For a fleeting period during late summer and early fall, fresh peaches reign as Utah’s most coveted crop.
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Summer is nearing its end and Salt Lake is closing out the season with another exciting week of events. From free film screenings to spirit pairings and end-of-summer festivals, there is plenty to do this week in the city. For even more events happening in Salt Lake City this week and throughout the month, visit our community events calendar!
Monday 8/26
What: Film Buff Series—The Dark Crystal
Where: Brewvies
When: 8/26 at 9 p.m.
Brewvies presents a free Monday night movie series featuring eclectic films. This Monday’s screening is 1982 cult favorite The Dark Crystal, a dark fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Reserve your ticket here.
What: Spirits and Cigars Pairing Event
Where: Prohibition
When: 8/26 at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
In partnership with Tinderbox, Prohibition presents a cigar and spirits pairing every fourth Monday of the month. August’s pairing features three whiskeys from High West, and one cigar of your choice. Arrive early to enjoy dinner before the event, and then head out to the patio for the pairing.
Tuesday 8/27
What: 2024 Outdoor Concert Series: Pink Martini Featuring China Forbes
Where: Red Butte Garden
When: 8/27 at 6:30 p.m.
Red Butte’s summer concert series continues with an iconic performance from Pink Martini, a self-proclaimed “Little Orchestra” comprising dozens of musicians since its formation in 1944.
Wednesday 8/28
What: Wine Tasting with Cheese Pairing
Where: La Caille
When: 8/28 at 6 p.m.
Sample five exquisite Chateau La Caille wines with a selection of artisanal cheeses inside the venue’s sophisticated pairing room. Seating for the exclusive event is limited and requires reservation. Reserve your seat here.
What: West Valley City Summer Fest 2024
Where: Fairbourne Station Promenade
When: 8/28 at 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Close out the summer at West Valley’s free summer festival. The evening event features food trucks, live entertainment, activity booths and more.
Thursday 8/29
What: Party on the Plaza
Where: Trolley Square
When: 8/29 at 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Held the last Thursday of every month through September, Trolley Square invites the community to come enjoy an evening of live entertainment, food trucks and a beer garden on their outdoor plaza.
What: Hot Dog and Wine Nights
Where: Tea Zaanti
When: 8/29 at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Relax inside Tea Zaanti’s vibey space with gourmet hot dogs and natural wine pairings. Each night features unique hot dog toppings and complementary wine, like last week’s lox dog paired with bubbly pet nat.
What: KRCL Annual Record and CD Sale
Where: KRCL Studios, 535 West 300 North SLC
When: 8/29 at 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Back by popular demand, KRCL is hosting two vinyl shopping days featuring cassettes, CDs and vinyl. All sales benefit Listeners Community Radio of Utah KRCL, so get ready for a night of crate-digging for a cause!
Friday 8/30
What: 2024 Lemon Bash
Where: Ken Garff University Club at Rice Eccles
When: 8/30 at 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Northwestern Mutual Utah hosts the 2nd annual Lemon Bash in support of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. The event will feature delicious treats, family-friendly activities, a silent auction, and of course—lots of lemonade.
What: Friday Night Fun Films—The Goonies
Where: Gallivan Center
When: 8/30 at 8 p.m.
The last in their Friday Night Fun Film series, the Gallivan Center will be screening The Goonies on August 30th. The family-friendly event takes place on their main plaza, the concession stand will be open for drinks and snacks.
What: Locally Made Locally Played
Where: Broadway Centre Cinemas
When: 8/30 at 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Salt Lake Film Society and The Blocks present an evening of cinema and song. Attendees will hear from local musicians while snacking on local fare and end the evening with a movie screening.
Saturday 8/31
What: UMFA In the Wild—Watercolor Landscapes
Where: Buffalo Point Deck at Antelope Island State Park
When: 8/31 at 1 p.m.
Get inspired by the wilderness of Utah’s Antelope Island with UMFA. Guests will hear from artists featured in UMFA’s latest exhibit, and learn new watercolor techniques to paint the landscape.
