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Discover Salt Lake magazine’s music section. Here you’ll find previews and reviews of upcoming local concerts and performances in Salt Lake City, along the Wasatch Front and Back, and around Utah to help you discover great live music and events.

Salt Lake magazine

Interview: Catching up and Connecting with Sharon Van Etten

By Music

When Sharon Van Etten performs with her band in Salt Lake City on May 13 at Metro Music Hall, it’ll be one of 14 shows she’s set to play during the month. When we connected with her via Zoom recently, she was at home and readying for that long stretch, and she admitted that even though she hasn’t toured this intensely in years, she has a lot of reasons to enjoy returning to the road.

Van Etten loves playing with her band, for one. Touring and playing live allows her to connect and reconnect with the songs they’ve created viscerally. The chance to see firsthand how those at their shows react to the music every night they play? That’s another high point.

After a few scattered warmup shows on the East Coast and a couple of weeks playing in the UK, this is the first time the band has toured regularly behind 2025’s Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory, released in February on Jagjaguwar. Van Etten said she can’t wait to roll back into Utah, as she recalls how beautiful the state is and how kindly she’s been treated.

“I love connecting with people in different cities,” she says. “After everything we’ve been through in the past five-plus years, connection is everything.”

The new album feels gauzy and ethereal, never straying far from the topics of mortality, parenthood, and love. And even though some songs feel darker thematically, they enjoy playing them as much as they enjoy each other. Van Etten says a natural chemistry has surfaced over their past several years, a stronger connection built a deepened friendship.

One local radio deejay recently quipped that Van Etten was in her “goth phase” with the new release, and she’s fast to agree with that, but only with a short explanation.

“I feel like I’m always in a goth phase, but not everyone can tell. Many of the influences for this record are bands I have listened to since I was a kid and into my 20s. As I’ve learned how to have a band, I can now showcase my influences differently, but I always felt them at my core,” she says. “The Cure and Portishead and Siouxsie & The Banshees and Joy Division were bands I grew up listening to. Hopefully, what I am recording now is more of an homage to the sounds that shaped me, not just as an artist, but as a music fan.”

Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory album artwork.

The members of the band making up the rest of The Attachment Theory include Devra Hoff (bass guitar, backing vocals), Teeny Lieberson (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals), and Jorge Balbi (drums). Van Etten feels like she and her band have reached their next creative stage, the inevitable progression of their relationship, and getting to explore that together is compelling.

“Whenever you get to know anybody in a certain way, especially creatively, you get to this point where it’s time to take the next step, a make-or-break commitment. In a way, writing together means we trust each other. We want to explore that, but we also have to be vulnerable. You have to throw paint at the wall and know you might make mistakes anyway. We could let our guard down and open ourselves up to trying things we wouldn’t normally or naturally try otherwise.”

And a lot of that should be evident when they play together. That closeness she and the rest of her band share has allowed them to create their own semblance of a community, and that’s highly important. It allows for added strength in difficult times, and Van Etten is keenly aware of that as a mother. Her overall view is that being attached to a community can and does carry us forward.

“Being a parent and aging and having aging parents, under the umbrella of what’s happening in the world, I feel now more than ever, we have to embrace each other and redefine our community. Even as the times can feel so dark, the community and being a good neighbor will help us get through right now,” Van Etten says. “As a mother, I have to be vigilant against the horrors and try to be positive because what’s my alternative? Be a good role model. See what you can salvage with the things you actually can control.”


