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With spring officially here, it’s time to bust out those low back chairs and start planning your festival season. Salt Lake City music fans have some great outdoor music opportunities coming up. Here’s my best-of-the-fest lineup coming to Utah for Spring 2024.
Kilby Block Party
Kick off the season (but leave the chairs at home) with this massive 3-day (4 stage) Salt Lake City festival on May 10-12, 2024 at the Utah State Fairpark and featuring:
- Vampire Weekend
- Wu-Tang Clan
- The Postal Service
- LCD Soundsystem
- Death Cab For Cutie
- Dinosaur Jr.
And dozens more…… For tickets and more info: https://www.kilbyblockparty.com/
Fort Desolation Fest
The perfect getaway for adventure travelers and music lovers. This camping, glamping, RVing trek to Cougar Ridge Resort in Torrey, UT on June 6-8, 2024 features an amazing lineup:
- Black Pumas
- Sierra Ferrell
- Paul Cauthern
- The Record Company
- Jaime Wyatt
Plus many more. For tickets and more info: https://www.fortdesolation.com/
Ogden Music Festival
Just a short drive away is the Ogden Friends Of Acoustic Music (OFOAM) annual festival at Fort Buenaventura on May 31-June 2, 2024. This year’s 3-day event lineup includes:
- Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
- Sarah Jarosz
- Hayes Carll
- Celisse
- Pixie and the Partygrass Boys
And a host of other great performers. Camping is also available. For tickets and more info: https://ofoam.org/ogden-music-festival
Red Butte Garden Outdoor Concert Series
Featuring many great performers in a bucolic setting from May–September. Look for the full 2024 concert lineup on April 16, 2024. For tickets and info visit: https://www.redbuttegarden.org/concerts/
Utah Blues Festival
Salt Lake City’s largest gathering of blues fans. The weekend event at The Gallivan Center on June 14-15 includes some spectacular blues artists like:
- Tab Benoit
- Sue Foley
- Southern Avenue
- Annika Chambers and Paul Desalauriers
Plus a host of other great blues acts. For tickets and more info: https://www.utahbluesfest.org/
April is here and we have compiled a list of local events happening this week for you to enjoy. From playing Magic the Gathering to meditating with art to a family-friendly teatime, the city is as lively as ever. For even more events this week and throughout the month, visit our community events calendar!
Monday 04/01
What: Monday Night Magic
Where: Blue Genes
When: 04/01, 7 p.m.
A weekly free-to-play Magic the Gathering event featuring free play, hourly raffle prize giveaways, drink specials and more. Play starts at 7 p.m. and ends at close, this is a 21+ event.
What: Low Cut Connie and Fantastic Cat
Where: The State Room
When: 04/01, 7 p.m.
Don’t be a fool and miss Low Cut Connie’s high-octane rock ‘n’ roll show on Monday, April 1st. The State Room will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary (can you believe it?) To make it memorable, the supergroup Fantastic Cat will be opening. And there will be cake!
Tuesday 04/02
What: David Eagleman: What Does AI Mean for Humans? The Road to Augmented Intelligence
Where: Kingsbury Hall
When: 04/02, 7 p.m.
Natural History Museum presents their 2024 Lecture Series Keynote with neuroscientist and bestselling author David Eagleman. The conversation will address the possibility of artificial intelligence taking over creative roles. Tickets are $20, U of U students and faculty pay $10.
Wednesday 04/03
What: Drop-in Drawing Disco
Where: UMFA
When: 04/03, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Unleash your creativity in this free artist-led workshop at UMFA. Inspired by the recently conserved Horses screen by Chiura Obata, as seen in the exhibition Chiura Obata: Layer by Layer, this Drawing Disco will showcase a sumi ink demonstration by local artist Joon Bae. All experience levels welcome, space is limited to 50 people. First session is 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., second session is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Thursday 04/04
What: UMFA: Art + Wellness: Mindfulness
Where: UMFA
When: 04/04, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Practice being slow and mindful while admiring artwork with instructor Charolette Bell. Explore the UMFA galleries and participate in a free traditional guided meditation. This meditation practice is perfect for beginners and everyone is welcome. There will be seven sessions in total and guests are welcome to attend as many as they like. This event is included in UMFA’s admission fee, free for members and U of U students, staff and faculty.
Friday 04/05
What: Beauty and The Beast in PC
Where: Park City Eccles
When: 04/05, 7 p.m.
For one night only, Ballet West is performing the classic fairy tale Beauty and The Beast at Park City Eccles. Join them for a beautiful story of promise, friendship and love.