What: Sandy City Farmer’s Market
Where: Sandy Amphitheater
When: 8/31 at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sandy’s newest farmer’s market showcases a wide selection of local food vendors, unique goods and handmade items. Bring the whole family to enjoy a splash pad, live music, food trucks, crafting booths and more.
Sunday 9/1
What: Drag Bingo, Burgers and Beer Church
Where: Club Try-Angles
When: 9/01 at 2:30 p.m.
Utah’s longest-running drag show Matrons of Mayhem hosts an afternoon of bingo, burgers and fun. Bingo begins at 3 p.m., drag performances to follow.
What: Park Silly Sunday Market
Where: Park City Main Street
When: 9/01 at 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Silly Market has been a Park City institution for 17 years and is an eclectic mix of live music, food carts and local vendors. The mainstay event typically attracts 15,000 people every Sunday, totaling about 200,00 people per season.
Don’t pack away those low back chairs and picnic gear just yet. We still have plenty of rockin’ and honky tonkin’ left to do this summer, especially on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 when Lukas Nelson plays Red Butte Garden. Nelson is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter whose musical style blends boot-stomping country with soulful blues to create a unique and exciting Americana sound. His voice quality is eerily similar to his famous father, Willie Nelson, but he’s built his own style with a growing catalog of great songs (though when he covers one of his dad’s classics that’s pretty awesome too.)
Lukas Nelson and his band Promise of the Real (POTR) formed in Los Angeles in 2008 and have amassed a huge fan following. They’ve recorded eight studio albums and two live records. Sadly, the band recently announced that POTR would be taking a hiatus. Nelson will continue to write, record, and tour on his own. We get to be among the first to see Nelson with his newly formed backing band.
Nelson received his musical education playing and recording with Neil Young and touring for many years in his father’s family band. The influence of those two legends blends nicely into his original work. Nelson adds fresh, bluesy pop to his country and folk rock foundations to create remarkable songs like “Find Yourself.” With “Every Time I Drink,” he’s not afraid to let loose his honky-tonk roots or electrify his rock guitar chops on “Pali Gap.” A highlight from his critically-acclaimed 2023 release Sticks and Stones is “Alcohallelujah.” The song begins with a bit of tongue-in-cheek gospel before launching into a bluesy slide guitar riff. It’s a fine drinking song with undertones of the Austin outlaw country sound his dad made famous.
Fun fact: Nelson won a Grammy Award and a BAFTA (the British equivalent of an Oscar) for his work producing the soundtrack for the 2018 film A Star is Born.
This upcoming performance at Red Butte Garden isn’t my first Lukas Nelson concert and it won’t be my last. He’s a great performer with an ever increasing arsenal of hit records. Nelson will carry his family’s musical legacy deep into this century.
Opening the evening is Salt Lake City’s own firebrand activist, rocker, and KRCL DJ Talia Keys. Like Nelson, Keys can’t be boxed into any one particular genre. She moves effortlessly through rock to blues, soul to R&B. Whether she’s serving up a fresh funk original or reinterpreting vintage jams, Keys brings a great energy to each performance. Click here for a video of Keys’ haunting take on the classic “I Put A Spell On You.”
Tickets are still available, but don’t wait too long. It’s sure to sell out soon.
Who: Lukas Nelson w/ Talia Keys
What: Live in Concert
Where: Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
When: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Info and tickets: https://redbuttegarden.org/concerts/
Wine bars are their own special niche in the bar scene, and Casot’s niche is both a co-working space and a wine bar that does an impressive day to night transformation. The name Casot comes from an exclusively Italian lineage, meaning, “a tiny stone house in the middle of the Italian vineyards that provided drinks and food for the workers.” It would provide a place to rest outside of the hot sun, a place to take shelter from sudden summer storms or a place to recharge with a drink after a hard day’s work. The bar in Casot is appropriately vintage, and the space is tight with a nice garage-door style patio for warmer seasons. It is a walkable Salt Lake neighborhood watering hole in the 15th and 15th area.
