Jack Van Cleaf and Joelton Mayfield are currently on a full, twenty-date coast-to-coast US tour. Their second stop was at Salt Lake City’s Kilby Court, an intimate and independent venue tucked into the city’s industrial district. Joelton Mayfield walked onto the stage solo. With just his guitar, he proved he could pack a punch without the dazzle. Between songs, his easy banter revealed a genuine person behind the music. His Jeff Tweedy–influenced, tongue‑in‑cheek lyricism showed an artist with personality – one unafraid to take risks while also being genuinely funny. Mayfield closed out the set with a few unreleased songs for a crowd likely seeing him, and perhaps even hearing of him, for the first time – yet whose attention he held for the duration of his set.
Jack Van Cleaf took the stage with his band of formal‑attire‑wearing musicians, diving straight into songs from his new album, JVC. His magnetic presence immediately drew the room in, and that connection only strengthened when he stripped everything back to an acoustic rendition of one of his tracks partway through the set, a moment that captured the attention of everyone in attendance. The interplay between the full‑band and intimate solo moments showcased his range as a performer. Cleaf’s voice conveyed both honesty and warmth, weaving through the melodies with ease, while his band provided support. Cleaf has all the intangibles to become a rising star, and those packed into Kilby Court that night will likely see him commanding bigger and bigger stages in the years ahead.
Together, Joelton Mayfield and Jack Van Cleaf curated a night that highlighted their complementary talents – one with stripped‑down sincerity, the other blending commanding stage presence with dynamic musicality. For those lucky enough to be in that small Salt Lake City crowd, it was the kind of intimate show that can one day be a bragging right.
Check out photos and footage from the show below:
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