Written by: Shay Coulson | Photo(s) by: Matt Dippel & Cameo Tamala
Kilby Block Party Gathers 10,000 Live Music Fans To Celebrate Music, Art & Community
S&S Presents celebrated its third annual Kilby Block Party over the weekend, gathering a near 10,000 live music fans each day to Salt Lake City’s central Library Square.
While last year’s event took place at the famed Kilby Court and its nearby blocks, Kilby Court’s flagship music festival got a major revamp, hosting attendees on a mix of soft grassy fields and closed off central city streets.
In true Kilby style, KBP3 brought an eclectic mix of indie artists that have graced Kilby’s stages over the past two decades on four curated stages. Friday’s celebration kicked off at 2 p.m., hosting a full day’s worth of music performances by Dad Bob, Idi Et Amin, Bartees Strange, Lord Vox, Jawny, World’s Worst, The Walters, The Still Tide, Car Seat Headrest, Binki, Mild High Club, JW Francis, Form Of Rocket, and Clairo. The night concluded with a Star Wars intro opening headlining set by Canadian singer-songwriter, Mac DeMarco. Making his comeback to SLC in 10 years, the multi-instrumentalist played through his modern hits and old-school jazzy classics, invoking some of the older attendees to reminisce on his past years’ as a musician who would play the intimate Kilby Court.
Saturday’s celebration was greeted with what would be one of SLC’s hottest days of the year and first true signs of summer, as thousands more flooded the downtown park. With 10 hours packed full of music, the grassy field bordering 300 E. provided shady offerings full of local art installations to many of the attendees. The space blossomed into a colorful palette as the sun moved overhead, making each unique painting shine in different ways.
Local artist Brandon Gomez helped illuminate the space, painting one of the square faces of a cube in the middle of the art installation area.
“The design is inspired by Ska music. The pose this character is making is actually a Ska dance move. I really appreciate the diversity of music and art represented throughout the community here and hope to showcase that throughout my art,” Gomez told Volume.
After mid-day sets by Nicole Canaan, Blue Rain Boots, Cop Kid, Goldmyth, The Rubies, Brother., Sloppy Jane, Fonteyn, Casio Ghost, future.ex.boyfriend, Choir Boy, and Spirit Of The Beehive, Soccer Mommy brought a large crowd over to the South Stage at 4:30 p.m. The five-piece band played through some of their slow alternative renditions, including a tribute to “all the Henry’s of Salt Lake,” before laying down some grungy bass in the band’s recent new single, “Shotgun.”
It seemed like there was something for everyone as the sun settled lower onto the horizon thanks to genre-spanning sets by indie pop groups Alvvays, Kississippi, and The Devil Whale, multi-instrumentalists Sam Evian and Kevin Devine, and alternative R&B artist Steve Lacy. Animal Collective changed up the pace at 6:40 p.m. with some harmonized and acapella vocals intertwined with their classic dreamy elements, bursting the crowd with buzzing energy for the festival’s upcoming final headlining performance.
With nearly half the crowd sporting her skeleton onesie, Phoebe Bridgers graced the South Stage at 9 p.m., delivering her dreamy and hook-filled indie pop hits. Her emotive lyrics danced under the bright (almost) full moon as the weekend’s largest crowd sang along, concluding the weekend on a high and light note.
Scroll down to see a photo gallery of the weekend, courtesy of Volume photographers Matt Dippel and Cameo Tamala.
