Trampled By Turtles paid Salt Lake City’s Red Butte Garden a visit on Thursday, May 29, 2025, and it felt a lot like perfection. As just the second band to play Red Butte’s stacked Outdoor Concert Series this season, the bluegrass folkers from Duluth, Minnesota, landed here on one of the best weather days in eons. Spring’s getting stretched out this year, so it was cool, never cold. It was warm at times, but never too hot. Goldilocks weather. Add some banjo, hands blurring fast as they play the mandolin, voices made to harmonize together, and that’s a good recipe for happiness. The band was feeling it too; frontman Dave Simonett remarked halfway through, “This is the best time I’ve ever had in Salt Lake City … and I’ve been here lots of times.”
The sold-out crowd got to enjoy a more than generous 24-song set that included favorites like “You Never Let Me Down,” “Right Back Where We Started,” “Whiskey,” and “Wait So Long.” And while their discography is riddled with plenty of originals, even their choice of covers last night deserves mentioning. Their twangy take on “Wild Horses” was fittingly apropos — and it invited the swaying, the singing along, the old-school familiarity. When a bluegrass band decides to take on “Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead, though, that’s something else. We noticed. We pulled out our phones to capture a bit of it. We paid close attention as they paid tribute. They made it their own but did right by Thom Yorke and the rest of the boys simultaneously.
Same time next year, guys? We’ll save you a spot. After last night, you’re in.
Full photo coverage and gallery by Natalie Simpson, Beehive Photography. Instagram @BeehivePhotoVideo
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