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

May Shows Salt Lake

7 May Shows in Salt Lake You Want To See

By Music

  1. May 5 (Mon)

Who: Victor Wooten & The Wooten Brothers
Where: The Commonwealth Room
When: 8 p.m.
What: As one of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones’ superpowers, Wooten is a force to witness live. He’s a showman all on his own; he does things with the bass that are beyond comprehension and with a lot of joy. With his brothers in tow, it makes tonight even more special. Plus, it’s the first time the brothers have released new music and toured together since their brother, Rudy, passed. FUN FACT: In 1972, the Wooten Brothers were hired as the opener for Curtis Mayfield‘s hugely successful Superfly Tour. Eldest Wooten Brother, Regi, was 14 years old, and Victor was five.
Tickets  

  1. May 10 (Sat)

Who: Amos Lee w/ Utah Symphony
Where: Abravanel Hall
When: 7:30 p.m.
What: He’s released five albums on the famed Blue Note label. He was handpicked to open for Norah Jones on her tour. He wrote that song “Sweet Pea” that you probably haven’t been able to quite shake since 2006. And now he’s set to tackle what it’s like to have up to 85 full-time, classically trained musicians learn and play his songs along with him. As far as accolades go, that’s got to be about as beautiful as it can possibly get.
Tickets

  1. May 12 (Mon)

Who: Deep Sea DiverZ
Where: Urban Lounge
When: 7 p.m.
What: For my money, this is the hidden gem of the month, the diamond halfway buried in the rough and awaiting discovery. The short story: I discovered Deep Sea Diver when they played on an island outside of Seattle more than a decade ago (and ferry rides are the best way to arrive). The experience was akin to being struck by lightning: as shocking as it was surprising. Following their journey ever since has been a treat, as the band’s only gotten progressively better. Shows are selling out this tour, and you’d be wise to grab a ticket while some are still available. No time like the present.Tickets 

  1. May 13 (Tues)

Who: Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory
Where: Metro Music Hall
When: 7 p.m.
What: We spoke with Ms. Sharon Van Etten recently, and she shared this about her creating her latest album: “I didn’t know what I was writing. I was trying to write about my experience and what everybody else had been going through. Mortality is a big subject as we age. I’m the only parent in the group. Still, being a parent and having aging parents under the umbrella of what’s happening in the world, I feel that now, more than ever, we have to embrace each other and redefine what we think our community is. Focus on community and love, even as the times can feel dark. Being a good neighbor and person will help us get through.” Watch for our full feature when it’s published in the coming days.
Tickets

  1. May 14 (Wed)

Who: Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Bobby Rush
Where: The Capitol Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m.
What: Shepherd is a busy guy, and he’s remained that way since he landed on the blues scene many years ago. He was So Damn Good at the guitar from such a young age; still, it feels like he’s had to prove himself over and over, regardless of how incredible he really is. That aside, having a 91-years-young legend accompany him (Bobby Rush) this time around doubles the thrill of attending: two masters for the price of one.

Tickets   

  1. May 15-18 (Thurs-Sun)

Who: Kilby Block Party
Where: Utah State Fairpark
When: 4:15 p.m. (Thurs)
What: Kilby, you’ve come a very long way, baby. This festival has grown so much (and so quickly) that it’s hard not to be weirdly proud of all it’s become. It’s also hard to underestimate how much talent will be crammed into four days and nights, but here are 10 of the best names attached: New Order. Rilo Kiley. Gang of Four. The Black Angels. Justice. Built to Spill. Future Islands. The Lemon Twigs. St. Vincent. TV On The Radio. There are so many more to sink your teeth into, I promise. Hit the link for the already-published schedule and start your planning now. And please don’t forget to wear your sunscreen.   
Tickets

  1. May 19 (Mon)

Who: White Denim
Where: Urban Lounge
When: 7 p.m.
What: Storytime: Back when the alt-country movement was making its waves across the music blogosphere, I connected with a guy in Denton, Texas. Once he learned I liked bands like Slobberbone and Drive-By Truckers and Uncle Tupelo, he made it his mission to fill in the gaps for me, sometimes mailing me 50+ dubbed compact discs at a time to help. As far as drinking from a firehose went, it was the best way. White Denim was a band he made sure I became familiar with at that same time, too, because, well, Austin pride and all that. It sure warms the ticker that they’re a) still playing rock shows and b) visiting our City of Salt so often. 
Tickets


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Red Butte Garden Announces 2025 Outdoor Concert Series Lineup

By Music

It’s time to dust off your picnic baskets and unpack your Tommy Bahama festival chairs! Red Butte Garden just announced an amazing 30-concert lineup for summer and, as usual, I am very excited. 

