Analog Utah

Kilby Block Party: The Importance of Utah’s Biggest Music Festival

Why every Utahn should go to KBP at least once in their lifetime.

The History Behind the Kilby Block Party

It is safe to say that the Kilby Block Party music festival has become Utah’s biggest music event, but it hasn’t always been that way. Kilby Block Party stemmed from Utah’s own Kilby Court, a small but legendary music venue in the heart of SLC. It’s also safe to say that Kilby Court is the heart of the Utah music scene. Every local band wants to play there, and many out-of-state bands have played in the Kilby garage. Even though Kilby Court is an intimate venue, it’s iconography and heavy involvement in the music scene are what have allowed it to turn into such a huge festival.

The first-ever KBP took place on Saturday, May 11th, 2019, in a blocked off section of 400 W 700 S in SLC. The festival originally started out as a celebration for Kilby Court’s 20th anniversary. True to its name, the first KBP was a block party; there were food trucks, local vendors, and music. It was only a one-day event with the lineup consisting of Death Cab for Cutie, The National Parks, Joshua James, Ritt Momney, The Backseat Lovers, Picture This, Palace of Buddies, Breakfast in Silence, Drew Danburry, Sincerely, the Universe, Resonate, Blue Rain Boots, and The Sardines. With that lineup, the festival was a hit, and it was so much of a hit that Kilby Court decided to throw another one in 2021.

The second (now annual) KBP was very similar to the first one; it was a one-day block party in the same location, but it also introduced the now-infamous KBP after-parties that take place all around downtown after the festival. The first two block parties laid the foundation for the KBP we know today, and after 6 Years of KBP, many things have changed about the festival. The once one-day block party has now turned into a four-day music festival held at the State Fair Grounds.

Kilby Court, the Kilby Block Party, and the evolution of both have time and time again proved how legendary the Utah music scene is. Every year, the block party showcases some of Utah’s finest musicians, artists, vendors, cooks, medics, sound technicians, photographers, event planners, volunteers, journalists, stagehands, and more. This year, I got the wonderful opportunity of obtaining a press pass for KBP6 and got an insider look behind KBP. In this article, I’m going to talk about the importance of each and every person who is a part of and attends the KBP and why the community surrounding it is so important to not only the music scene in Utah but to Utah as a whole.

The Importance of Music at KBP

Music is obviously important at KBP, but in many more ways than you might think. Since it is a four-day festival, many people (including myself) get exposed to brand new musicians, and some of those musicians are local Utah artists. Kilby Block Party puts many local Utah artists on their lineup every year, and that is incredibly important because it keeps the true spirit of Kilby Court alive at the festival, and it is a huge opportunity for local artists. Music is also a great tool to bring people together, and that’s exactly what the festival does. Lastly, music (especially at a festival) can send a message to a wider audience.

Going to a festival and seeing your favorite artists live is really exciting. To many new festival goers, it might come as a surprise that seeing an artist you don’t know that well live is just as exciting. I was no stranger to this feeling while attending KBP. Many of the artists that I wasn’t that familiar with played some of my favorite sets, such as Orla Gartland, Hey, Nothing, Panda Bear, and St. Vincent. The same effect definitely happens with the local bands that play at the festival. The festival allows local bands to reach bigger audiences, press, videographers, and photographers that they might not have if they didn’t perform at KBP. Watching local bands perform at KBP is one of my favorite parts of the festival because it makes me incredibly proud to see Utah musicians get highlighted in such a way. This year was packed full of local talent. All of the local musicians that played this year were: Poolhouse, Elowyn, Over Under, Molotov Dress, Melancholy Club, Cardinal Bloom, Marshal Van Leuven, Hurtado, Josaleigh Pollet, and Levelor. Each band played incredible sets and really showed KBP what Utah is all about.

Out of all the ways to bring people together, music is the most powerful. While attending KBP, it became abundantly clear to me that there is a strong sense of community at the festival. There are many things that cause the KBP community to form, but music is the social glue that holds it together. There is a certain beauty that takes form when everyone you can see is there for the same reason: to see their favorite artists perform. I found myself singing with strangers, talking to them about our favorite sets of the weekend, dancing in crowds, and complimenting people’s outfits. None of this is unfounded; many scientific studies have proven that music makes people feel more connected. Music often creates an emotional experience for the listener. When many people come together and share that emotional experience, it creates a sense of well-being and unity.

