by Jim Bennett
Now in its 6th year, Kilby Block Party started as a literal street party outside the venerable all-ages venue it was named for (Kliby Court), looking to make a tiny place a bit bigger place for a short time. It grew quickly over the next couple years and in starting in 2023, the proceedings moved into the much, much larger space of the Utah State Fairpark. As it’s grown, Kilby Block Party has blossomed into a huge and inclusive indie festival with a tack-sharp lineup of great artists; both broadly appealing headliners aligned with the overall festival ethos and a downcard absolutely stacked with artists who you may or may not know but so often will leave a set being excited to have heard. You’ll be surrounded by an environment including costumes, art installations, and a generally super welcoming and congenial vibe.
Expanded to 4 days for the first time this year, Kilby was held May 15-18, 2025. I met a huge number of people who live somewhere other than the Salt Lake City area, which is a promising trend for any festival hoping to become a destination show.
I was super happy to discover bands like hey, nothing and Lunar Vacation; to see a vibrant TV On The Radio bring people to tears and a shimmering swan song for Tennis; to witness the fervor that Car Seat Headrest attracts and to see the screaming fandom for acts like Wallows and George Clanton. Two of my personal favorites from the weekend were Gang Of Four and Nation Of Language. Representing two aspects of the Kilby curation aesthetic – relavant, vibrant well established artists on the one hand and up-and-coming talent with a huge resonance among the Kilby audience on the other – these shows were dynamite. Gang Of Four were Jon King and Hugo Burnham as OG members plus Gail Greenwood (Belly, L7) on bass and Ted Leo playing the part of the ringer on guitar. Altitude notwithstanding, Jon King bounced and ran and swayed and led the crowd through the best pogoing goodness you could ask for. Nation Of Language played in the afternoon following morning rains and the crowd just kept growing during their danceable, 80’s-influenced-but-entirely-their-own-style set such that by the end, dozens of the many hundreds there were stomping in puddles, swirling joyously, forming dance circles and generally reflecting back all the huge upbeat energy the band was sending out.
If any festival is carrying the torch into the future that the beloved Sasquatch Festival (RIP) used to carry, there’s a strong argument that it’s Kilby. Don’t sleep on this one next year.
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