My must-see list includes Rhiannon Giddens and Elephant Revival, two artists whose ethereal music is meant to waft through mountain landscapes. 

Snuggled against the Foothills in the state’s botanical garden, the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre offers the perfect. outdoor concert experience. Generations of Salt Lakers continue to enjoy the stellar mountain and valley views, a lush setting and unparalleled sound, and an easygoing, picnic-with-friends energy. Music just feels better here.

From rock legends and Grammy award winners to genre-blending performers you’ll experience nowhere else, Red Butte Garden’s 2025 Summer Outdoor Concert Series offers something to captivate every music lover. 

TaThe full concert lineup and ticket purchase details are available on the Red Butte Garden and Arboretum website, redbuttegarden.org.

Concert tickets will go on sale in two waves. 

Wave One ticket sales for show dates between May 19 and July 27, 2025

  • Monday, April 21- Member online-only presale at 7 pm
  • Tuesday, April 22- Member in-person sales at 9 am
  • Friday, April 25- Public on sale at 10 am

Wave Two ticket sales for show dates between July 28 and September 16

  • Monday, April 28- Member online-only presale at 7 pm
  • Tuesday, April 29- Member in-person sales at 9 am
  • Friday, May 2- Public on sale at 10 am

Mark your calendar because tickets can go fast.

What: The 2025 Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Throughout the summer
Info and tickets: www.redbuttegarden.org/concerts


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Review: Vieux Farka Touré at The State Room

By Music

Vieux Farka Touré and his band of the very merriest men played on The State Room’s stage in Salt Lake City last Saturday (4/12/25), and everything about it felt electrified.

For a sold-out show, it never felt like one. Instead, the air was thick with a swath of palpable joy as smiles hardly left their faces (or ours). It was an out-and-out celebration care of Mali, and it felt like briefly going on a vacation to a warm and inviting country we may never have the opportunity to visit otherwise. To further paint that picture, the band wore traditional clothing from their far-off West African homeland, too — a tunic and loose-fitting trousers — immediately resembling the most stylish, comfortable pajamas on the market.

When singer/guitarist/composer Vieux Farka Touré and his small band of three performed, he absolutely commanded with his guitar, as the others played a combination of bass, percussion (drums & calabash drum), and ngoni. There was more singing than speaking, and that hardly mattered. When there were vocals, they were rarely in English (and again, totally unimportant). Instead, we tapped into how they were feeling, marveled at the rare treat we were experiencing, and gladly lost track of time. It hardly felt like enough when a one-song encore got tacked on to the end of 90 minutes. And yet? It was hard not to be grateful.

While it’s a little early in 2025 to throw this prediction out, here goes: Vieux Farka Touré may have given us the best concert of the year. It’ll be hard to see any local or touring bands top that kind of magic.    


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

2025 Utah Arts Festival Headliners Announced

By Music

Salt Lake City’s thriving art scene is always finding ways to celebrate local, national, and international artists dabbling in all mediums from music to painting. Get ready for one of Utah’s legacy events celebrating its 49th year: the Utah Arts Festival! Returning to Library Square in Salt Lake City, “The Great Utah Get-Together” is a community celebration of any artistic medium: visual, music, dance, film, literary, culinary arts, and more. Mark your calendars for June 19-22 for a colorful celebration.

There is plenty to marvel at over the four-day event. Browse over 170 visual artists’ work displayed in booths. Admire entries to the festival’s film program, and engage in hands-on workshops. With over 125 performing arts shows to choose from, applaud performers engaging in anything from hip-hop to street theater. And don’t forget the main headliners taking the big stage each night! Four incredible and renowned music artists will perform each night of the event.