Unlike most wine bars, the selection at Casot is limited. With an especially limited selection of wines by the glass, Scott Evans, the founder of the Pago Restaurant Group hand selects each varietal. “I wanted 10 to 15 wines by the glass at all times, but wines that change every week. Not every single wine, but there’s always about three to five new wines every single week,” says Evans. “My vision was to special order the wines, so they’re either exclusively at the restaurant or very few places in Utah, and then just rotate them through.” The unifying rule of thumb? “I’ll carry anything I would personally enjoy,” says Evans.
The team behind the bar are well educated and will walk you through the wine list and help you narrow down your choices. On any given day, you’re likely to find a light, medium and full red, a sparkling wine or two, and some more unusual choices, like a Pétillant Naturel wine. Pét-Nats are rustic sparkling wines produced in the méthode ancestral, one that predates champagne. Pét-Nat wines tend to have a light and fizzy mouthfeel. They are generally lower in alcohol as well, which may be part of the appeal.
“I see more people being a little bit more cautious on how much they drink when it comes to alcohol by volume. And Pét-Nats are a great option, because they’re generally 10 to 11% alcohol versus 13% or 14% for some sparkling wines,” says Evans.
When asked about recent wine trends, Evans says, “Something that really shocked me is the success of the skin-fermented white wines, which are called orange wines.” But patrons of Casot seem to really love the orange wines which can range from a light coral tint up to a bright stained-glass tangerine. “Two years ago, there were zero orange wines available in the state,” says Evans. “And now there’s three or four. It reminds me of rosé 20 years ago, where the perception of rosé was that it was just all sweet and not delicious and unique and high quality. And orange wines don’t really have the stigma, but they were just so foreign. No one knew about it. Now people are asking about orange wines.”
In addition to Casot, the Pago restaurants offer a full wine list and special event wine dinners, often with the vintner present. Sign up for their newsletter to get all the insider information.
Visit Casot Wine + Work in the heart of Salt Lake City’s 15th and 15th neighborhood. Learn more at casotwinework.com.
“The ball truly does fly farther at elevation,” I thought as the tiny white sphere violently hooked from view. Golfing in the mountains comes with certain baked-in hazards, like the precipitous declivity that claimed my repurposed range ball. Best bring a couple of spares when hitting the links around here. Park City is home to some of the most outrageously expensive and exclusive golf courses in the world. Thankfully, it also has some wonderful and quirky public courses available to those of us who don’t travel on a personal private jet. We tore it up on the fairways, greens and frequently the rough to break down our favorites and even consulted with a local caddy to get an expert’s opinion.
PARK CITY MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE
- Who it’s for: Players who’d happily trade the 6-iron for a six-pack.
- Highlights: Friendly course layout, affordable rates and it’s centrally located in Park City
- Après: Nearby Silver Star Café (1825 Three Kings Dr., Park City) has live music on the patio for cocktails and appetizers.
- Caddy’s take: “It’s a great place to play barefoot with a bunch of non-pretentious local ski bums passing time in the summer months.”
1541 Thanyes Canyon Dr., Park City, 435-615-5800, parkcity.org
MOUNTAIN DELL GOLF COURSE
- Who it’s for: Players chipping away at their handicap, not the ball stuck in the bunker.
- Highlights: Two 18-hole courses (Canyon and Lake), public driving range, challenging and dramatic features on the Lake Course
- Après: The Sandwedge Café (7603 E. Mt. Dell Golf Rd., SLC), located in the same building as the pro shop, has affordable sandwiches and beers.
- Caddy’s take: “It’s one of the only public courses with a driving range in the area, and it’s significantly tougher than PC Muni. There are more serious golfers working on their games there.”
Parley’s Canyon, I-80 Exit 134, SLC, 801-582-3812, mountaindellgc.com
CANYONS GOLF AT PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT
- Who it’s for: Players who want to infuse some mountain climbing into their golf game.
- Highlights: Unique setting, 300-foot elevation change on hole 10, the tricky island green on 18
- Après: Après Pendry (2417 W. High Mountain Rd., Park City,) in the upper Canyons Village offers a solid menu of bites small to medium and a jaw-dropping wine list.
- Caddy’s take: “It’s kind of an insane place to play golf because it’s very much on the side of a cliff. The massive elevation change on some holes makes for some memorable shots, though.”