What: Gem Faire
Where: Mountain America Expo Center
When: 04/05 – 04/07, Fri. 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Gem Faire, one of the largest gem, jewelry and bead shows, is arriving in Salt Lake this weekend. Find fine jewelry, crystals, gems, beads, minerals, gold & silver, fossils and much more at manufacturer’s prices. Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing are also available while you peruse the vendors’ shops. Admission is $7 for a weekend pass, purchase tickets at the door – cash only. Plus, parking is free! (No admission after 4pm on Sunday.)
What: 6th Annual Green River Rocks
Where: John Wesley Powell River History Museum
When: 04/05 – 04/07
Green River Rocks is hosted by Epicenter and the Bureau of Land Management on the grounds of the John Wesley Powell River History Museum. The festival is free, open to the public, and features expert-led natural history field trips, rock and mineral vendors, educational activities, and fun for the whole family. Find the full weekend schedule on Green River Rock’s website here.
Saturday 04/06
What: Meet Kaci Morgan & Samantha J. Rose
Where: The King’s English Bookshop
When: 04/06, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Meet local authors Kaci Morgan, author of Queen Immortal, and Samantha J. Rose, author of The Very Real World of Emily Adams, this Saturday at The King’s English Bookshop. The authors will be signing copies of their books and meeting fans from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.!
What: Vinyl Revival Saturday Spin off
Where: Millcreek Commons
When: 04/06, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Vinyl Revival will be joined by DJs this Saturday and hosted in the Public Market. New pop-up shops will offer special edition records along with the rest of the market’s vinyl collection and concert memorabilia.
What: Utah’s Indigenous Fashion Week
Where: The Leonardo
When: 04/06, 6 p.m.
The Leonardo Museum is thrilled to be hosting Utah’s Indigenous Fashion Week 2024 “As We Are.” The show will showcase work from multiple tribes including Hopi, Navajo (Diné), Ute, Northern Ute, Apache, Anishinaabe Ojibwe, and many more. Everyone of all peoples, nations, and tribes is welcome to attend this event celebrating contemporary Indigenous fashion, jewelry, and accessories. Doors close at 6:45 p.m.
What: Spring Orchid Show
Where: Red Butte Garden
When: 04/06 – 04/07, Sat. 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The largest orchid show display in Utah! Join the Utah Orchid Society for a dazzling display of both common and exotic orchid varieties. Get tips from society members on how to keep your plants happy and healthy. A large selection of both plants and pottery will be on sale for those interested in starting their own collection.
What: Legendary Skate Loop Roll Out
Where: Millcreek Commons
When: 04/06, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.
For their first weekend of rollerskating opening, Millcreek Commons is throwing a Legendary Skate Loop Roll Out! There will be music, food and skate performances throughout the night.
What: Teatime at Tracy – Afternoon Niceties
Where: Tracy Aviary
When: 04/06, 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Tracy Aviary is putting on a family-friendly teatime inside their Historic Chase Mill featuring sweets, local pastries and soothing delicious hot tea. Each month from March through July, they will be offering a selection of both caffeinated and herbal teas provided by Tea Zaanti paired with sweets and baked goods by local vendors. Space is limited, so reserve your seat today!
What: Pond Skim
Where: Park City Mountain Resort
When: 04/06, 11:30 a.m.
Join the onlookers at Park City Mountain Resort’s epic celebration of their 3rd Annual Pond Skim! The action starts at 12 p.m. when the skimmers glide across the pond. It’s guaranteed to be a spectacle you won’t forget!
Sunday 04/07
What: Don’t Trip: Wine Walkaround
Where: Publik Space
When: 04/07, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Flora/Fauna and the Happy Wine Club are joining forces this Sunday by starting off their season with a massive procurement of limited & exclusive wine tastings from some of the industry’s most well-known producers. Join them at Publik Space for a wine tasting walkaround, accompanied with sounds by artist Andy Doors and food provided by Thank You For The Short Notice! Entry/tasting is via a donation of $40.
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For 62 Seasons, PTC has been bringing Utah award-winning professional theater, cementing its place as one of Utah’s cultural cornerstones. This season, however, PTC will debut its first show on the stage at the new Meldrum Theatre at the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse. This state-of-the-art, 380-seat space is meant to house smaller productions than the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theater and create a more intimate experience. It was built inside the fieldhouse near Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The first show in this new space is the Oliver-nominated, Tony-winning show coming to Utah audiences for the first time, The Lehman Trilogy, opening on March 29, 2024, and running through April 13, 2024
The play follows three young Bavarian immigrants who arrive in New York City in 1844. The three brothers set into motion a chain of events spanning 163 years. The company they formed, Lehman Brothers, will change the finance world forever. This epic tale of the American dream was written by Italian novelist Stefano Massini and adapted by British playwright Ben Power.
The production’s 50 roles are played by only three actors. PTC alumni Seth Andrew Bridges (Mayer Lehman), William Connell (Emanuel Lehman) and Jeff Talbott (Henry Lehman) will take on the challenging task.
We’re excited to see how the creative team makes use of the new space. That team includes Karen Azenberg (Director and Art Director), Will Van Dyke (Music Supervisor/Composer), Bryce Robinette (Sound Designer), Emily Nacrissa Griffith (Stage Manager), Michael Gilliam (Lighting Designer), Alexandra Harbold (Dramaturg) and Yoon Bae (Costume/Scenic Designer).
“PTC is thrilled to bring The Lehman Trilogy to Utah audiences for the first time and I couldn’t think of a more fitting first production for the Meldrum Theatre, ” Azenburg says.
This is a long play. The production runs for approximately 3 hours, containing three acts and two 10-minute intermissions. Additionally, a post-show talkback with the artistic staff will be included in the 2 p.m. performance on April 6 and an ASL-interpreted performance will be offered at the 2 p.m. performance on April 13.
- What: The Lehman Trilogy
- Where: Meldrum Theatre At the Einar Nielsen Fieldhouse, 375 S. 1400 East, SLC
- Tickets: $42-53 ($5 extra, if purchased at the door) and are available at pioneertheatre.org or by calling PTC’s Box Office at (801) 581-6961.
Don’t be a fool and miss Low Cut Connie’s high-octane rock ‘n’ roll show on Monday, April 1st. The State Room will be celebrating its 15th Anniversary (can you believe it?) To make it memorable, the supergroup Fantastic Cat will be opening. And there will be cake!
Low Cut Connie, a Philadelphia-based risque, rockin’ sextet, is the alter ego of frontman/pianist/lead singer/songwriter Adam Weiner (even his name is suggestive). Their piano-forward, all original work takes you on a journey across the musical spectrum from boogie-woogie reminiscent of Little Richard with “Shake It Little Tina” to “Diane (Don’t Point That Thing At Me),” a song that could easily find a home on an early Elton John record like Tumbleweed Connection or Honky Chateau. Their music is vintage-styled “old time rock ‘n’ roll” played with 21st century pizzazz.
Fun fact: At a stadium show in Philadelphia a few years ago, Sir Elton John told the crowd that he was really into the Philly band Low Cut Connie. How’s that for a royal endorsement?
Clearly influenced by the sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll musical era, Rolling Stone magazine described their sound as “70s Stones (but dirtier), the New York Dolls (but tighter) and Jerry Lee Lewis (but Westerberg-ier.)” Low Cut Connie’s 2017 single, “Revolution Rock ‘n’ Roll,” feels like a 1972 throwback with its Lou Reed-like vibe mixed with a tasty slice of Humble Pie.
They’re touring in support of their new album Art Dealers. My favorite song from the record is “Are You Gonna Run.” It sounds like a long lost Jackson Browne track from his 1977 The Pretender album, except it’s fresh and new (and Low Cut Connie). Imagine if the B-52s dropped musical bombs on the Rolling Stones. From the sonic ashes would rise “Whips and Chains,” a rock banger that I can’t wait to see them play live. The new album is packed with plenty of bawdy, piano-driven rock ‘n’ roll with a few soulful ballads interspersed.
I had my first Low Cut Connie experience at Denver Day of Rock about six years ago. They were scheduled for a 45 minute mid-afternoon time slot, and well before most concert goers had reached their Mile High. Low Cut Connie instantly got the party started with their funky upbeat rock ‘n’ roll and their interactive stage show. Frontman Adam Weiner knows how to work the crowd and draw you in with his dynamic persona. Even if you’re not familiar with the songs, he’ll have you singing along.
Another fun fact: Weiner got his start in music by playing the piano on New York City’s gay bar circuit (there’s gotta be a racy joke in there somewhere.)
Since it’s The State Room’s Crystal Anniversary (crystal being the symbol for a 15-year anniversary) they’ve sweetened the show by adding Fantastic Cat to the lineup to make it the Monday night party of the year. Fantastic Cat is a supergroup consisting of four well-established singer/songwriters: Don DiLego, Anthony D’Amato, Brian Dunne, and Mike Montali. The four formed a harmonizing quartet and released their debut full-length album in 2022 wryly titled The Very Best of Fantastic Cat. The troupe moves seamlessly from retro rock to alt-country, Americana to indie-pop. “C’mon Armageddon” has a Dylan-esque quality while “Amigo” reminds me of Wilco. The pounding piano riffs on “New Year’s Day” pair perfectly with a Low Cut Connie show. In 2023, Fantastic Cat released a celebratory cover of Wings “Band On The Run” to commemorate the song’s 50th year. They also recorded a fine version of Warren Zevon’s final track “Keep Me in Your Heart” to mark its 20th anniversary and Zevon’s passing.
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the State Room’s 15th Anniversary. The now venerable venue opened on April 1, 2009 with a memorable performance by Stanley Clarke. Sometimes it feels like a lifetime ago, but most of the time it feels like yesterday. The second performer to grace the stage in 2009 was Jason Isbell (and he’s done pretty well since then.) Let’s trade our favorite memories of mind-blowing shows we’ve seen there. I’ll start: I will never forget standing 20’ away from Lucinda Williams when she played in 2017. Which superstars did you see when they stopped at the State Room along their journey to Grammy-winning success?
In addition to two amazing bands rockin’ the night away, The State Room will be selling a specialty run of posters designed by Gabby Hunter (see a sample of her work here.) There’ll also be giveaways and the aforementioned cake! Come spend your Monday at our city’s finest musical home.
Who: Low Cut Connie w/ Fantastic Cat
What: The State Room’s 15th Anniversary show
Where: The State Room
When: April 1, 2024
Info: https://thestateroompresents.com
Epic adventures often begin with the words, “Your party walks into a tavern…” and this one is no different. While there might not be a suspicious, cloaked figure sitting in a dimly lit corner, the Thieves Guild Cidery has its own fantasy-inspired charm: “We’re calling it ‘chaotic wizard maximalism.’” That’s how co-owners Jordy Kirkman and Max Knudsen describe their soon-to-be taproom, which is taking over the former Alphagraphics building in the Central Ninth neighborhood (530 W. 900 South). Combining a preoccupation with role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons and theatrical, high-concept lounges, the new Salt Lake bar will be dubbed Thieves Guild, in honor of the secret organization of rogues, cutpurses and knaves found in classic fantasy realms.
Fit for an adventurer, the bar’s menu focuses on experimental ciders and micro-mead and includes everything from lemon-basil ciders to a Baja Blast Mead (all made in-house). Thieves Guild also invites its honored guests to interact with the tavern itself. After a treacherous session of dungeon-crawling and Mimic-slaying, here the weary traveler can unwind, rest easy and celebrate accomplishing their latest quest (and perchance start a new one) with an evening at Thieves Guild.
Jordy didn’t always dream of being a barkeep, but he’s always had a love for cider—and mischief. Who could have predicted that his two loves would take him on the quest that would lead him to form Thieves Guild? Formerly in the tech industry, Jordy has been home brewing cider for years with apples recovered from abandoned orchards and family-owned trees. “Eventually I couldn’t be satiated with just a few apples here and there,” he says. So he started looking to level up with bigger trees. During one apple-scouting trip, he came upon an ancient patch of trees that had seemingly been left to flourish in the wild. There was just one problem—they were on state-owned property. Jordy couldn’t leave the neglected apples to the buzzards, “We thought we’d do the state a favor of coming in the night and relieving them of some of this burden.” Like thieves in the night, Jordy and his team of apple raiders gathered the goods and fled the scene. They’ve jokingly referred to themselves as the apple bandits ever since, and thus began the idea for the Thieves Guild taproom.
The vision truly took shape when Jordy joined forces with Max, a Salt Lake native who has worked as a chef in both New York and Hawaii. The duo bonded over their shared interest in fantasy tropes and spent hours together during lockdown experimenting like alchemists with home-brewed beer and cider. “At one point we had made several hundred gallons in a year and thought, ‘Hey, we’re pretty good at this aren’t we?’” Jordy recalls. After deciding to pursue their hobby as a full-time endeavor, they received a tip about a building in the Central Ninth neighborhood that was going up for sale and jumped at the opportunity to bring Salt Lake a new and unique experience.
So, how will Thieves Guild distinguish themselves in C9’s already thriving bar community? “Salt Lake has a lot of cool high-concept bars,” answers Max. “But we don’t have a nerdy one.” Leaning into their eclectic tastes, Thieves Guild will be a full-throttle experience bar, complete with fantastical decor and interactive spell books.
Although they’re wary of crossing the line into Disney territory, “The whole tavern will feel theatrical, but you won’t be getting your drinks served by a wizard.” Max promises. “It will probably look like a Park City lodge mixed with a gothic German Pub—cozy during the day and a great place to spend lunch hour.” And when the sun sets, expect Thieves Guild to come alive with fantasy adventure. Jordy’s background in tech comes in handy this way, “The lighting system is unique, everything from candles to lanterns to fog machines can be programmed based on what we want,” he says. The bar’s high-tech interiors are specifically designed to invite guest interaction with tokens called thieves coins, which are earned by purchasing certain items or participating in events. Guests can trade these in for loot like stickers or T-shirts or use them to cast “spells.” Yes. Spells. Max explains: “So say you cast ‘chain lighting’ and suddenly the sights and sounds of a storm rumble throughout the whole bar.”
For guests, Thieves Guild promises adventure and escape, and for Jordy, it’s a chance to flex his innovation in cider-making. “In the same way you see craft cocktail bars doing crazy stuff with chemistry to create different profiles, I’m pushing boundaries of how to make mead and cider with certain flavors,” he says. With his connection to local orchards, Jordy aims to highlight the terroir aspects of Utah-grown apples while experimenting with unique flavor combinations. Everything from herbaceous ciders to funky micro-meads will be available on a rotating set of taps. The wizards at Thieves Guild are also looking forward to collaborating with the other cider-crazed folks just up the road at Scion, whose head cider maker Rio Connelly has been an instrumental mentor to both Jordy and Max. “We’re excited to be in the same neighborhood, it’s going to be really convenient when we can walk over to Rio and be like, ‘yo, you wanna do some crazy stuff together?” And when asked if two cider-focused bars can share the block, Jordy is quick to respond: “No one bats an eye at two micro-breweries opening down the street from each other. There is so much space in the cider market right now and people have yet to see just how much there is to explore in this world.”
As of this writing, Thieves Guild isn’t making any promises on opening dates, although Jordy and Max are warming up to the idea of a late-spring date. Until then, follow their journey on Instagram @thievesguildcidery where the team frequently drops subtle hints at what adventures are to come. And remember, true adventurers always tip their bards and barkeeps!
I don’t fall in love easily. But I develop crushes all the time. Food crushes, that is. I’ll find a dish I love and crush on it for years. Unabated. So, I’m sharing my go-to food crushes around town, hoping you’ll fall in love too. My favorite breakfast/brunch obsession is Hub & Spoke’s Shrimp and Grits.
I am a secret Southern girl at heart. Not by birth. I was grafted into Southern Foodways through my defacto grandfather, who grew up in North Carolina. I have fuzzy but fond memories of getting up early in the morning with him to “go shrimpin’” in central Florida. I don’t remember ever catching anything, but mornings on the waterways with the woosh of the net echoing over the misty still water stuck in my mind. Spanish moss and fog and salt were in the air.
I don’t remember the first time I tried shrimp and grits. But surely, it was at a diner after coming off the water with a hunger that only came from hours of unsuccessful fishing. It is one of my default comfort meals. If shrimp and grits are on the menu, you can put money on what I will order. But, truth be told, it is a risky choice. Shrimp are easily overcooked. Grits may be undercooked or show up at the table congealed. Sometimes, the bacon, chorizo or pork overshadows the sweetness of the shrimp. Or there is too much cheese in the grits, overpowering everything else. I have to confess, for someone who always orders shrimp and grits, I’m happy with my compulsive choice only about 10% of the time. Apparently, I’m a glutton for the shrimp and grits roulette.
Hub & Spoke’s shrimp and grits satisfy 100% of the time. Served piping hot in a cast iron skillet, the grits are properly creamy and have cheddar-y undertones, but still, each grit is distinct. They serve as an appropriately neutral foundation for the well-sauced shrimp. Saucy is also the word I’d use to describe the sauce. With a rich tomato base and sauteed leeks, it isn’t shy about coating the whole pan edge to edge. You’re guaranteed a scoop of sauce with every bite of grits.
The secret at Hub & Spoke is the house-smoked Cajun-style Andouille sausage. The smokiness permeates the shrimp and gives a nice red tint to everything in the bowl. Pickled peppers add a hit of acid at the end, just enough to ensure the dish isn’t too rich or heavy. I’ve had this dish at Hub & Spoke at least ten times over the years, and it is remarkably consistent, which is remarkably hard to do. Not once was the shrimp overcooked. That deserves a prize and a nod to the kitchen’s quality training and skills.
It comes with a generous portion of shrimp. I’m always disappointed when I order a dish called shrimp and grits and get four shrimp clustered together in the center of the bowl, looking lonely. It is not called “grits and shrimp.”
If You Go:
Hub & Spoke
1291 S. 1100 East, SLC
hubandspokediner.com
