added to this swan song-fest were fiery bassist Gail Greenwood (L7, Belly) and accomplished guitarist Ted Leo. Excellent work with his own band (the Pharmacists) and others (Citizens Arrest, Chisel) led Leo to the Both collaboration with Aimee Mann.
While an hour-long festival set fell short of plans in other cities to play all of Entertainment! track by track followed by “best of the rest” favorites, Gang of Four essentially gave loyal followers what they wanted. Opening with “Ether”, “Return the Gift”, and “Not Great Men” from 1979’s debut record, which Rolling Stone has ranked the fifth-best punk album of all time, King never let up, snarling and smiling while interacting with his bandmates and an amped-up audience. This Gang of Four could teach a thing or two to some of today’s entitled ingrates.
2. BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD, 17 May, Kilby Stage
Now for something completely different. These experimental rockers from Cambridge, England, had flown under my radar until I checked out their music on Spotify before this festival. Amazed by what I heard, they were added to my must-see live list without even knowing their individual names.
With an angelic trio of voices — Tyler Hyde (vocals, bass), Georgia Ellery (violin, mandolin, vocals), and May Kershaw (vocals, keys) — almost able to match the Wailin’ Jennys musical mastery, Black Country, New Road take listeners on twists and turns during a fulfilling journey. They’re the most adventurous band of versatile artists I’ve heard at a festival since San Fermin at Hangout in 2015.
While sharing vocal duties, they switch musical roles as much as bandmates Lewis Evans (vocals, flute, saxophone), Luke Mark (guitars), and Charlie Wayne (drums, backing vocals).
Black Country, New Road can cover (or mix) multiple genres (Chamber pop? Jazzy rock? Whistling folk?). Hear instrumentalists make orchestral maneuvers on wondrous tunes like “Besties” and “Salem Sisters”. Get astounded by singers harmonizing holier than thou on “For the Cold Country”. Those and more from the latest album release, Forever Howlong, were making a windy spring chill feel like a warm summer breeze. If that’s the first act, this show deserves an encore … on Broadway.
1. SUKI WATERHOUSE, 18 May, Lake Stage
As far as I’m concerned, Suki Waterhouse stole the show this night — and that weekend — at Kilby Block Party. Even if she wasn’t the closing act, the star of stage, screen, and television knows how to make a grand entrance. Now, full disclosure: I’ve been a fan of the singer-songwriter, actor, and model even before our 2023 interview for the Dallas Observer. However, her accomplishments since then have only added to my admiration.
With a crackerjack backing band of Raj Jain (guitar), Tyler McCarthy (keyboards/guitar), Leanne Bowes (bass), and Emilia Paige (drums), the London-born artist adds musicality, elegance, charisma, and a funky but chic wardrobe to a set of songs that’s a pop paradise.
Recent tours have undoubtedly brought confidence to the stage for a performer who played Karen Sirko, a somewhat shy keyboardist, in Amazon Prime’s excellent series Daisy Jones & the Six about a fictional, feuding rock band in the 1970s. Now knowing how to strike a poised pose, and with two full-length albums behind her, Waterhouse could easily play Riley Keough’s role as lead singer Daisy. Catchy numbers like “OMG” and “My Fun”, both from the 2024 release Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, can only enhance her prospects.
With dance moves ranging from exotic to erotic, she certainly knows how to connect with an audience, judging by their reaction to her 14-song Kilby set. Smiling brightly behind tinted shades, it took her only 17 minutes to proclaim, “I just think this is one of the greatest crowds I’ve played for in a long time.”
Romantic songs in her repertoire, such as “Moves”, “To Love”, and her recently released single “On This Love”, have brought more adoration from her devoted supporters, as she maintains a high-profile relationship with actor Robert Pattinson, which has led to the birth of their first child, a baby girl.
“Thank you for being so beautiful today,” she said to a still-cheering throng near the end of her 50-minute set. “Seriously, you all are so cool. What is it about the energy of this place? It’s amazing. It’s so good. I’ve got to come back more often.”
Even in Salt Lake City, it’s only natural that in this royal family of great Brits, Suki should become queen of the Waterhouse party. Maybe she just needs Jenny Lewis to figuratively pass the torch by handing over her majestic tiara.
In the Running
Kilby Block Party honorable mention (in alphabetical order): Future Islands, Sasami, the Black Angels, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Weezer.
The 5 Best Artists of 2025’s Kilby Block Party