3636 Willow Draw, Park City, 435-615-4728, parkcitymountain.com
WASATCH MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE
- Who it’s for: Players who are too busy taking in the views to keep track of tee shots
- Highlights: Two distinct 18-hole courses (Lake and Mountain), incredible scenery, cool temperatures
- Après: Midway Mercantile (99 E. Main St., Midway) has an excellent patio and an even better farm-to-table menu.
- Caddy’s take: “It’s hard to get too upset about shanking one into the bunker when the scenery is as good as it is underneath those massive peaks in Midway.”
975 Golf Course Dr., Midway, 435-654-0532, stateparks.utah.gov
No offense to chain restaurants (well, maybe a little), but when it comes to delivering stylish dining to our suburbs, they come up short. Way short. Enter Scelto, a new Italian restaurant in the heart of Utah. “We designed the space to be inviting and have a cool, downtown vibe that’s not found in the southeast part of the valley,” says co-founder Waleska Iglesias, who hired designers Gary Vlasik and Jamie Clyde to create the sleek and swanky decor she imagined for the Italian-inspired eatery.
Modern? Yes, but definitely not cold. Think warm and welcoming—but with an edge. “We decided to do something very unexpected, something elevated but not unapproachable,” Vlasik explains. The designers set the stage with dramatic black-painted walls and wainscotting executed in dark cobalt steel: “They bring in the mood and let other elements sing,” Vlasik says.
The ensemble of decorative performers includes everything from theatrical stones—terrazzo topping the bar and black marble on the reception desks—to shapely banquettes, chairs and booths costumed in velvets and a color mix of inky and French blues, terracotta and marigold. “The terrazzo inspired our color palette,” Clyde says.
Screen-like slatted wood walls in ash and burnt terracotta tones carve the interior into intimate bar and dining areas, allowing the ambiance to flow from space to space. Clouds of slatted walnut adorn the ceiling, and modern light fixtures perform like art as they illuminate the interior animated with framed ethereal art that visually pops against the dark walls. “Obviously, we love an eclectic mix,” Vlasik says with a laugh. Even a visit to the loos (teamed with a snazzy communal wash station) delivers surprising style. “Their dark colors, moody wallpaper and sparkling chandeliers cultivate an indulgent experience,” Clyde says.
Scelto—meaning chosen in Italian—not only describes the restaurant’s innovative menu but also the thoughtfully orchestrated design elements that make this Italian restaurant in Utah a special experience anytime. Iglesias explains, “Scelto is a great place to celebrate any occasion.”
If You Go…
Scelto, 849 E. 9400 South, Sandy, sceltoslc.com
San Diego’s Little Italy district dates back to the 19th century when thousands of Italian immigrants formed vibrant neighborhoods that thrived on the area’s rich fishing industry. Today, Little Italy is still home to San Diego’s longest-running neighborhood business sector and brimming with authentic and unique dining experiences.
No. 1 Brunch
Morning Glory (morningglorybreakfast.com) isn’t all about the looks—it also has amazing eclectic brunch food from Michelin-starred chef Jason McLeod. Expect to wait as the line starts building early. If you’re a people watcher, Farmer’s Table (myfarmerstable.com) has the perfect outdoor patio for brunch. Right on the corner of the Little Italy market, enjoy one of their famous elaborate bloody marys and a farm-to-table meal while you observe the bustling market around you.
No. 2 Shopping
Join the crowd and peruse San Diego’s largest farmer’s market. The market has all types of vendors, from fresh produce and flower bouquets to hand-made soaps and oddities. The Little Italy Mercato (littleitalysd.com) is open every Saturday and Wednesday, located on Piazza della Famiglia, a European-style piazza dedicated to the families of the Little Italy neighborhood.
to Little Italy to view art and enjoy live music. Photo courtesy of Art Walk Little Italy.
No. 3 Liquid Lunch
Ballast Point (ballastpoint.com) offers an array of rotating experimental beers, ensuring everyone can find a brew they will enjoy. Grab a flight to enjoy in a private outdoor cabana, or get on the action and watch the brewers craft an R&D beer. Pali Wine Co. (paliwineco.com) charges $15 for a wine flight that includes five of their distinct wines. Enjoy their fine wines in the main room or on their rooftop patio.
No. 4 Dinner
Enjoy the spirit of Rome at Roman Wolves (romanwolves.com). They pride themselves on offering a genuine Italian experience where every guest feels like family. Savor time-honored classics and unique dishes, made with locally sourced fresh ingredients. Cloak and Petal (cloakandpetal.com) is a hidden gem disguised as an abandoned Tokyo subway. This vibrant spot hits all the marks with its Japanese fusion dishes and extensive drink menu.
No. 5 Drinks
Take a spin at Wolfie’s Carousel Bar (wolfiescarousel.com), an 1800s-style French bistro and cocktail bar featuring a whimsical revolving carousel. The bar offers plenty of signature cocktails, wines and beers. It also offers brunch and dinner. Waterfront Bar & Grill (waterfrontbarandgrill.com) is San Diego’s oldest tavern, established in 1933. It specializes in bar food, drinks and a great time. It’s the ideal spot for those seeking a dive bar atmosphere.
There are dive bars in Salt Lake that I’ll go to when I’m craving a cold draft beer, and cocktail lounges I’ll splurge at to expand my palate. Then there are bars that I head to when I’m feeling peckish. And I’m peckish a lot. These are places that I feel have mastered the art of the bar bite to satisfy even the most specific of cravings. They’ve gone above and beyond the ubiquitous pickled egg in a jar to offer a quick and delicious snack that is unique to their style and identity. So when you’re feeling peckish—and trust me, you will—consider these snacks to accompany your preferred libation.
The Egg and Chips at White Horse
White Horse’s OG bar snack has single handedly rewired my brain’s craving for salt and vinegar chips with a glass of crisp white wine. Their house potato chips are combined with malt vinegar, truffle and a Sous-Vide egg, all shaken tableside for maximum enjoyment.
What to Pair it With: Any acidic wine plays well with this dish’s zing and saltiness, but my go-to would be a Riesling or a Suav Blanc.
Snap Peas at Franklin Ave
Light, fresh and tantalizingly simple. The snap peas at Franklin Ave combine herbaceous thai basil, mint and fresno peppers with coconut milk and chile crisp for an Asian-inspired fusion dish.
What to Pair it With: Bright spirits will compliment the delicate nature of snap peas, I would go for the Lavender Drop Spritz—an effervescent combo of Vodka, butterfly pea simple, lavender, lemon and cava.
Fried Pickles at Lucky 13
Known for their heaping burgers and intriguing shot selection, Salt Lake bar Lucky 13 also offers classic fried dill pickle spears on their menu. Substitute them for your french fries and order a side of Lucky 13’s secret sauce—you’ll thank me later.
What to Pair it With: You could opt
for a hoity-toity pairing like a buttery chardonnay or a bright prosecco, but pickles and beer belong together. A crisp Lager will balance the pickle’s briny flavors.
Filet & Marrow Tartare at Felt
Salt Lake’s newest bar and eatery has already built a loyal fanbase for this dish, to absolutely no one’s surprise. Roasted marrow, beer mustard, fried capers and chopped filet top a chunk of bone marrow for a decadent experience with every bite.
What to Pair it With: The Blunt Wrap, a boozy concoction of Plantation OFTD, Scotch, Benedictine and Carpano is an ideal partner for this dish. If you’re feeling up to the task, perhaps follow up with a mezcal or scotch bone marrow luge.
Conservas At Scion Cider
If you don’t know about the tinned fish craze taking over the culinary world right now, get to know. Scion Cider offers a range of artisan tinned seafood served with pickles, hot sauce and Focaccia bread from their neighbors at C9 Market. Choose between high-quality, sustainable and delicious options like mackerel or smoked sea sprat.
What to Pair it With: A dry and tannic cider like Etta Place’s Dry sips lovely with conservas, I also enjoy a Basque-style pour like Shacksbury’s Arlo cider that can be slightly funky and tart.
Prosciutto Dates at BTG Wine Bar
Caffe Molisse’s lower-level wine bar is a top-tier date night locale, and serves up a condensed version of their sister restaurant’s Italian menu. The Prosciutto Dates are my go-to choice if I’m craving something sweet and savory all in one bite. Smoked almond stuffed dates wrapped in prosciutto with a red wine reduction and gorgonzola crumbles—need I say more?
What to Pair it With: All the bold flavors in this dish are best accentuated by a minerally, fruit-forward orange wine. Sip and savor a few options with BTG’s Orange is the New Blanc wine flight.
In 1963, Tommy Jacobs won the PGA Tour’s 1963 Utah Open Invitational at the Salt Lake Country Club. It wasn’t pretty. Despite a stellar round, Jacobs stumbled on the final stretch putting up a double bogey on the 17th and shot another double bogey on 18. Fortunately, Don January, the guy chasing him on the leaderboard, couldn’t pounce and Jacobs held on with one stroke.
That was the last time a PGA Tour Event was held in Utah. Of course, the Utah Open has continued as a PGA-sanctioned event, but last spring the PGA declared the Black Desert Championship, in Ivins, will be part of the FedEx Cup fall series. This means the best golfers in the world could chase Cup points on the par-72 course.
This doesn’t mean Scotti Scheffler will be playing (which is what you were wondering), but it could happen!
The PGA Tour first appeared in Utah in 1930 when World Golf Hall of Fame member Harry “Lighthorse” Cooper won the Salt Lake Open. Seven years later, the tour returned to Salt Lake City in 1937, when Al Zimmerman won the first of back-to-back Utah Open titles.
The historic Western Open, now known as the BMW Championship, stopped in the Beehive State a decade later, when seven-time PGA Tour winner Johnny Palmer captured the 1947 tournament in Salt Lake City.
In 1948, Salt Lake City hosted the Utah Open Invitational, where Lloyd Mangrum edged George Fazio in a playoff. The event was played three more times (1958, 1960, 1963) with the 1963 edition featuring Tommy Jacobs’ dubious win.
Black Desert, a new luxury resort in Ivins, is huge. Sitting on 600 acres of land, the resort has 800 hotel rooms and luxury residences. The 19-hole course is a favorite for pro golfers who have come during the off-season to practice.
The Black Desert course was designed by Phil Smith and, World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, the late Tom Weiskopf, becoming his final design (see sidebar).
“We are honored to host the world’s most prestigious professional golf Tours at Black Desert Resort,” says Black Desert’s managing partner Patrick Manning.
“Bringing the best from the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour to Black Desert and them having the best experience imaginable, along with their fans, is priority number one.”
The Black Desert Championship is one of two professional golf events coming to Black Desert Resort, which will also host an LPGA Tour event in 2025.
Play the Course
Black Desert’s 19-hole, 7,400-yard course was designed by hall of famer Tom Weiskopf, who won 16 PGA Tour titles between 1968 and 1982, including the 1973 Open Championship. Weiskopf was the runner-up at The Masters four times. After winding down his career playing golf, Weiskopf became a noted golf course architect. Weiskopf passed away in 2022 and the Black Desert Course was the final course designed by this golf legend. He was voted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2023 and will be inducted this year.
The pro-level course is unique in that much of it was built around volcanic formations that are prevalent outside of St. George. The lava rock adds scenery as well as more than a little drama for players. Find out more and book a tee time at blackdesertresort.com/golf
If You Go:
- What: The PGA Tour’s Black Desert Championship
- When: Oct. 9-13, 2024
- Where: Black Desert Resort, 1500 E. Black Desert Dr., Ivins, blackdesertresort.com
- Tickets: VIP experiences and grounds passes are currently on sale at blackdesertchampionshipmens.com. On-sale dates for individual rounds have not been announced.
- Note: Organizers caution that these tickets will be only available through the PGA’s official ticket provider, Ticketmaster, and not to fall for scams.
The third annual Park City Song Summit is taking over the Canyons Amphitheater and Pendry hotel this weekend, and attendees can expect a full roster of wellness-meets-music programming. Between guided meditations, recovery meetups, panel discussions and evening performances, the PCSS offers a unique spin on the music festival model. “We’ve created a live music event in a setting that is more relaxed, where attendees can recharge and re-envision who they are,” says founder Ben Anderson. “Not only for audience members and musicians, but for the whole ecosystem of live music touring—the managers, the agents, the bus drivers. They can all use this weekend as a platform for self-actualization and self-reflection.”
Wellness Activities
The oxygen bars and hair braiding booths you find at Coachella are cute and all, but Park City Song Summit takes the concept of community activation to a whole new level of mindfulness. Throughout the weekend, guests can partake in guided mediation, yoga, hiking and sound baths as they navigate the festival grounds. Anderson has also reformatted this year’s programming to fit the needs of audience members and performers “It’s the music industry, a lot of artists want to sleep until noon if possible,” Anderson explains with a laugh. “We’ve adjusted what we offer for artist wellness versus audience wellness.” For those early-morning risers, 9 a.m. yoga on the Pendry’s rooftop pool deck is a perfect way to greet the day. And when the musicians roll out of bed, they can check out the recovery hangs later in the afternoon. “The recovery meetups are for anyone that wants to participate in speaking, or just sit, listen and be there for people.”
Festival goers can take advantage of even more mindful activities and comforting spaces at the Song Summit Village, which is open 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. “The wellness village is much larger this year,” Anderson says. “So whether you want to walk through a photography exhibit capturing 30 years of The Grateful Dead, grab a seat in a massage chair, enjoy a mocktail, or just need a hug from a cute puppy, there is a lot going on in this area of the festival.” The village will also host a plethora of vendor booths where guests can get B12 shots, shop clothing and jewelry and grab a bite from food trucks.
Summit Labs
The free-to-attend Summit Labs are another cornerstone of the festival. These panel discussions feature industry leaders talking about the challenges faced by modern musicians, the social impact of songwriting, harmful stereotypes in the music world, and much, much more. The labs occur during mid-morning and afternoon before live music begins on the main stages, and are staggered so attendees aren’t forced to choose. Anderson is particularly stoked about Friday’s lab “Navigating Creativity in the Age of AI” with hosts Larkin Poe, Eric Krasno and Steve Poltz. “This conversation is about destigmatizing some of the fear around AI,” he says. “They’ll talk about what AI is, how it can be used for good, and how it can be useful in the music industry.”
Live Music
“If all we did was yoga, sound baths, recovery meetups, panel discussions and meaningful conversations, that would already be an incredible artist retreat,” says Anderson. “All that is the meat and potatoes of Song Summit, but the gravy is dancing at night.” After a full day of relaxed mingling and participation, festival goers head over to the Canyons Village Amphitheater and Forum Stage for live performances from headliners like My Morning Jacket and Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Mavis Staples. But it’s not a rat race to get from one stage to another, live music is spread out across the evening to create a relaxed experience for both listeners and performers. Start at the Forum Stage in the afternoon to catch artists like Jobi Riccio, Josh Kelley, and Primera Linea & The Trombone Short Academy. Then, at five o’clock, mosey on over to the main amphitheater for the headliners. And if you still have your legs under you on Friday night, head out to The Cabin on Main Street for a late night vibe. “The Cabin Show is next level,” Anderson says. “A triple bill of the legendary Steve Poltz, a LatinX band Making Movies and Jobi Riccio who is an amazing songwriter and great performer.” Aftershows at The Cabin are only happening on Friday night, so night owl jammers be ready to go all out.
The Park City Song Summit is an opportunity for connection, reflection, and a chance to experience music in a more relaxed headspace. Above all else, Anderson wants each attendee to walk away with a sense of community. “I hope they walk away with the understanding they’re not alone. From the beauty and the platform of live music, there is healing, there is love, there’s connection. They are not alone in their struggles, in their challenges, in their love of live music. I want them to leave more mindful of the challenges that others are going through, and know that at the end of the day, love is still the answer. If they leave with that, man, I’m happy.”
Find the full schedule for the Park City Song Summit here. Single day amphitheater tickets are still available.