Utah Arts Festival
Leftover Salmon Photo Credit Tobin Voggesser

Opening on Thursday, June 19, is Leftover Salmon from Colorado. As one of America’s most beloved festival acts, they’ll kick off the event with a rockin’ mix between traditional bluegrass and rock, Cajun/Zydeco and folk music. Robert Randolph takes the stage on Friday, June 20, with his four-time Grammy-nominated guitar skills.

Click to read our interview with Leftover Salmon band member Drew Emmitt.

Utah Arts Festival
Souls of Mischief.

Following on Saturday, June 21, Souls of Mischief will rock the crowd with their groundbreaking hip-hop. Don’t miss their blend of old-school and contemporary beats! The final performer on Sunday, June 22 is the Venezuelan songwriter, musician and producer MV Caldera, bringing her talent for contemporary Latin music to the stage.

Utah Arts Festival
MV Caldera.

With a lineup like this, you’ll want to snag your tickets ASAP. Buy them now on the UAF website. You can find 4-pack and 10-pack options, along with VIP options for hospitality patio access.

As Festival Executive Director Aimee Dunsmore said, “This year’s lineup reflects the Festival’s commitment to presenting transformative musical experiences. Each of these artists has helped shape their respective genres while continuing to push artistic boundaries.” With more than 35,00 attendees, the Utah Arts Festival is the largest outdoor multi-disciplinary arts event in Utah. You don’t want to miss this grand event featuring some of the most talented artists all in one place.

When you go:

Where: Library Square. 200 East 400 South, Salt Lake City
When: June 19–22, 2025
Hours:

  • June 19, 5 p.m.–11 p.m.
  • June 20-22, Noon–11:00 p.m. daily

More information: https://www.uaf.org/


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

April Shows in Salt Lake to Splurge On

By Music

  1. April 1 (Tues)

Who: The True Loves
Where: The State Room
When: 8pm
What: Seattle’s coming to town, and it’s for a perfectly great cause: The True Loves are performing on April Fool’s Day to help celebrate The State Room’s 16th year of bringing music to the appreciative masses. If you’ve heard the Budos Band (or a string of like minded others on the Daptone label), that’s kind of all that needs saying. All dirty horns and drums take the place of vocals. You won’t be able to sing along, but they will make you dance. And a very happy birthday, TSR! 

Tickets  

  1. April 5 (Sat)

Who: Metalachi
Where: Urban Lounge
When: 7pm
What: If this band sounds like one of those ideas that shouldn’t exactly work, please remember that’s just how most good ideas are born. The weirder they are, the better. Far from “just” being a mariachi band that knows its way around a Metallica tune or two, this L.A. group can do all that and then a lot more. Heavy metal isn’t a genre mariachi artists dip into so regularly in Mexican restaurants or while busking for pesos and dollars south of the border, but it totally, totally works. More of this ilk, por favor.   

Tickets

  1. April 8 (Tues)

Who: Ghost-Note
Where: The State Room
When: 8pm
What: Considering Ghost-Note is dropping their latest (Mustard N’ Onions) less than two weeks after this show, the performance may as well serve as an unofficial album release party. Headed up by two of Snarky Puppy’s heavyweights, Robert “Sput” Searight and Nate Werth, this band is what musicians sound like when they’re having as much fun as possible. And it’s funky. And there’s percussion. All of it sounds so next level, it’s best to leave comparisons by the wayside, enjoying that they’ve left all true limits of how it’s been before totally behind.  

Tickets 

  1. April 12 (Sat)

Who: Vieux Farka Touré
Where: The State Room
When: 8pm
What: For me, it was the poster that drew me in. That’s all I needed. Then I heard that Vieux Farka Touré hailed from Niafunké, Mali, and is referred to as The Hendrix of the Sahara, and that intrigued me more. By the time I listened to a few of his albums, with windows down and timed to coincide with a pink and waning sunset, I was more than sold. This is driving music in the vein of Khruangbin, after all, with a dash of extra otherworldliness tossed in. Most songs he sings and plays automatically feel like they need to belong to a soundtrack. Whatever hype you’ve heard, believe it.   