One of my favorite moments of the entire weekend was seeing New Order perform my all-time favorite song Love Will Tear Us Apart. I started crying almost instantly, so much that I could barely sing along to the song. It made me cry not only because it’s my favorite song, but also because I could see the song resonating deeply with everyone in the crowd, and for a single moment, everyone was experiencing the same thing together. Moments like that in life are rare and should be cherished, but at music festivals, especially one so intertwined with Utah culture, they happen often.

Music is a deeply political art form; it always has been and it always will be. This sentiment rang true at KBP with many artists showing support for political causes; from New Order showing their support for Ukraine to Black Country, New Road displaying their support for Palestine with a watermelon sticker. In one way or another, music festivals are a perfect place for music to get political. The first ever modern music festivals emerged in the midst of political conflict and, in many ways, were forms of protest. Many musicians at KBP reminded us of what music is about. During Orla Gartland’s set, she said, “I believe in the power of people, especially when they come together,” and that really stuck out to me. It’s not just about politics—it’s about reaching a wider audience with messages that matter deeply to the artists.

The music at KBP isn’t just about going to listen to your favorite songs, it’s about the experience the music brings to you, whether that be singing with strangers, watching a local band play on a big screen, or listening to an artist take a stand for what they believe in. Every moment at KBP is a moment full of human connection through music. Within each experience at KBP, you’ll find moments of shared joy, grief, solidarity, community, and pure euphoria.

The Importance of the People behind KBP

The musicians at KBP may seem like the main attraction—and of course, they’re a vital part of the experience—but I would argue they’re only one piece of the puzzle. What truly makes KBP so special is the people behind the scenes. From organizers and sound engineers to volunteers and stagehands, these individuals are the heartbeat of the festival and a major part of its unique culture.

Many of my favorite interactions at the festivals were ones that I had with vendors, photographers, medics, festival goers, and many others. A great example of this was when there were people needing medical assistance during Slowdive’s set. Everyone around them stopped watching the set to make sure they got the help they needed. I even saw a stranger running at full speed to get a medic’s attention. Each time a medical emergency occurred, the response was almost immediate. My co-writer, Porter, went out of his way to tell the medics how good of a job they were doing. Although those moments were worrisome, it made me appreciate the Kilby community even more because there was never a point where attendees and staff alike weren’t looking out for each other.

It may be easy to overlook the people behind the scenes at KBP, but their work is in every part of the festival. It takes months to plan a festival as big as KBP. Many people volunteer to set up KBP because it means that much to them. With each new year comes a new KBP, and the people who plan, set up, and clean up KBP deliver amazing results every time. There are so many hours put into every small detail, from decorations to merch design to where to put the stages for the best sound quality. All of these hours of work come together and form the best festival in Utah.

KBP not only allows musicians to do what they love but also allows many of the people there to do it as well. Local vendors get to sell their products to attendees; some of my favorite vendors at KBP were 3hive Records, Essential Photo Supply, and Lonely Ghost. Many sound technicians get to mix live sound for their favorite bands. I walked to so many photographers and videographers who were thrilled to do what they love all weekend. Even skateboarders get a spot at KBP at the Skullcandy Crusher Cup. I got to eat delicious food made by local food trucks. I even learned about the importance of carrying Naloxone from the very passionate volunteers at the BeThePlace booth. All of this is to say that KBP isn’t just about the music; it’s about widening your horizons, and it’s about the people you meet.

Why every Utahn needs to attend KBP

The Kilby Block Party is a celebration of music, creativity, community, connection, and joy. Whether you’re a musician on stage, a vendor selling handmade goods, a sound tech working behind the scenes, or simply someone dancing in the crowd, everyone has a place and a purpose at KBP. It’s also a celebration of everything Utah; local bands, incredible food trucks, local press and vendors, and most importantly, the Kilby spirit. The annual block party is a place where passion thrives and is a reflection of the soul of the Utah music scene. It’s a place where music doesn’t just fill the air.

With each new KBP, you’ll be guaranteed a great lineup full of local talent and many new experiences and learning opportunities. You’ll meet a variety of people that will widen your horizons, you’ll be supporting local art and culture, you’ll be inspired, and you’ll gain memories that will last you a lifetime. When next year’s KBP rolls around and you’re questioning whether or not you should go, you absolutely should, especially if you’ve never been. Kilby isn’t just a music festival, it’s everything great about Utah.

Want to read more about this year’s KBP?

If you do then stay tuned because we’ll be releasing articles about KBP6 all week. From music/set reviews to coverage about the local bands that played last weekend to an interview with our favorite vendor, we’ve got it all covered. As always thank you so much for reading!

If you missed KBP6 and want to go to a Utah music festival this summer make sure to check out some of our favorite local festivals happening this summer: