Festival Coverage: Kilby Block Party 2025

The sixth annual iteration of Kilby Block Party commenced earlier this month at the Utah Fairgrounds in Salt Lake City. The music festival, presented by local promotion company S&S, included 75 artists across all genres and sounds. This year, the festival extended to a four-day event. It kicked off on Thursday with a scaled-down version, utilizing only two of the four stages and beginning later in the day, before continuing with regular programming from Friday through Sunday. There was also the return of the silent disco in The Chroma Room, where three DJs spun tracks simultaneously to give listeners an option for what they were in the mood for. An additional Skullcandy-sponsored arena returned to host the 2nd annual Crusher Cup, an invitational skate-off. Check out the full lineup below, in addition to the daily schedule breakdowns.

Kilby Block Party’s lineup showcased a dynamic blend of veteran icons and rising artists, drawing attendees from across generations. Legendary acts like Weezer, Gang of Four, DEVO, and New Order, played alongside indie classics such as Rilo Kiley, TV On The Radio, Built To Spill, Yo La Tengo, and Beach House. They were joined by a wave of emerging indie-pop favorites like Suki Waterhouse, Still Woozy, Wallows, and Vacations. Nestled between these eras were standout artists from the 2010s to bridge the gap between classic and contemporary: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Youth Lagoon, Tennis, Real Estate, and Future Islands. Despite the diversity in age, there were no real divides in the scene, with one common goal: everyone was there for the music.

The festival fashion at Kilby Block Party was heavily influenced by the ’90s and early 2000s, yet subtle differences in style choices made it clear that attendees chose their outfits as an outlet to express their individuality. Whether it be sporting their favorite band they’ve never seen or carefully chosen accessories to accompany their ‘fit, the cool weather made any outfit climate-comfortable for the long hours at the Fairpark.

Thursday night set the tone with a seamless back-to-back performance by New Order and DEVO, appealing naturally to older fans and serving as a fitting pre-game to three full days of music that followed. Lo-fi indie band Teen Suicide were another pleasant surprise to see on the bill for Thursday, along with Future Islands, who brought a tinge of dad-energy with their goofy dancing and unexpected, yet passionate shrieks throughout their set. Weezer, arguably the biggest name the festival has ever hosted, closed out Saturday night with a set that took the crowd on a nostalgic journey through classic hits, igniting memories of ’90s alt-rock while uniting longtime fans and newcomers alike. Meanwhile, Suki Waterhouse’s appearance brought an unexpected pop twist, further broadening the festival’s already diverse musical palette.

Genre diversity was on full display throughout the weekend. The shoegaze segment shone as newcomers Wisp and Wishy held their own alongside pioneers like Slowdive, while electronic enthusiasts were treated to cutting-edge sets by vaporwave trailblazer George Clanton, synth-pop trio Nation of Language, and longstanding indie-electronic innovators Panda Bear and Toro Y Moi. The powerful, femme-fronted rock scene was represented by standout performances from St. Vincent, Sasami, Orla Gartland, and UK-based Lime Garden, and the experimental soundscapes of Black Country, New Road injected a fresh twist into the mix. Modern post-punk and alternative rock acts Geese, Ovlov, Been Stellar, and GIFT, brought their distinctive energy to the stages, while the midday hours were graced by a country twang courtesy of Free Range and Being Dead. Hey, Nothing were another standout from the weekend, an emo-folk duo from the South that broke open a few mosh pits at the Mountain Stage.

One of the most exciting artist announcements was Rilo Kiley, who remained a mystery on the lineup until just a few months before the festival commenced. This was a long-awaited reunion for many attendees and elder millennial indie kids who finally got to witness the return of Jenny Lewis onstage with Blake Senett and the rest of the band. TV On The Radio also sparked major excitement, given their increasingly rare live performances. Their set was layered with emotion and provided a true musical journey for those who partook. Justice being a headliner was different for the festival, as a through-and-through electronic artist, but as veterans in the genre they were a name that deserved some buzz. The legendary electronic duo closed out the festival on Sunday night with their signature style, electrifying one of the most energetic crowds of the weekend. Before making their dramatic exit, they took a moment to step up to the barrier, thanking fans and shaking hands. Then, as if dropping metaphorical microphones, they walked offstage, officially bringing the weekend’s festivities to a close.

This year, Kilby Block Party further cemented its status as a national festival with an attention-grabbing lineup, drawing an even larger influx of travelers from across the country, and beyond. With an increased presence of sponsorships and activations on the festival grounds, it is clear that Kilby Block Party is poised for continued growth on the national and international stage in the coming years.