Tickets

  1. April 15 (Tues)

Who: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Where: Urban Lounge
When: 7pm
What: Story time: 20 short years ago, this Philly band skipped us in these parts, but got as close as Boulder (CO). I took a road trip eight hours one way to see them play a renovated movie theater along with Architecture in Helsinki. In brief, it was 100% worth the effort. Now that they’re playing a cozy neighborhood bar and performing their debut in its entirety (!!), it feels like a gift they forgot to give us two decades ago. Some gifts are better late than never ever. 

Tickets   

  1. April 23 (Wed)

Who: Butcher Brown
Where: The State Room
When: 8pm
What: Hot tip: don’t try too hard to figure this band out. My local library had their album firmly lodged in its Jazz section — they’re even billed as a jazz quintet most places you look — but the music feels like hip hop at times and rap other times. If nothing else, the band’s a grab bag of impossible greatness, and you’d be wise not to sleep on seeing what they can do on the right stage and in the proper setting. Touring being their recently released Letters From The Atlantic (as in last Friday!), be prepared for a lot of the brand new. For extra bonus points of what’s on its way, check this out

Tickets

  1. April 29 (Tuesday)

Who: Post-Malone Presents: The BIG ASS Stadium Tour
Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium
When: 7:30pm
What: Last but hardly least, local famous nice guy Post-Malone is starting what is reportedly his eight concert tour of these United States in Utah this month. And, considering he’s gone all in on the country stage of his career, he’s bringing some friends of that persuasion along with him to open (Sierra Farrell, Jelly Roll). Consider this your advisory: do not show up late. 

Tickets


Read more of our music coverage and get the latest on the arts and culture scene in and around Utah. And while you’re here, subscribe and get six issues of Salt Lake magazine, your curated guide to the best of life in Utah.

Feeling the G. Love at the State Room

By Music

G. Love & The Special Sauce played to a sold-out crowd at The State Room in Salt Lake City on Wednesday (3/12/25), and every person there was better off for it.

The Philadelphia band still sounded as delightfully joyous as it did when those gathered still listened to “Cold Beverage” on compact disc; everyone responded in kind by tapping into 20 years younger versions of ourselves. As far as easy truths go, the band is so consistent in all they do for their fans that there really ought to be a way to bottle their hip-hop blues vibe as a topical salve. Feeling a little blue? Not enough pep in your step? News headlines got you down? Slather some Special Sauce on it, and watch your day magically improve. Repeat often.

It’s hard to go wrong with three musicians who aren’t only onstage but just on as bound-and-determined performers, too. With nary a playlist in sight, singer/rapper/guitarist/harmonicist Garrett Dutton did the classy thing, mostly performing songs old and new (“My Baby Got Sauce,” “This Ain’t Living,” “I-76”) and hung back on the the far right, allowing the Special Sauce (longtime standup bassist Jim Prescott and newish drummer Chuck Treece) take all the long moments in the spotlight they wanted. They call that being generous in the land of music, and it happily translates to a good time for all. While they worked hard, we responded by playing hard. Give and take. Take and give.

Until next time, fella (and may it not be a very long time).  

G. Love and The Special Sauce at The State Room in Salt Lake City on March 12, 2025. Photos by Natalie Simpson, Beehive Photography. Instagram @beehivephotovideo


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2025 Twilight Concert Series Drops

By Music

You’ve probably found yourself starting to dream about summer concerts—green grass at outdoor venues, warm summer air, loud music that can be heard for miles, and a cold drink in your hand as you bump your head to the beat of an incredible live band (or maybe you’re jumping up and down and shouting along with the lead singer, and in that case we hope a friend is holding your drink).

The best way to get ready for this feeling is by buying tickets—and luckily, tickets for the Twilight Concert Series in Salt Lake are going on sale this week! In its 38th year, the Twilight Concert Series has been celebrating musically diverse artists, both new and local and nationally known. It’s important to know they’re making some changes this year. The concerts will be held at two locations, switching off between the Gallivan Center and Library Square. Additionally, they have reduced the amount of tickets they are selling to provide a more comfortable experience for attendees—that means get your tickets asap!

Season tickets are available Wednesday, March 12 at 10:00 a.m. Individual show tickets available Thursday, March 13 at 10:00 a.m. Get your tickets here!

And with that, Salt Lake City Arts Council in partnership with S&S Presents thus presents the 38th Twilight Concert Series lineup:

  • July 12 (Gallivan Center): EARTHGANG, JMSN, Bad Luck Brigade
  • July 17 (Library Square): Sierra Ferrell, TBD, Sammy Brue
  • Aug 6 (Gallivan Center): Waxahatchee, Foxwarren, Wilbere
  • Aug 12 (Library Square): Mt. Joy, The Moss
  • Sep 5 (Gallivan Center): Japanese Breakfast, Ginger Root, Tomper
  • Sep 22 (Library Square): Big Thief, Special guests to be announced

The Gallivan Center concerts open doors at 6 p.m. The Library Square concerts open doors at 5 p.m.

Bonus: All Twilight Concert Series ticket holders get free access to UTA transportation all day on the day of the event! Simply show your concert tickets when asked for payment.

Double Bonus: To get in the summer concert vibe, check out the official Twilight Concert Series playlist on Spotify that features all the artists’ work.


A Justin Townes Earle Revival in SLC

By Music

When Sammy Brue and many of his friends performed together at the Justin Townes Earle Tribute show at The State Room last Friday (Feb. 28, 2025), it was not without its share of magic. Yes, there were frequent chills. We witnessed a collective not trying so hard to recreate the late singer, one that still showed they cared deeply for all he had done. It brought back the electric vibe that folk singer-songwriter left behind and that everyone attending appeared to recall fondly. It was not unlike holding a magnifying glass to all the good parts of who he was.

Justin left a hole behind, and Ogdenite Sammy Brue more than fills that void. A word or emotion that rarely gets attached to a tribute? Earnestness. He had an ever-present smile and a surprisingly solid grasp of all the songs he sang, including brand new tunes he shared, one about his late hero and others created using the journals Justin had written. (The album’s not out yet, but it’s gonna be a scorcher.)

“Ain’t Got No Money” was one of the most outstanding performances I witnessed all night, a tornado of a song that moved with such speed that it was all the players could do to keep up with their banjos and stand-up bass and mouth harps. For a night that started so slow and quietly, it felt like a train coming off its rails toward the tail end, and in a beautiful way. By the time “Harlem River Blues” hit, everyone who’d played and sang took to the stage and celebrated, playing and singing their hearts out, a real Last Waltz moment if it needed one. Job well done, friends. So well done.

It’s unlikely that Justin ever felt like he had to pass his baton to another to finish the career he started. Still, it’s easy to believe he’d be proud of what Sammy has done and is doing. It’s a preview of things to come. This part of the future, at least, is bright.

Photo Gallery from Feb. 28, 2025, at The State Room in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photos by Nathan Christianson (Instagram @npcplus.)


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9 March Shows in Salt Lake City To Add To Your Calendar

By Music

March 5 (Wed)

    Who: The Handsome Family
    Where: The State Room
    When: 8 p.m.
    What: The State Room is in the business of doing their fans favors, bringing in acts nobody totally expects yet remembers fondly. Whoever is curating over that way takes their job of offering surprises so seriously. It feels like a rare treat to discover that gothic country husband-and-wife Brett and Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family are on their way later this week. Much like the Crash Test Dummies last month, it makes the heart skip a beat to see that they’re a) touring at all and b) chose this spot on the map as one of their dozen or so dates. Who doesn’t need more live murder ballads in their lives? Bonus: Local sad song guy Paul Jacobsen opens.

    Tickets  

    March 10 (Mon)

      Who: Talib Kweli
      Where: Urban Lounge
      When: 7 p.m.
      What: We’re lucky that Talib likes to visit us and play our city as often as he does. We’re even more fortunate when he does so at one of our more intimate neighborhood bars. Come see a master at work on a Monday night. For fans of Mos Def and/or politically insightful and socially aware rapping, this’ll be one to see.

      Tickets

      March 12 (Wed)

        Who: G. Love & Special Sauce
        Where: The State Room|
        When: 8 p.m.
        |What: G. Love and his troupe are a little to a lot of everything good in the world. A born performer. A seasoned hip hop blues veteran. A guitar and harmonica player who likes to dabble with jazz or play a string of Dylan songs as an encore, JUST BECAUSE. It’s been a minute since he’s been here, right? No matter. G. Love and his merry misfits are a band that’s earned its stripes. Come see how the seasoned pros sound after 30+ years of perfecting their approach.

        Tickets 

        March 15 (Sat)

          Who: Sue Foley
          Where: The State Room
          When: 8 p.m.
          What: If you’ve yet to be baptized in the blues, this just may be your chance. As a Canadian blues guitarist/singer dynamo, Sue Foley has released a staggering 15 albums since her debut with Young Girl Blues (1992). In May 2020, she won her first Blues Music Award in the Koko Taylor Award category.

          Tickets 

          March 15 (Sat)

            Who: Underground Cash
            Where: HandleBar SLC
            When: 7 p.m.
            What: Details are a little sparse on this one, but all you need to know is this: they’re a local band that plays Johnny Cash music. Period. And if that weren’t enough reason to throw your tenner at them and attend, it will somehow also be an early St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Green brews, anyone? This has all that’s needed for a deliriously good-to-great time.

            Tickets: $10 cover   

            March 22 (Sat)

              Who: Vinyl Koala
              Where: Fisher Brewing Co.
              When: 7 p.m.
              What: If you dig Khruangbin, you’ll be a fast fan of this local instrumental family band. And if you’ve frequented Fisher over the past few years, you’ve likely already heard them playing one of their events in their typically understated way. This one also counts as the band’s album release party (2024’s full-length Polaroid).

              Tickets: Free

              March 28 (Fri)

                Who: Fictionist
                Where: Velour
                When: 7:30 p.m. 
                What: Well, this was certainly unexpected. Personally, I’ve yet to see or hear Fictionist ever play live, and it’s been a minute since they’ve done so. They’re releasing a brand new album and want to show it off onstage. This bodes so well. Bonus: Guitarist Robert Connolly is releasing his debut (titled Bitter Optimist) the same night. Consider this a double feature. Do I already have the physical ticket I paid a little extra for? Solid yes.

                Tickets 

                March 29 (Sat)

                  Who: Rubblebucket
                  Where: The Commonwealth Room
                  When: 8 p.m.
                  What: KRCL can take the blame for this show getting added to the other previews here. Every tune their deejays have ever spun by this Brooklyn-based art pop and indie rock band has served to deepen my curiosity about them. Leave it to a couple of former University of Vermont jazz students (Kalmia Traver and Alex Toth) to not only decide to form a band together but try their hands at pop, funk, dance, and psychedelia along the way. Deep Architecture in Helsinki vibes here. Oh, they’re good. Expect fun.

                  Tickets   

                  March 29 (Sat)

                    Who: 50 Years of Bob Dylan ‘Blood on the Tracks’
                    Where: The State Room
                    When: 8 p.m.
                    What: Dylan’s so hot right now. One of his best albums turned 50 years old in January (but, I swear … hardly looks a day over 46) and some of the area’s finest want to help celebrate. Come see the same folks who have paid similar tributes to Tom Petty, Neil Young and, most recently, Weezer. To whet your appetite, some familiar names in the mix, including Sammy Brue, Michelle Moonshine, Cory Mon, Morgan Snow, Marcus Bently, and Julianne Brough.

                    Tickets